Stockholm/Västerort, Solna and Sundbyberg

During the 18th and 19th centuries, men of wealth and power have built themselves palaces and manors west of Stockholm. Most of them remain as conference facilities. During the 20th century, the area was transformed from farms to suburbs, as rail, subway and light-rail lines were drawn. While Bromma and Spånga are affluent garden cities, the areas of Järvafältet (Rinkeby, Tensta, Hjulsta) were built as part of the Million Project in 1960s and 1970s, at the subway, to provide low-cost housing. On the west coast of the lake, Blackeberg is a typical modernist suburb, known for the vampire film Let The Right One In. Vällingby , built in 1954 as one of the world's first planned multi-functional suburbs, became an icon of the Swedish welfare state. Due in large part to successful co-operation between phone company Ericsson and telecom operator Telia, the Kista area is a flourishing high-tech cluster, rivalling central Stockholm as the main business district.
Solna is an autonomous city containing the royal park Hagaparken, and three Royal Palaces.
Hagastaden is a neighbourhood dominated by Karolinska University Hospital, attached to the Karolinska Institute, famous for selecting the Nobel Prize laureates in medicine. See Stockholm/Vasastan and Hagastaden.
Sundbyberg, nicknamed Sumpan, is Sweden's smallest municipality (kommun) by land area. The settlement grew along the rail lines, with rectangular city blocks and detached homes. It is reputed to have a higher percentage of one-person households than any other city in the world.

By plane

• Stockholm-Bromma airportStockholm's old airport, now primarily used for short-range flights.

Public transportation covers most of the region.
The metro and commuter rail lines are radial, connecting the suburbs to central Stockholm. The Tvärbanan light rail line from Solna through Alvik is a semi-circular line connecting to Söderort. The ride across lake Mälaren is very scenic.

• Nockebybanan connects the district of Nockeby to Alvik on the green line of the Tunnelbana. The buses heading to Drottningholm Palace call at Nockeby (although in practice, taking the bus from Brommaplan on the green line of the Tunnelbana is more efficient) and pass through the quaint garden-city of Bromma.

Highways E4 and E18 pass through the region. Traffic is usually heavy during rush hours, and major events at Friends Arena. While the suburbs are exempt from congestion tax, the bridge to central Stockholm, Tranebergsbron and the road connections between Solna and inner Stockholm have toll stations. See Stockholm#Car.

• HagaparkenA Royal Palace park in Solna with a rich history, open to the public, and great for picnics. The palace, Haga slott, is the residence of Crown Princess Victoria and her family.

• The Haga Park MuseumAn indoor museum which displays the history of the Royal Park, since the 18th century.

• Butterfly HouseA tropical greenhouse open around the year. Except butterflies, it houses frogs, reptiles, and a large shark tank.

• Gustav III:s pavilionOpen to the public during summer.

Norra BegravningsplatsenOne of Scandinavia's largest cemeteries. Among famous Swedes buried here are Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson, actress Ingrid Bergman, humanitarian Folke Bernadotte, and fin-de-siècle writer August Strindberg.

• Ulriksdal PalaceA Royal Palace open to the public. An orangery with a collection of 18th and 19th century sculptures. A Royal theatre which is occasionally open.

• MarabouparkenA sculpture park with an art hall. It was built for the Marabou chocolate factory.

• Filmstaden

  address: Greta Garbos väg 3
  A studio complex for the Swedish cinema, closed down and converted into a museum in 1999. Ingmar Bergman has directed several films at the studios.

• Bromma kyrka

  phone: +46 8 37 34 48
  address: Gliavägen 100
  Stockholm's oldest preserved building. It has also been voted the city's most beautiful church. The oldest part was built as a round church in the second half of the 12th century. The church contains medieval paintings from the late 15th century.

• Tensta konsthall

  phone: +46 8 36 07 63
  address: Taxingegränd 10
  An exhibition hall in the multicultural western suburb of Tensta, opened in 1998 and has been met with much interest from critics for its contemporary art exhibitions.

• Friends ArenaA 50,000-seat stadium for association football games and other events, opened in October 2012. The arena hosts the men's national football team, as well as AIK. As of 2015, parking and roads are undeveloped, and traffic tends to be very congested before and after events. Get to the stadium early, preferrably without a car.

• Ulriksdals Golfklubb

• Several beaches for water sport, especially at Hässelby.
• Fishing is allowed in Lake Mälaren and Brunnsviken, prohibited in smaller waters.
• Brommapojkarna play their home games at Grimsta IP, Bromma (T Blackeberg). Brommapojkarna advanced to the top league in 2009.

• KistamässanA convention center opened in 2008, hosting a broad set of events, many of them about information technology.

• Solvalla

  phone: +46 8 635 90 00
  For a day at the races, you can go to Stockholm's hippodrome Solvalla, watch trotters compete in harness racing, and place some bets. Races are held Wednesday nights and many weekends. The biggest event is the prestigious Elitloppet race at the end of May every year.

• Solna Bowling

  phone: +46 8-779115523
  address: Gåvägen 23, Solna
  Welcome to Solna Bowling where you can bowl with you family, friends and work colleagues.

• Bodyflight Stockholm

  address: Bryggerivagen 16 B, Bromma Sweden
  Indoor skydiving facility for all ages.

• Mall of ScandinaviaSweden's largest shopping mall with more than 220 shops, opened in 2015 at Friends Arena. The cinema has an IMAX theatre.

• Solna Centrum

  address: Solna torg 13
  A baseline shopping mall for everyday needs.

