Crowned the “Capital of Scandinavia,” Stockholm stands at the epicenter of modern Nordic movements that — much like their Viking forebears — have swept across the globe. From art to design to cuisine, the Swedish city entices business and leisure travelers alike. Also fitting for its Viking history: the capital’s waterfront positioning, situated across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. For a country that infamously sees little sunshine in the winter months, outdoor pursuits remain popular year-round, from hiking to sailing to ice-skating.

It was after a week of camping and kayaking in the Scandinavian countryside that I first arrived in Stockholm one late September morning. I was immediately stunned by the city’s beauty, with eight centuries of history built into its medieval cobblestone alleys, extravagant Baroque buildings and Rococo palaces. The street style proved equally impressive — who needs Paris when you can people-watch at Spy Bar in glamorous Stureplan or sidle up to a wine bar in bohemian Södermalm? The harborside saunas and couples canoeing in the waterways reflected a devotion to nature that is, of course, evident in the city’s innovative cuisine, especially its devotion to farm-to-table ingredients.

© NIKOLAY ANTONOV | DREAMSTIME

You won’t find mega international chains everywhere, as stylish, boutique hotels with design-forward aesthetics proliferate in the city. Lagom is a Swedish philosophy meaning “just right” or perfect moderation, and my trip to Stockholm was just that. Far from being inundated with American tourists as in other European capitals (Amsterdam, Rome) or rushed by city life (London), Stockholm offers an ideal combination of hygge (coziness) and high-end urbanity. Stockholm won’t stay this way forever, though, as international tourism continues to skyrocket post- pandemic. Read on for an insider’s guide to what’s new and upcoming for your next trip to the Swedish capital.

CHECKING IN WITH ADOLFSSON GRIMSEN
Head of Public Relations, Stockholm Business Region

What is the current tourism landscape in Stockholm?
Stockholm is having its strongest year in memory, and it’s holding well beyond the summer peak. International guest nights were up 17 percent in July, and hotel occupancy in August reached 89 percent, the highest we’ve seen. What’s especially encouraging is that we’re outperforming our closest European peers, including Copenhagen, Helsinki and Berlin; and booking momentum into autumn remains stronger than last year. Of course, the global backdrop is still uncertain, but Stockholm’s tourism sector has proven more resilient than we expected.

Do you foresee any shifts in tourism trends looking forward to 2027?
Looking ahead, we expect several of this year’s trends to continue. The Stockholm archipelago keeps drawing more visitors who want nature and water close to the city, and our new swimming spots and public spaces have made the city itself feel more alive in summer. We’re also seeing “coolcation” travel continue to grow, as more visitors choose Stockholm’s mild summer climate over hotter southern destinations. Together, these point to a Stockholm that’s becoming a year-round, not just a summer, destination.

Nordic cuisine continues to grow in popularity. Are you excited about any new restaurant openings?
Stockholm’s dining scene keeps pushing forward at every level. Björn Frantzén, the only chef in the world running three Michelin 3-star restaurants at once, is opening an open-fire concept, Emberlin, this year. We’re also excited about Adam Albin, a new fine-dining venture in the city center, and the produce-driven cooking coming out of Stockholm Stadshotell on Södermalm.

Scandinavian design is another influential cultural export; how does the city’s hotel scene reflect that identity?
Design has always been part of Stockholm’s identity, and you can see that clearly in how our hotel scene is evolving. We’re welcoming Ruby Hotels’ first Scandinavian property and a beautifully restored 19th-century building becoming Thon Hotel Vasa. What’s interesting is that Stockholm doesn’t do just one version of Scandinavian design; you’ll find everything from minimalist calm to warmer, more expressive interiors, often within a few blocks of each other.

Are you excited about any cultural openings?
House of Q, a new queer culture venue in Hamnkvarteren, is the first permanent space of its kind in Stockholm in more than a decade, and the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities on Skeppsholmen reopened after a major renovation, with one of Europe’s finest collections of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian art and antiquities. As of this summer, you can visit the city’s first municipally run public sauna, right on the water at Hornstull. It’s a perfect example of what makes Stockholm unique: world-class nature and Nordic tradition, minutes from the city center.

