Stockholm is one of Europe’s most memorable cities, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with its insanely good looks at first glance. But what is Stockholm known for?
When you walk the streets of Stockholm, you’ll quickly notice that it’s home to some of the world’s most creative minds. Its welcoming nature has made it a popular destination for expats, many of whom come to work for one of the capital’s many innovative startups.
The winters are rough, but you will find plenty of activities to do year-round.
Stockholm has been the breeding ground for some of the world’s most successful artists, too, and we can’t ignore the stunning nature that’s within touching distance of the city center. Simply put, life in Sweden’s biggest city isn’t too bad.
Now that you’re no doubt keen to learn more about what the Swedish capital is known for, let’s jump in. We’ll discuss various facts about Stockholm, plus more.
What is unique about Stockholm?
Stockholm has a distinct feel that no other city can replicate, and it’s hard to put a thumb on what exactly causes that. Nonetheless, we’ll give it our best shot. Below are some of the most unique factors that make the city as dynamic as it is.
Water
If Stockholm has a single feature you cannot ignore, it’s undoubtedly how you’ll see water almost everywhere in the city center. Its nickname is the “Venice of the North” for a very good reason.
Stockholm’s city center is built across 14 islands; some of the main ones include Gamla Stan, Djurgården, and Skeppsholmen. The very word “holm” means “islet” or “little island” in English.
To ensure that Stockholm runs as efficiently as it does, the city has 57 bridges connecting its various islands. If you visit, you can take a tour that goes under some of the most important ones — and lets you take in Stockholm’s beauty from an even better position than land.
You will also find a network of ferries included in the Stockholm public transport network.
Stockholm is built on Lake Mälaren, which eventually molds into the Baltic Sea as you head toward Finland and the Baltic States.
Architecture
Looking good is relatively easy when you’ve got pretty surroundings, but Stockholm has only added to its appeal with a wide selection of stunning architecture.
Gamla Stan is the star of a thousand postcards, and we’ll discuss this part of the city later. As you wander its cobblestone streets, you’d be forgiven for feeling like you’ve stepped back in time to a different era.
However, Gamla Stan is only one example of interesting architecture in Stockholm. One of the city’s most famous buildings is its city hall, which sits nicely on the tip of Kungsholmen. The structure was designed in the 20th century and has a pleasant courtyard — plus views of the city from its park.
You will also find another example of pushing the limits in the Norrmalm district with Kungstornen. These two structures tower over the streets below, and they were erected following the end of World War I.
Other famous buildings in Stockholm include:
- Stockholm’s public library
- Riksdagshuset
- The Five Towers
- Norra Tornen
Stockholm has a dedicated council that fights to ensure that the skyline isn’t spoiled by skyscrapers that don’t fit in well with the overall cityscape.
The Stockholm Metro
From an efficiency perspective, Stockholm has one of Europe’s best metro systems. You can reach several corners of the city via its color-coded lines, all of which feed into T-Centralen. But beyond its practicalities, Stockholm’s system of underground trains is also a photographer’s dream.
Many refer to the Stockholm metro as the world’s longest underground gallery. And if you’re willing to explore, you’ll quickly discover why. The city has several well-decorated stations, all of which you can access with the price of a public transport ticket.
Some of the must-see Stockholm metro stations include:
- Stadion (accessible from Line T14)
- Odenplan (accessible from Lines T17, T18, and T19)
- Kungsträdgården (accessible from Lines T10 and T11)
- Solna Centrum (accessible from Line T11)
You can purchase metro tickets from booths at major stations and the SL smartphone app.
The largest city in the Nordic region
If you’re unfamiliar with Janteloven, it’s a somewhat universally-adopted law in each country that forbids bragging and thinking you’re more important than others.
How did Stockholm respond with its catchphrase?
“The Capital of Scandinavia”.
Probably a bit longer to go before it’s completely universal, then.
Theoretically, Stockholm can stake a strong claim for being the capital of Scandinavia. After all, it’s the largest city in the Nordic countries.
