Culture

Culture.

Overview

Spread across 24,000 islets and laced with numerous waterways on the southeastern coast of Sweden, Stockholm enjoys one of the most stunning locales of any capital city in the world. Over 30 percent of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30 percent is made up of parks and green spaces, giving Stockholm perhaps the freshest air and widest lungs of any European capital.

This natural oasis is complemented by the stunning Old Town, which has been very well preserved over the centuries. This Old Town (or Gamla Stan) is the epicenter of the city, with countless hotels, bars, restaurants and shops all prospering - as people in these historical streets have done for centuries.

Away from the charms of the Old Town, the modern city showcases the neat and innovative design standards for which Sweden has become globally renowned. Much of Stockholm's present-day wealth comes from the new light industries, such as information technology and computing, with world leading companies often occupying prime real estate in the city centre or filling up the new business parks on the city fringes.

All this is a far cry from the city's humble beginnings, which stretch back to the 13th century and Birger Jarl - generally accepted as the founder of the city, although various settlements previously existed on the site. The city grew up around the Old Town, as Stockholm emerged as a key trading center with influence all over the Baltic Sea region and further afield.

Today, Stockholm is a thriving modern European city that exudes confidence in its strengths and abilities at all levels, be they financial, cultural, social or gastronomic.

During the seemingly endless days and bright sunshine of the summer months, the city's chic boutiques and stylish pavement cafes overflow with affluent, fashion-conscious people who enjoy the culture and lifestyle that has earned the Swedish capital rave reviews from Europe's style magazines.

Stockholm's ethnic make-up is, perhaps surprisingly, very eclectic, with over 15 percent first-generation immigrants and over 100 languages spoken in the city. This increasing diversity has infused the city with a renewed vigor and energy, as the various incoming cultures interact with the indigenous one.

A quintessential Stockholm summer night is spent bathed in warm sunshine, sitting at a restaurant by the water's edge, savoring fresh seafood plucked straight from the waters around Stockholm, before taking advantage of the midnight light and heading out for a night around the Stureplan, in some of Europe's trendiest bars.

When the long winter does come, it is not all Nordic gloom - the locals head for the sanctuary of the cozy pubs that line the city. Stockholm has almost as many restaurants per capita as Paris does, as well as 150 or so museums and galleries, so there is always plenty to do when the winter chill sets in. Then there are the severe winters when many of the waterways around the city freeze up, making ice skating around one of the world's most stunning capital cities a unique experience.

Tourist Information

Stockholm is an easy city for tourists to navigate, as its centre is largely flat and strolling around is a pleasure. For journeys further afield, there is an excellent public transport system with trams, underground trains, buses and ferries servicing all areas of the city and the surrounding towns and villages.

The focus of Stockholm sightseeing is around the Gamla Stan (or Old Town), which boasts many historical buildings, tourist shops and cafes, as well as the impressive Royal Palace - the largest royal palace still in use in the world. North of the Old Town is the main part of the more modern city, whose districts are home to numerous attractions, such as the impressive City Hall, the Museum of National Antiquities and the Strindberg Museum.

Across the water, via ferry, is Djurgården - a playground with a funfair park, Stockholm Zoo and Sweden's most visited museum, the Vasa Museum, which is home to a 17th-century galleon that has been impressively raised from the chill waters of Stockholm's harbor.

Many museums are closed on Mondays. The city has recently gained a reputation for stylish shops, bars and restaurants, making it the Scandinavian capital of cool. Beyond the centre of the city, some 24,000 islands and rocky islets in the Stockholm Archipelago wait to be explored.
Tourist Information
Stockholm Tourist Centre
Sverigehuset (Sweden House), Hamngatan 27
Tel: (08) 5082 8508.
Website: http://www.stockholmtown.com/
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 1000-1700 and Sun 1000-1600. Closed 24-25 Dec and 1 Jan.

There is also a tourist office at Stockholm's central station.
Passes
The Stockholm Card (Stockholmskortet) gives free public transport within Stockholm, free sightseeing by boat and free admission to 75 museums and attractions (including the Royal Palace, the Museum of National Antiquities and the National Museum) as well as free parking at municipal parking meters and other special offers and benefits. You can buy the pass at tourist centres, at the City Hall and at hotels, youth hostels and kiosks throughout the city. The Stockholm Card is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours.

Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) (tel: (08) 600 1000; website: http://www.sl.se/) offers 24-hour, 72-hour and seven-day travelcards for Greater Stockholm. These cards are available from SL Centres at several metro stations, in the lower hall at the Central Station and in the ticket halls of T-centralen station at Sergels Torg.