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12 things to do and see in the Venice of the North
Contents
It’s been several months since I’ve published a new article, so yes, writing, translating, integrating and publishing take up a lot of my time, but the reasons behind this absence are quite different; in fact, you’ll find out more soon enough. For now, let’s focus on the Venice of the North. Why go to Stockholm? What to see and do in Stockholm? When should you go? Visit Stockholm alone or accompanied? How many days should I stay? I’m going to answer these questions by sharing my personal experience and feelings with you, as well as giving you a series of practical tips.
This article focuses on a series of activities (museums, attractions, shopping) to do and see in Stockholm; while my second article in the series focuses on a series of must-see and unusual places (architecture, views) to discover. Finally, my third article is about a somewhat singular activity: “Stockholm Metro: 16 stations to visit for art“.
Why go to Stockholm?
Located on the Baltic Sea, with its many islands, Stockholm, or the Venice of the North, appealed to me for several reasons. For its design culture. All too often, I’ve stopped in front of an interior design boutique, and at each stop I couldn’t help imagining these products living in the apartment I didn’t have. What I saw corresponded so closely to what I was aiming for, it was like a life-size Pinterest, whether it was the color palette, the materials, the shape, there were so many things, objects, furniture that I would have liked to take with me. The capital also appealed to me because of the architecture and what it reflects. Finally, I wanted to discover a city I’d heard so much about.
After Copenhagen (article to come), I also wanted to discover a new Scandinavian country. I hesitated for a long time between going to Copenhagen or Stockholm, in the end I did both; after having been there, I can say that I have a preference, purely subjective, for Copenhagen. End of the parenthesis.
Visiting Stockholm on your own was never a problem, and my stay was very pleasant; so I’d say that the trip can be made both alone and accompanied. Then, visiting Stockholm can be done at different times of the year, for my part I was there at the beginning of April, the temperatures were mild, the days long and the crowds limited; alas, my stay ended before the cherry blossom season, which generally takes place towards the end of April. As a result, a trip between April and June (or even September) is worthwhile for the cost, and to enjoy a rather mild, quiet stay; July and August are interesting periods for the weather, but more expensive and less tranquil due to the greater number of visitors. Between October and March, temperatures cool off to the point of freezing, and nights are also longer, although the range of activities also changes!
Last but not least, the length of my stay; I spent 6 days in Stockholm, during which I was able to explore the city from top to bottom and take part in a number of activities (mentioned in this article and the other two). Stockholm is a city that lends itself to stays of varying lengths; I’d be inclined to recommend a minimum stay of 2 or 3 days, a maximum of 5 days, and why not more; however, whether or not you take these recommendations into account depends on the pace you’d like to set for your stay (fast or slow) and on your areas of interest!

Getting to and around Northern Venice?
If you arrive in Stockholm by plane, you can get to the city in a variety of ways: by cab, VTC or public transport; the last option is particularly interesting. Indeed, taking the Arlanda Express (a train), you’ll be taken directly to the Central Station (T-Centralen) in just 20 minutes and for the sum of 160SEK (approx. €14); this fare applies to 18 – 25 year-olds, while adults will need to pay 320SEK (approx. €28) for a single journey. It’s also possible to buy a round-trip ticket, which for a person aged between 18 and 25 costs 320SEK (approx. €28). The ticket is valid for 90 days from the date of purchase and is refundable up to the day before the expiration date. As for the train, I found it spacious, clean and modern (wifi available on board, for example).
On the other hand, if you’re coming by train, according to some research, this shouldn’t be a problem, as the Central Station will be the terminus.
Once you’re in the center and for the rest of your stay, you can rely on the public transport network to get you around. A ticket costs 38SEK (approx. 3.30€) and is valid for 75min; it can be purchased at a terminal in a station, at the transport station, on the bus (by paying with a contactless device) or on the SL tickets app. In addition to single tickets, longer duration tickets (24h, 72h or 39 days) are also available at stations or on the SL tickets application. What’s interesting about the application is that you can decide when to activate your ticket, and have an indication of the remaining validity time once it’s been activated.
SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) refers to the company that manages Stockholm’s public transport system, including buses, metros, trains, streetcars and some ferry lines. To help you plan your journeys, in addition to the classic methods such as Google maps or citymapper, you can also use the SL journey planner application, which can be downloaded from the stores.
By the way, speaking of public transit, in my last article of the series, you’ll see that the metro, and more specifically certain stations, have a few special features!