The city itself has a population of around 980,000, and it’s likely to hit the one million mark within the next couple of years. As for the metropolitan area, around 2.2 million people call this part of Sweden home.
Stockholm isn’t particularly big compared to other major European cities. For example, around 3.5 million people live in Berlin; Madrid has roughly 3.4 million, and just over 9 million people live in London.
However, few other Nordic cities can compete in terms of size.
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is the second-biggest city in the Nordics; around 800,000 people live here. Oslo is the third-largest, with just over 700,000 residents, and Helsinki (c.629,000) is fourth.
Is Stockholm the best city in Scandinavia?
Now that we’ve covered some of the most important Stockholm facts, we can move on and discuss other parts of the article. One common question asked is whether Stockholm is the best city in Scandinavia. You need to consider several factors, so the answer is subjective.
If we look at the cost of living, Stockholm is — by and large — less expensive than Copenhagen and Oslo. The Norwegian capital can compete in terms of natural surroundings, but Stockholm’s archipelago — more on that later — is hard to beat.
While the Swedish capital does have a lively nightlife scene, you could probably argue that Copenhagen’s is much better. Danish alcohol laws are more relaxed, and you won’t find as many places that require a strict dress code. Moreover, bouncers in Denmark are typically quite laid-back.
All Scandinavian capitals have excellent public transport networks, and Stockholm is bike-friendly during the summer months — but nowhere near the same level as Denmark’s capital.
Stockholm tussles with Copenhagen with fashion and locals in both cities have an excellent dress sense. The two cities also compete fiercely with baked goods; Stockholm and Copenhagen have countless fantastic bakeries.
We’d probably say that Copenhagen is the most well-rounded Scandinavian capital, and it’s also edgier than the other two cities. Nonetheless, they’re all great places to visit.
What is Stockholm famous for?
If you’re an outsider looking in, you’ll probably have preconceived notions about what you could expect from a trip to Stockholm. Many of them are probably not far from the truth, and we’ll talk about some of the most commonly-associated things with Sweden’s capital below.
Being the capital of Sweden
Even if someone knows nothing else about Sweden, they’ll almost certainly have heard of the capital before. Stockholm is Sweden’s main hub for multiple sectors, including banking, government, and culture.
Stockholm is larger than Gothenburg, which has a population of 625,000 and is the second-biggest city in Sweden. The country’s third-biggest city is way in the south; Malmö has 330,000 inhabitants and forms part of the wider Øresund Region with Copenhagen, Sjælland, and the rest of Skåne.
Design
Let’s be honest — we couldn’t write an article about one of the world’s most design-savvy countries without mentioning its capital. Stockholm is home to many innovative designers who have made a name for themselves with the standard minimalism that’s so popular throughout Scandinavia.
If you visit Stockholm, you’ll find plenty of places to kit up your home. And if you ever visit a Swede’s house, you’ll quickly notice that they know a thing or two about making interiors look good.
If you plan to move to Stockholm and you’re interested in interior design, STHLM Design District is worth checking out.
Fashion
Even if you’re big into fashion, you might find it a little intimidating to see how many well-dressed people walk the streets of Stockholm. It’s not surprising that Stockholmers have such a good dress sense; the capital is home to some of the world’s most famous clothing brands.
From Tiger of Sweden to Filippa K, you’ll find many designers worth checking out when visiting the Swedish capital. And if you want to get involved and join the fun, the city is home to several department stores — all of which stock most of Sweden’s top clothing brands.
Islands
While you’ll find beautiful nature throughout Sweden, you don’t need to venture too far from the capital if you don’t want to. The Stockholm Archipelago is one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful groups of islands, and you could easily spend a week or so island-hopping.
The Stockholm Archipelago has over 20,000 islands, islets, and skerries — and you can take a tour to enjoy the scenery. If you want to take the ferry to Finland, your boat will sail through these on the way to Åland.
