Getting There

By plane: You can get to Stockholm via four airports. The most widely used is Arlanda Airport. It is connected to the city via the Arlanda Express train. Budget airlines fly to either Skavsta or Vasteras Airports. They're both 90 minutes from the city centre via bus. The least used is Bromma Airport, even though it enjoys the best location.

By train: Stockholm's main train station, Centralstationen in the city centre, is well connected to the rest of Europe via rail.

By bus: Cityterminalen is Stockholm's main bus station. It can be found next to the Centralstationen and has links to most major European cities.

Getting Around

On foot: Stockholm's Gamla Stan is easily explored on foot. Other parts of town such as Södermalm are within walking distance of here but you'll probably need to use public transport at some stage.

By tunnelbana: The 'tunnelbana' (or T-bana) is Stockholm's underground network. It is a efficient service and operates between 5am and 1am.

By bus: The city's bus network is just as efficient as the T-bana but finishes operating at midnight. Tickets for the T-bana are also valid on buses.

Stockholm has an extremely varied climate and each season is easily distinguishable from the other. January and February are extremely cold with snow falling regularly. It gets dark by 3pm/4pm during these months although it can experience very clear days. March can be wet and it isn’t until April that you can see a big change. Between June and August the days are long, staying bright until 11pm. Temperatures can rise well above the 25°C mark during these months. With September comes shorter days and lower temperatures and by November it is just like winter again.

Embassies

USA: +46 (0)8 783 53 00
Australia: +46 (0)8 613 29 00
UK: +46 (0)8 71 30 00
Canada: +46 (0)8 453 3000
South Africa: +46 (0)8 24 39 50
Ireland: +46 (0)8 661 80 05
Germany: +46 (0)8 670 15 00
Spain: +46 (0)8 667 94 30
Italy: +46 (0)8 545 671 00
New Zealand: +46 (08) 611 2625 (Consulate)
France: +46 (0)8 459 53 00

Amiralen, Galärvarsvägen 10, Djurgården On first glance, this restaurant may seem too stuffy for the casual backpacker. But thanks to a lunch menu between 11.30am and 3pm (Mon–Fri) with a good selection of meals from 70SEK, you don't have to splash out to eat in such pleasant surroundings. Open daily from 11.30am-10pm.

Sally's Bar, Västerlånggatan 52, Gamla Stan Even though this warm Italian restaurant is located in the heart of the tourist-trodden Gamla Stan, their menu is laden with pizzas for 100SEK or less. Staff are friendly and, due to its location, a nice atmosphere prevails all day. En route to the toilet you'll notice it has a cellar bar too. Open Mon-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-midnight.

Jensen's Bofhus, Vasagatan 24, Vasastaden This restaurant just a stone's throw from Stockholm's central train station is popular among locals. For between 40-60SEK you'll find something on the lunch menu that will keep you going for a few hours. Things get slightly more expensive in the evening but this is still a lot more reasonable than many other restaurants. Open daily from 11am-11pm.

Swedish meatballs Of all Sweden's culinary delights, Swedish meatballs are probably its best known. What makes them different to other meatballs are their ingredients - nutmeg, dry mustard, thyme, marjoram or allspice. You can get them in most restaurants throughout the city.

Kungshallen, Kungsgatan 44, Östermalm If your stomach is making some unusual noises but you don't know what you want to pass your lips to make them stop, hop on the T-bana to Hötorget and locate this place, Stockholm's largest food hall. There are 14 outlets that offer everything from sushi, to paninis, to kebabs. Open daily from 9am-11pm.

Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4, Södermalm Upon first shuffling your way past the burly doormen of this historic bar (it dates back to 1907) you'll think you just stumbled across a traditional beer hall. But keep on shuffling and you'll discover a stylish bar out back plus another downstairs popular with movers and shakers. Get down early on weekends to avoid queuing. Open daily from 5pm-3am.

O'Connells, Stora Nygatan 21, Gamla Stan A devoted Irish contingent keeps most of the stools warm in this Irish bar. Don't be fooled by the small front bar though - go down to the cellar bar where this pub really comes into its own. Open Mon-Fri 1pm-1am, Sat & Sun 12 noon-1am.

Metro, Gotgatan 93, Södermalm Visit this ultra-slick bar deep in the Södermalm district and you may have to weave your way in and out of a few tight situations to get a vacant spot. Locals decked out in the most fashionable trends shake their booties to the latest tunes so if you want to fit in delve into your backpack for your coolest gear. Open daily from 5pm-2am.

Absolut Ice Bar, Nordi Sea Hotel, Vasaplan 4, Vasastaden While a quick drink from a bar made entirely out of ice (along with the tables and glasses) mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, don your jacket and mittens in the 'Ice Bar' and you'll see why it is so popular. The 'Jukka' cocktail is exceptionally tasty. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight; entrance 140SEK for 45 minutes with free drink.