Once in Stockholm, Swedish crowns
Since we’re going to be talking about prices several times, I’d like to digress for a moment to talk about currency exchange. As in Copenhagen, I changed my euros into Swedish krona directly from my neobank (Revolut), so as to avoid exchange fees (thanks to my premium subscription) and keep track of my budget and expenses. From one formula to another (standard, premium, etc.), from one neobank to another, and depending on the day on which the transaction is carried out, exchange fees apply more or less. You’ll find this and many other tips in one of my next articles.
Skyview
Address: Avicii Arena, Globentorget 2, 121 77 Johanneshov, Sweden
Getting there couldn’t be easier: the building is so imposing that it can be seen from many parts of the city.
Skyview’s first spot with an elevation shot. Skyview is an attraction grafted onto the Ericson Globe (also known as the “Avicii Arena”), which is located in an area that also includes the tele 2 Arena and the annex. Concerts, professional events, sporting events (such as field hockey tournaments) and ceremonies are all held here. As a result, the area and its various buildings have considerable capacity.
The Ericsson globe, whose shape resembles a golf ball, has had its structure reinforced to support the new skyview attraction; another detail: depending on the time of day, the color of the building changes.
Immediately prior to this, you’ll be ushered into a room where a short video showing the history of the site, including the various buildings and their evolution, will be presented.

This attraction costs 170SEK (approx. €15) for an adult, and is open all week from 10am.
ArkDes & Moderna Museum
Address: Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm, Sweden
Obviously, this trip couldn’t take place without a visit to a museum dedicated to design, architecture and/or art; so, in keeping with this tradition, I went to the Moderna Museet (Stockholm’s museum of modern art) and the Swedish Center for Architecture and Design (also known as “ArkDes”). Both are housed in the same building, itself located on the island of Skeppsholmen.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the design museum par excellence, the Möbeldesignmuseum (design museum), as it closed for good at the end of 2022; nevertheless, the website and Instagram account live on.
While I was there, I saw the “typically swedish” exhibition at ArkDes, a temporary show on the evolution of Swedish architecture, pending the creation of a more permanent exhibition. During this exhibition, in addition to the instructions, an audioguide was available free of charge from the website (this comment also seems to apply to other exhibitions).
As for the Museum of Modern Art, I was able to see several permanent and temporary exhibitions. One of the elements I particularly appreciated at the moderna museum was the room on the -1 floor, called “The study gallery“, a rather singular and interesting concept. Indeed, this is a room where we find a series of books (related to the museum’s collection and exhibitions, and also from the private library of former director Pontus Hultén) freely accessible, as well as works from the museum’s collection; one difference in access is that a member of staff allows us to view them. Let me give you some more details on how it works.
A binder contains several numbered pages on which works of art appear. Why are the works presented in a binder and not directly? I had started to mention it earlier. Well, that’s because they (the works) are arranged on boards of some sort, arranged in compartments high up, rather than on walls as is usually the case; if you’re interested in one of the pages, you point it out to the staff, who will manipulate the board containing the works and bring it down. The concept leads to a unique experience and a different relationship with the work, as it is less immediate, slower and more memorable. It’s also an original and complementary way of sharing works from the museum’s collection, rather than leaving them in a warehouse where nobody would look at them; well, where nobody could look at them. Does that sound abstract to you? Watch the videos opposite!
This concept, this room, grew out of an idea and a discussion between the aforementioned former director Pontus Hultén and renowned architect Renzo Piano; the idea being to imagine what the ideal museum might look like, namely “a museum where works of art could be retrieved at the touch of a button”.
In the meantime, you can explore, learn more about and discover the works in the study gallery via this link.
In the same spirit, the Boijman Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam had a similar idea on a much larger scale, as I mentioned in a previous article. These initiatives highlight the need to strike a balance between the management and conservation of large museum collections, and public access to them.
As my ambition was to visit both museums, I took a combined ticket, so do the same if you’re considering the same thing. And don’t forget that you can’t buy a ticket online, as indicated on the website. Everything must be done on site, in person. What a surprise to learn this information!
When I visited, the crowds were fairly small, and when I left, they were just as small. A one-way ticket for an adult costs 150SEK (€13); a combined ticket for the museum and ArkDes costs 200SEK (€17).
Please note that, as is often the case, the museum is closed on Mondays.
Artipelag
Address: Artipelagstigen 1, 134 40 Gustavsberg, Sweden
Artipelag, or “art on the archipelago”, is a neologism derived from the Swedish word “arkipelag” (translated “archipelago”) and combining the terms “art” and “activities”.
Access by public transport isn’t the easiest, as it takes 1 hour to get there on buses whose timetables aren’t the most regular, and even more so on weekends and public holidays. So, a word of advice: check the timetables if you don’t want to end up walking part of the way or, worse still, not being able to get there at all. The buses in question are 474 and 468. On the other hand, if you’re going by car, no worries, as the museum is open until late in the evening, although it should be noted that it also opens “late” (at 11am). In advance of your visit, take a look at the current exhibitions to see if it’s worth the trip.
