Stockholm, Sweden

Having a Swede-sational time!

We had a great time exploring parts of Norway. For my next destination, I chose Stockholm, Sweden. Neighboring Norway meant that I had an easy flight. And, it was a great option since after experiencing nature and hiking I wanted a chance to engage in some city exploring. Sweden has a lot to offer and countless places to explore, but I only had a few days so I picked their capital Stockholm. Stockholm had the added bonus of being home to one of my good friends, so I got to explore a new country while sharing time with friends..

Hotel:

Hotel C Stockholm: The hotel is centrally located and you can walk to almost everything, from shopping centers to museums and restaurants. But, Stockholm is not a small city so there are neighborhoods that you probably would still need to get an Uber or taxi to visit. The hotel provides breakfast with a variety of options. Rooms are a great size with lots of space and storage. One of the coolest things (both literally and figuratively) about this place is its Ice Bar. You should definitely visit it. It’s small, freezing cold, and pretty interesting. The drinks are served in glasses made of ice! Even with the thick jacket and gloves they give you to wear, it was cold! And, don’t forget to make reservations. The place gets packed!

Restaurants: 

Mister French: this place is a little bit on the fancier side. The food presentation is great, but the food itself is not super amazing. It is tasty though. We had a quick lunch and drink here.

Malarpaviljongen: a really cool and hip place to have drinks and socialize. Many young people come here to hang out and chill. They do serve food as well. It's an outdoor bar/lounge that stretches into the bay and sports an amazing view. I would definitely visit again.  

Tak Rooftop Bar: another great place. As the name indicates, it is a rooftop with a view of the entire city, offering great food and small dishes to enjoy with your drink. More for socializing than a sit down restaurant. 

Stockholm Under Stjärnorna: is also located on a rooftop and is connected to Tak. Even though they are accessible, you unfortunately cannot take your drink from one side to the other. 

Hallwylska: another great outdoor place for drinks and food. It has a cool entrance that reminds you of being in Rome by the Trevi Fountain. We tried some appetizers here, and they were delicious.

Urban Deli Nytorget: when we visited the Nytorget neighborhood, most shops and restaurants were closed. Summertime seems like an ideal time to visit Stockholm because of the sunny weather, but many shops and restaurants close when the owners go on vacation. We had lunch here, and it was super fresh and healthy. Totally loved it.

Sturehof: My friend who lives in Stockholm recommended this. She said it's where the locals go. It is famous for its variety of seafood dishes. Their food was pretty tasty. We had a great table with a street view where we could listen to live music. Make sure to ask for a table by a window.

Vete-katten: super famous pastry and coffee shop that you must visit. There is a mouth-watering array of options. We each picked something different so we could share and sample.

The Hairy Pig Deli Ab: a hidden gem and a definite must go. It is super small and easy to miss. We were just passing by, and as soon as we stepped in, we knew we had to eat here. We got a few different dishes with a bottle of wine. It was one of the best times we had in Stockholm. 

Restaurant Babette: this restaurant is famous for its pizza. They only make 4 different kinds, but they do an extraordinary job.

At night, we visited as many bars and lounges as we could. They are all interesting and each has its own own unique atmosphere. I would recommend bar hopping and maybe enjoying a drink or two by the bay.

Sightseeing:

you can spend days in Stockholm, visiting museums and amusement parks and shops. However, we had only a few days and needed to carefully plan our itinerary.

Stortorget Gamla Stan: full of shops and restaurants, it is a great place to walk and explore. There are two sides to this area. One side tends to attract tourists, while the other side is more of a local hang out place. I would say simply walk the streets and enjoy yourself. Have fun with the souvenir stores and cute little shops. 

Djurgården Vasa Museum: I only like art museums, but our hotel concierge told us we had to visit the Vasa Museum. It is a museum of a ship that sank in Stockholm in 1628, and it is the most well-preserved 17th century ship in the world. A unique experience.

The Palace: I have seen many great and impressive palaces around the world. This one was far simpler and less ornate than the palaces in Russia, for example. There are museums inside so it's a good place to visit. This place is the official residence of the royal family of Sweden.

I enjoyed my time in Stockholm and it was a unique experience. Would I go back again? Any country, city, or town is worth a visit, and Stockholm definitely was. But, I think one visit was enough, I would go back to Sweden, but I would visit another part of the country.