Stockholm Main Street
The Stockholm Main Street is made up by three pedestrian streets in different districts: Drottninggatan in Vasastan and Norrmalm, Stora Nygatan in Gamla stan, and Götgatan on Södermalm. Together they make up a 5 km (3.1 mi) through Stockholm's most interesting venues for shopping, dining and nightlife, similar to the Axe historique of Paris.
| Walking tours in Stockholm |
Understand
[edit]
With the redevelopment of Norrmalm in the 1960s and 70s, pedestrian and bicycle traffic was put on exception in central Stockholm. From the 1990s, pedestrian routes have been restored, and by 2020 an extensive network of bicycle paths has opened.
Get around
[edit]The whole route is walkable with no staircases and light slopes, accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. There are a few crossings for road traffic. Car traffic from Sergels torg to Gullmarsplan is diverted to tunnels and highway bridges. While Gamla stan and Södermalm can be traversed by car, parking spaces are few, and driving is altogether impractical.
The green metro (tunnelbana) line runs parallel to the streets. Cycling is a practical option unless it is too cold and rainy. The passage through Slussen has some re-routing due to construction until 2025. Northern Götgatan has a steep slope, which does not deter seasoned cyclists.
Stockholm has a fleet of rental electric bicycles and scooters. They have seen increasing regulation, with speed limits in the inner old town.
Upper Drottninggatan
[edit]- See also: Stockholm/Vasastan and Hagastaden
Drottninggatan is a pedestrianised street from the Observatorielunden park to the Riksbron bridge to Gamla stan. The section north of Kungsgatan is the most interesting, with independent cafés, restaurants and stores.
Vasastan has plenty of restaurants, most in the mid-range bracket, many in ethnic style. They are usually crowded by office workers during lunch break (from noon to 13:00).
- 1 Stockholm Odenplan Station. The Odenplan metro station is one of the city's oldest. The artworks are modest.
A commuter rail (pendeltåg) station at Odenplan below ground opened in 2017, with controlled atmosphere and contemporary art.
- 1 Stockholm Public Library (Stadsbiblioteket), Sveavägen 73 (T Rådmansgatan). Built in 1928 and designed by the famous Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund, the interior of the cylinder-shaped main hall is spectacular, with three floors of bookshelves covering 360 degrees of circular wall. Books (fiction and non-fiction) are available in many languages, including English and German.
- On the cliff above the Library is the old Stockholm Observatory, which has a fine view of the city to the east. There is also a small café.
- 2 Gustaf Vasa kyrka. A neo-Baroque church built in 1906. One of Stockholm's largest churches, with frequent concerts.
- 3 Astrid Lindgren's home. Astrid Lindgren, one of the world's most read writer of children's books, lived in this Stockholm apartment from 1941 until her death in 2002. Reservations only.
Mst of Stockholm’s second-hand record shops are clustered in the area between Odenplan and St Eriksplan. Most are open M-F 11:00-18:00, Sa 11:00-15:00. Some examples (starting from the Odenplan end) are:
- 1 Omega Records, Upplandsgatan 47.
- 2 Stockholms Skivbörs, Upplandsgatan 47.
- 3 Nu och då, Norrtullsgatan 31. Second-hand store.
- 1 Tennstopet, Dalagatan 50 (T Odenplan). High-end Swedish cuisine.
- 1 Tranan, Karlbergsvägen 14 (T Odenplan). A brasserie-style restaurant opened in 1929, with a dark downstairs bar that is popular Vasastan hangout, with a mixed crowd. Occasional live music.
- 2 K Karaoke, Odengatan 87. A karaoke bar.
- 3 RoQ, Gyldéngatan 2. A game pub with vintage arcade games and pool tables.
- 2 Kafé Himlavalvet. A café at the old observatory.
- 4 Strindbergsmuseet, Drottninggatan 85. Dedicated to fin de siècle writer August Strindberg.
- 4 Inferno (T Rådmansgatan). A part of the Norrmalm bar scene, Inferno takes its name from a semi-autobiographical novel by one of Sweden's most famous authors, August Strindberg, who lived in the building from 1908 to his death in 1912.