Once we’ve made the journey, the serious business begins. First of all, there’s the building, which I’ll come back to in a later article. Once you’re inside, you’ll find a number of areas to explore: exhibition spaces, the shop, the café and the restaurant, not forgetting the terrace and, more generally, the outdoor area.
The exhibition spaces feature large bay windows, offering unobstructed, unobstructed views of the outside world and blurring the boundary between inside and outside. The rendering is far from unpleasant, with views over the wooded area and the Baggensfjärden bay.
Once you’ve had your fill of the exhibits, there are a number of options open to you, including a trip to the shop, the café, the restaurant or a stroll around the grounds – or better still, all of them in the order of your choice. Having done it myself, I (highly) recommend the walk, especially if the weather is fine during your visit.
There are several possible paths, including the wooden plank path accessible from the café/restaurant terrace; after that, all you have to do is follow the path. After walking along the wooden path, you’ll come to an opening where you’ll see the “Solar Egg” installation by artists Bigert & Bergström, which you can observe and then, or instead, sit on a rock to enjoy the view, the sound of the waves and the sun if the weather is kind to you; in short, a moment of calm and peace.

As with ArkDes and Moderna Museet, tickets can only be purchased in person, and cost 295SEK (€25) for an adult. Please note that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Torg clamps
Address: Sergels Torg, 111 57 Stockholm, Sweden
Sergels Torg, a central square, is just a few minutes’ walk from Central Station, and provides access to a wide range of spots and activities, some of which are mentioned in this article, such as the Junkyard skateshop and Kulturhuset, both of which will be discussed below. In addition to Junkyard, you’ll find a wide variety of stores, notably on the emblematic Drottningsgatan street. What’s more, being in Sweden, you’ll also find plenty of sophisticated Swedish design boutiques.
Just curious? You’re quite right, the square is made up of different parts, each with its own special features: the 37-metre-high glass obelisk (by sculptor Edvin Öhrström) in one place, or the floor paved with triangular motifs in another, certainly deserve a few moments of your attention.

Kulturhuset
Address:Sergels Torg, 111 57 Stockholm, Sweden
It was while wandering around Sergels Torg that I spotted the Kulturhuset Stadsteatern (cultural center). The center hosts photo exhibitions, as well as other types of events; to see what’s on at the moment, click here. When booking tickets, please note that prices vary depending on the venue and event.
Known as a cultural center, the Kulturhuset once served as a temporary parliamentary headquarters (1974-1983). In other news, Swedish architect Peter Celsing is responsible for this building (built in 1974), as he is for the Filmhuset (Swedish Film Institute, or “film house”), a Brutalist-style building discussed in my second article.
In a long, imposing building made of modern materials such as glass and steel, and set apart from the style of the surrounding buildings, different forms of art are expressed; indeed, the architect said of the building that the space had been created to accommodate every form of art. What’s more, the use of glass on the front facade facilitates connection and even blurs the boundary between inside and outside, underlining the idea of continuous movement.
Fotografiska
Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden
Another ritual is a visit to a museum dedicated to photography; for this trip, it was the Fotografiska. The latter is housed in a red brick building that once served as a customs office. In addition to photographs, some exhibitions also feature other art forms.
The museum has several floors: the basement houses the checkrooms (lockers are freely accessible), the first floor houses the store and the first exhibition areas, and the second floor includes several exhibition areas, as well as … a photo booth. I don’t know if it’s there permanently, but it was there when I visited, so I was able to take away a souvenir (3 small photos with the museum logo stamped on the right), and on the second floor is the restaurant.
As for the exhibitions on show during my visit, I enjoyed the one entitled “In bloom“, which occupied the entire first floor, and one on the second floor entitled“Santa Barbara” by Russian photographer Diana Markosian.
Unlike Artipelag, ArkDes and moderna museet, tickets can be purchased online (recommended) or on site. An adult ticket costs between 175SEK and 195SEK (i.e. between €15 and €17); and yes, I myself was surprised to see the price of the ticket vary according to the time slot chosen. Tickets are cheaper in the evening, more expensive during the day, normal at the start of the day and during off-peak hours (or even slightly cheaper).
After the Fotografiska, I passed the Stockholm City Museum on my way to Götgatan Street, known as one of the longest and most visited streets in the south of central Stockholm, but also for its many boutiques. As you walk along it, you might want to take a break, and just as well, there’s no shortage of places to do so. I saw a Joe & the Juice, an espresso house, and a more original place I discovered on my walk,“Wayne’s café“. I took Götgatan Street to get to the next spot.
