Didn’t win a Nobel prize last year? Sorry to hear that… but don’t worry you can still visit Stockholm this winter. Our Daily Scandinavian team introduces the Swedish capital and its hotspots.
When this year’s Nobel laureates will be announced later this year, the Nobel Banquet will be arranged in Stockholm as usually in the second week of December where the winners will honored. But, perhaps a trip to Sweden’s capital should also be your next Scandinavian travel destination. Stockholm is an eclectic blend of old and new, the traditional and ultra-modern. By day, the cobbled streets of the medieval Gamla Stan and the beauty of the City Hall, Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral await.
By night, some of Europe’s best nightlife is at your feet. Stockholm is a metropolis built on fourteen islands, the most central of which, Gamla Stan, is the oldest settlement in the city. Dating back more than three quarters of a millennium, it hosts beautiful, winding, cobbled streets, lined with small cafes, art galleries and shops filled with handicrafts and antiques. One can get lost among the maze of alleys, medieval churches and quaint squares. Gamla Stan also plays host to two of Stockholm’s greatest attractions, the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral.
Food and drink is a big part of any city’s culture and Stockholm is definitely no exception. Relax while getting your fix of fika – a Swedish colloquialism for sharing a coffee and a chat at leisure. The Swedes are marathon coffee drinkers, on average drinking 4.5 cups each a day, and indulging in something sweet with a cup of your favourite brew has become something stereotypically Swedish.
Swedish cuisine is also a must try while in the city and favourite establishment of Stockholm locals is the Pelikan, located on Sodermalm. With hearty helpings of traditional home-cooked food at a reasonable price and a beer hall on site, one can see why the restaurant attracts so many locals.
Being a city sprawled across many islands, the water is an integral part of the beauty of the capital and having a drink or a meal on one of the many converted boats is a unique attraction.
Having now secured its name as one of Europe’s trendiest and most fashionable cities, Stockholm has the nightlife to match and with endless beautifully designed bars and clubs, there is something for everyone. One sight not to be missed is the Icebar, kept at a chilly -5 degrees celsius, you are guaranteed a cool experience in every way. Everything inside the Icebar is made from ice except the beverages contained within the ice glasses but don’t worry about catching a cold, every guest is provided with a warm cape and gloves to ensure comfort.
If you want to catch some live jazz in exquisite surroundings, the sleek and cool Berns Club is the place. Decked out in beautiful art nouveau style, with many bars and cafes inside and internationally renowned artists year round, Berns is possibly the coolest place in the city of style – Stockholm.
For the rockers among us, Debaser Slussen and Debaser Medis are the places to be, boasting impressive indoor and outdoor areas and the widest variety of alternative music in the city, from pop-rock to hardcore.
For the classic nightclub feel, Sturecompagniet, the biggest club in Stockholm, with its beautifully converted interior, huge dance-floor and many bars is the place to be seen for the young, hip and trendy on a Saturday night in Stockholm.
Compiled by the Daily Scandinavian team