- 1 Centralbadet, Drottninggatan 88. A classical bath-house in one of Stockholm's most beautiful art nouveau buildings, this is a place where you can go for a swim, have a beer in the sauna bar or enjoy a full spa treatment. Rather expensive and sometimes crowded on weekends. Cover charge includes pool, jacuzzi, gym and saunas.
- 2 Skandia cinema, Drottninggatan 82. This 1850s building houses a 1920s cinema designed by Erik Gunnar Asplund, and is considered a hallmark of Swedish Grace.
- 5 Adolf Fredrik's church (Adolf Fredriks kyrka), Holländargatan 16. Adolf Fredrik's church, named by King Adolf Fredrik, was built in 1768-1774. The exterior is quite intact, while the interior was radically changed in the 1890s. In the church, there is a monument to the philosopher René Descartes, who spent his last years in Stockholm tutoring Queen Christina, until dying of pneumonia. The church is known for the grave of Prime Minister Olof Palme, who was assassinated in 1986. The grave can be found just to the south of the church building.
- 3 Skandia cinema, Drottninggatan 82. This 1850s building houses a 1920s cinema designed by the Stockholm Public Library architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. A beautiful and intimate setting.
- 5 Kristall, Kungsgatan 56. A three-floor nightclub.
- 3 Kungshallen, Kungsgatan 44. Food court in the basement with a wide variety of ethnic foods, across the street from Hötorget. Mostly good value.
Lower Drottninggatan
[edit]- See also: Stockholm/Norrmalm
Between Kungsgatan and Sergels Torg you will find the Åhléns department store, as well as flagship stores for some national and international fashion chains, including several H&M stores.
The area around Sergels Torg is dominated by mainstream fashion shopping, with several H&M stores. Alternative clothing stores can be found further north. Restaurants in Norrmalm are usually crowded by office workers during lunch break (from 12:00 to 13:00). Á la carte dining can be rather costly; expect to pay more than 120 kr for a hot lunch, and more than 250 kr for a dinner.
- 4 Stockholm Concert Hall (Stockholms konserthus). The home stage of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the place of the annual Nobel Prize ceremony.
- 4 Gamla Brogatan. A pedestrian street with all kinds of alternative fashion stores, including punk, thrasher and Japanese street fashion.
- 6 Haymarket by Scandic. A 1920s style hotel, with a jazz-themed bar. The building used to host a department store.
- 4 Hötorgshallen, Hötorget. Deli market in the basement of the cinema Filmstaden Sergel. Here you can get everything from sushi via meze to Swedish meatballs. Most places offer good value for money.
- 5 Åhléns City, Klarabergsgatan 50. A mid-market department store with a good selection of designer clothing brands. Also beauty products, kitchenware, interior design, as well as everything else you would expect from a major department store.
- 6 Sergels torg. Stockholm's busiest city square. The black-and-wine Harlequin concrete floor was laid in the 1960s. For decades, the place had bad reputation for drug-dealing and violence; a redevelopment of the street level finished in 2018. The square is a natural meeting point, attracting thousands of people daily for meet-ups, political protests, flash mobs, and retailing.
- 5 Space, Sergelgatan 2. A convention centre and video gaming arena with temporary exhibitions and events. Until 2024 they feature an interactive exhibition dedicated to the Swedish music producer Avicii, also known as Tim Bergling.
- 7 The House of Culture (Kulturhuset), Sergels torg. Kulturhuset is operated by the city, and a venue for art exhibitions and performances. The building also houses the Stockholm City Theatre, a library (with a comic book department) and a teen activity centre.
- 8 Dansmuseet (the Dance Museum), Drottninggatan 17. Displays objects related to concert dancing.
- 9 Mediterranean Museum (Medelhavsmuseet), Fredsgatan 2. Contains ancient artefacts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, with a distinguished collection from Cyprus, and an Egyptian mummy exhibition.
- 10 Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (Konstakademien), Fredsgatan 12. Holds several works from Nationalmuseum. Free.
- 11 Galleri Magnus Karlsson, Fredsgatan 12. A small, local gallery showcasing local artworks.
