Åhléns City is a large department store in the city centre of Stockholm from a large department…read morestore chain as Åhléns has locations in almost every city in Sweden to the point they have 18 stores in its' capital, Stockholm alone and Åhléns are also the fourth largest group of fashion retailers in Sweden. Unusual for a chain department store, it is notable enough to have its' own Wikipedia page on the Swedish website and it was sadly the sight of the terrorist attack on Stockholm in 2017 which means it is also blue-graded by the Stockholm City Museum, which corresponds to the requirements for building memories in the Cultural Heritage Act. The store is pretty large - it is actually the largest in the Åhléns brand to the point this store alone makes up 20% of the company's revenue according to reports and it is a pretty decent store mainly for fashion and home - there isn't a great deal of food and drink here but there is a Joe's Juice Bar inside the department store, which seems to be common at many Åhléns locations including ones located in shopping malls around Stockholm County. The selection of beauty brands is much better than other department stores, especially other Åhléns locations. A pretty good store and a large department store, it might not be as impressive as NK nearby and lack a decent food selection but it is one of the two great department stores in the city centre of Stockholm and that surely warrants a four-star rating.

Kind of a hard store to figure out. The signs by the escalator are in Swedish so we got off where…read morethere were things we wanted to see. On an upper floor there are Swedish jigsaw puzzles and more upscale souvenirs but you have to roam to find them. On a lower floor where the T is, they have cheaper cosmetics including a Swedish brand, Isadora which is supposed to be good. There is an Apotek (pharmacy) on that same floor. One floor below that is a grocery, Hemkoft, which is quite large and pretty reasonably priced and good quality. I found it enjoyable just walking around and seeing products that are different than what you would find in a Macy's in the U.S..

There's nothing quite like the NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) in the US anymore. The NK is to Sweden what…read moreStockmann is to Finland, sitting self-confidently at the top of the national retail market. The NK has top local and international brands. With a selection unrivaled in Sweden and impeccable customer service, the store attracts a decidedly upper-scale urban local segment. It claims 12M visitors p.a., including the random foreign business traveler like me. Joseph Sachs' founding vision was to make NK 'commercial and cultural theater.' The vibe at the NK is what I imagine Saks was like in '50s New York. Let's call it earnest coolness. There's more of an emphasis on quality workmanship and active curation of wearable fashion (rather than couture) brands like Peak Performance, Ralph Lauren and Gant. Less so the likes of YSL or Prada.

One of two NK locations, which stands for Nordiska Kompaniet - NK is a huge, grand, old department…read morestore in the centre of Stockholm - it opened in 1902, 38 years after the only other NK store which is also in Sweden, in Gothenburg. The store has so many areas specialising in different things from food to beauty - many of which have their own names, making a mini shopping mall with different parts of the store having their own Yelp listings - it would have been nice to see a technology section here similar to modern department stores, however. The store is step-free, apart from the grand main entrance which has steps going both up and down. This store is even worth visiting just for the grand nature and beautiful architecture which is remarkable and surely stands out in its' location, close to tram/bus services and T-Centralian. There wasn't a great deal of staff around the floor, other than those who might work for the individual stands within NK rather than the mall its-self and the store can be a little difficult to navigate at times due to its size- surprising for a high-end department store that employs 1200+. A remarkable, impressive department store just to walk around for the look and feel of the store alone - bare in mind it is pretty high-end and affluent, like a Swedish Selfridges. 4*

Who doesn't love Muji?! I first discovered this brand when I lived in New York city. When I first…read moremoved here to Stockholm I was excited to see that there was one here too! For those who don't know this place, It's kind of like an itsy bitsy Japanese Ikea with even more of an emphasis on minimalism and recycling. Apparently, their website says that "The name Muji is derived from the first part of Mujirushi Ryōhin, translated as No Brand Quality Goods" which is why you won't see a logo on any of the products in the store. Recently, the store has moved up several floors to a new more desirable location inside of T-centralen's Åhléns department store. Before, it was a little cramped and small down near the basement Subway entrance. I'm guessing that's why I had forgotten about this little treasure for a while! I happy to see that It's grown in size and feels more elevated in it's current spot. The whole floor this store now sits on in Åhléns has also been changed to be all kitchen and housewares as well. If your looking for some unique household and consumer goods this is your place! I really liked their wide selection. Everything was ascetically pleasing and at a low price point. I seriously recommend visiting here if you haven't already seen it!

