If you visit Stockholm, you MUST take a boat tour. Even if you use a different company, make sure…read moreyou get out on the water because the views are absolutely mindblowing. Being from Minnesota, the area actually really really reminded us of our own national treasure, the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. The landscape looks very similar and I'd guess (though I haven't looked at a map) that the two areas are similar latitude wise so that probably makes sense. The thing that was most surprising to us is that here at home, we have to drive six hours north almost into Canada to reach our favorite wilderness area, and here in Stockholm, you can be out on the water and enjoying nature in under half an hour from downtown (which is really urban and you can't even see the water). It's a really interesting mix of things and all in such a small geographic area. OK so if you choose this boat tour, as others have said, it's about 2.5 hours and basically takes you out and makes a loop. The boat is a nice boat ... large, with both indoor and outdoor seating,. So really you should be more than comfortable on your journey, though I can imagine that in the summertime and the height of tourist season, these boats are probably pretty packed. We were there in March, so the boat was less than half full, which was great. If you plan to sit upstairs outside to get the best possible view, bundle up. Even if it's warm out, it will be cold up there. The views are magnificent and the crew was super cool about letting you roam around the boat as you wished to take photos. The tour is also narrated, and our most impressive tour guide did the tour narration in English, German and Dutch after surveying the people on the boat to find out what languages they speak. I have no idea how many languages this gentleman speaks but he literally repeated everything in three different languages and fielded questions. Very impressive. The boat takes you by a lot of cool stuff, particularly the waterside amusemement park that sits on the banks of the water. But other than that, quite a value for the money and a really really wonderful way to see Stockholm!

Take the 2.5 hour cruise around Stockholm. You'll relax and take in some great views and maybe even…read moremake some friends.

Every year at my father's birthday we'll have dinner at Norrskär. The old steam boat takes us out…read moreinto the Swedish archipelago, stopping on islands as it goes to take on and let of passengers. There is an excellent restaurant on the ship, serving traditional Swedish food with a high class touch. The restaurant interior, as well as the rest of the ship, is beautiful and well preserved in it's original wooden style - more than a hundred years old. The restaurant is almost always fully booked, and you can chose between two sittings when booking. We always prefer the late sitting - which gives room to viewing Stockholm from the deck with a cold beer before dinner. If the weather is fine, this can be a sunny trip to paradise. If it's not that good weather, there's plenty of rustic and cozy seating inside. The food is excellent and solid but not extravagant in any way. I usually start with the löjromstoast (whitefish roe toast) which is a little piece of heaven. Every summer there's a new pick of fish and meat dishes for header. This year I went for a classical Biff Rydberg, which filled my belly and made me very satisfied. And there's something about steam boat crews. The waiters are always very knowledgeable, and seems to be happy and genuinely like their jobs. And when you get to travel out into the archipelago every day on an antique steam boat, why shouldn't you be? If you're really lucky, you might get to see the captain with crew take a dive from the roof during one of the longer stops.

If a visit to Stockholm allows enough time to get out of the city for part of a day, I can't…read moreimagine a better diversion than a visit to this castle. Our ferry left from the western terminal, giving us a different view of the Royal Castle as we left. The boat ride also gives you water views of the Prince Eugene museum, the "God our Father on the Rainbow" statue/fountain, spectacular summer houses on the archipelago, and a look at some of the prettiest ships I've ever seen. After arriving in Vaxholm, we wandered the town and found a lovely lunch under a tent just steps from the dock. Our daughter (the local expert) tells me that with such a short tourist season, restaurants in Sweden won't survive if they don't provide quality and value to the locals. So, we never encountered a 'tourist trap' restaurant, no matter how close it was to any kind of attraction. A small, cable guided ferry takes you from the town to the castle itself. Vaxholm sits on one of the major shipping lanes into Stockholm, and the castle was built to protect the city from unwanted visitors. Most of what you find inside is a museum outlining the history of the protection of Sweden's coastline. Swedish museums have a delightful tendency to include little things that will frighten visitors, and this one was no exception. I won't include any spoilers, but it made my wife gasp, and then laugh. As a way of feeling like you are leaving the tourist center of the country, and are truly seeing part of Sweden, this is an amazing way to spend a summer afternoon.