- 6 Gallerian, Main entrance: Hamngatan 37. Stockholm's oldest shopping mall, which undergoes a redevelopment to finish in 2019. A showcase of many of Sweden's major mainstream fashion chains as well as some foreign brands such as Topshop/Topman, French Connection, Esprit and United Colors of Benetton.
- 7 Indiska, Drottninggatan 53, Slöjdgatan 11. South Asian style: interior design and clothes.
- 8 Weekday, Drottninggatan 63. Young fashion and street wear. Large assortment of the popular Swedish jeans Cheap Monday, which, surprisingly, is rather cheap.
- 9 Punkt Shop, Sergelgatan 13. A small store for alternative youth fashion (rock, punk, hip-hop), simple accessories, and novelty T-shirts.
- 10 Lagerhaus, Drottninggatan 31-37. Interior design in cool retro style.
- 11 Designtorget, Sergelgatan 20. A design store specializing in smaller furnishing items.
- 12 Buttericks, Drottninggatan 57. A 1903 store for party supplies, costume rental, and practical joke devices.
- 5 Cafe Panorama, Sergels torg 3. Kulturhuset's fifth floor. A large café with large windows and a nice open terrace overlooking the lively Sergels torg.
- 6 F12, Fredsgatan 12 (T T-Centralen). The stylish F12 (short for the centrally located address) is regarded as one of the best fine dining experiences in Stockholm by most critics, including White Guide, the most ambitious Swedish restaurant guide.
- 7 Tak, Brunkebergstorg 4. A rooftop bar with a Japanese fusion restaurant, and an astounding 360 degree view of Stockholm.
- 8 Moyagi, Brunkebergstorg. Karaoke bar.
Stora Nygatan
[edit]Gamla stan [gamlaˈstɑːn], the Old Town, also known as Staden mellan broarna ("the town between the bridges") is the Old Town in Stockholm, containing genuine cultural heritage, as well as tourist traps. Adjacent islands are Helgeandsholmen, with the Swedish Parliament, and Riddarholmen, with several nobility palaces, today occupied by various government functions. You can seek out the great events through the Stockholm history tour, and the great architecture with Stockholm quay palace tour.
Evening restaurant dining in Gamla stan can be more expensive than in outer districts. Check the evening menu price rather than the boards outside - the prices displayed outside are often lunch offers only. In winter months restaurant kitchens seem to close at around 21:30, so dine early! Drinks in Gamla stan are not cheap. If you like to drink a lot, it's worth heading further afield, and avoiding the tourist bars.
Stora Nygatan (Great New Street) is accessible by bicycle and wheeled vehicles, and has a wide range of art galleries, stores, restaurants, and bars.
Västerlånggatan is the traditional main street, flanked by beautiful historic buildings. The northern part of the street sell overpriced stereotypical souvenirs. In the southern part, there are stores for genuine jewelry and Swedish craft. The restaurants can be a bit overpriced. Västerlånggatan is not part of this route, as visitors are likely to end up on the street anyway.
- 12 Parliament's democracy exhibition, Mynttorget. The Swedish Parliament celebrates 100 years of universal suffrage through a display window exhibition.
- 13 Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), Trångsund 1 (next to the Royal Palace, T Gamla stan). Storkyrkan is the oldest church in Gamla stan. Originating as a 13th century Gothic structure, the exterior was remodelled in Baroque style around 1740. The church is the seat of the Church of Sweden bishop of Stockholm. It contains two pieces of famous artwork: the 15th-century wooden statue of Saint George and a copy of the oldest known image of Stockholm, Vädersolstavlan ("The Sun Dog Painting"), a 1636 copy of a lost original from 1535.
- 14 Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet). At times referred to by Swedes at the "Royal Castle". Built between 1697 and 1754, and the official residence of the king of Sweden, though he lives at Drottningholm in Ekerö, using the Royal Palace only for official ceremonies. Open to the public unless being used for a state ceremony. Tickets to The Royal Apartments, the Tre Kronor Museum, the Treasury, and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities. The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren) is an independent museum in the same building.
- The Royal Guards, Högvakten, used to consist of conscripts. Today, all Swedish soldiers are professional. A ceremonial changing of the guard occurs during June-August, as well as during major holidays, with the Mounted Guards arriving from Östermalm.
