Stockholm/Östermalm

Östermalm is rich with history. Since Medieval times, the lands were known as Ladugårdslandet ("the barn land"), and consisted of royal farms. With the rise of the Swedish Empire during the 17th century, the area was militarised, with army quarters, and a drill field, Gärdet , clear and open until today. In the late 19th century, the bourgeois had palatial residence blocks built along the waterfront, and the name Östermalm came into use. During the 1930s, a part of the drill field gave way to a row of plain, square modernist apartment houses, which came to inspire similar projects around the world.
The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm University, and several smaller seats of learning (Royal College of Music, University of Dance and Circus, Defense Academy etc), are in Norra Djurgården.
The harbour area, consisting of Värtahamnen, Frihamnen and Loudden was built up from the late 19th century. Today the freighters are fewer, and the harbour mostly receives Baltic Sea ferries as well as international cruiseferries. The centre of the Swedish television and motion picture industry, much of it in decommissioned warehouses in the harbour, contributes to the timeless glamour of Östermalm.

Östermalm is easily accessed by different forms of transport, as described in Stockholm#Public transport and on the public transport authority SL's website.
Many cruise ships dock at Värtahamnen and Frihamnen (if not at Södermalm). The docks are barely within walking distance from the subway station Gärdet. Taxicabs usually line up at the terminal, and as usual in Stockholm, beware of rip-off fares, and check the yellow price tag!

• The red line of the subway has several stations in Östermalm. In the centre of Östermalm is the station Östermalmstorg serving the Stureplan and Östermalmstorg area of the district.

• The tram Spårväg City runs from the Central Station (Norrmalm) along Strandvägen to Djurgården making it a very scenic way to travel with ease.

Östermalm contains several museums, and other institutions of culture. At Sturegatan and Karlavägen you can find many art galleries.

• Swedish History Museum

  address: Narvavägen 13-17
  If you're interested in older Scandinavian history, from the Stone Age to the Vikings, you will want to visit the Swedish History Museum. In the Gold Room, you'll find gold treasures from the Bronze Age to the 16th century. (If you're really interested in all things Viking, you might also want to consider a boat trip to the Viking town of Birka, in Ekerö.)

• Army Museum

  address: Riddargatan 13
  Displays Sweden's history as one of Europe's major military powers during the 16th to 18th century, followed by two centuries of peace. The museum makes a great effort of putting warfare into a broader social context.

• Royal Dramatic Theatre

  address: Nybroplan
  Sweden's national stage for spoken-word drama. The building is impressive in its own right. Guided tours in English.

• Berwaldhallen

  address: Dag Hammarskjölds väg 3
  is the official concert hall for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

• Swedish Performing Arts Museum

  address: Sibyllegatan 2
  A museum which displays dance, theatre and music from Sweden and other countries. Since 2018, it has an exhibition for Swedish pop music.

• The Royal Mews

  address: Väpnargatan 1
  Guided tours and group visits only.

• Lars Bohman Gallery

  address: Karlavägen 9
  A small art gallery.

• Designgalleriet

  address: Odengatan 21
  A gallery that displays fashion, arts and crafts.

• HumlegårdenPopular for recreation and sunbathing during the short summer.

• National Library of SwedenThe library is a national archive and does not lend books. However, the equally beautiful Stockholm Public Library, Stockholms stadsbibliotek (Vasastan), does.

Gärdet and Stockholm Harbour

• Museum of Science and Technology

  phone: +46 8 450 56 00
  address: Museivägen 7
  This large museum tells the tale of Sweden's rich tradition of engineering, with objects from past centuries, and one of the server racks from a 2008 police raid against the Pirate Bay. It is also suitable for small children, with the possibility to carry out your own experiments in the Teknorama section. Admission 160 kr Children 7-18, students 19+ 95 kr. Rebates for families and when using the Stockholm card.

• National Sports MuseumA small free-entrance museum in the same building.

• Police MuseumAlso in the same building.

Museum of Ethnography

address: Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 34

Etnografiska museet, with artifacts from all around the world, mostly from indigenous people. Outside the museum stands a totem pole, crafted in the 2000s by the Haisla tribe in British Columbia, in exchange for a 19th-century pole previously held in the museum, now repossessed to the Haisla.

Maritime Museum

address: Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 24

Exhibits Sweden's long history as a seafaring nation. Remnants of the Amphion, an 18th-century Royal yacht, and a broad collection of scale models. Hosts photo exhibition of sailors' tattoos, from the time before this art became mainstream fashion.

• Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall

  phone: +46 8 545 680 40
  address: Frihamnen
  Founded in 1987 in a former warehouse in the old Freeport district, the large exhibition space of Magasin 3 houses major exhibitions by international artists, often presenting new works.

Norra Djurgården and Frescati

• Swedish Museum of Natural History

  address: Frescativägen 40
  The museum's displays animals, plants, fungi, minerals and fossils from all continents, some acquired during the voyages of James Cook. Feature exhibits of evolution, the polar areas, and Scandinavian nature.

