Stockholm/Kungsholmen

The eastern part of Kungsholmen is densely urban, and contains much of Stockholm's legal system: the national police board with the country's largest jail, and the Stockholm district court (Stockholms tingsrätt), as well as many government functions, such as the City Hall, and the County Council building.
The north-western part of the island is under development, with new hotels, shops and restaurants, as well as residential areas. The islands Stora Essingen and Lilla Essingen also belong to the borough. The E4/E20 expressway Essingeleden runs across these islands, as well as Kungsholmen.

Most of Kungsholmen is reached by subway, from Norrmalm, Vasastan, Västerort and Solna. The scenic Västerbron ("Western Bridge") connects to Södermalm. See Stockholm#Public transport.

While most visitors to Stockholm see the City Hall, few of them take the opportunities to see the rest of Kungsholmen. Still, the waterfront is walkable around most of the islands, and there is a variety of restaurants, cafés and stores.

• Stockholm City Hall

  address: Hantverkargatan 1
  The city hall, where the Nobel Prize Banquet takes place every year, is an imposing brick building in the city centre. Guided tours are held daily, and allow you to see the impressive halls used for the Nobel festivities, the Blue Hall and the Golden Hall. The tower offers a great view of the Old Town and can be climbed (optionally, a lift can take you half the way).

• Kungsholmen ChurchNot Stockholm's greatest church. However, it is centrally located, still calm and secluded. Occasional concerts.

• Stockholm Court HouseThe courthouse from the turn of the century with its massive tower is regarded as one of the foremost examples of Swedish national romanticism architecture, with a successful 2000s restoration. Open to public at weekdays; security checkpoint at front door. The building is visible in many Swedish crime dramas, including the Millennium series.

• Kristineberg PalaceBuilt around 1750 by the merchant R. Schröder, with a beautiful park. Today used partially as a school and partially as dwelling, though you can still watch it from the outside.

• Cheiron Studios

  address: Drottningholmsvägen 35
  A studio where Swedish music producer Denniz Pop mentored Max Martin, and created many world hits of the 1990s. Artists including Bacstreet Boys, N Sync and Britney Spears have made their master recordings here. Not open to the public.

• SmedsuddsbadetThe largest beach in inner-city Stockholm is child-friendly.

• FredhällsbadetA rocky beach on western Kungsholmen.

• Boulebar

  address: Smedsuddsvägen 2
  Food, drinks and boule pétanque.

• Hornsbergs strandAn artificial beach, acclaimed for its design. Crowded at summer.

• Västermalmsgallerian

  address: Fleminggatan 43
  Opened in 2002, Västermalmsgallerian on Kungsholmen is good-looking but relatively small.

• Lindhagenhuset

  address: Lindhagensgatan 118
  A shopping mall at the front of a big parking garage, with about a dozen shops. The Thai diner at the top floor has a good view of the neighbourhood.

• Vilse i Garderoben

  address: Hantverkargatan 59
  Second hand store.

Eastern Kungsholmen is packed with restaurants of different price levels.

Cafés

• Café Fix

  address: Sankt Eriksgatan 35
  Stockholm's oldest coffee shop. 25 kr for coffee, 5 kr for refill. Nice food.

• Rådhuset

  address: Scheelegatan 7
  A café inside the impressive district courthouse, Stockholms tingsrätt. A metal detector (for courtroom security) at the entrance might deter some guests.

Budget

• Restaurang Ät Gott

  address: S:t Göransgatan 74
  A diner with traditional Swedish food.

• Salt

  address: Hantverkargatan 34
  A casual diner with Swedish and international food.

• Pepe Nero

  phone: +46 8 80 00 08
  address: Sankt Göransgatan 74
  Half way between a fast-food place and a restaurant (looks like a restaurant but guests have to sort out their own cutlery). Does mainly Italian food, although there are also kebabs, falafel, salads, etc. Huge portions & fabulous value.

Mid-range

• Mäster Anders

  phone: +46 8 654 20 01
  address: Pipersgatan 1 (T-Rådhuset)
  French and Swedish cuisine with an emphasis on grilled meats. Mains 145-295 kr.

• Kungsholmen

  address: Norr Mälarstrand, kajplats 464 (T Rådhuset)
  Maybe on the expensive side of what constitutes mid-range, but this refined food court concept in a beautiful Kungsholmen quay location offers large portions of really tasty food in a variety of styles. Mains 175-260 kr.

• Mälarpaviljongen

  address: Norr Mälarstrand 64
  A self-service café at the waterfront.

Splurge

• Lux

  phone: +46 8 619 01 90
  address: Primusgatan 116
  In a waterside location on one of Stockholm’s smaller islands, Lux offers a relaxed atmosphere and some very good modern cooking. Mains 315-345 kr, tasting menu 940 kr. One Guide Michelin star.

• Wijnjas

  address: Scheelegatan 3
  An old-fashioned basement with cheese and wine tasting.

Bars in Kungsholmen are concentrated around Fridhemsplan, and along Fleminggatan and Hantverkargatan. Prices are usually lower than the rest of the inner city.

• Dovas

  address: S:t Eriksgatan 53 A
  Cheap beer, 30 kr for a 500 ml bottle of Norrlands Guld or another local ale. There is a nightclub opposite which most of the young locals seem to disappear into when this place closes.

• Theodoras

  address: S:t Eriksgatan 53 B
  About 10 metres further down the street, with the same owner, it is basically a quieter copy of its brother, Dovas.

• Nivå 22

  address: Fridhemsgatan 17
  A low-end pub with a roof deck, where one can drink and smoke at the same time.

The accommodation options in Kungsholmen are limited, so you can consider staying in neighbouring Norrmalm or Vasastan where there are more thereof.

Budget

• Belman Hostel

  phone: +46 73 9308691
  address: Sankt Göransgatan 151
  A low-cost hostel.

• STF Fridhemsplan

  phone: +46 8 653 88 00
  address: Sankt Eriksgatan 20
  One of the largest and most modern hostels in Stockholm.

Mid-range

• Connect Hotel City

  phone: +46 8 441 02 20
  address: Alströmergatan 41
  The cheapest rooms are very small and windowless.

• Aldoria

  phone: +46 8 693 63 00
  address: Sankt Eriksgatan 38

• M/S Monika

  phone: +46 8 120 921 00
  address: Kungsholms Strand 133
  A refurbished 1908 sailboat.

Splurge

• Courtyard Stockholm Kungsholmen

  phone: +46 8 4413100
  address: Rålambshovsleden 50
  The only Marriott hotel in Stockholm. Rooms with internet, aircon, coffee maker, ironing board, fridge and safe. The hotel has a fitness centre and a restaurant with local and international cuisine. Expensive parking at 295 kr.

• Clarion Hotel Amaranten

  phone: +46 8 6925280
  address: Kungsholmsgatan 31
  Rooms with internet.

Kungsholmen contains the national police headquarters, with heavy law enforcement presence, and is generally safe.
Fridhemsplan is a nightlife district, with some risk of drunk brawls in the evening. Hornsbergs strand gets crowded in summer, with antisocial behaviour as a consequence.
As Kungsholmen's beaches get crowded (by Swedish standards), use common sense for water sport.