Where to stay

Medieval Gamla Stan is home to pencil-thin merchants' houses painted bright colors and a maze of little lanes, which makes it the most romantic place to stay in Stockholm. Norrmalm across the water has luxury hotel options with waterfront views. Book accommodations in this beautiful 13th-century enclave to be within walking distance of the regal coaches and costumes in the five museums of the Royal Palace. You'll be close to the Nationalmuseum, where the restaurant has been furnished by some of Sweden's top designers. Södermalm is a great place for hotels with easy access to the City Museum which tells the story of Stockholm's development from a little harbor.

Shopping in Stockholm is an organized affair with something to suit all interests. Stay in hotels in Norrmalm for easy access to the elegant NK department store on Hamngatan and the nearby Gallerian, Stockholm's first covered mall. Stay in the affluent district of Östermalm to savor a decadent lunch in the Östermalmshallen food hall and enjoy a picnic in the leafy Humlegården, a former royal garden where spices and hops were grown. Hotel options here are also well placed for the lively nightlife, while mid-range and boutique accommodations in Vasastan are ideal to hunt for antiques on Rörstrandsgatan.

Book a hotel from the handful in Djurgården to escape the crowds of the city center and enjoy the cafés and craft demonstrations of Skansen after a stroll along the coast. For those who still want a bit of culture, you are in walking distance of the ABBA Museum and Vasa Museum. Find cheap accommodations in peaceful Sundbyberg, a short ride from the city center by commuter rail and home to a beautiful metro station. Choose a hotel in Kungsholmen to be closer to the city center. Gaze across to Gamla Stan from the nature reserve on the east side of Långholmen island.