Stockholm is spread across fourteen islands connected by more than fifty bridges, which means water is never far from view, and beyond the city, an archipelago of nearly 30,000 islands stretches out into the Baltic, most of them reachable by a single ferry ticket.
Gamla Stan and the Old Town
Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval core, is a tangle of narrow lanes, ochre and burnt-red buildings, and the Royal Palace, one of the largest in Europe still used for its original function. Stortorget, the old town's main square, is at its best early morning before the tour groups arrive.
Södermalm, the hip southern island, has the city's best independent shops, cafés, and the Fotografiska photography museum, walk the Monteliusvägen path along the island's northern edge for a sweeping view back across the water to the old town.
The Archipelago
A day trip into the archipelago is essential and easy, ferries leave regularly from Strömkajen near the Grand Hotel, and islands like Vaxholm or Fjäderholmarna are reachable within an hour, with red-painted summer cottages, swimming spots, and seafood shacks.
For a longer trip, Sandhamn, further out, has genuine sailing-village character and is popular with Stockholmers themselves rather than tourists, worth an overnight if your schedule allows it.
Recommended Stay · Stockholm · Lärkstaden
Ett Hem
A converted 1910 townhouse run like a private home rather than a hotel, Scandinavian design throughout, a communal kitchen, and a quiet residential setting a short walk from the city centre.