• SignalfabrikenAn indoor-outdoor mall at the Sundbyberg station.

• Vällingby Centrum

  address: Vällingby torg 32

• Kista Galleria

  address: Kista Galleria
  Known for its late opening hours.

• RinkebystråketA shopping street opened in 2016, known for ethnic food.

• Arninge CentrumA cluster of big-box stores with ample parking space.

Budget

The suburban centres have low-end diners.

• Tony's Pizzeria

  address: Norrbyvägen 16
  An Italian restaurant serving Italian-style pizzas and BBQ kebab.

Mid-range

• Sorbon

  address: Kvarnbacksvägen 135
  A well-renowned local diner.

Splurge

• Sjöpaviljongen

  address: Tranebergs strand 4
  T-Alvik, a waterfront restaurant.

• Ulriksdals Wärdshus

  address: Ulriksdals slottspark
  Has high-end Swedish cuisine, and a smörgåsbord.

As most residents venture to central Stockholm for nightlife, the suburbs mostly contain local hangouts and hotel bars. A few places beyond the usual are:

• Grand Garbo

  address: Landsvägen 67
  Grand Garbo might be the most lively nightclub in suburban Stockholm. As 50% of Sundbyberg households are singles (reputedly the highest portion for any city in the world), this is the place for pick-up artists.

• Scandic Victoria Tower's Sky Bar

  address: Arne Beurlings Torg 3
  Though the range of drinks is limited, the 34th floor skybar is the highest in Stockholm.
• Several sport bars in Solna around the dismantled Råsunda Stadium.

Budget

• Mornington Hotel

  phone: +46 8 507 332 00
  address: Norrbyvägen 30
  A sport-business hotel near Bromma airport, with gym, massage and healthy breakfast. The airport and traffic noise at the front can be disturbing, but the hotel is at walking distance from a waterfront park.

• Hotel Äppelviken

  phone: +46 72 3345909
  address: Västerled 14
  A self-service hotel in a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

• Ängby Camping

  phone: +46 8 370 420
  address: Blackebergsvägen
  If you miss the last T-bana take night bus 198 from Sergels Torg/T-Centralen, direction Backlura, stop Ängbyplan (right next to the T-bana)) Rents out cabins, has caravan/camper van lots, and space for free camping (with plenty of shade). Spotless toilets and showers (the latter cost 10 kr). Laundry facilities, cooking facilities, internet café, mini-market which bakes its own bread and cakes every morning, small children's area. Very friendly staff who are prepared to go the extra mile to help out. A stone's throw from the campsite is Lake Mälaren with beach, bar/restaurant, crazy golf, and the campsite's own water slide.

Mid-range

• ibis Styles Stockholm Järva

  phone: +46 8 120 90 100
  address: Vallgatan 7
  A relatively inexpensive hotel in an office park between the Järva Krog (motorway crossing served by buses between the Arlanda Airport and the city) and the Ulriksdal station on the local railway line between Stockholm Central station and Arlanda and Uppsala. The cheapest rooms in the hotel only have windows that face the large atrium rather than the outside, but there are no rooms with no windows as in many other cheap hotels in Stockholm. The wild colours do a good job of making the simple fit-outs look modern and welcoming.

• Scandic Järva Krog

  phone: +46 8 517 345 00
  address: Vallgatan 2
  A Scandic hotel next door to the ibis Styles Järva. Slightly outdated and stark fitouts, but no major drawbacks. Only the superior rooms have air conditioning and coffee/tea facilities, as well as irons and a maritime-themed decor.

• Park Inn by Radisson Solna

  phone: +46 8 470 9100
  address: Hotellgatan 11
  The Park Inn Solna is part of the Solna Centrum and thus directly on the blue line of the T-bana. The difference between the Standard and Superior rooms is pronounced - the former are only 15 m² and fitted out as simply as possible, while the Superior rooms are 25 m² and quite modern and elegant as you would expect of a Park Inn.

• Best Western Bromma

  phone: +46 8 684 48 420
  address: Ulvsundavägen 193
  At Bromma Airport.

• Scandic Alvik

  phone: +46 8 517 661 00
  address: Gustavslundsvägen 153
  A waterfront hotel 4 km from central Stockholm.

• Scandic Victoria Tower

  phone: +46 8 517 533 00
  address: Arne Beurlings torg 3A
  A skyscraper hotel at Kistamässan at the Helenelund railway station.

• StayAt Bromma

  phone: +46 8 471 10 00
  address: Vidängsvägen 9
  A business hotel.

Splurge

• Ulfsunda Slott

  phone: +46 8 704 49 40
  address: Margretelundsvägen 125
  A palace in a waterfront park, where each room is unique.

• Hesselby Slott

  phone: +46 20 112 22 22
  address: Maltesholmsvägen 1
  Hässelby Slott, a 17th-century palace.

• Åkeshovs Slott

  phone: +46 8 445 80 77
  address: Åkeshovs gårdsväg 11
  Åkeshofs Slott, also a palace.

• Radisson Blu Royal Park Hotel

  phone: +46 8 624 55 30
  address: Frösundaviks allé 15
  In Hagaparken, Solna.

• Quality Hotel Friends

  phone: +46 8 705 70 00
  address: Råsta Strandväg 1
  At Friends Arena.

Some suburbs along the blue line (Rinkeby, Tensta, Husby) have a reputation for crime. While incidents do happen, visitors who do not look for trouble are usually safer than in central Stockholm.

• Karolinska

  address: Karolinska vägen
  A well-reputed hospital in Solna.