As water covers one third of the city area, the maritime life is an important aspect of the city. There are plenty of bridges, marinas and locks. The water is so clean that you can drink it and catch salmon in the middle of the city.
Due to its unique location surrounded by water and countryside, with parks and gardens everywhere and a delightfully pure atmosphere.
Everything is in easy walking distance, everybody speaks perfect English, and the summers midnight sun makes Stockholm a great destination for short break.
Stockholm, like many other big cities, is best experienced on foot. In the city centre through Gamla Stan all the way to Slussen a walk that will take you through a wealth of history, culture and shopping opportunities. Visit the Royal Palace for the changing of the guard at midday in summer or see the imposing City Hall. Stockholm boasts an impressive collection of museums, including the National Museum of Art and the new Design Museum. The extraordinary Vasa Museum is a must, housing a superbly restored 1628 warship.
In the winter visit the Christmas markets in and enjoys a warm glass of alcohol or ginger biscuits.
For shopping, the best local buys are crystal, leather goods and ceramics. There are numerous contemporary design outlets selling cutting edge Scandinavian design furniture and accessories, while the many antique and curiosity shops are well worth a browse.
Theres no shortage of entertainment from theatre to live music and more at clubs and cafes. Stockholm This Week tells you whats on when listings.
Despite being an expensive country, Sweden has a good youth hostel and campsite network and there are plenty of budget travel hotels, but booking ahead is essential in summer, particularly at two of the best hostels, Al Chapman and Langholmen which is a former prison cells. Regular hotels, packages are the best way to get a room for a reasonable rate, or try to stay weekends when most places offer half price rates.
A good selection of traditional eateries and a wealth of international restaurants are found in the city centre. Try fresh fish, meatballs or a traditional smorgasbord. For lively bars and jazz clubs, the most popular are to be found in the Sodermalm and Stureplan areas.
The climate is very much conditioned by the sea winds, so even the warmest summer day will be contingent upon the sea breeze finding its way into the city streets.
