Drottninggatan, Västerlånggatan and Götgatan

Drottninggatan, Västerlånggatan and Götgatan make up a 5-kilometre pedestrian street through Stockholm, connecting many of the city's most interesting venues, in the districts Vasastan, Norrmalm, Gamla stan and Södermalm, similar to the Axe historique of Paris.

This article is an itinerary.

Understand

With the redevelopment of Norrmalm in the 1960s and 70s, pedestrian and bicycle traffic was put on exception in Norrmalm. From the 1990s, pedestrian routes have been restored.

Get around

The green metro (tunnelbana) line runs parallel to the streets. Cycling is a good option, at least when weather is warm.

The whole walk is accessible without steps. The passage through Slussen is congested due to construction, and will remain so until 2020. Northern Götgatan has a steep slope, which however does not deter bicycle commuters.

Car traffic from Sergels torg to Gullmarsplan is diverted to tunnels and highway bridges. While Gamla stan and Södermalm can be traversed by car, parking spaces are few, and driving is altogether impractical.

Drottninggatan through Vasastan and upper Norrmalm

Drottninggatan is a pedestrianised street from the Observatorielunden park to the Riksbron bridge to Gamla stan. The section north of Kungsgatan is the most interesting, with independent cafés, restaurants and stores. Between Kungsgatan and Sergels Torg you will find the Åhléns and PUB department stores, as well as flagship stores for some national and international fashion chains, including as many as eight H&M stores. South of the Sergels torg square, the street is a typical tourist trap, dominated by stores selling tourist souvenirs and cheap clothes, and bland and bleak restaurants.

"Pity the people!" — Swedish writer August Strindberg (1849-1912). After the 2017 terrorist attack, Stockholmers quickly reclaimed Drottninggatan and its role as one of Stockholm's main pedestrian streets.

• 🌍 Stockholm Odenplan Station. A commuter rail (pendeltåg) station at Odenplan below ground, opened in 2017 and endowed with contemporary art. 

Stockholm Public Library

• 🌍 Stockholm Public Library (Stadsbiblioteket), Sveavägen 73 (T Rådmansgatan). Built in 1928 and designed by the famous Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund, the interior of the cylinder-shaped main hall is spectacular, with three floors of bookshelves covering 360 degrees of circular wall. Books (both fiction and non-fiction) are available in many languages, including English and German. This museum does lend books, while the equally beautiful National Library of Sweden on Östermalm does not. 

Gamla Observatoriet

On the cliff above the Library is the old Stockholm Observatory, which has a fine view of the city to the east. There is also a small café, and an Observatory Museum .

• 🌍 Jewish Museum, Hälsingegatan 2 (Judiska museet). Displays the history of the Jews in Sweden. 

• 🌍 Gustaf Vasa kyrka. A neo-Baroque church built in 1906. While far from Stockholm's oldest church, it is one of the largest, with frequent concerts. 

• 🌍 Astrid Lindgren's home. World famous writer of children's books Astrid Lindgren lived in this Stockholm apartment from 1941 until her death in 2002. Open for visitors since November 2015. Reservations only. 

For some odd reason, most of Stockholm’s second hand record shops are clustered in the area between Odenplan and St Eriksplan. Most are open M-F 11:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-15:00. Some examples (starting from the Odenplan end) are:

• 🌍 Cosmos Factory, Upplandsgatan 47. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Stockholms Skivbörs, Upplandsgatan 47. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Sko dig, Hagagatan 4. Second-hand store. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Nu och då, Norrtullsgatan 31. Second-hand store. (updated Aug 2015)

Vasastan has plenty of restaurants, most in the mid-range bracket, many in ethnic style. They are usually crowded by office workers during lunch break (from noon to 13:00).

• 🌍 Tennstopet, Dalagatan 50 (T Odenplan), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 16:00-01:00, Sa-Su 13:00-01:00. More traditional Swedish cooking. On one evening in August each year they will serve the Swedish culinary delicacy Surströmming (fermented herring). Mains 130-265 kr, slightly lower prices at the bar. 

• 🌍 Tranan, Karlbergsvägen 14 (T Odenplan). A good brasserie-style restaurant opened in 1929, with a dark downstairs bar that is popular Vasastan hangout, with a mixed crowd. Occasional live music. 

• 🌍 Inferno (T Rådmansgatan). A recent addition to the Norrmalm bar scene, Inferno takes its name from a semi-autobiographical novel by one of Sweden's most famous authors, August Strindberg, who lived in the building from 1908 to his death in 1912. (Strindberg's apartment is now a small museum, open Tu-Su noon-16:00). The warm atmosphere, the ambitious drink list and the attentive service gave Inferno the Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nyheter's Gulddraken award for Best bar 2007. 

The courtyard at Centralbadet has a small public park.