Visited this island fortress based on recommendation from friends. Spent ~2 hours here during a…read moreday-trip from Stockholm. Transportation: Need to take ferry from Vaxholm but is just 2 minutes from mainland (could've been easily swimmable). Ferry goes around fortress (within less than 10 minutes) as a scenic route on way to island and goes back direct (2 minutes) on return trip. Museum: Good explanation of historical importance of town and fortress. Exhibits are all in Swedish but translated guide is provided in English. Bit difficult to cross-reference guide with exhibits and not all of them had translations. -1 star because there was enough room on walls to provide English directly on exhibits. 15 minute film provides museum overview, but it plays on loop without ability to rewind/pause - inconvenient depending on when arriving. We spent 1 hour in the museum, but it would have taken 1 hour more to go through in detail. Tower: Climb the tower nearest to the bed & breakfast for a great view of the town. 130 steps but well worth it. There is a bed and breakfast and café with tempting menu for those wishing to remain on the island for longer. Bottom Line: Make a trip to see this place if you 5 hours+ for a day trip from Stockholm.

Summertime isn't complete without a picnic or BBQ at Vitabergs. The morning is beautiful with the…read moresunrise over a sleepy city, the evening is splendid with all the people as the sun sets over the night. Only downside, bring your own blanket, lots of snus and cigarette butts on the ground. :-(

Vitabergsparken. Also known as Vita Bergen, Vitan - and the best park in Stockholm…read more That's my humble opinion, and I've been to quite a few! Yes, Hagaparken is fantastic and massive, and definitely takes second place. But there's something so personal, so special, about Vita Bergen. While Hagaparken feels modern, there's something classic and romantic about Vitabergsparken. Perhaps it's the name, White Mountains. Perhaps it's the decadent and impressive Sofia Church, more than 100 years old, which towers upon the hill. Perhaps it's the history - this part of Södermalm has had its name since the early 1800s. It was once one of the poorest parts of Stockholm, and Swedish playwright August Strindberg featured the area in his novel The Red Room. Today it's one of the most hip and vibrant parts of the island, located right by Nytorget, aka the cafe and cultural centrum of Stockholm's artsy elite. The park is massive, and has an outdoor amphitheatre, a gazebo, a playground, and plenty of trees and alcoves with BBQ grills and picnic tables. There are always friends and couples and families relaxing here, and the park echoes with laughter - but there's always room to put down a blanket and have your own little square of peace and quiet. But it also has its modern and even futuristic aspects. Here's a little trivia: Deep in the mountains, the Pionen center is nestled. Pionen used to be a civil defence center and Cold War bunker, but in 2008 it was converted into a data center. I haven't been in there, and I'm not sure you can get in at all if you don't work there, but there are some pretty awesome pictures online - it's a deep-space modern data center featuring fountains, a fish tank, greenhouses, and more, below 30 metres of granite. Anyway, let's go back above ground. Vitaberg is my go-to spot for picnics, fika, playing games like Swedish 'kubb', and also big events like birthday celebrations and of course Midsummer. The park is also famous for its amphitheatre which is used frequently for the Summer Theatre series, with plays, ballet, and poetry onstage multiple nights a week. It's green, lush, clean, and quiet. The winding, meandering paths zigzag across the hill, and it's easy to take the path less travelled here. It's easy to get lost, but it's easy to get found. A dozen hidden staircases take you down from the hills onto the street, and quaint red-painted cottages dot the edges. It's a perfect place for sunrise, and unbeatable for sunsets. It's no wonder that Vitaberg has been featured in multiple modern Swedish pop songs. There's a popular song by Rebecca & Fiona called 'The Bells of Vitaberg': "When the bells of Vitaberg ring, you know that the night is ours. Time is running when Vitaberg's bells ring; you know the night is ours, and my heart is pounding."

If you're visiting Stockholm and want a break from the city without going too far, Fjäderholmarna…read moreis the answer. Just a 25-minute ferry ride from the city center, and suddenly you're in the middle of serene nature, surrounded by rocky shorelines, pine trees, and calm Baltic waters. The island is small and walkable, which makes it perfect for a half-day trip. There's something really charming about wandering the trails, watching boats glide past, and stopping for fika or a drink along the water. You'll find cozy cafés, glassblowing and craft shops, and even a little chocolate factory. It's tourist-friendly without feeling overly commercial. Swimming spots are tucked around the edges if you're up for a dip, and there are plenty of sun-warmed rocks to lounge on if you're not. It gets busy in the summer, but still feels peaceful -- like a local secret hiding in plain sight. Tip: Come hungry. The restaurants (especially Fjäderholmarnas Brygga) are excellent, and enjoying a cold drink by the water is basically a Swedish summer ritual. Whether you want to explore, relax, or just eat well with a view, Fjäderholmarna is totally worth the trip.

