When in Stockholm
Sweden's largest municipality and capital, Stockholm is a vibrant city full of different sights and places to go.
It has become an increasingly fashionable city with travellers and the country's importance as a major force in the European Union has helped Stockholm to increase its international prestige, lifting it in the esteem of foreigners.
A visit to the city itself only reaffirms that position, as Stockholm is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and welcoming feel for visitors. Although it is not one of the cheapest countries to visit, it is one of the most enjoyable and staying in Stockholm provides ample opportunity to enjoy some Scandinavian hospitality.
One of the most striking things about Stockholm is the amount of water it contains. Due to the fact that the city has been carved out and created over the centuries by the ebbing and flowing of the Baltic Sea, Stockholm has become a truly beautiful and unique geographical entity. The city has as much water as Venice and one of the main reasons that Stockholm is such a diverse city is because water has divided it up into various sections, each with its own distinctive personality. While many cities are artificially separated into specific areas, few have been hived off by nature in the way Stockholm has, meaning that very few cities can be said to have as distinctive separations as the Swedish capital.
At one end of the scale, there is the remote heights of Söder and Gamla Stan. These areas contained some of the earliest settlements in Stockholm and date from the Middle Ages. Down below lies the impressive woods of the Djurgarden area, while nearer the heart of the city Stureplan offers a Mecca for shoppers.
The city has become increasingly cosmopolitan over the past few years and as such there is a wide range of places to eat, drink and spend some time. From the typical and traditional small places to grab a bite at lunch, to more upmarket and sumptuous offerings, Stockholm can provide something for everyone, as the newer, trendy establishments intermingle with the old favourites of the city.
With such a cosmopolitan vibe, it is perhaps no wonder that the city has become the gay and lesbian capital of Scandinavia and the city's annual Pride festival is a wonderful outpouring of colour, music and fun, which reflects the city's own confident nature.
The Swedish capital – which is also called the "capital of Scandinavia" by patriotic locals – has a number of important and impressive castles and palaces situated in and around the city. Drottningholm palace, for example, is a beautiful residence and has been the home of the Swedish Royal Family since 1982. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage list, the building was begun in 1662 and is truly a palace fit for royalty. Despite the presence of the Royals at the palace, it is open during the summer months and it can be accessed by boat, making for an even more impressive arrival.
However, it is difficult to beat the Royal Palace, in the heart of the old town section of Stockholm, for its impressive appearance. It has been in existence for over 1,000 years and it still acts as the offices of the Royal Family, despite the King having switched his family's home to Drottningholm.
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Introduction