SNS
Address:
Åsögatan 124, 116 24 Stockholm, Sweden
Having been to Paris and Berlin, I had to stop by this one, especially as SNS is Swedish; Erik Fagerlind and Peter Jansson, two friends sharing common interests characteristic of the milieu, opened the 1999 shop. Since then, the shop has established itself as a key player in the streetwear and sneaker world, thanks to its roots and its many collaborations (over 200 projects with well-known names). After Stockholm, SNS moved to London (2014), Paris (2015), Berlin (2016), New York (2017), Los Angeles (2019, now permanently closed) and Tokyo (2019).
There are also several shops in the area, including resellers such as sneakershyllan and hypestein; I passed them briefly, but without much interest.
Junkyard
Address 1: Norrlandsgatan 14, 111 43 Stockholm, Sweden
Address 2: Gamla Brogatan 26, 111 22 Stockholm, Sweden
A little later in my stay I went for a ride in the Junkyard skateshop, I particularly enjoy spending time in skateshops (at Berlin or to Cologne I’d been to Titus and Blue Tomato) because of the brands there that I like, and indeed many streetwear brands have their origins in skateboarding (skatewear), where history has forged a close bond between them and the skateboarding community. What’s more, I like going there because it’s an opportunity for me to discover new brands, and with a little digging to come across products that are interesting for their cut, quality (good grammage) or design (different styles, both printed and embroidered).
On the occasion of this visit, I bought two items, including a hoodie and a cap, because as Alpha Wann said, they go together. As a result, Junkyard was my shop coup of the trip. In addition to physical shops, Junkyard is also available online!
Östermalm food market
Address: Östermalmstorg 31, 114 39 Stockholm, Sweden
Earlier, we talked about central Stockholm with the Norrmalm district, but this time we’re going to the east of it to Östermalm, a district with a reputation for being “chic”.
I’ve been interested in markets ever since my stay in Spain, and in particular during my visit to La Boqueria in Barcelona; so, once here, having heard about the Östermalm food market, I just had to stop by. Once inside, you’ll find a series of classically styled stands offering a wide variety of products, from cheese, meat and fish to side dishes, fruit and vegetables, spices and other garnishes, as well as food stalls.
Gamla Stan, the old town
Changing atmosphere, I’d like to introduce you to Stockholm’s old town (Gamla Stan). Once considered a slum, today Gamla Stan attracts visitors with its medieval architecture, picturesque style and numerous tourist attractions. Indeed, if you get the chance, you’ll notice the presence of old buildings, old houses, other buildings of varying styles and colors, as well as cobbled and sometimes narrow streets.

As well as taking a stroll to soak up the atmosphere, there are a number of places to stop off, including Stortorget, the central square surrounded by old merchant houses. You can also go through Mårten Trotzigs grändI went to the Eye Shut Island store (where I saw a large number of figurines and pop-art related works), to see Iron Boy – Boy watching the moon ; or visit the Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum and many others.
Last but not least, a guided tour is a great way to see and learn more about the spots mentioned above! Found in a search, the tour I’m proposing is free and takes place in English (other sessions are also available in Spanish): link here.
Mårten Trotzigs gränd
Address: 111 29 Stockholm, Sweden
As mentioned earlier, I’d like to give you a few more details about this spot. Only 90cm wide, this is the narrowest street in the old town. Keep your eyes peeled, because you could walk right past it without realizing it – I almost did – but the people in front of it might be able to help you spot it. Specifically, to find the spot, simply take Västerlånggatan and stop in front of the Café Järntorget or, if you’re on the other side of the passage, just take Prästgatan and look out for the Panda Salon ! What’s more, given the narrowness of the area, the presence of numerous shops and the time of day, you can expect to have to wait a while, due to the crowds, if you want to cross the passage.
After this brief passage, you can continue on your way to one of the spots or activities mentioned above.

Although this article is of some length, many activities and districts have not been included due to choice and/or lack of time to test them; I’m thinking in particular of Djurgården Island, home to the Royal Djurgården Park, the Gröna Lund amusement park, the Vasa Museum, the Skansen open-air museum and the ABBA Museum.
However, the spots mentioned in this article and in the second, as well as some additional research if necessary, should help you plan and enjoy your stay in the Venice of the North.
For further information, please see my second article, “Stockholm, 12 unmissable and unusual places to discover“, which focuses on architecture and views, and my third and final article in the series, “Stockholm Metro: 16 stations to visit for the art“.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article; don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and questions with me in comments or by e-mail!