Nice little island in the Stockholm archipelago is easily reachable by boat or book the Strömma…read moreKanalbolaget. It's about a 20 minute boat ride. Once on the island you can sunbathe if the weather permits or hike. There are also a couple restaurants, cafes and specialty shops to keep you busy. It's expensive to get here SEK 145, but if you purchase the Stockholm Pass it'll save aggravation since it's included. Pleasant retreat from the city and recommended if visiting Stockholm.

We went here on a group tour and toured two rooms: The Blue Room, where all of the Nobel Prizes…read moreare awarded (except for the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Olso, Norway) and the Golden Room, where the Nobel Prize reception takes place. Construction took twelve years, from 1911 to 1923. Nearly eight million dark red bricks were used. The Blue Room was supposed to be covered with blue marble, but the designer liked the bricks so much, the marble brick facade was never installed. The staircase to the organ and the balconies are made from a beautiful green marble from Sweden. The floor is a light grey limestone, and the columns are made from a red and green marble from Sweden The Golden Room has walls that are covered with more than 18 million pieces of gold and glass mosaic, created by the artist Einar Forseth. The mosaics contain approximately 18 kilograms (40 lbs) of 23.5-carat gold leaf. As of today, that's 2.25 million US dollars worth of gold. The mosaics represent the history of Sweden, as well as Swedish values. It's hard to describe what this banquet room for the Nobel Prize winners look like, so I recommend viewing the photos I've attached, or better yet, go to the City Hall's website and view this movie: https://stadshuset.stockholm/stadshuset-play/stadshusets-salar-en-digital-visning-av-stadshuset/. It's in Swedish, but you'll get the idea. A visit to a City Hall sounds boring, and many times it is. However, this is WELL worth a visit, when you are in Stockholm. I promise you will be impressed.

Designed by Ragnar Östberg, Stokcholms Stadshus (Stockholm City Hall) is a STUNNER. We reserved a…read moretour of the interior and purchased tickets that allow us to climb up to the top of the tower for the views. But the architecture of city hall? Incredible. Completed in 1923, it seems so much older. And each space in City Hall is so different, with different architectural styles, inspirations, and decor. This is the kind of building you buy books about. A 45-minute tour just isn't long enough! If they had a two hour tour, I'd have taken it. They release the tickets either the week of or the week before, but they still fill out. The tour groups are large, which limits the spaces you can see, but I'm still so glad we were able to get tickets for a tour of this amazing building! You learn about the building, the architect, the building's connection to the Nobel Prize...! And it's just incredibly stunning, too. One of the highlights of our time in Stockholm.

It is a quarter-mile walking path with views of Lake Mälaren, Stockholm City Hall, and…read moreRiddarholmen. There are some benches for you to sit down, relax, and enjoy the views.

So I came across this page for Monteliusvägen when a fellow Yelper friend of mine posted photos and…read moreI thought to myself, how did I miss that? Well, besides the fact that we didn't take proper measures to get internet during our stay since we relied on our cousins to do that, all I did was check-in to areas with my spotty internet and didn't think of checking in to the actual town. Well, here I am, five months later with a few shots from some of the most beautiful views I captured during my visit to Stockholm. Monteliusvägen is a gorgeous walking area about a quarter-mile long that shows gorgeous views of historic buildings, the glistening water and gorgeous homes and businesses surrounding the area. We arrived to the country at a good time during the summer, although they are known to have sudden changes in the weather in the middle of the day where it'll begin raining with thunderstorms out of nowhere. This day in particular served us well. One of the pictures was taken from the water because my lovely uncle and cousins gave us a tour around the city with their boat. It was a magical experience and I could not stop taking photos. If you visit Sweden and want to avoid the cold, visit during July (when they celebrate Midsommar) or August...just bring an umbrella.

Take the orange line and get off Ropsten, you can take a bus or walk on a small bridge and right…read moreaway turn right and walk up the hill just a little, there will be stairs on the right which will take you to the main road just keep walking to the right , about 2 km the entire trip. It took me more like 3km because I got lost so hence the detail review. 100sek or $15 to enter and when you take that first step inside...you have a "wow" feeling. I had this rush of air enter my lungs and I had to exhale slowly :) It's just so stunning. High up above water are these incredible sculptures, just feels so soreal, you feel small and just at ah. Perfect place to take your time and walk around, enjoy a book or a tea/coffee. Cafe is on the premises.

Outdoor is another world, the real city is within the concept of the Milles couple that decided to…read morecreate a surreal vision in a dynamic city, such as Stockholm. The incredible touch of the operas is a feeling you can have even in a cold winter. Must be seen.