• 🌍 Centralbadet, Drottninggatan 88 (entrance from the courtyard T Hötorget), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 06:00-20:00, Sa 08:00-20:00, Su 08:00-17:00. A classical bath-house in one of Stockholm's most beautiful art nouveau buildings, this is a place where you can go for a swim, have a beer in the sauna bar or enjoy a full spa treatment. Rather expensive and sometimes crowded on weekends. Adults 130 kr (Friday after 15:00 and all day Saturday 180 kr), includes entrance to pool, jacuzzi, gym and saunas. University students and seniors 70 kr Su-F until 15:00. Most spa treatments 350-700 kr. 

• 🌍 Olof Palme assassination scene, Sveavägen 42. A plaque in the pavement marks Sweden's most infamous crime scene. On February 28, 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was walking home from the cinema with his wife, where an unknown man came up behind him, shot him, and escaped along Tunnelgatan. Though 30 years of investigation, no one has been convicted for the murder. The street nearby was renamed Olof Palmes gata to commemorate the victim.  

• 🌍 Adolf Fredrik's church (Adolf Fredriks kyrka), Holländargatan 16 (T Hötorget or T Rådmansgatan), ☎ [phone]. Open to the public M 13:00-19:00, Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00, Su 10:30-16:00. Adolf Fredrik's church, named by King Adolf Fredrik, was built in 1768-1774. The exterior is quite intact, while the interior was radically changed in the 1890s. In the church, there is a monument to the philosopher René Descartes, who spent his last years in Stockholm tutoring Queen Christina, until dying of pneumonia. The church is known for the grave of Prime Minister Olof Palme, who was assassinated in 1986. The grave can be found just to the south of the church building.  

• 🌍 Skandia cinema, Drottninggatan 82 (T Hötorget). This 1850s building houses a 1920s cinema designed by the Stockholm Public Library architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. A beautiful and intimate setting. 

• 🌍 Stockholm Concert Hall (Stockholms konserthus) (T Hötorget). The home stage of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the place of the annual Nobel Prize ceremony.  

• 🌍 Dansens hus, Norra Bantorget. A stage for classical and modern ballet. 

• 🌍 Spaghettioperan Regina, Drottninggatan 71 A. Combines dining with opera-inspired stage shows. 

• 🌍 Strindbergsmuseet, Drottninggatan 85. Tu-Su 12:00-16:00. Dedicated to fin de siècle writer August Strindberg. Closed Monday. 60 kr. 

• 🌍 miniWorld Stockholm, Wallingatan 12. Tu-F 11:00-17:00, Sa 11:00-16:00, Su 12:00-16:00. A gallery with dioramas of contemporary international toys, such as Barbie, Disney, Star Wars, Playmobil and McDonald's. Adults/kids 85/55 kr. 

Drottninggatan through lower Norrmalm

Restaurants in Norrmalm are usually crowded by office workers during lunch break (from noon to 13:00). Á la carte dining can be rather costly; expect to pay more than 120 kr for a hot lunch, and more than 250 kr for a dinner.

• 🌍 Sergels torg ([ˌsærgəlsˈtɔrj], nicknamed Plattan ("the slab" or "the tile")). Stockholm's busiest city square. The black-and-wine Harlequin concrete floor was laid in the 1960s, and while the design remains controversial, and the place used to have bad reputation for drug-dealing and violence, it attracts thousands of people daily for meet-ups, political demonstrations, flash mobs, and retailing.  

• 🌍 Klara Church (Klara kyrka), Klarabergsgatan 37, ☎ [phone]. Open M-Su 10:00-17:00. Close to the Sergels Torg square, and one of the few buildings in the district to survive the 1960s redevelopment, this large redbrick church was built in the 16th century, following the demolition of a 13th-century nunnery. The 116-metre steeple is the second tallest in Scandinavia and one of the ten tallest buildings in Sweden, making it a significant landmark. The artwork inside includes an 18th-century altarpiece. In the cemetery, a stone commemorates the 18th-century songwriter Carl Michael Bellman. As of 2013, a building between the church and Vasagatan has been torn down, temporarily making the church visible from the Central Station, until obscured by a newly built hotel.  

Sergels Torg with Kulturhuset on the right

• 🌍 The House of Culture (Kulturhuset), Sergels torg (T-Centralen). Main galleries open M-F 11:00-20:00, Sa-Su 11:00-17:00. Kulturhuset, a 1970s concrete building in the middle of the modernist city centre, is operated by the city, and a venue for art exhibitions and performances. The building also houses the Stockholm City Theatre, a library (with a comic book department) and a teen activity centre. On ground level there is an Internet café.  

• 🌍 Mediterranean Museum (Medelhavsmuseet), Fredsgatan 2. Tu-F 12:00-20:00 Sa-Su 12:00-17:00 Closed Monday. Contains ancient artefacts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, with a distinguished collection from Cyprus, and an Egyptian mummy exhibition. 60 kr, under 18 free.  

