Stockholm

Good to know

1. 1The old town, Gamla stan, sits on a small island and has narrow cobbled lanes and buildings that go back to the Middle Ages. Stortorget, its main square, is the oldest part.
2. 2The Vasa Museum holds a warship that sank on its first voyage in 1628 and was raised from the harbour in the twentieth century. It is one of the best preserved ships of its age anywhere.
3. 3Swedes take fika seriously, which means a break for coffee and something sweet, often a cinnamon bun. It is as much a social habit as a snack.
4. 4The Stockholm archipelago has tens of thousands of islands and skerries, and many are reached by regular boat from the city centre.
5. 5Sweden uses the krona, and the country is so far along in card use that many places barely handle cash.
6. 6The Nobel Prizes are linked to the city, with the ceremony and banquet held here each December, and there is a museum about them in Gamla stan.

Tips for a first visit

• Buy a travel card or use a contactless bank card or the transport app for the metro, buses, trams and local ferries, so you do not need to hunt for paper tickets.
• Bring a card rather than cash, since many cafés, shops and even small stalls do not accept notes and coins.
• Try a cinnamon bun at a café, and look for classic dishes such as meatballs with lingonberry jam or pickled herring.
• Queue politely and take a number where there is a ticket machine, as Swedes expect orderly turns in shops and at counters.
• Take off your shoes if you are invited to someone's home, and arrive on time, as punctuality is valued.
• Leave time for a boat trip out among the islands, even a short one, because the water is a big part of what the city is.

When to go

Summer, from June to August, has long light evenings and outdoor life along the water, though the sun sets very late and the city can feel quiet around midsummer when many locals leave. Autumn brings colour in the parks and cooler, crisp days, while winter is dark, cold and cosy, with candles in windows and Christmas markets. Spring is fresh and changeable, and the days grow longer quickly.

From the airport

Most visitors arrive at Arlanda, the main airport, about forty kilometres north of the centre. The Arlanda Express train is the fastest way and takes roughly twenty minutes to the central station, and regional trains and airport coach buses also run to the centre, taking somewhat longer. Taxis are available too, and the trip by road usually takes about half an hour depending on traffic.