Stockholm City

The city of Stockholm proper is the capital of the county of the same name and, with just under 800,000 inhabitants, the largest city in Scandinavia. Founded relatively late by Swedish standards, in the 13th century, Stockholm’s prominent location where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea soon made it the Swedish state’s leading city. Ongoing land uplift has continued to change the city’s geographical conditions since its founding. Today, Stockholm lies on 14 islands in Lake Mälaren, which stretches 120 kilometres inland to the west and flows into the Baltic Sea via Riddarfjärden on a gentle gradient. For ships, the city lock, spectacularly covered over in the 1930s and known as “Slussen”, provides a passageway.

Around thirty percent of the city’s area is made up of water, and woodland also covers a large part of the city. This exceptionally close-to-nature character is one of the city’s particular attractions for visitors. Its metropolitan character is confined to a few streets, repeatedly interspersed with rocky shores, green spaces and water. In 1994, a large part of the city, together with neighbouring municipalities, was designated the “Eco-Park”, a National City Park. Stockholm’s growing international appeal as a holiday and tourist destination is also due to its many sights. Foremost among them is the Vasa Museum. A warship that sank within the city in the 17th century is displayed here, making the museum unique internationally. Since it was raised in the 1950s, the ship has been carefully preserved and reconstructed.

Other internationally renowned attractions in Stockholm include the Royal Palace, with its several museums, in the historic old town of “Gamla Stan”, which is located on an island; the German Church; and, on neighbouring Helgeandsholmen, the Parliament Building and the Medieval Museum. On the island of Djurgården are the open-air museum Skansen, the Nordic Museum, Liljevalchs Art Gallery and, last but not least, the Gröna Lund amusement park. The Nobel Prizes are awarded each year in the Blue Hall of Stadshuset, Stockholm’s City Hall.

Within the city itself are numerous outdoor swimming areas, marinas for pleasure boats and piers for sightseeing cruises to Lake Mälaren or the Stockholm archipelago. The ferry terminal on Södermalm is the departure point for major ferries to Helsinki, Mariehamn in the Åland Islands, Turku, St Petersburg and Tallinn. Stockholm is one of the most important centres for holidays along the entire Baltic coast. With accommodation ranging from hotels and holiday homes to campsites, as well as a wide range of leisure activities, it can meet every tourist’s needs.