• 🌍 Dansmuseet (the Dance Museum), Drottninggatan 17. Open daily 11:00-17:00. Displays objects related to concert dancing. 60 kr, under 18 free..  

The seat of the Konstakademien in Sparreska Palatset

• 🌍 Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (Konstakademien), Fredsgatan 12 (a short walk from T-Centralen or T Gamla Stan). It holds several works from Nationalmuseum. At the same address you can find Galleri Magnus Karlsson (M-F 12:00-17:00, Sa Su 12:00-16:00), a small, local gallery showcasing local artworks. Free. 

The Royal Swedish Opera

• 🌍 The Royal Swedish Opera (Operan) (T-Centralen). This institution was founded in 1773, in an 1898 building, stages classical operas in original language or Swedish, as well as classical ballets and concerts. They offer daily guided tours in English. Strömterrassen is a café with an astounding view of the Royal Palace. Within the same building is Operakällaren and Café Opera (see below).  

• 🌍 Åhléns City, Klarabergsgatan 50 (T-Centralen), ☎ [phone]. M-F 10:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 11:00-18:00. A large department store in a central location, with a good selection of designer clothing brands. Also beauty products, kitchenware, interior design, records and DVDs, as well as everything else you would expect from a major department store. 

• 🌍 Gallerian, Main entrance: Hamngatan 37 ((T T-Centralen or T Kungsträdgården)). M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Stockholm's oldest shopping mall, where you can find many of Sweden's major mainstream fashion chains as well as some foreign brands such as Topshop/Topman, French Connection, Esprit and United Colors of Benetton. 

The area around Sergels Torg is dominated by mainstream fashion shopping, with seven different H&M stores. Alternative clothing stores can be found further north.

• 🌍 Indiska, Drottninggatan 53, Slöjdgatan 11 (T Hötorget or T Centralen). South Asian style: interior design and clothes. It has another store at Västerlånggatan 50 (T Gamla Stan), Gamla stan. 

• Weekday (T Hötorget), Drottninggatan 65, ☎ [phone]. M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Olofsgatan 1 (T Hötorget), [phone]. Open M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-17:00, Su 12:00-16:00. Götgatan 21 (T Slussen), [phone], . Open M-F 11:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-18:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Three stores (the Drottninggatan one being the largest) with a focus on young fashion and street wear. Large assortment of the popular Swedish jeans Cheap Monday, which, surprisingly, is rather cheap. 

• 🌍 Weekday Drottninggatan, Drottninggatan 65 (T Hötorget), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 11:00-17:00. 

• 🌍 Punkt Shop, Sergelgatan 13 (T-Centralen). A small store for alternative youth fashion (rock, punk, hip-hop), simple accessories, and novelty T-shirts. 

• 🌍 Lagerhaus, Drottninggatan 31-37 (T-Centralen). Interior design in cool retro style. 

• Duka, Sveavägen 24-26, ☎ [phone]. Duka is a Swedish chain selling both cheaper household items and a limited selection of glassware in several tores in central Stockholm. 

• Duka, Konserthuset, Kungsgatan 41, ☎ [phone]. 

• Nordiska Kristall, Kungsgatan 9 ((T Östermalmstorg)), ☎ [phone]. Nordiska Kristall is a high-end shop for crystal design glass. The Kungsgatan store has an art-glass gallery. 

• Designtorget, Sergels Torg (T-Centralen), ☎ [phone]. M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-18:00. A design store specializing in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric. 

The Drottninggatan

• 🌍 Buttericks, Drottninggatan 57. A century-old store for party supplies, costume rental, and practical joke devices. 

• hifisystem, kungsgatan 8, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Jan 2017)

• 🌍 Cafe Panorama, Sergels torg 3. Kulturhuset's 5th floor (T T-Centralen). A large café with large windows and a nice open terrace overlooking the lively Sergels torg. 

• 🌍 Hötorgshallen, Hötorget. Deli market in the basement of the cinema Filmstaden Sergel. Here you can get everything from sushi via meze to Swedish meatballs. Most places offer good value for money. 

• 🌍 Kungshallen, Kungsgatan 44 (T Hötorget). Food court in the basement with a wide variety of ethnic foods, across the street from Hötorget. Mostly good value. Prices around 60-120 kr (dinner). 

• 🌍 Café Opera and Operakällaren, Operahuset, Kungsträdgården (T Kungsträdgården), ☎ [phone]. In the building of the Royal Opera, Café Opera has for long been the place if you want to be seen with celebrities. Offers good food and drinks. Dress code applies, entrance fee 220 kr. In the same building you'll find a beautiful dining room of the formal and extremely expensive Operakällaren. If you want a less costly option, consider the other two restaurants at the Opera: Operabaren and Backfickan (see Mid-range above). Mains: Café Opera 195-325 kr, Operakällaren 210-450 kr. 