PHOTO: © DUDLAJZOV | DREAMSTIME

DIVERSIONS
Explore the medieval alleys and historic squares of Old Town, then head to the Royal Palace to observe the changing of the guard ceremony and all its attendant regalia. For more modern wonders, peruse the world-renowned contemporary photography of Fotografiska Stockholm along the Södermalm waterfront. Savor peak Scandinavian design over cocktails at Gold Bar in Nobis Hotel Stockholm, the site of the 1973 bank robbery that coined the term “Stockholm Syndrome.” Check out festivals scheduled during your visit, too, including Midsommar celebrations in June and Walpurgis Night, an evening of traditional singing around a bonfire in Skansen to welcome spring.

Located at the edge of the Stockholm Archipelago, the capital is also a major nature destination, offering everything from island-hopping to sailing. Kayak the narrow bay of Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, which begins in the city center and extends out to the Baltic Sea, and take a dip in one of the city’s floating saunas (bastus). And remember to look up: It’s never fully dark in summertime, the sky bathed in a long, glowing twilight, while the northern lights are occasionally visible on a serendipitous (and cloudless) winter night. May the odds be ever in your favor.

LODGING
ETT HEM
Tucked along an idyllic tree-lined street in the Lärkstan district, this 1910 townhouse feels like an ultra- sophisticated home-away-from- home for lucky guests, with a library, communal kitchen, orangerie and fragrant courtyard.
Sköldungagatan 2, Stockholm
$$$$$

GRAND HÔTEL STOCKHOLM
Among the most iconic and historical hotels in Stockholm, established in 1874 and beloved by celebrities and royalty, guests can expect first- class treatment: luxury limousine service, world-class dining, Nordic spa and saunas.
Sodra Blasieholmshamnen 8, Stockholm
$$$$–$$$$$

HOTEL SKEPPSHOLMEN
Stay on the peaceful island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm to enjoy spectacular waterfront vistas, with gardens, terraces and modern Swedish interiors set in an 18th-century former naval barracks.
Gröna Gången 1, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
$$–$$$$

DINING
ADAM ALBIN
This stunning Michelin-starred restaurant overlooks the Royal Palace, offering a New Nordic tasting menu by acclaimed chefs Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman. Standout dishes include poached oyster and langoustine tacos.
Regeringsgatan 2, Stockholm
$$$$–$$$$$

FRANTZÉN
This 3-Michelin-starred restaurant offers multilevel tasting menus with loft canapés before descending to the wine cellar and open-kitchen dining. Nordic ingredients meet Japanese influences and French techniques; reservations required.
Klara Norra kyrkogata 26, Stock- holm
$$$$–$$$$$

LILLA EGO
Taste chef-driven modern Nordic cuisine at this rustic-chic restaurant. Perfect for a night out, expect contemporary Swedish dishes: Try the arctic char and soused herring. Reservations are highly recommended.
Västmannagatan 69, Stockholm
$$–$$$

JUST THE FACTS
Time zone: GMT +1 (October–March), GMT +2 (March–October)
Phone code: Country code: 46 City code: 8
Currency: Swedish krona Key industries: Advanced engineering, automotive manufacturing, technology, natural resource processing

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE Swedish

COMING AND GOING
For U.S. citizens, no visa is required for a tourist visit up to 90 days within a 180-day period, but the passport must be valid for three months beyond planned departure date and include one blank page for stamps.

INFO TO GO
The city’s one major international airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, lies 25 miles north of the city. There are other airports in the broader region: Stockholm Skavsta Airport services more regional carriers, while Stockholm Västerås Airport, 60 miles north of the city, handles limited international and domestic flights. Stockholm Central Station, in the city’s Norrmalm district, is the largest and busiest railway hub in the country and a preferred mode of transit. Ride-sharing apps operate in Stockholm, including Uber and Bolt (an Estonian app popular in Europe). Rental cars are available outside the arrivals gate at Arlanda Airport.