Stockholm, a large cosmopolitan Northern metropolis where simple Scandinavian lifestyle meets the art-infused history of the Swedish Empire, is the ideal city to spend an unmatched 48 hours.
Make your plans considering the four main parts of the city. Get to know Stockholm slowly in the morning by touring Drottninggatan and Plattan Squares in the city center. Then, head to Gamla Stan (Old City) through Drottninggatan Street. Gamla Stan is one of more than 40.000 islands that form Stockholm and it is in the heart of the city. The island connects to the city center and Södermalm, the trendiest district in the city, via bridges. The Royal Palace and the Parliament House welcome you to Gamla Stan. From across the bridge that connects Drottninggatan to Gamla Stan, you can see the famous Stockholm City Hall (where the Nobel Gala dinner is held every year) which is on the Island of Kungsholmen. For lunch, cross the Slussen locks and walk towards hipster Södermalm, the city’s most popular district. There are many restaurants here but make sure to try the dessert Prinsesstårta.
After visiting the vintage shops and Fotografiska museum in Södermalm, hop a boat to the outer islands. Home to local summerhouses by the blue sea, these islands of all shapes and sizes are further proof that you are in Scandinavia. For dinner, you can try Operakällaren, one of the most important and popular places in the city. Keep in mind to make a reservation.
For the next day, start with Östermalm, the country’s fashion and finance center. Walk along Strandvägen «beach road » to reach Vasa Museum in Djugärden. The ship named Vasa displayed here sank in 1628 and was pulled out of the Stockholm canal in 1961. Catering to a variety of palates, Saluhall Food Market is frequented by gourmets. You can reach the market in Östermalmstorg crossing the Sturegallerian passage. The building in which the market is housed since 1888 is being renovated.
Visit some of Stockholm’s metro stations which are one gigantic work of art with more than 90 stations. Karlaplan is an aesthetically pleasing venue surrounded by trees with a pond in the middle. You can see locals riding their horses in the middle of Karla Vagen Street. Make Berns Salonger your last stop in the city.
