Cultural highlights in Stockholm and beyond
The capital of Scandinavia is home to a wide array of world-class exhibitions, festivals, galleries, and concerts. Cultural Stockholm will offer you no less than 70 museums, 57 theatres, almost 100 movie theatres, and over 120 art galleries, and that’s without mentioning the subway system: one giant art gallery.
Architectural and cultural gems
Dating back to the 13th century, Stockholm's Old Town is a must-see during your city break. Stroll through the picturesque, cobbled streets of the islands of Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg and admire their many colourful buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Don't miss ‘Stortorget' the main square, Stockholm Cathedral (‘Storkyrkan’) and the nearby Royal Palace.
Some of the capital’s other architectural must-sees include the City Hall – a leading Swedish piece of national romanticism in architecture, the Stockholm Public Library created by Gunnar Asplund and a great example of Swedish Grace style, the Woodland Cemetery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ArkDes – the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design – located on Skeppsholmen.
For a perfect day trip all year round focusing on culture and architecture close to Stockholm, head to the towns of Sigtuna and Uppsala. Located north of the capital, both cities are easily accessible via public transport.
- Sigtuna: Founded in AD 980, this is Sweden’s first town. Walk along its cobblestone streets and its almost 1,000-year-old main street 'Stora gatan', dotted with modern and traditional boutiques. For a deeper understanding of this old city, visit the Sigtuna Museum.
- Uppsala: Take a walk through the city to soak up its unique atmosphere. Some of the city’s architectural highlights are Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala Castle, the Jewel, Humanistiska teatern, and of course Linnaeus’ Museum and Garden where you will get to know the 18th-century botanist Carl Linnaeus’ work.
Must-visit museums
When it comes to culture, Stockholm offers a wide range of experiences. Design galleries, modern museums, palaces, events – the city has it all. Moderna museet, Nationalmuseum and Fotografiska are among Stockholm’s most famous and popular museums.
The island of Djurgården is home to a wide range of top-class museums. To name a few: the open-air and kids-friendly museum Skansen, the interactive and pop ABBA The Museum, the Museum of Spirits (‘Spritmusem’) and the not-to-miss Vasa Museum next to the impressive Nordic Museum ('Nordiska Museet') – Sweden's largest cultural history museum.
Recently (February 2022) the Avicii Experience, an interactive museum dedicated to Swedish icon Tim Bergling, a.k.a Avicii opened at Space, a digital cultural centre in the heart of Stockholm. Looking for some extra tips? Check out these top lists: design must-sees, under-the-radar museums and museums with free admission.
If you’re planning to travel to the county of Sörmland, you should go on a castle-safari and visit some of the 400 castles, estates, and farms in the region.
Want to bring design and handcraft souvenirs back home? Head to the luxurious Svenskt Tenn, the emblematic shopping centre NK or Åhlens City, and check the following shops for more ideas: Svenskt Hemslöjd, Iris Hantverk, Designtorget, and Skansen shop.