• 🌍 F12, Fredsgatan 12 (T T-Centralen), ☎ [phone]. M-F 11:30-02:00, 17:00-22:30, Sa 17:00-22:30. The stylish F12 (short for the centrally located address) is regarded as one of the best fine dining experiences in Stockholm by most critics, including White Guide, the most ambitious Swedish restaurant guide. Mains 270-520 kr, 7-course tasting menus 1095 kr. 

• 🌍 Kristall, Kungsgatan 56 (T-Centralen). A three-floor nightclub. Usually free entrance. 

• 🌍 Haymarket by Scandic. The classical department store PUB has been converted to a 1920s style hotel, with a jazz-themed bar. 

• 🌍 Hotel At Six. A business hotel opened in 2017. 

• 🌍 Hobo Hotel. 

• 🌍 Scandic Continental, Vasagatan 22. This hotel opened in spring 2016. Since it is integrated with Stockholm's new commuter rail station, which opens in 2017, parts of the building are still under construction. The 392 rooms have access to gym and sauna. Public areas include a restaurant, a lobby bar, and a terrace bar with an astounding view of Stockholm. Rates from 2000 kr. 

Västerlånggatan

Gamla stan [gamlaˈstɑːn], the Old Town, also known as Staden mellan broarna ("the town between the bridges") is the Old Town in Stockholm, containing genuine cultural heritage, as well as tourist traps. Adjacent islands are Helgeandsholmen, with the Swedish Parliament, and Riddarholmen, with several nobility palaces, today occupied by various government functions.

An aerial view of Gamla stan

Cars are banned in inner Gamla stan. As in most historical districts, people with motion disabilities might have difficulties getting around, though many basement establishments have wheelchair lifts. Community bicycles are good for the waterfront roads, but they could be difficult to bring inside the alleyways.

The Cathedral (Storkyrkan)

• 🌍 Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), Trångsund 1 (next to the Royal Palace, T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. Daily 09:00-18:00 21 May-29 Sep, 09:00-16:00 rest of year. Guided tours every Thursday at 11:00. Storkyrkan is the oldest church in Gamla stan. Originating as a 13th century Gothic structure, the exterior was remodelled in Baroque style around 1740. The church is the seat of the Church of Sweden bishop of Stockholm. It contains two pieces of famous artwork: the 15th-century wooden statue of Saint George and a copy of the oldest known image of Stockholm, Vädersolstavlan ("The Sun Dog Painting"), a 1636 copy of a lost original from 1535. Entrance 40 kr except for visitors to services 21 May-29 Sep, free entry rest of year. 

• 🌍 Riddarholmen Church (Riddarholmskyrkan), Riddarholmen (T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. Jun-Aug: daily 10:00-17:00; 15 May-31 May and 1 Sep-14 Sep: 10:00-16:00. Riddarholmskyrkan is one of Stockholm's most beautiful churches, and the only remaining Medieval abbey. The structure dates back to the late 14th century. In the church, many Swedish regents are buried, including Gustavus Adolphus (Gustav II Adolf) and Charles XII (Karl XII). Adults 30 kr, children 07:00-18:00 10 kr.. 

• 🌍 German Church (Tyska Kyrkan), Svartmangatan 16A (T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. Tu-F 09:30-23:30, Sa Su 12:00-16:00. Officially named Sankta Gertrud, this Gamla stan church is the home of the first German-speaking parish outside Germany, giving some clue to the importance of German merchants in the history of Stockholm. On the site of the church, a German merchants' guild was founded in the 14th century. In the 16th century, the headquarters was converted into a church, which was later expanded. The interior is baroque in style, with large windows and white vaults. The church belongs to the Church of Sweden but holds services in German at 11:00 every Sunday. Entrance 40 kr except for visitors to services 21 May-29 Sep, free entry rest of year. 

• 🌍 Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet). Open 10:00-16:00 daily in the summer, 12:00-16:00 (and closed Mondays) in the winter. At times referred to by Swedes at the "Royal Castle". Built between 1697 and 1754, dominating the north-eastern part of the Old Town, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the king of Sweden. However, the Royal family lives at Drottningholm in Ekerö, using the Royal Palace only for official ceremonies. It is open to the public unless being used for a state ceremony. Tickets to The Royal Apartments, the Tre Kronor Museum, the Treasury, and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities cost 100 kr each, with the sumptuous Apartments being the main draw. If Royal regalia are your thing, you will probably want to pay 140 kr for a combination ticket and visit the Treasury as well. 
• 🌍 The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren). An independent museum in the Royal Palace. In 1628, King Gustavus II Adolphus declared that his uniform from the Thirty Years War campaign in Poland should be put on display for eternity. Since then, the Royal Armoury keeps these objects, and other Royal memorabilia, calling itself "Sweden's oldest museum". 

• The Royal Guards, Högvakten, used to consist of conscripts. Today, all Swedish soldiers are professional. A ceremonial changing of the guard occurs during June-August, as well as during major holidays, with the Mounted Guards arriving from Östermalm.