• The museum contains Cosmonova, Sweden's only IMAX Dome cinema.

• Sweden Solar SystemA scale model where the Globe Arena (Söderort) represents the Sun. The Earth and Moon are at Naturhistoriska. The Globe is visible from the museum's dome, with the same apparent size as the Sun.

Bergius Botanic GardensOpen-air gardens open to the public, as well as a greenhouse, popular during the cold season.

Stora skuggan

address: Stora skuggans väg 40

A 4-H farm with a restaurant.

Norra DjurgårdsstadenDuring the 19th and 20th centuries, the Stockholm Gasworks was here. The contaminated ground has been sanitized. As of the 2010s, a new neighbourhood is under construction, with sustainable waste management, and acclaimed post-modern architecture. The brick buildings remain.

• Sturebadet

  phone: +46 8 545 015 00
  address: Sturegallerian 36
  The costliest, and possibly the most beautiful, spa in central Stockholm. For those who can afford it, this place offers luxury in a listed 1880s building (faithfully reconstructed after a fire in 1985). Entrance costs 495 kr (F-Su 595 kr). It includes rented towel, robe and slippers, and entrance to pool, spa-section, gym and saunas. Most spa treatments 540 kr and upwards.

• BrunnsvikenA brackish bay, adjacent to the National City Park. There are several fine beaches, particularly on the eastern side (T Universitetet). Popular with students as it is less than a kilometre from the university's main campus.

• Stockholm Stadium

  address: Lidingövägen/Vallhallavägen
  A red brick stadium with just above 14,000 seats, built for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. For decades the home of Djurgårdens IF men's soccer team, but in 2013, the women's team of the same club. Also hosts track and field, the Stockholm Marathon, concerts and other events.

• DN-galanThe leading track and field event in Sweden, and a part of the IAAF World Athletic Tour, held annually in July in the beautiful Stockholm Olympic Stadium.

Stockholm Open

address: Lidingövägen 75

A tennis event on the ATP Tour, held in the Royal Tennis Hall in Östermalm in October, attracting many of the world's finest tennis players.

• Kampementsbadet

  address: Sandhamnsgatan 64
  An outdoor swimming pool with a gym, open during summers.

• Östermalms IP

  address: Fiskartorpsvägen 2
  An open-air sport park, usually open for the public. Ice skating at winter. In July-August, it hosts the Stockholm Pride festival.

• Wikimania 2019

  address: Aula Magna, Stockholm University
  The annual conference for the projects of the Wikimedia Foundation, such as Wikipedia and Wikivoyage.

Stureplan and the surrounding streets have many shopping opportunities for the well-to-do. Of course, most museums have souvenir shops.

• SturegallerianOpened in 1989, Sturegallerian is an upmarket shopping mall in central Stockholm, with stores carrying several brands, such as Björn Borg, Marimekko and Bang & Olufsen. Also the home of the upmarket restaurants Sturehof and Tures, and the nightclub Sturecompagniet.

• J Lindeberg

  address: Grev Turegatan 9
  Straightforward, casual men's wear.

• Hedengrens bokhandel

  address: Sturegallerian (T Östermalmstorg)
  A sophisticated bookstore with books in Swedish, English and other languages. They focus more on arty books than best-sellers.

Svenskt Tenn

phone: +46 8 617 16 00

address: Strandvägen 5 (T Östermalmstorg)

A well known store for high-quality Swedish design.

Kosherian Blecher & Co

phone: +46 8 663 65 80

address: Nybrogatan 19 (T Östermalmstorg)

Kosherian is Stockholm's only Kosher food store. There are no kosher restaurants in Stockholm, but Kosherian offers catering and can prepare light meals.

Fältöversten

address: Karlaplan

A shopping mall with mainstream stores and diners, as well as Östermalms konfektyr, with craft chocolate.

Dining in Östermalm can be costly, and fast-food and ethnic restaurants that dominate the budget bracket in Stockholm are fewer than in other districts. Östermalm has however many good spots for a picnic, if the weather allows.

Retail

• Stockholms matmarknad

  address: Stureplan
  The only market for fresh fish from the Baltic Sea, without the detour across Gothenburg. Also features high-end meat, and other delicacies.

• Östermalms Saluhall

  address: Östermalmstorg
  A market hall in a beautiful 1880s redbrick building, with all kinds of expensive food. Until early 2020, it is under restoration. Retail is relocated to a temporary hall on the Östermalmstorg square.

Budget

• Planet Food

  address: inside Östermalmshallen, Östermalmstorg
  Although the deli market Östermalmshallen is rather upmarket and its restaurants generally on the expensive side, Planet Food is an exception, offering a decent selection of excellent and very fresh wraps for 55 kr. Salads and juices are also on the menu.

• Restaurang Sumlen

  address: Humlegården
  In an area where sit-down lunches are expensive, Sumlen, catering to poor PhD students, offer simple but decent meals for 58 kr.