Mosebacke Etablissement, Mosebacke torg 3, Sodermalm Popular in summer thanks to a large open-air terrace that boasts great views over the Gamla Stan, Mosebacke Etablissement is one of the most popular bars in Södermalm during summer. Open daily from 5pm-2am.

Stadshuset (City Hall), Hantverkargatan 1 Built between 1911 and 1923, Stadshuset is one of Stockholm's most instantly recognisable landmarks. It is best known as the site of the Nobel Prize Banquet which takes place there every year in December. Daily tours take place at 10am, noon and 2pm; admission 60SEK.

One fateful voyage Vasamuseet, Galärvarvsvägen 14, Djurgården Vasamuseet is Sweden's most visited museum and houses the 'Vasa', a warship built in the 17th century that, even though it was the largest ship of its time, sunk on its maiden voyage. Surrounding the ship are various exhibitions telling the ship's story. Open 8.30am-6pm; admission 110SEK (children free).

Skansen, Djurgården Founded in 1891 for the purpose of showing how people lived and worked in different parts of Sweden in times gone by, Skansen is the world's first open-air museum. It is also a zoological park, specialising mainly in Scandinavian fauna. Open daily from 10am-4pm/10pm; admission 70/110SEK (opening hours and admission vary).

Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), Slottsbacken Sweden's Royal Palace is located in the heart of the capital in the city's Old Town and is one of the largest surviving palces in Europe. Highlights include the Royal Apartments, Slottskyrkan (Royal Chapel), and the Hall of State. Open Tues-Sun (daily in summer) 10am/12 noon-4pm/5pm; admission 140SEK (all parts of palace).

Explore Stockholm's archipelago Stockholm is one of the only cities in the world where you can island-hop. It is built on 14 main islands but there are another 24,000 surrounding it. Boat tours go round the islands at different times of year.

February - Vikingarännet (Viking Run) Vikingarännet started in 1999 and is an 80km ice-skating race between Uppsala and Stockholm. Attracting over 4,000 participants every year, it is one of the most popular events in the city.

March - Winter Sports Week Held in Kungsträdgården at the beginning of March, this winter sports event features athletes taking part in ice-skating and dog-sledding races while there is entertainment staged for spectators also.

May - Tjejtrampet Tjejtrampet is the largest all-women's bikre race in the world. Held on the last Sunday of every May, over 5,000 women take part in the 51km race, hoping not to get plagued by punctures on the way.

June - Smaka På Stockholm Translating in English as 'A Taste of Stockholm', Smaka På Stockholm displays the best the Swedish capital can offer in terms of food, entertainment, culture and sports. It is Sweden’s largest annual event with more than six hundred and fifty thousand visitors.

June - Nationaldag Sweden's national day which falls on June 6th commemorates the founding of the Kingdom of Sweden. Parades march throughout the city and there is a lot of activity in Skansen.

July - Skoklosterspelen A medieval event which takes place in Sweden's Skokloster Slott, at Skoklosterspelen over 300 performaces are staged, including fencing, theatre and music.

August - Midnight Race While most people going to Stockholm's Sodermalm district usually do so for its bars, once a year thousands of athletes converge in its trendy district for this annual race.

September - Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival Over 25,000 lovers of beer and whisky flock to this festival each year at the Factory Nacka Strand to enjoy tasting various samples of both beverages.

November/December - Christmas Markets Since 1914 traditional markets have been held in Gamla Stan's main square throughout the festive season. Here you can pick up presents and decorations before warming up with a glass of mulled wine.

December - Nobel Prize Day A flurry of activity takes place in the Swedish capital every year on December 10th as the Nobel Prizes are handed out in the Stadshuset (city hall).

Domehouse, Sveavägen 108, Norrmalm This large internet café has a total of 52 terminals to choose from. As well as access the internet you can also play online games here. It doesn't offer any other facilities (apart from printing) but it is one of the cheapest internet cafés in the city. Open daily from 11am-3am; 15SEK per hour.

Access, Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg, Norrmalm Access is a modern café in the Norrmalm district that offers more than just internet access. Here you can grab a bite to eat, read your book over a coffee, or if you haven't got a book to read, buy a book! That's not surprising considering the area is regarded as Stockholm's cultural centre. Open Tues-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-5pm; 50SEK per hour.

Nine, Odengatan 44, Odenplan This huge café (it has three floors) has two floors full of internet terminals. There are a total of 40 to choose from so you'll never have a problem finding a spare one. On the computer-less floor is where you can get sandwiches, coffees, pastries, and other snacks. Open Mon-Fri 10am-1am, Sat & Sun 11am-1am; 60SEK per hour.