- 15 Swedish Parliament (Sveriges riksdag). Free entrance, guided tours in Swedish and English.
- 9 Stampen, Stora Gråmunkegränd 7. A jazz club with daily live performances.
- 13 Comics Heaven. A comic book store.
- 14 Sound Pollution. A music record store with a large selection of hard rock music.
- 7 Slingerbulten. Traditional Swedish restaurant.
- 16 Galleri Cobra, Västerlånggatan 58. Art gallery.
- 15 The Science Fiction Bookstore (Science Fiction Bokhandeln), Västerlånggatan 48 (T Gamla stan). A bookshop selling science fiction, fantasy, horror, manga/anime, role-playing games, boardgames and popular science; a lot of it is in English.
- 16 Gamla stans polkagriskokeri, Stora Nygatan 44. A candy factory.
- 8 Aifur, Västerlånggatan 68. A Viking-themed restaurant, branding itself as the only of its kind. Live Viking Age music.
- 17 Snö of Sweden, Västerlånggatan 53. A concept store for a Swedish jewelry brand.
- 9 Hermitage, Stora Nygatan 11. Vegetarian restaurant.
- 10 Pubologi, Stora Nygatan 20. A gastro-pub recognized by Guide Michelin, with mid-range prices.
- 11 Frantzén/Lindeberg, Lilla Nygatan 21. Two Guide Michelin stars.
- 10 6e Tunnan (Sjätte tunnan), Stora Nygatan 43. Open until 03:00. Medieval bar and restaurant, with medieval food and mead, and a small heavy-metal bar at street level. Live performances most evenings, usually Medieval-style or rock music.
- 11 O'Connell's Irish Pub, Stora Nygatan 21. This comfortable and cosy Irish pub serves excellent pub food and has live music most nights of the week. Be sure to check out the 400-year-old cellar bar.
- 12 Michelangelo Ristorante, Västerlånggatan 62. Italian restaurant.
- 13 Nystekt Strömming, Kornhamnstorg. Typical Swedish food, difficult to find elsewhere. Fried herring in all variants, e.g. with mashed potato. Just a small stand. Very good and quite famous!
- 14 Mammut Bar, Västerlånggatan 60. A rock bar.
- 12 Engelen, Kornhamnstorg 59. Restaurant and bar with live music every evening.
- 15 Tasty America, Triewaldsgränd 3. American groceries, sweets and soft drinks for homesick travellers.
- 16 Bacchi Wapen, Järntorgsgatan 5. A cabaret restaurant, today replaced by O'Leary's.
Götgatan through Södermalm
[edit]The steep hills of northern Södermalm has an eclectic blend of 18th century wooden cottages, industrial buildings and modern homes, and is sometimes compared to Montmartre. See Södermalm heights tour.
Södermalm has earned a reputation of "hipness", making Financial Times' top list of destinations for 2014 and third place on Vogue's list of the world's coolest neighbourhoods[dead link].
In the 21st century, Södermalm has gained recognition from the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson.
Södermalm contains many stores for alternative, vintage and second-hand fashion. Södermalm's main nightlife street is Götgatan. People traditionally go for a pub crawl along Götgatan, having one drink at each bar; not even the thirstiest drinker would be able to get through the whole street in one evening. On weekend nights, most bars along the street get crowded. The backstreet bars are calmer.
- 17 Stockholm City Museum (Stadsmuseet i Stockholm), Ryssgården. This building was finished in the 1660s, as Stockholm's Southern City Hall. Over the centuries, it has been used as a courthouse, a jail, an anatomic theatre, and a school. Since 1942 it is a museum, displaying Stockholm's history from 1523 to present day, with special attention to construction and architecture, and activities for children. The museum organizes walking tours.
- 17 Gondolen (Katarinahissen). A 1936 elevator renovated in 2023 leads to an outdoor skybridge, and a panorama restaurant.
- 13 Hilton Slussen, Guldgränd 8 (T Slussen). Business hotel with an excellent view of the Old Town and the City Hall. Be sure to check out the interesting wood work displayed all around the hotel, various wood types are entwined with interesting room features.
