Hostelworld Guide for Stockholm
Getting There
Built on 14 distinguishable islands, Stockholm is one of the few capitals in the world that affords visitors
the opportunity to go island-hopping on a short break. Each of the Swedish capital's islands has its own
attribute. Gamla Stan is one of the most charming old towns in Europe, Djurgården is at the forefront of
the game in terms of museums, while Södermalm is where the Swedish capital's notoriously stylish
offspring party into the early hours every weekend.
Hostelworld Guide for Stockholm
The Essentials
Stockholm has an extremely varied climate and
By plane: You can get to Stockholm via four
airports. The most widely used is Arlanda Airport. It
is connected to the city via the Arlanda Express
train. Budget airlines fly to either Skavsta or
Vasteras Airports. They're both 90 minutes from the
city centre via bus. The least used is Bromma
Airport, even though it enjoys the best location.
By train: Stockholm's main train station,
Centralstationen in the city centre, is well connected
to the rest of Europe via rail.
By bus: Cityterminalen is Stockholm's main bus
station. It can be found next to the Centralstationen
and has links to most major European cities.
Getting Around
On foot: Stockholm's Gamla Stan is easily explored
on foot. Other parts of town such as Södermalm are
within walking distance of here but you'll probably
need to use public transport at some stage.
By tunnelbana: The 'tunnelbana' (or T-bana) is
Stockholm's underground network. It is a efficient
service and operates between 5am and 1am.
By bus: The city's bus network is just as efficient as
the T-bana but finishes operating at midnight.
Tickets for the T-bana are also valid on buses.
In this Guide...
Useful phrases
Useful Information
After Dark Hello: Hej
Places to Eat Goodbye: Hej då
Top Attractions Thank you: Tack
Budget Tips You're welcome: Varsågod
Where to Shop Yes: Ja
No: Nej
Of course: Självklart
Excuse me: Ursäkta mig
How are you?: Hur mår du?
Open: öppet
Closed: Stängt
What is your name?: Vad heter du?
My name is...: Jag heter
How much does it cost?: Hur mycket kostar
det?
The bill please?: Kan vi få notan, tack?
Climate
each season is easily distinguishable from the
other. January and February are extremely cold
with snow falling regularly. It gets dark by 3pm/4pm
during these months although it can experience
very clear days. March can be wet and it isn t until
April that you can see a big change. Between June
and August the days are long, staying bright until
11pm. Temperatures can rise well above the 25°C
mark during these months. With September comes
shorter days and lower temperatures and by
November it is just like winter again.
Useful Information
Language: Swedish
Currency: Swedish Kronor
Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50Hz
Area Code: +46 (Sweden) 08 (Stockholm)
Emergency Codes: Ambulance/Fire/Police 112
Time Zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
Central Post Office: Drottninggatan 53
Main Tourist Office: Stockholm Information
Service, Sverigehuset (Sweden House),
Hamngatan 27
Embassies
USA: +46 (0)8 783 53 00
Australia: +46 (0)8 613 29 00
UK: +46 (0)8 71 30 00
Canada: +46 (0)8 453 3000
South Africa: +46 (0)8 24 39 50
Ireland: +46 (0)8 661 80 05
Germany: +46 (0)8 670 15 00
Spain: +46 (0)8 667 94 30
Italy: +46 (0)8 545 671 00
New Zealand: +46 (08) 611 2625 (Consulate)
France: +46 (0)8 459 53 00
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Cheap Eats
Amiralen, Galärvarsvägen 10, Djurgården On first
glance, this restaurant may seem too stuffy for the
casual backpacker. But thanks to a lunch menu
between 11.30am and 3pm (Mon Fri) with a good
selection of meals from 70SEK, you don't have to
splash out to eat in such pleasant surroundings.
Open daily from 11.30am-10pm.
Sally's Bar, Västerlånggatan 52, Gamla Stan
Even though this warm Italian restaurant is located
in the heart of the tourist-trodden Gamla Stan, their
menu is laden with pizzas for 100SEK or less. Staff
are friendly and, due to its location, a nice
atmosphere prevails all day. En route to the toilet
you'll notice it has a cellar bar too. Open Mon-Sat
11am-1am, Sun 11am-midnight.
Jensen's Bofhus, Vasagatan 24, Vasastaden This
restaurant just a stone's throw from Stockholm's
central train station is popular among locals. For
between 40-60SEK you'll find something on the
lunch menu that will keep you going for a few hours.