Some of the best islands in the archipelago include:
- Vaxholm
- Grinda
- Svartsö
- Ljusterö
You can also reach the archipelago by ferry, but your standard Stockholm public transport pass won’t cover the journey. Check out Waxholmsbolaget for more information.
Music
Stockholm is a buzzing place to be if you’re in one of the creative fields, and Swedes are particularly good at trying new things. An openness to all opportunities has led to many people, especially in the capital, trying their hand at music — and to great effect.
ABBA is one of the most famous examples; the world-renowned pop group originated in Stockholm in the 1970s and was the first Swedish winner of Eurovision. Other famous examples of musicians from the Swedish capital include Avicii and Robyn.
Many Swedes from other parts of the country have also moved to Stockholm to further their careers before going global.
Gamla Stan
If you’ve ever typed “Stockholm” into a Google search, you will almost certainly have seen pictures of Gamla Stan before. Stockholm’s Old Town is the star of a thousand postcards and Instagram feeds, and it’s impossible to not want to grab a snapshot of its main square or make instagram reels online for yourself.
While Gamla Stan is quite touristy, it’s hard to blame people for wanting to visit. You can easily escape the crowds by taking a detour and wandering off one of the island’s many picturesque side streets.
Gamla Stan is the starting point of Stockholm; the city began its journey into a dynamic European capital all the way back in 1252.
Food
When you think of award-winning global cuisines, Sweden is probably not the first country that comes to mind. But if you choose to completely disregard it, you’ll miss out on a lot of pleasantries. So, what else is Stockholm known for? Food, in short.
Stockholm is an ideal place to sample authentic Swedish meatballs, and you’ll find various innovative spinoffs throughout the city as well. With so much water around, you won’t be surprised to hear that it’s also an excellent place to sample excellent seafood either.
The Swedish capital has a significant international community, and you’ll find tastes from all over the world in Stockholm. Malmö arguably has better falafels, but you’ll still have various places to give them a try in the capital. Other cuisines worth checking out include Thai and Italian.
Work-life balance
Is it possible to live in a big city but not endure a stressful life? If you visit any of the Scandinavian capitals, you’ll quickly learn that the answer is a resounding yes. And if you ever decide to accept a job offer and move to Stockholm, you’ll enjoy some of the best work-life balance in the world.
Swedes enjoy generous maternity and paternity leave when they have a child, and working hours are lower than in most parts of the world. Many individuals in the workplace regularly take a break during the day, too, which we’ll describe in further detail shortly.
Sweet treats
With so many sweet treats around, it’s a mystery to many how the Swedes stay in such good shape. When you’re in Stockholm, you will find several sugary delights worth savoring — including the cinnamon and cardamom buns you’re probably used to seeing on your Instagram feed.
Stockholm has plenty of bakeries offering the treats listed above, and you might want to consider braving the cold to visit around February. Why? Because of Semla buns, of course. These cream buns are only available around this time of year, and you won’t regret getting one.
Another unique Swedish sweet is the princess cake, known locally as “prinsesstårta”. With a green outer layer, it closely resembles a Victorian sponge cake.
Midsummer
Stockholm compensates for its long winters with glorious summers, and most of the time, you’ll have more stable weather than in other parts of the Nordics. On the longest day of the year, the Swedish capital enjoys over 18 hours of daylight — and it doesn’t truly get dark.
While many Swedes head to the countryside for midsummer, it’s still worth sticking around in the capital. You’ll find plenty of festivities, such as various parties throughout the city. Of course, you’ll need to remember that many attractions are shut — since it’s a public holiday.
Technology startups
Stockholm’s nickname as the Silicon Valley of Europe is perhaps a little exaggerated, but it’s impossible to deny that the city has enjoyed its fair share of success in the tech startup world. You probably know all about Spotify and its journey to music streaming dominance began in Sweden’s capital.
Far from being a one-hit-wonder, Stockholm is home to several other companies — such as the buy now, pay later service Klarna. Other examples include Epidemic Sound, a royalty-free music service for online creators, and the popular health app Lifesum.