Matrix, Hötorget, Vasastaden 'Matrix' is one of Stockholm's larger internet cafés with 88 terminals. Along with the obligatory internet access you can also print, burn CDs and more. If you're feeling peckish there are also coffees and snacks on offer. Open Mon-Thurs & Sun, 10am-midnight, Fri & Sun 10am-3am; 60SEK per hour.

SoFo (south of Folkungagatan), Sodermalm This area in Stockholm's Sodermalm district has become one of the city's trendiest districts in recent years. Here you'll find hip stores and chic boutiques. Wander round to discover shops such as the self-explanatory 'Sneakers n Stuff' and 'Tjallamalla', a clothes store specialising in local labels.

Drottninggatan, Ostermalm Formerly a royal street (it leads straight into the Royal Palace), this busy thoroughfare north of the Gamla Stan is lined with various shops, some large and some small. Pretty much anything you're looking for is available. It is also where street vendors sell their artwork.

Hornsgatan, Sodermalm This wide street which rolls through the heart of the Sodermalm district is peppered with stores that aren't stocked up with goods from the world's top brands. Instead you'll find clothes stores, sports stores, and some quirky cafés. There are loads of interior design shops also.

Looking for something Swedish? Vasterlanggatan/Stora Nygatan, Gamla Stan Stockholm's old town is where you will find the highest concentration of tourists in the city. Its main streets, Vasterlanggatan and Stora Nygatan, are laced with shops selling all sorts of kitsch. Picture Pippy Longstocking dolls and navy t-shirts with 'Sweden' plastered across them in canary yellow. If you're looking for some sort of tacky memoribilia, you'll get it here.

Stockholm Quality Outlet, Barkarby This large outlet is a few miles north of the city centre (it takes 18 minutes to get there via train - get the commuter train to Jakobsberg from the city), but there are more than 60 stores there selling clothes by well-known brands for 30%-60% less than high street stores so it could be worth the journey. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat/Sun 10am/11am-5pm.

Explore the Gamla Stan Stockholm's Old Town is awash with tourists all year round. Thankfully that takes nothing away from its charm. Wander around the smaller streets and alleys and you'll discover quaint cafés, old churches (see below) and more.

'Bandy' - Scandinavian ice-hockey Bandy Stadium, Zinkensdamms Idrottsplats, Sodermalm The sport of 'bandy' is one that is just played in Scandinavia and is extremely popular with the Swedes. It is similar to ice-hockey in that it is played on ice, but each team has eleven players rather than five. It also has a round ball rather than a puck. Games last over an hour but if you're lucky you may catch two. Season from Nov-Feb; admission 60SEK.

Visit the Storkyrkan/Tyska Kyrkan These two churches, both in Gamla Stan, are two of the city's most beautiful buildings and are both free to enter. Storkyrkan, Stockholm's cathedral, is the oldest church in the city and houses a priceless statue of 'St George and the Dragon'. Tyska Kyrkan (the German Church) is also spellbinding, largely due to its stained glass windows and 119 paintings.

Catch the changing of the guards If you don't fancy parting with a few crowns to visit the Royal Palace, you should at least get check out the 'Changing of the Guard'. The ceremony can be seen weekdays and Saturdays at 12.15pm and at 1.15pm on Sundays.

Visit some free museums Many of Stockholm's most popular museums impose admission charges but thankfully some of them are free. Two of these include the Nordiska Museet beside the Vasamuseet that contains a vast collection of Swedish objects and Statens Historiska Museet, Sweden's national historical museum.

Explore Stockholm's Gamla Stan. It can be swarming with tourists but is still definitely worth checking out.

Go to the Royal Palace to catch the Changing of the Guard. It lasts 10-15 minutes and shouldn't be missed.

Take the ferry to Djurgården from Slussen on Gamla Stan. Go for lunch in 'Amiralen' beside the Vasamuseet, Sweden's most visited museum.

After lunch (try the Swedish meatballs) check out the Vasamuseet. Housing an imposing warship that sunk on its maiden voyage, it is a fascinating museum.

The huge building facing the Vasamuseet is the Nordiska Museet. Here you'll discover the history of the Swedish people.

Take the ferry back to Gamla Stan and visit the 'Absolut Ice Bar'. Don your furry coat and mittens and enjoy a vodka cocktail from an ice-glass!

Grab a bite to eat somewhere. Jensen's across from the Ice Bar is popular with locals, while Sally's in Gamla Stan does great pizzas.

Stockholm's Gamla Stan is full of bars, most of which are cellar bars. Go for a few quiet drinks in one of them before moving on to somewhere livelier.

Finish the night off in one of the city's many late-night venues. The Sodermalm district is where you'll find most of the late bars, while Norrmalm is where most clubs are.