Things get slightly more expensive in the evening
but this is still a lot more reasonable than many
other restaurants. Open daily from 11am-11pm.
Swedish meatballs
Of all Sweden's culinary delights, Swedish
meatballs are probably its best known. What
makes them different to other meatballs are their
ingredients - nutmeg, dry mustard, thyme,
marjoram or allspice. You can get them in most
restaurants throughout the city.
Kungshallen, Kungsgatan 44, Östermalm If your
stomach is making some unusual noises but you
don't know what you want to pass your lips to make
them stop, hop on the T-bana to Hötorget and locate
this place, Stockholm's largest food hall. There are
14 outlets that offer everything from sushi, to
paninis, to kebabs. Open daily from 9am-11pm.
Hostelworld Guide for Stockholm
After Dark
Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4, Södermalm Upon first
shuffling your way past the burly doormen of this
historic bar (it dates back to 1907) you'll think you
just stumbled across a traditional beer hall. But
keep on shuffling and you'll discover a stylish bar
out back plus another downstairs popular with
movers and shakers. Get down early on weekends
to avoid queuing. Open daily from 5pm-3am.
O'Connells, Stora Nygatan 21, Gamla Stan A
devoted Irish contingent keeps most of the stools
warm in this Irish bar. Don't be fooled by the small
front bar though - go down to the cellar bar where
this pub really comes into its own. Open Mon-Fri
1pm-1am, Sat & Sun 12 noon-1am.
Gay / Lesbian Stockholm
Stockholm is ahead of most of the world when it
comes to gay rights and tolerance making it
Scandinavia's gay capital. The Sodermalm
district is where most bars and clubs are. Tip
Top (Sveavagen 57) is Stockholm's best known
gay venue, while Hacktet (Hornsgatan 82) is a
popular gay bar with a lesbian night on
Wednesdays. Mandus (Osterlanggatan 7) is
one of few gay-friendly bars in Gamla Stan, but
for something completely different check out a
gay night on Patricia (Stadsgardskajen 152), an
old battleship converted to a club and well
known for its gay nights.
Metro, Gotgatan 93, Södermalm Visit this
ultra-slick bar deep in the Södermalm district and
you may have to weave your way in and out of a
few tight situations to get a vacant spot. Locals
decked out in the most fashionable trends shake
their booties to the latest tunes so if you want to fit
in delve into your backpack for your coolest gear.
Open daily from 5pm-2am.
Absolut Ice Bar, Nordi Sea Hotel, Vasaplan 4,
Vasastaden While a quick drink from a bar made
entirely out of ice (along with the tables and
glasses) mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, don
your jacket and mittens in the 'Ice Bar' and you'll
see why it is so popular. The 'Jukka' cocktail is
exceptionally tasty. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight;
entrance 140SEK for 45 minutes with free drink.
Mosebacke Etablissement, Mosebacke torg 3,
Sodermalm Popular in summer thanks to a large
open-air terrace that boasts great views over the
Gamla Stan, Mosebacke Etablissement is one of
the most popular bars in Södermalm during
summer. Open daily from 5pm-2am.
Don't Miss
Stadshuset (City Hall), Hantverkargatan 1 Built
between 1911 and 1923, Stadshuset is one of
Stockholm's most instantly recognisable landmarks.
It is best known as the site of the Nobel Prize
Banquet which takes place there every year in
December. Daily tours on the hour take place at
10am and 12pm; admission 60SEK.
One fateful voyage
Vasamuseet, Galärvarvsvägen 14,
Djurgården Vasamuseet is Sweden's most
visited museum and houses the 'Vasa', a
warship built in the 17th century that, even
though it was the largest ship of its time, sunk on
its maiden voyage. Surrounding the ship are
various exhibitions telling the ship's story. Open
10am-5pm; admission 80SEK.
Skansen, Djurgården Founded in 1891 for the
purpose of showing how people lived and worked in
different parts of Sweden in times gone by, Skansen
is the world's first open-air museum. It is also a
zoological park, specialising mainly in Scandinavian
fauna. Open daily from 10am-4pm/10pm; admission
30/80SEK (opening hours and admission vary).
Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), Slottsbacken
Sweden's Royal Palace is located in the heart of the
capital in the city's Old Town and is one of the
largest surviving palces in Europe. Highlights
include the Royal Apartments, Slottskyrkan (Royal
Chapel), and the Hall of State. Open Tues-Sun
(daily in summer) 10am/12 noon-3pm/4pm/5pm;
admission 120SEK (all parts of palace).
Explore Stockholm's archipelago Stockholm is
one of the only cities in the world where you can
island-hop. It is built on 14 main islands but there
are another 24,000 surrounding it. Boat tours go
round the islands at different times of year.
Mark Your Calendar
February - Vikingarännet (Viking Run)
Vikingarännet started in 1999 and is an 80km
ice-skating race between Uppsala and Stockholm.
Attracting over 4,000 participants every year, it is
one of the most popular events in the city.
March - Winter Sports Week Held in
Kungsträdgården at the beginning of March, this
winter sports event features athletes taking part in
ice-skating and dog-sledding races while there is
entertainment staged for spectators also.
May - Tjejtrampet Tjejtrampet is the largest
all-women's bikre race in the world. Held on the last
Sunday of every May, over 5,000 women take part
in the 51km race, hoping not to get plagued by
punctures on the way.
June - Smaka På Stockholm Translating in
English as 'A Taste of Stockholm', Smaka På
Stockholm displays the best the Swedish capital
can offer in terms of food, entertainment, culture
and sports. It is Sweden s largest annual event
with more than six hundred and fifty thousand
visitors.
June - Nationaldag Sweden's national day which
falls on June 6th commemorates the founding of the
Kingdom of Sweden. Parades march throughout the
city and there is a lot of activity in Skansen.
July - Skoklosterspelen A medieval event which
takes place in Sweden's Skokloster Slott, at
Skoklosterspelen over 300 performaces are staged,
including fencing, theatre and music.
August - Midnight Race While most people going
to Stockholm's Sodermalm district usually do so for
its bars, once a year thousands of athletes
converge in its trendy district for this annual race.
September - Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival
Over 25,000 lovers of beer and whisky flock to this
festival each year at the Factory Nacka Strand to
enjoy tasting various samples of both beverages.
November/December - Christmas Markets Since
1914 traditional markets have been held in Gamla
Stan's main square throughout the festive season.
Here you can pick up presents and decorations
before warming up with a glass of mulled wine.
December - Nobel Prize Day A flurry of activity
takes place in the Swedish capital every year on
December 10th as the Nobel Prizes are handed out
in the Stadshuset (city hall).
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Get Connected
Domehouse, Sveavägen 108, Norrmalm This
large internet café has a total of 52 terminals to
choose from. As well as access the internet you can
also play online games here. It doesn't offer any
other facilities (apart from printing) but it is one of
the cheapest internet cafés in the city. Open daily
from 11am-3am; 15SEK per hour.
Access, Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg, Norrmalm
Access is a modern café in the Norrmalm district
that offers more than just internet access. Here you
can grab a bite to eat, read your book over a coffee,
or if you haven't got a book to read, buy a book!
That's not surprising considering the area is
regarded as Stockholm's cultural centre. Open
Tues-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-5pm; 50SEK
per hour.
Nine, Odengatan 44, Odenplan This huge café (it
has three floors) has two floors full of internet
terminals. There are a total of 40 to choose from so
you'll never have a problem finding a spare one. On
the computer-less floor is where you can get
sandwiches, coffees, pastries, and other snacks.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-1am, Sat & Sun 11am-1am;
60SEK per hour.
Matrix, Hötorget, Vasastaden 'Matrix' is one of
Stockholm's larger internet cafés with 88 terminals.
Along with the obligatory internet access you can
also print, burn CDs and more. If you're feeling
peckish there are also coffees and snacks on offer.
Open Mon-Thurs & Sun, 10am-midnight, Fri & Sun
10am-3am; 60SEK per hour.
www.
www.stockholmtown.com
www.vasamuseet.se
www.destination-stockholm.com
www.skansen.se
www2.stockholm.se/cityhall/
Hostelworld Guide for Stockholm
Retail Therapy
SoFo (south of Folkungagatan), Sodermalm This
area in Stockholm's Sodermalm district has become
one of the city's trendiest districts in recent years.
Here you'll find hip stores and chic boutiques.
Wander round to discover shops such as the
self-explanatory 'Sneakers n Stuff' and 'Tjallamalla',
a clothes store specialising in local labels.
