When preparing our visit to Stockholm, we were pleasantly surprised by the size of the city and the number of things to do. So we carefully prepared our stay, with the help of expatriate friends in the Swedish capital.
To make your stay as easy as possible, we’ve listed the neighborhoods we visited and the main things to do! We’ve also listed our favorite places to stay in Stockholm and our best hotel addresses.
Stockholm’s best neighborhoods [carte]
List of our favorite neighborhoods and places to stay in Stockholm :
- Gamla Stan (dark pink) ♥♥♥
- Djurgården Island (orange) ♥♥♥
- Norrmalm (green) ♥♥
- Södermalm (blue) ♥♥♥
- Vasastan (yellow) ♥
- Östermalm (purple) ♥
- Kungsholmen (light pink) ♥♥
1. Gamla Stan: the old town center
This is the historic district you can’t avoid when visiting Stockholm. Gamla Stan in Swedish translates as “old town” in French.
This district is home to the Royal Palace and the Changing of the Guard, Stortorget Square with its colorful facades, the Nobel Museum and Stockholm’s smallest street.
This is also where you’ll find all the souvenir stores.
2. Djurgården Island: the island of museums
It’s theisland of Stockholm’s museums, some of which are not to be missed. We recommend the Vasa Museum , the museum of the Swedish disco band ABBA and the Skansen open-air museum, a small concentrate of Sweden.
The island also boasts a theme park: Grona Lund Tivoli. You can enjoy the attractions almost with your feet in the water.
3. Norrmalm: city center
This is Stockholm’s current city center, with wide tree-lined avenues and beautiful buildings, each more beautiful and different than the last. Don’t miss Stockholm’s magnificent Royal Opera House on the waterfront.
This is the place to go shopping, where you’ll find all the international and Swedish brands. If you’re a fan of second-hand goods, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for in the Arkivet chain stores. It’s also the ideal place to stay in Stockholm.
Our favorite lodging ♥ in this neighborhood theHotel Birger Jarl
4. Södermalm: trendy district
This is one of our favorite Stockholm neighborhoods, full of trees and flowers. We loved wandering around and getting a good view of the Swedish capital. We were delighted to discover the places mentioned in Stieg Larsson’s Millenium saga.
For swimming, we recommend the Tanto strandbad bathing area southwest of Södermalm, one of Stockholm’s most beautiful beaches.
For those on a smaller budget, the island of Södermalm may be a good alternative for sleeping in Stockholm.
A beautifully renovated apartment in this district: Biz Apartment Hammarby Sjöstad
5. Vasastan: residential area
This is one of Stockholm’s northernmost districts. We enjoyed strolling through this residential area, where it’s quiet and we found some good addresses and a great playground!
6. Östermalm: the chic district
This is the trendy district with all the capital’s chic addresses. Don’t miss theÖstermalm food market, where you can take a stroll and indulge in a little Fika.
If you’ve run out of books to read (like us) or have forgotten them, you can visit the Hedengrens bookshop, which has a fairly large French section.
7. Kungsholmen: a trendy district
It’s also a trendy residential area, so we met up with a friend who lives in Stockholm for a drink in a floating bar. We loved walking along the quays to reach the historic center. A great moment of our stay.
This district is also home to Stockholm’s imposing red-brick City Hall, with its 160-metre-high tower. If you wish, you can climb up to enjoy a panoramic view of Stockholm. (from May to September about 6€)
Where to sleep in Stockholm?
To get the most out of your stay, we advise you to sleep in the Norrmalm (3 on our map) and Östermalm (6) districts. We advise you to choose accommodation with breakfast.
For smaller budgets, the Södermalm district (4) may be a good alternative.
If you’re staying in Stockholm for more than a weekend, we advise you to opt for an apartment with a kitchen, as Sweden is one of the most expensive countries in Europe.
The Swedish capital can be visited all year round, so don’t hesitate to plan your winter stay in Stockholm to take advantage of more affordable accommodation.
Hotel Birger Jarl: Noormalm district (the best area to sleep in, in our opinion): the hotel’s location is perfect for visiting central Stockholm on foot. In a beautiful, completely renovated building, our accommodation was spacious with a mini fridge and carefully decorated, excellent value for money where you’ll feel right at home. We would definitely go back. (with breakfast)
Biz Apartment Hammarby Sjöstad: in the Södermalm district (one of our favorites), we hesitated for a long time before choosing this well-located accommodation. It’s an apartment, so it’s easier to cook than in a hotel. The building has been completely renovated.
City Backpackers Hostel: a nicely decorated hostel, certainly the best value in Stockholm, €75 for a double room in the trendy Södermalm district (one of our favorites). I stayed there on my first visit to Stockholm (Floriane).
Are there any neighborhoods to avoid in Stockholm?
Sweden is one of the safest countries in Europe. We even talked to some Swedes who don’t lock their houses when they go on vacation (we won’t tell you where they live.) and we saw many bicycles without padlocks on the streets.
As you’ll find in playgrounds, restaurants, churches and museums, there are plenty of children’s games available.
In short, after 1 month in Sweden, we never felt insecure. In Stockholm, we were a little more vigilant in the busy tourist district of Gamla Stan.
On the free walking tour, our guide kindly warned us that groups are easy targets for pickpockets. We were a little surprised by this point of vigilance. Finally, we find it interesting that the locals are making tourists aware of the need to avoid as much as possible the numerous thefts that can occur in other European capitals…
We wish you an excellent trip to Stockholm, and one last word of advice: don’t miss out on its incredible archipelago and the many things to do around Stockholm!
Feel free to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to tell us if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, here or on Instagram, we’ll get back to you with great pleasure.