The Stortorget - on the right is the Nobel Museum

• 🌍 Nobel Museum (Nobelmuseet), Stortorget (T Gamla stan). 17 Sep-20 May: Tu 11:00-20:00, W-Su 11:00-17:00; 21 May-16 Sep: 10:00-17:00 (Tu 10:00-20:00). Located in the old Stock Exchange house in the middle of Gamla stan, this museum has lots of material on the Nobel Prize, including videotaped speeches by laureates. Gift shop sells "Nobel medals" that are big chocolate coins in stamped gold foil, great souvenir/gift. Adults 60 kr, students 40 kr, children 7-18 20 kr. 

• 🌍 Museum of Medieval Stockholm (Medeltidsmuseum). The displays the dawning age of Stockholm. Small and hard to find, it provides a good historical background to a visit to Stockholm. 

• 🌍 Postmuseum. Sweden's only postal museum. 

• 🌍 Swedish Parliament (Sveriges riksdag). Free entrance, guided tours in Swedish and English. 

• 🌍 The House of Nobility (Riddarhuset). Presents Swedish history from the perspective of the noble estate. Though most land in Sweden has been held by peasants, the nobility dominated the Swedish military. 

Norrström is a stream from Lake Mälaren to the Baltic Sea, passing by Helgeandsholmen islet, where the Parliament is located.

• 🌍 Storkyrkobadet, Svartmangatan 20-22 (T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. Open for men Tu F Su 05:00-20:30, for women M Th 05:00-20:30,closed during summer. A small secret hidden in what once was a wine cellar in the old town, where you can take a bath beneath 18th century vaults. Men and women cannot visit the bath together. Adults 40 kr, includes entrance to pool and sauna. Students and seniors 30 kr.. 

• 🌍 Musikvalvet Baggen, Svartmangatan 27. A cellar for intimate cross-genre concerts. The bar serves alcoholic beverages. 

• 🌍 Musikvalvet Brinken, Kåkbrinken 5. A second stage with the same concept. 

Christmas Fair at Stortorget, in front of the Nobel Museum.

Gamla stan has plenty of small stores selling souvenirs, art, handicraft and other items mainly geared towards tourists. Although there are a number of tourist traps with tacky, grossly overpriced merchandise, especially on Västerlånggatan, you can also find nice and interesting stuff. If you want a calmer experience, try Österlånggatan or any of the other streets.

• 🌍 Christmas fair (Stortorgets julmarknad), Stortorget. open daily 11:00-18:00 from late November to late December. A Christmas fair, 

• 🌍 The Science Fiction Bookstore (Science Fiction Bokhandeln), Västerlånggatan 48 (T Gamla stan). A bookshop selling science fiction, fantasy, horror, manga/anime, role-playing games, boardgames and popular science; a lot of it is in English. 

• Duka, Västerlånggatan 78, ☎ [phone]. Duka is a Swedish chain selling both cheaper household items and a limited selection of glassware in several stores in central Stockholm. 

• Nordiska Kristall, Österlånggatan 1, ☎ [phone]. Nordiska Kristall is a high-end shop for crystal design glass. 

During summer, Västerlånggatan is packed with travellers.

Evening restaurant dining in Gamla stan is quite expensive - expect to pay around 120 SEK for a starter and 250 SEK for a main course. Check the evening menu price rather than the boards outside - the prices displayed outside are often lunch offers only. In winter months restaurant kitchens seem to close at around 21:30, so dine early!

• 🌍 Aifur, Västerlånggatan 68. A Viking restaurant, branding itself as the only of its kind. Live Viking Age music. 

• 🌍 Hermitage, Stora Nygatan 11. Vegetarian restaurant. 

• 🌍 Shogun, Stora Nygatan 3. Opened in 1985, as Stockholm's first contact with the internationalized Japanese cuisine. 

• 🌍 Leijontornet, Lilla Nygatan 5 (T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. M-F 11:30-14:00, 18:00-22:00, Sa 18:00-22:00.. Leijontornet is a classical fine diner, and the main restaurant in this local chain. With the foundations of a city wall tower behind glass in the cellar dining room, Leijontornet is about exclusive food with a traditionalist slant in an exclusive historical environment. The street-level bar next door is a surprisingly vivid place with cheaper dishes from the kitchen. Three-course dinner 745 SEK. Mains in Leijonbaren 115-210 SEK.. 
  • 🌍 Pubologi, Stora Nygatan 20. A gastro-pub recognized by Guide Michelin, with mid-range prices. 
  • Djuret. Serves meat from one animal species, changing monthly. 
  • Svinet. A pork barbecue, open during summer. 
  • Tweed. A British-style high-end bar. 