Drottninggatan, Ostermalm Formerly a royal street
(it leads straight into the Royal Palace), this busy
thoroughfare north of the Gamla Stan is lined with
various shops, some large and some small. Pretty
much anything you're looking for is available. It is
also where street vendors sell their artwork.
Hornsgatan, Sodermalm This wide street which
rolls through the heart of the Sodermalm district is
peppered with stores that aren't stocked up with
goods from the world's top brands. Instead you'll find
clothes stores, sports stores, and some quirky cafés.
There are loads of interior design shops also.
Looking for something Swedish?
Vasterlanggatan/Stora Nygatan, Gamla Stan
Stockholm's old town is where you will find the
highest concentration of tourists in the city. Its
main streets, Vasterlanggatan and Stora
Nygatan, are laced with shops selling all sorts of
kitsch. Picture Pippy Longstocking dolls and
navy t-shirts with 'Sweden' plastered across
them in canary yellow. If you're looking for some
sort of tacky memoribilia, you'll get it here.
Stockholm Quality Outlet, Barkarby This large
outlet is a few miles north of the city centre (it takes
18 minutes to get there via train - get the commuter
train to Jakobsberg from the city), but there are
more than 60 stores there selling clothes by
well-known brands for 30%-60% less than high
street stores so it could be worth the journey. Open
Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat/Sun 10am/11am-5pm.
Budget Tips
Explore the Gamla Stan Stockholm's Old Town is
awash with tourists all year round. Thankfully that
takes nothing away from its charm. Wander around
the smaller streets and alleys and you'll discover
quaint cafés, old churches (see below) and more.
'Bandy' - Scandinavian ice-hockey
Bandy Stadium, Zinkensdamms Idrottsplats,
Sodermalm The sport of 'bandy' is one that is
just played in Scandinavia and is extremely
popular with the Swedes. It is similar to
ice-hockey in that it is played on ice, but each
team has eleven players rather than five. It also
has a round ball rather than a puck. Games last
over an hour but if you're lucky you may catch
two. Season from Nov-Feb; admission 60SEK.
Visit the Storkyrkan/Tyska Kyrkan These two
churches, both in Gamla Stan, are two of the city's
most beautiful buildings and are both free to enter.
Storkyrkan, Stockholm's cathedral, is the oldest
church in the city and houses a priceless statue of
'St George and the Dragon'. Tyska Kyrkan (the
German Church) is also spellbinding, largely due to
its stained glass windows and 119 paintings.
Catch the changing of the guards If you don't
fancy parting with a few crowns to visit the Royal
Palace, you should at least get check out the
'Changing of the Guard'. The ceremony can be seen
weekdays and Saturdays at 12.15pm and at 1.15pm
on Sundays.
Visit some free museums Many of Stockholm's
most popular museums impose admission charges
but thankfully some of them are free. Two of these
include the Nordiska Museet beside the
Vasamuseet that contains a vast collection of
Swedish objects and Statens Historiska Museet,
Sweden's national historical museum.
A Day in Stockholm...
Explore Stockholm's Gamla Stan. It can be
swarming with tourists but is still definitely
worth checking out.
Go to the Royal Palace to catch the
Changing of the Guard. It lasts 10-15
minutes and shouldn't be missed.
Take the ferry to Djurgården from Slussen on
Gamla Stan. Go for lunch in 'Amiralen'
beside the Vasamuseet, Sweden's most
visited museum.
After lunch (try the Swedish meatballs) check
out the Vasamuseet. Housing an imposing
warship that sunk on its maiden voyage, it is
a fascinating museum.
The huge building facing the Vasamuseet is
the Nordiska Museet. Here you'll discover
the history of the Swedish people.
Take the ferry back to Gamla Stan and visit
the 'Absolut Ice Bar'. Don your furry coat and
mittens and enjoy a vodka cocktail from an
ice-glass!
Grab a bite to eat somewhere. Jensen's
across from the Ice Bar is popular with
locals, while Sally's in Gamla Stan does
great pizzas.
Stockholm's Gamla Stan is full of bars, most
of which are cellar bars. Go for a few quiet
drinks in one of them before moving on to
somewhere livelier.
Finish the night off in one of the city's many
late-night venues. The Sodermalm district is
where you'll find most of the late bars, while
Norrmalm is where most clubs are.
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