- 14 Akkurat, Hornsgatan 18 (T Slussen). Friendly English-style pub offering good food, real ale, plenty of beers from all over the world as well as 450 different whiskies.
- 15 Freyja, Hornsgatan 18. A rooftop restaurant with an outdoor bar, providing an astounding view of Stockholm. Established 2023.
- 18 Almgrens sidenväveri, Repslagargatan 15. A silk workshop, still operating 19th-century machinery, and a silk museum.
- 19 Konsthantverkarna, Södermalms torg 4. Art gallery.
- 20 Grafiska Sällskapet, Hornsgatan 6. Gallery run by the Swedish Printmakers' Association.
Götgatsbacken, the northernmost section of Götgatan on Södermalm, is perhaps best known for its nightlife, but also has lots of clothes stores with different profiles, including a new, small shopping centre called Bruno (see section below).
- 16 Oliver Twist, Repslagargatan 6. Warm and cozy English-style pub offering good food, real ale, and other beers from around the world.
- 18 Emmaus, Götgatan 14. Second-hand store.
- 19 Weekday, Götgatan 21. Large assortment of the popular Swedish jeans Cheap Monday, which, surprisingly, is rather cheap.
- Designtorget, Götgatan 31 (T Slussen). A design store specializing in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric.
- 20 Whyred, Götgatsbacken 36 (at Bruno). Laid-back minimalistic designs in low-key colors, often with some interesting details.
- 21 Bruno, Götgatan 36. A very small indoor shopping centre with a handful of fashion stores focusing on street wear.
- 22 Skrapan, Götgatan 78. A rather small shopping centre, opened in 2007, with a number of fashion stores and a rather diverse collection of other shops, in part geared towards the students living in the skyscraper on top.
- 23 Myrorna ([ˈmyːˌruɳa]), Götgatan 79. A second-hand store run by the Salvation Army.
- 18 Medborgarplatsen [ˈmeːdbɔrjarˈplatsən]. Several food wagons featuring street food from Greek to Polish.
- 19 Creperie fyra knop, Svartensgatan 4 (T Slussen). Authentic French-speaking crêpes/galettes place. The place is often crowded and the service can be very French, in all senses of the word, but the food is excellent. Booking recommended. Mains 70-92 kr.
- 17 Indigo, Götgatan 19 (T Slussen). A really small bar with an eclectic colour scheme, usually drawing a rather young crowd. This is a good place to start the evening.
Medborgarplatsen is a major nightlife hub. The outdoor seats are immensely popular during the warm seasons. The backstreets, such as Östgötagatan, are more calm.
- 20 Max Medborgarplatsen, Götgatan 41. The Swedish hamburger chain which has run several McDonald's out of competition. In 2019 they opened in the middle of Södermalm, with a terrace overlooking Medborgarplatsen, as well as a vegan menu offered by no other restaurant.
- 18 Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4 (T Medborgarplatsen). A beer hall with old traditions. Popular with fans of the football club Hammarby IF. It has modern, trendy bars in adjoining rooms, and a wide selection of beers and food at decent prices.
- 19 Scandic Malmen, Götgatan 49-51 (T Medborgarplatsen). A hotel bar with several rooms, good for large groups.
Sofo
[edit]The district[dead link], the cleverly rebranded area south of Folkungagatan, has lots of designer clothes and design shops, as well as cafés and restaurants.
- 21 Catholic Cathedral (Saint Eric's Cathedral), Folkungagatan 46. Built in 1892 for the Church of Sweden. Since 1953, it serves as a cathedral for the Stockholm Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church (including all of Sweden). Most Catholics in Sweden are recent immigrants from countries such as Poland and Chile.
- 6 Victoria, Götgatan 67 (T Medborgarplatsen). On the lively Götgatan street, this beautiful 1930s cinema screens a broad variety of Hollywood blockbusters as well as old classic movies ranging from the birth of cinema and onwards.
- 21 Jerusalem Kebab, Götgatan 59. A very simple kebab bar, with great value for small money.
- 22 Chutney Bar & Matsal, Katarina Bangata 19. Offers a choice of vegan dishes. Self-service salad, water, fruit tea and chutneys are free. Often quite packed but it's normal to share a table with strangers here.