• 🌍 Den Gyldene Freden, Österlånggatan 51 (T Gamla stan), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 17:00-23:00, Sa 13:00-23:00 (closed M in July and early August).. The members of the Swedish Academy (famous as the jury for the Nobel Prize in Literature) eat here every Thursday. Old traditions (traced back to 1722) in the old town. The reputation allows "The Golden Peace" to charge high prices. Mains 165-335 SEK, three-course menus 565-675 SEK.. 

• 🌍 Frantzén/Lindeberg, Lilla Nygatan 21. Two Guide Michelin stars. 

Drinks in Gamla stan are quite expensive - expect to pay around 60 SEK for a 500 ml lager in a cheap pub, rising to 95 SEK for a microbrew beer in a nice pub. If you like to drink a lot, it's worth heading further afield, and avoiding the tourist bars.

• 🌍 6e Tunnan (Sjätte tunnan), Stora Nygatan 43. Open until 03:00. Medieval bar and restaurant, with medieval food and mead, and a small heavy-metal bar at street level. Live performances most evenings, usually Medieval-style or rock music. 

• 🌍 O'Connell's Irish Pub, Stora Nygatan 21 (T Gamla stan). Open every day 12:00-01:00. This comfortable and cosy Irish pub serves excellent pub food and has live music most nights of the week. Be sure to check out the 400-year old cellar bar. 

Götgatan through Södermalm

In the 21st century, Södermalm has gained recognition from the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson. At times called "Stockholm's Montmartre", the borough has also earned a reputation of "hipness", making Financial Times' top list of destinations for 2014 and third place on Vogue's list of the world's coolest neighbourhoods.

Södermalm's main nightlife street is Götgatan. People traditionally go for a pub crawl along Götgatan, having one drink at each bar; not even the thirstiest drinker would be able to get through the whole street in one evening. On weekend nights, most bars along the street get crowded. The backstreet bars are calmer.

• 🌍 Almgrens sidenväveri, Repslagargatan 15. A silk workshop, still operating 19th-century machinery. 

• 🌍 Konsthantverkarna, Södermalms torg 4, ☎ [phone]. Art gallery. (updated Aug 2015)
• 🌍 Grafiska Sällskapet, Hornsgatan 6, ☎ [phone]. Gallery run by the Swedish Printmakers' Association. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Eriksdalsbadet, Hammarby Slussväg 20 (T Skanstull), ☎ [phone]. A public gym and swimming facility with both indoor and outdoor Olympic-size swimming pools. 

• 🌍 Victoria, Götgatan 67 (T Medborgarplatsen). On the lively Götgatan street, this beautiful 1930s theatre screens a broad variety of Hollywood blockbusters as well as old classic movies ranging from the birth of cinema and onwards. 

• 🌍 Catholic Cathedral (Saint Eric's Cathedral), Folkungagatan 46. Built in 1892 for the Church of Sweden. Since 1953, it serves as a cathedral for the Stockholm Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church (including all of Sweden). Most Catholics in Sweden are recent immigrants from countries such as Poland and Chile. 

Götgatan, a main street for shopping and nightlife.

Södermalm contains many stores for alternative, vintage and second-hand fashion.

Götgatsbacken, the northernmost section of Götgatan on Södermalm, is perhaps best known for its nightlife, but also has lots of clothes stores with different profiles, including a new, small shopping centre called Bruno (see section below).

• 🌍 Emmaus, Götgatan 14. Second hand store. 

• 🌍 Weekday, Götgatan 21 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 11:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-18:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Large assortment of the popular Swedish jeans Cheap Monday, which, surprisingly, is rather cheap. 
• Designtorget, Götgatan 31 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-18:00.. A design store specializing in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric. 

The district, the cleverly rebranded area south of eastern Södermalm's Folkungagatan, has lots of designer clothes and design shops, as well as cafés and restaurants

• 🌍 Whyred, Götgatsbacken 36 (at Bruno). Laid-back minimalistic designs in low-key colors, often with some interesting details. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Myrorna ([ˈmyːˌruɳa]), Götgatan 79. A second hand store run by the Salvation Army. 

• 🌍 Pet Sounds Records, Skånegatan 53 (T Medborgarplatsen). A record store with independent pop, alternative rock and other genres of music with more cred than chart placements. A real institution among Stockholm's music fans. 

• 🌍 Multi Kulti, S:t Paulsgatan 3 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. A small but well-stocked music store specialising in the genres popularly called "world music", with welcoming and knowledgeable staff. 

• 🌍 Weekday Götgatan, Götgatan 21 (T Hötorget), ☎ [phone]. Open M-F 11:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-18:00, Su 12:00-17:00. 

• 🌍 Ringen, Ringvägen 100 (T Skanstull). Open M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00.. Fashion, home decor, restaurants and more. 

• 🌍 Skrapan, Götgatan 78 (T Skanstull/T Medborgarplatsen).. A rather small shopping centre, opened in 2007, with a number of fashion stores and a rather diverse collection of other shops, in part geared towards the students living in the skyscraper on top. 

