Sweden's capital offers visitors a variety of cultural and natural attractions. In Gamla Stan, or Stockholm's Old Town, you can explore medieval alleys and cobbled streets while you make your way to the Royal Palace, the Parliament building, and Stortoget Square, the oldest in the city.
Stockholm is home to more than 50 museums, the most visited of which are the National Gallery of Sweden, ABBA Museum, the Viking Museum and Vasa Maritime Museum, known for its display of a beautifully preserved 17th-century warship.
On Djurgarden island, you'll find several museums, public gardens, art galleries, a heritage tramway line and Stockholm's Aquarium. Weather permitting, and if you've arranged car or van hire in Stockholm-Arlanda, you can drive to many of the islands on Lake Malaren, as a road and bridge network connects them. Landmarks to visit here include the royal residence at Drottningholm Palace and the 17th-century Ekebyhov Castle.
Family-friendly must-sees include Skansen outdoor museum and zoo, where kids can get close to wild animals, like moose, wolverines or lynxes. Junibacken is where the young ones can learn about children's book characters, and Grona Lund amusement park is home to 27 exciting rides.
Since Stockholm is a culturally diverse city, local restaurants cater to all preferences. Eateries in Gamla Stan include everything from Swedish bistros to Lebanese, Vietnamese and Central European restaurants. This area is also home to one of the world's oldest restaurants, Den Glydene Freden.
Gamla Stan is a busy commercial area with enough shops to keep you entertained for hours, whether you're into comic books, jewellery or antiques. Norrmalm is another popular destination for shoppers. This area is home to large shopping centres like MOOD or Sturegallerian, as well as Swedish department stores like NK Stockholm and Ahlens City.
As for the city's events, you can't miss the Midsummer celebrations that take place in June or the Christmas markets and fairs that pop up all over the city during the festive season. The most popular Christmas markets with locals and tourists alike are those at Drottningholm, Taxingle Castle and Fargfabriken. Cultural events are held at world-class venues like the Royal Swedish Opera, Sodra Theatre and Stockholm Concert Hall. Other well-known events include Stockholm Design Week (February), Rosendal Garden Party Music Festival (June), A Taste Of Stockholm (June) and Stockholm Jazz Festival (October).