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.
Sommaire
Stockholm’s best neighborhoods [carte]
List of our favorite neighborhoods:
- 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.
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 accommodation ♥: Hotel 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 those on a smaller budget, the island of Södermalm may be a good alternative for sleeping in Stockholm.
Renovated apartment: 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.
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…
Where to sleep in Stockholm?
To get the most out of your stay, we recommend the Norrmalm (3) 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.
– Coup de coeur ♥ : Hotel Birger Jarl, quartier Noormalm (le meilleur quartier pour dormir selon nous) : la situation géographique de l’hôtel est parfaite pour visiter le centre de Stockholm à pied. Dans un beau bâtiment entièrement rénové, notre logement était spacieux avec un mini frigo et avec une décoration soignée, un excellent rapport qualité prix où vous vous sentirez comme chez vous. Nous y retournerons sans hésitation. (avec petit-déjeuner)
– Appartement rénové : Biz Apartment Hammarby Sjöstad quartier Södermalm (l’un de nos préférés), nous avions longuement hésité avec cet hébergement également très bien placé. C’est un appartement donc cela permet de se faire à manger plus facilement qu’à l’hôtel. Le bâtiment a été entièrement rénové.
– Bon marché € : City Backpackers Hostel, c’est une auberge de jeunesse joliment décorée certainement le meilleur rapport qualité/prix de Stockholm, 75€ en chambre double dans le quartier branché de Södermalm (l’un de nos préférés). J’y avais dormi lors de mon premier séjour à Stockholm (Floriane).
We wish you a excellent trip to Stockholm and one last little tip: don’t miss its incredible archipelago! Don’t hesitate to leave us a quick note or 5 stars below, to let us know 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.