• 🌍 Bruno, Götgatan 36 (T Slussen). A very small indoor shopping centre with a handful of fashion stores focusing on street wear. 

• 🌍 Globen Shopping (T Globen), Arenavägen 45-63. M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Next to the Globe Arena, Globen. 

• 🌍 Muggen, Götgatan 24 (T Slussen). A mainstream café with modern design in a central Södermalm location. 

At Medborgarplatsen [ˈmeːdbɔrjarˈplatsən], there are several food wagons featuring street food from Greek to Polish. One can get fried calimari pita bread for 35 kr with a drink. Kabbas, falafa, bratwurst, Polish sausages are all under 50 kr, walking south on Skaraborgsgatan towards Globen are several more budget-priced kabba places. In Liljeholmen there are various small restaurants/cafés/sushi bars serving different kinds of food in Marieviken, the business quarter of the district. Mainly open at office hours. There are also some other cafés in Gröndal.

• 🌍 Jerusalem Kebab, Götgatan 59. A very simple kebab bar, with great value for small money. 

• 🌍 Chutney Bar & Matsal, Katarina Bangata 19. Offers a choice of vegan dishes for 88 kr. Self-service salad, water, fruit tea and chutneys are free. Often quite packed but it's normal to share a table with strangers here. 

• 🌍 Creperie fyra knop, Svartensgatan 4 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. Daily 17:00-23:00. Authentic French-speaking crêpes/galettes place. The place is often crowded and the service can be very French, in all senses of the word, but the food is excellent. Booking recommended. Mains 70-92 kr. 

• 🌍 Nystekt Strömming, Kornhamnstorg (T Gamla stan). Typical Swedish food, difficult to find elsewhere. Fried herring in all variants, e.g. with mashed potato. Just a small stand. Very good and quite famous! 

• 🌍 Pelikan, Blekingegatan 40 (T Skanstull), ☎ [phone], [phone] (Reservations). An old style working-class beer hall with a very authentic feeling, for those traditionalists who think Kvarnen has sold out in recent years. High noise level but quite a friendly crowd. Also offers simple and authentic Swedish food at a reasonable price. (including the famous köttbullar (meatballs)). The selection changes according to the season. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Gondolen ([gɔnˈdoːlən]), Stadsgården 6 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. A fancy and expensive restaurant run by the famous chef Erik Lallerstedt, in the peculiar 1930s elevator building Katarinahissen. There is an inexpensive branch named Köket in the same premises where you can eat the best of Swedish cuisine for considerably less than in the main dining room, although you'll miss out on the fabulous view of the city. Dress code may apply! Mains in main dining room 185-300 kr, tasting menu 650 kr. 

Medborgarplatsen

• 🌍 Akkurat, Hornsgatan 2 (T Slussen). Friendly English-style pub offering good food, real ale, plenty of beers from all over the world as well as 450 different whiskies. A place where younger and older drinkers meet. 

• 🌍 Indigo, Götgatan 19 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. A really small bar with an eclectic colour scheme, usually drawing a rather young crowd. This is a good place to start the evening. 

• 🌍 Oliver Twist, Repslagargatan 6 (T Slussen). Warm and cozy English-style pub offering good food, real ale, and other beers from around the world. 

• 🌍 Södra Teatern Bar, Mosebacke Torg 1-3 (T Slussen). Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, this very relaxed and stylish bar offers a marvellous view of Stockholm from its lounge. Be sure to come before 23:00 to get seats offering the best view. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Mosebacke Etablissement, Mosebacke Torg 3 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. In the same building as the Södra Teatern theatre and bar, this is a laid-back restaurant, bar and music venue. In the summer, its large beer garden with a panoramic view is extremely popular with Stockholmers and tourists alike. Indoors, you will find lots of clubs and live music in a wealth of genres, including brunches with live jazz on weekends 10:30-03:00. (updated Aug 2015)

Looking from Himmlen bar down Götgatan towards the Globen at dusk

Medborgarplatsen is a major nightlife hub. The outdoor seats are immensely popular during the warm seasons. The backstreets, such as Östgötagatan, are more calm.

• 🌍 Gröne Jägaren ([grøːnə ˈjɛːˈgaɳ]), Götgatan 64 (T Medborgarplatsen). A sport and karaoke bar with history back to 1692. There are several other places in the hood and you will probably find a seat. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Kelly's, Folkungagatan 49 (T Medborgarplatsen). Cheap beer, cider and shots for as little as 24 kr each. Minimum age of 23 to enter. Hard rock music and poor acoustics. You will blend in well if you wear black leather and tattoos. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Vampire Lounge, Östgötagatan 41 (T Medborgarplatsen). A small basement bar with atmospheric Gothic furnishing. Great cocktails. Gets crowded at weekend nights. 