- 20 Gröne Jägaren ([grøːnə ˈjɛːˈgaɳ]), Götgatan 64. A sport and karaoke bar with history back to 1692.
- 21 Kelly's, Folkungagatan 49. Rock bar with cheap beer, cider and shots.
- 22 Himlen, Götgatan 78. The landmark skyscraper on Götgatan used to house the offices of the Swedish Tax Agency. After major renovations, the building reopened in 2008, transformed into the unlikely combination of a small shopping mall, student apartments and, on the 25th and 26th floors, an exclusive-looking sky bar and restaurant offering visitors one of the most spectacular panoramas over the city. Enter from inside the Skrapan shopping center.
- 23 Södra Sällskapet, Åsögatan 111. Except a restaurant and a bar, the venue hosts a comedy club.
- 23 Pelikan, Blekingegatan 40 (T Skanstull). An old style working-class beer hall with a very authentic feeling, for those traditionalists who think Kvarnen has sold out. High noise level but quite a friendly crowd. Also offers simple and authentic Swedish food at a reasonable price, including Swedish meatballs. The selection changes according to the season.
- 24 Ringen, Ringvägen 100 (T Skanstull). A shopping mall for fashion, home decor, restaurants and more.
- 24 Haqet, Ringvägen 108. Swedish street food.
- 7 Eriksdalsbadet, Hammarby Slussväg 20. A public gym and swimming facility with both indoor and outdoor Olympic-size swimming pools.
- 24 Thai Boat, Östgötagatan 100. An outdoor boat bar, for fans of Thailand.
- 25 Clarion Hotel Stockholm, Ringvägen 98. Lots of restaurants nearby, a walkway along the water, and a laid-back vibe all just outside the hotel's door. Huge hotel with over 500 rooms, but the friendly staff ensure that guests feel welcomed, and there's personalized touches to be had, such as automatic checkout via email and free internet.
Globen
[edit]Johanneshov is a neighbourhood with Slakthusområdet, the meatpacking district, and the stadium cluster around Globen.
- 25 Sjöstaden Skybar (Sthlm 01). A restaurant on the 28th floor with an astounding view of Stockholm.
- 26 Slakthuset, Slakthusgatan 6. In Slakthusområdet ("the meatpacking district") is, with inspiration from the New York counterpart, a nightclub for alternative dance music. With very casual furnishing, the livestock blood has barely been washed off the walls.
- 8 Globen (Avicii Arena), Globentorget (T Globen). It's just south of Södermalm, and claims to be the world's largest hemispheric building -- 110 m across. The Globe has been one of the most eye-catching features of the Stockholm skyline since its inauguration in 1989. It is frequently used for ice hockey games but also for other sporting events, as well as concerts and galas.
- 9 Tele2 Arena. A 30,000-seat stadium hosting football (soccer) rivals Djurgårdens IF and Hammarby, concerts and other sport events.
- Stockholm Skyview. An elevator at the outside of the arena, to the very top, with a panoramic view of Stockholm. The ride lasts 20 minutes.
- 25 Globen Shopping (T Globen), Arenavägen 45-63. A shopping mall.
Stay safe
[edit]Though rather safe compared to other metropolitan centres, there are a few caveats for central Stockholm:
- Illegal street gambling, and begging, at Drottninggatan and other busy areas.
- The welfare institutions at Klara Church attract homeless people, as well as people with addiction problems or mental conditions. These might appear aggressive, but rarely cause trouble.
- Pickpocketing, especially at the Central Station, and in the metro.
- The T-Centralen subway entrance to Sergels Torg ("Plattan") is a well-known hangout for drug-dealers at night, however, this should not be an issue unless you are actively seeking trouble.
- Drunk violence at evenings, especially around nightclub lines. Nightlife in Medborgarplatsen usually gets wild, and police presence is irregular. Closing time (01:00 and 03:00) are worst.
Go next
[edit]- The Stockholm environmentalist tour describes Stockholm's sustainable development.
- Hop on the overnight ferry to Helsinki and walk along Mannerheimintie.
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