Holidays to Stockholm and surrounding countryside

The city with its narrow cobbled streets, vast parkland, and scenic waterfront promenades is best explored on foot.

Commence your tour of the Swedish capital in Gamla Stan, the historic centre of the city and allow yourself to get wonderfully lost in the maze of medieval lanes.

Continue your tour by hiring a city bike or by taking a leisurely walk or boat ride to the island of Djurgården, home to some of the city’s most popular attractions and museums. One of our personal favourites is the Vasa Museum which houses a fascinating exhibition and the Vasa warship; the world's only surviving 17th century ship. With 95% of the ship's original parts preserved and ornamented with hundreds of carved sculptures the Vasa is a unique art treasure. This is a wonderful museum and in our opinion a must for any visitor to the city.

Close to the Vasa Museum is Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum and comprising of some 160 historic buildings including grass-roofed cottages, shops, a school house and a windmill. Skansen is the most popular visitor attraction in Sweden – recommended.

In 2013 the long awaited ABBA museum opened in Stockholm. This highly interactive attraction invites you to sing and dance your way through the exhibitions, which are filled with original costumes and memorabilia from members Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Before returning to Norrmalm, Stockholm’s ‘city centre’, take a detour to Kaknästornet communications tower from which there is a magnificent view over the city. On a clear day you can see for miles around.

Other sights worthy of a visit include: The City Hall, The Nobel Museum, The National Museum, The Fotografiska Museum and the Modern Art Museum which exhibits works by luminaries like Dali and Picasso.

To get a true feel of life in Stockholm, we would recommend a visit to the residential island of Södermalm with its trendy restaurants, café bars, boutiques, fashion shops and art galleries. Södermalm is also the setting for the Millennium trilogy of books written by Stieg Larsson, now a hollywood film starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara - although the Swedish version, in our opinion, is better. A Millennium Tour is available from the tourist office for visitors wishing to follow in the footsteps of Mikael Blomqvist and Lisbeth Salander.

Stockholm has a wide choice of eateries from local cafes and food markets to Michelin starred restaurants, and here it is the independent establishments that dominate.

Tucked behind the exclusive Strandvagen and the trendy Stureplan, you will find the Östermalm Saluhall (food hall). This bustling food market sells seasonal produce.

There is an abundance of fresh fish, meat and poultry as well as cheeses and savoury and sweet delights. Popular with tourists and locals alike the Saluhall is a wonderful place for a relaxed lunch, for a spot of souvenir shopping or just for sampling the local delicacies.

Sörmland's Manor Houses

Sörmland is famed for its array of manor houses and castles, many of which are open to visit. Some of our favourites are the 17th century Nynäs, 17th century Skokloster Castle 18th century Tullgarn Palace and the red-brick Royal Castle of Gripsholm, home to the largest portrait collection in Sweden.

Notes: The months of July and August are the height of the tourist season in Sweden. Please note that outside of these months, many attractions are closed or are open for reduced hours. If you have a specific site or museum that you would like to visit, please contact us to check that it will be open during your visit.

Rub shoulders with royalty at the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King and Queen of Sweden and his family. Open for visitors throughout the year, a tour of the palace will guide you through the banqueting rooms, guest apartments, the Hall of State, the Royal Chapel and the treasury.

Alternatively board a cruise boat in the heart of Stockholm and sail to Drottningholm Slott, the private residence of the Royal Family (open all year excluding 16-30Dec. Cruise available May-Sept). Located on the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, the palace, its 16th century theatre, Chinese pavilion and gardens have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes: The months of July and August are the height of the tourist season in Sweden. Please note that outside of these months, many attractions are closed or are open for reduced hours. If you have a specific site or museum that you would like to visit, please contact us to check that it will be open during your visit.