• 🌍 Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4 (T Medborgarplatsen), ☎ [phone]. A beer hall with old traditions. Popular with fans of the football club Hammarby IF. In recent years this place has expanded, adding more modern, trendy bars in adjoining rooms. Has a wide selection of beers and food at decent prices. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Himlen, Götgatan 78 (T Medborgarplatsen), ☎ [phone]. Open M-Th 18:00-01:00, F-Sa 18:00-03:00. The landmark skyscraper on Götgatan used to house the offices of the Swedish Tax Agency. After major renovations, the building reopened in 2008, transformed into the unlikely combination of a small shopping mall, student apartments and, on the 25th and 26th floors, an exclusive-looking sky bar and restaurant offering visitors one of the most spectacular panoramas over the city. Enter from inside the Skrapan shopping center. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Scandic Malmen, Götgatan 49-51 (T Medborgarplatsen). A hotel bar with several rooms, good for large groups. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Södra Sällskapet, Åsögatan 111. Except a restaurant and a bar, the venue hosts the House of Comedy, Sweden's most active comedy club. Showtime Tuesday-Saturday at 20:00. 

• 🌍 Thai Boat, Östgötagatan 100. An outdoor boat bar, for fans of Thailand. 

• 🌍 Trädgården ([ˈtregˈoɖˌən] or [ˈtregoɳ]). A summer-only open-air nightclub, that is well worth a visit. (updated Aug 2015)

• • Under Bron. The winter equivalent, with alternative electronic music. 

• 🌍 Trädgården (The Garden), Hammarby Slussväg 2 (T Rådhuset). A popular summer club, probably owing much to the fact that half of the club (including one dance floor) is situated outdoors, since Swedes love to spend as much of their brief summers as possible outdoors. Not to be confused by the similarly named club in Södermalm. 

• 🌍 Slakthuset, Slakthusgatan 6. In Slakthusområdet ("the meatpacking district") is, with inspiration from the New York counterpart, a nightclub for alternative dance music. With very casual furnishing, the livestock blood has barely been washed off the walls. (updated Aug 2015)

• 🌍 Hilton Slussen, Guldgränd 8 (T Slussen), ☎ [phone]. International business hotel with an excellent view of the Old Town and the City Hall. Sleek and modern hotel, with professional, English speaking staff. Tremendous amount of choice from fresh fruit, to cereals, fresh waffles, pancakes, pastries for breakfast. Be sure to check out the interesting wood work displayed all around the hotel, various wood types are entwined with interesting room features. rates from 2190 kr. 

• 🌍 Clarion Hotel Stockholm, Ringvägen 98 (T Skanstull), ☎ [phone]. Lots of restaurants nearby, a walkway along the water, and a laid-back vibe all just outside the hotel's door. Huge hotel with over 500 rooms, but the friendly staff ensure that guests feel welcomed, and there's personalized touches to be had, such as automatic checkout via email and free internet. rates from 1860 kr. 

Globen

Globen seen from far away

• 🌍 Globen (Ericsson Globe), Globentorget (T Globen). It's just south of Södermalm, and claims to be the world's largest hemispheric building -- 110 metres across. The Globe has been one of the most eye-catching features of the Stockholm skyline since its inauguration in 1989. It is frequently used for ice hockey games but also for other sporting events, as well as concerts and galas. 

The area has two other arenas: the old-fashioned Hovet, and the 30,000-seat Tele2 Arena.

• • 🌍 Tele2 Arena. (T Globen/Skärmarbrink) A 30,000-seat stadium hosting football (soccer) rivals Djurgårdens IF and Hammarby, concerts and other sport events. 
  • Djurgården plays some of their ice hockey home games in Globen (the giant Stockholm Globe Arena) and others at the smaller, neighbouring Hovet, both Arenavägen (T Globen).
  • AIK plays their ice hockey home games at Hovet.
  • Stockholm International Horse Show. A major international indoor equestrian event, held annually in the Stockholm Globe Arena, featuring the World Cup in dressage, show jumping and World Cup Four in Hand driving. 
  • Stockholm Skyview. An elevator at the outside of the arena, to the very top, with a panoramic view of Stockholm. The ride lasts 20 minutes, and costs 130 kr for adults, and 100 kr for children and seniors. 

Stay safe

Though rather safe compared to other metropolitan centres, there are a few caveats for central Stockholm:

• Illegal street gambling, and begging, at Drottninggatan and other busy areas.
• The welfare institutions at Klara Church attract homeless people, as well as people with addiction problems or mental conditions. These might appear aggressive, but rarely cause trouble.
• Pickpocketing, especially at the Central Station, and in the metro.
• The T-Centralen subway entrance to Sergels Torg ("Plattan") is a well-known hangout for drug-dealers at night, however, this should not be an issue unless you are actively seeking trouble.
• Drunk violence at evenings, especially around nightclub lines. Nightlife in Medborgarplatsen usually gets wild, and police presence is irregular. Closing time (01:00 and 03:00) are worst.