Mid-range

• Örtagården

  phone: +46 8 662 17 28
  address: Nybrogatan 31 (T Östermalmstorg)
  On the top floor of the Östermalmshallen food market, Örtagården serves a sumptuous vegetarian buffet with hot and cold vegetarian dishes at a decent price. There is also a "back pocket" serving meat dishes. Vegetarian weekday buffet lunch 85 kr, vegetarian weekday dinner and weekend buffet 135 kr.

• Glashuset

  address: Strandvägen 18
  A waterfront restaurant with a bar, on the walk between Norrmalm and Djurgården.

Splurge

• Esperanto

  phone: +46 8 696 23 23
  address: Kungstensgatan 2
  Just a notch below F12 on the White Guide ranking, Esperanto offers innovative tasting menus featuring many examples of advanced cooking. Some of the best value for money in the top class niche.

• Ekstedt

  address: Humlegårdsgatan 17
  A gourmet grill, recognized by Zagat and Guide Michelin.

• Gastrologik

  address: Artillerigatan 14
  While lunches are 135 kr, dining menus are costly. One Guide Michelin star.

• Teatergrillen

  address: Nybrogatan 3
  A classical luxury diner.

• Grand Escalier

  address: Sturegallerian
  A French-style diner and bar.

• The student unions at KTH (T Tekniska Högskolan) and Stockholm University (T Universitetet) hold pubs on weeknights at various campus locations, except during summer months. If you can read Swedish, you'll find a list at Fester.nu.

• Nymble

  address: Drottning Kristinas Väg 19
  A student union with regular pubs.
• Other pubs are at Konsulatet (Brinellvägen 26A) and T-Centralen (not to be confused with the subway station of the same name).
• At T-Universitetet is Allhuset and Gröna Villan.

Stureplan and Östermalmstorg

Stureplan is a nightlife hub at the border between Östermalm and Norrmalm. Expect long lines and high cover charges at weekend nights; get out before midnight.

• Sturehof

  address: Stureplan 2
  Close to Riche, with the same owners and much the same well-to-do clientele, Sturehof's location right on Stureplan draws a slightly more mixed and relaxed crowd than many of its neighbours. The restaurant has good quality food, albeit on the expensive side. The music bar O-baren is well known for its DJ sets.

• Brasserie Godot

  address: Grev Turegatan 36
  If you fancy long drinks with a cool crowd this is the place for you. Ask for an Old-Fashioned, Godot Crush or a Bloody Mary.

• Riche

  address: Birger Jarlsgatan 4
  Branding itself a "cosmopolitan bar", Riche is one of the most popular places with the media crowd. Two large bars, often with DJs.

• Hotellet

  address: Linnégatan 18
  Could be described as a hotel bar without a hotel. Free entrance, dancefloor at weekends, and a mixed crowd.

• Collage

  address: Ingmar Bergmans gata 2
  A nightclub with a rather young crowd, and an inner courtyard. The Living Room is a more intimate and funky club on the ground floor; no cover charge during weekends.

Budget

• STF Gärdet

  phone: +46 8 463 22 99
  address: Sandhamnsgatan 59 A
  A hostel just at the grassy field at Gärdet, with a beach-volleyball court.

Mid-range

• Scandic Ariadne

  phone: +46 8 517 386 00
  address: Södra Kajen 37
  At the northern cruiseferry terminal in Värtahamnen. Unusually tall for a Stockholm building.

• Hotell Örnsköld

  phone: +46 8 6670285
  address: Nybrogatan 6

• Scandic Anglais Hotel

  phone: +46 8 517 340 00
  address: Humlegårdsgatan 23 (T Östermalmstorg)
  Trendy boutique hotel encased in a glass exterior. In good location, combining the peace of the park with the entertainment of the city centre. Rooms are small but functional, and the hotel contains one of the most hip bars in Stockholm, always popular and only steps away from your room. The breakfast buffet lasts until 14:00. Guests are able to rent bikes from reception. The hotel has a rooftop bar with a great view, open during summer.

Splurge

• Story Hotel

  phone: +46 8 545 039 40
  address: Riddargatan 6

• Villa Källhagen

  phone: +46 8 665 03 00
  address: Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 10
  Just outside the built-up area in Östermalm.

• Elite Eden Park Hotel

  phone: +46 771 788 789
  address: Sturegatan 22
  Sauna, gym and two restaurants in-house.

• Mornington

  phone: +46 8 507 330 00
  address: Nybrogatan 53
  In a calm area.

As several of Stockholm's late-night venues are at Stureplan, it also the most violent place in Stockholm. Though the square is guarded by police and nightclub security, drunk brawls are common. Let the professionals take care of conflicts. However, bouncers of Stureplan are infamous to make unfair decisions, in favour to big spenders of native Swedish origin, and white complexion. To avoid this, prefer clubs with shorter lines, and get in line early.