I can be very picky about my backpacks, and I've tried a number of brands (Filson, Frost River,…read moreDuluth, and more). Right now, my go-to backpacks for exploring far off lands are the Sandqvist Forest Hike and a Sealand X DHL Stormers from South Africa. It's hard to explain, but both offer the right design combination of pockets, zippers, and compacity. My Forest Hike replaces another Sandqvist backpack that I carried for years on Earthwatch Expeditions. And just when I was planning the next one to the Mackenize Basin within the NWT, it gave out. As I happened to be in Stockholm around that time (off a nearby cruise ship), I was very pleased to be walking down the street and seeing the their Flagship Store and Studio. That visit was invaluable in trying on and picking my next Sundqvist backpack. I got to try it out in the Canadian wilderness for a solid 10 days and it performed like a champ. It has more capacity than my Sealand, which I use as more of a day pack. At the same time, more Sandqvist backpacks are tempting me, particularly anything in their Hike series. But alas, there is a difference between "need" and "want".

I always wanted to visit a Sandqvist store because I had only seen some of their products in other…read moredepartment stores. I finally got to and it was just lovely. Their bags may be more on the expensive side but that's because they will last you a long time. They are durable and stylish. Also the staff was SO friendly we talked for about 15 minutes and they told me the story behind Sandqvist which was really interesting. The store is also super modern and cool which I loved. If you're in Stockholm go to a Sandqvist store! It's a Swedish company, Swedish design and it's great!

I am in general a fan of Clas Ohlson. If you are not familiar with the store they carry a little…read morebit of everything so you can find screws, light bulbs, umbrellas, bags, kitchen appliances, frames, bikes and a great many other things you did not even know you needed (or perhaps did not even know they existed). I. Short they have a lot of stuff and often I am searching for something for my home and I am thinking who would sell that I tend to check with Clas Ohlson. This location on the uppermost floor of Liljeholmstorget mall is however not a favorite as it is slightly disorganized and often a bit too crowded and lines to pay or often long. Still I am fan of the concept so go here frequently.

Stockholm's downtown shopping center, this is the spot to see and be seen. Dominated by the IKEA…read moreCity at one end but full of everything you expect in a shopping mall - women's fashion, sporting goods, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, men's wear, housewares. And lots of food options like coffee, paninis, frozen yogurt and ice cream, more coffee. Several restaurants around, too. The shopping plaza does have a dedicated parking lot in the lower levels. [Review 18690 overall - 25 in Sweden - 2213 of 2022.]

Gallerian is one of two (I think?) malls in the city-owned by AMF Real Estate alongside MOOD…read moreStockholm, ( an area which is also dominated by two large Westfield malls) - inside it is pretty modern and cool as it was rebuilt in 2011 after it originally opened in 1976 and 2004. The mall was the first major indoor centre in Stockholm's inner city and has since been followed by several. It was with the establishment of the Galleria in Stockholm that the "mall" became an expression of glazed shopping malls. It does have a strange layout however and some parts of the mall aren't as nice as others - I went in through a Victoria's Secret / Starbucks building where I had to go down in the lift and past H and M before going into the area - at first you wouldn't know you were in the mall, rather than a passageway of shops - it was confusing and non-branded, but other entrances into the mall are rather prominent and bold. Many other stores do exist here, including big names who are flagship retailers here: Nike, Hollister, Superdry, Ecco and MediaMarkt. - There's also a Clas Ohlson. One of the food areas looked great and included the hilariously named, Bastard Burgers. It might not have the greatest selection of stores compared to other malls in Stockholm and it's website (planning before you come) might also lack, but this is one of the better malls in the city centre, supported by MOOD Stockholm from the same owners which is a couple of minutes away offering a totally different shopping experience - I just feel the two places complement each other really well. 4* - A good, modern shopping mall and one of the best malls in central Stockholm although the selection of retailers and everything else surely can't compare to the out of town malls sadly, but that shouldn't take away this is a pretty cool place which I was able to get to on foot from the Old Town (Parliament and Royal Palace) and Central Station in such a short walk.