Coffee
The Swedes, like their other Nordic companions, take coffee very seriously. Many Stockholmers drink multiple cups of coffee daily, and you won’t struggle to find a cozy café to spend a few hours in when walking around the city.
Many people in Stockholm drink coffee as part of their “fika” (pronounced “fee-ka”) break, which is effectively a short break to take in life. It’s often accompanied by a cinnamon bun, but it doesn’t have to be. Similarly, you can “fika” on your own if nobody wants to join you.
Several cafés in Stockholm will give you a free refill when you buy filter coffee.
Museums
If we look at what Stockholm is known for, we’d have to add museums to the conversation. The city has several intriguing cultural institutions, and you’ll almost certainly find something that meets at least one of your interests.
Perhaps the most impressive museum is the Vasa Museum, which features a huge ship that sank in the waters of Stockholm centuries ago. Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum, is also well worth a visit if you want to see an example of the Sweden of yesteryear.
Also worth checking out is the Nordic Museum, which celebrates Northern European heritage with several fascinating exhibitions.
You can save money when visiting multiple museums by purchasing the Stockholm city pass.
Stockholm Syndrome
One of the main reasons that people have heard of Stockholm is because of the term “Stockholm Syndrome”. It was originally coined in the 1970s when a group of armed robbers held multiple people hostage in a five-day standoff at Kreditbanken on Norrmalmstorg.
The term involves hostages becoming bonded to their captors, and scientists and doctors have studied the phenomenon for decades since. It has also been used in several popular TV series and movies.
Lingonberry
While Stockholm is a modern European city, its population shares a lot of similar cultural values with people in other parts of Sweden. Among those is a love for all things lingonberry; if you ever visit a person’s apartment in Stockholm, you’ll probably find jam of this kind on a shelf in their fridge.
Lingonberry is also used with meatballs, and you can buy jars of the stuff at pretty much any souvenir or grocery store in the city. You can also go foraging for lingonberries around Stockholm, but you’ll have better luck doing so in the country’s north.
Fun Stockholm facts
- Stockholm’s population is relatively equal in terms of gender split, with 49.9% males and 50.1% women.
- Stockholm is served by four airports: Arlanda (the main one), Bromma, Västerås, and Skavsta — which is in Nyköping and roughly 100 kilometers south of the city.
- Stockholm has the world’s first city national park. Djurgården, Brunnsviken, Haga, and Ulriksdal all form a part of this.
- The highest natural point in Stockholm is Skinnarviksberget, which is 53 meters high. If you go to the top, you can enjoy a stunning view of the downtown area.
- Stockholm is home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Drottningholm Palace.
- The Vasa ship sank in 1628, having sailed for around 1.3 kilometers on its maiden voyage. The ship wasn’t recovered until 1961.
- The average annual temperature in Stockholm is 7.3ºC, which is around 45.1ºF. Summers are pretty warm, while winters are frequently cold and snowy.
- Stockholm is around an hour away from both Copenhagen and Oslo by plane. You can also get a high-speed train from the Danish capital.
- The official language in Stockholm is Swedish, but English is widely spoken.
- The World Economic Forum reported that JLL ranked Stockholm as the 20th most innovative city in the world in 2022, and the city was 11th in terms of talent concentration.
What is Stockholm known for? In short: a lot
You’ll find plenty of fun facts about Stockholm, and getting to know the best of them is a good idea if you want to make the most of your trip to Sweden’s capital. The largest city in the Nordics is a hub of innovation, and you’ll find plenty of cutting-edge businesses taking their ideas global.
Stockholm offers a high quality of life for those thinking about moving to Sweden, and you’ll almost certainly become partial to a few fika breaks when living here.
On top of that, you can also balance a prosperous career with a fulfilling family and social life — something that’s incredibly difficult in many countries.
Before you move to Sweden, you must remember that it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Understanding the cons will help you deal with challenges that might arise; we’ve listed the benefits and drawbacks of moving to Sweden here.
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
