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GAY STOCKHOLM
Discover this City with our Quick and Practical Guide to Visit the Best Attractions, Savor Typical Dishes and Have Fun in the Best Gay Bars. All this through the Rainbow Eyes of the World Mappers
What to See, Best Places to Sleep, Where to Eat and to Have Fun in STOCKHOLM ?
Find it out with the World Mappers !
LGBT STOCKHOLM
Sweden has been ranked as the friendliest and safest destination for LGBT tourists. Here LGBT rights have a long history. Same-sex sexuality was legalized as early as 1944 and Sweden was also the first country to allow transgender people to change their legal gender after reassignment surgery. In Sweden everyone is free to be whoever they want and LGBT tourists are welcome. This air of openness and freedom is exactly what we also breathed in the streets of Stockholm, we have always and everywhere felt welcome and we have always been ourselves.
Every year between July and August in Stockholm there is the largest Scandinavian Pride which in the last editions has attracted more than 600,000 people. For more info, please refer to the official Stockholm Pride website.
We like to sum up what Stockholm is for us with a beautiful phrase that was said to us during our trip. "Narrow streets (such as those in Stockholm's Old Town) meet open minds. Gay and lesbian life in Stockholm is like the city itself: easily accessible, extremely fun, very varied, warm and welcoming. But above all a city open to everyone".
For more information and advice on Stockholm LGBT click on the Stockholm LGBT website.
WHAT TO SEE in STOCKHOLM?
10 THINGS TO SEE in STOCKHOLM
Gamla Stan
The historic center and the most beautiful area of the city. Its narrow cobbled streets, including Maten Trotzigs Grand which is less than a meter wide, shops, medieval buildings with colorful facades and squares like Järntorget and Köpmantorget, make it a perfect place to get lost for several hours. We also advise you not to miss Stortorget square, surrounded by colorful houses and from here continue towards the Parliament, the Cathedral of San Nicola, the Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum, which shows the story of Alfred Nobel and the winners of the prize. In the old town there are also a large number of bars to warm up on colder days, and some of the best restaurants to eat in Stockholm, such as Nystekt Stromming and Stockholms Gastabud, to try typical dishes such as meatballs, herring or fresh salmon.
Royal Palace
Located in Gamla Stan, it is the official residence of the Swedish monarchy and another of the most famous places to visit in Stockholm. Built in the 13th century as a fortress, this palace has been modernized over time in different architectural styles and today it is possible to visit part of its more than 600 rooms, which have made it one of the largest in Europe. Among its most notable rooms are the Royal Apartments, the Royal Chapel, the Banqueting Room, the Treasury, the Royal Chapel, the Armory, the Carriage Museum and the Bernadotte Library, which houses nearly 100,000 ancient books. If you find yourself in front of the palace just before 11:45 in the summer or 12:15 in the winter, don't miss the Changing of the Guard.
Riddarholmen Church
Close to the Royal Palace is the Riddarholmen Church, the pantheon of the country's most important kings and queens and another of the most beautiful places to see in Stockholm. Built in the 13th century, the town's only surviving medieval church impresses with its red brick facade and high spire.
Swedish Parliament
Another of the best things to do in Stockholm is to go to the impressive Swedish Parliament, located on the island of Helgeandsholmen and separated by a narrow canal from Gamla Stan. The only way to visit is to book a guided tour from the official website.
Storkyrkan (The Great Church)
To conclude your visit to the historic center, we recommend that you enter the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, known as Storkyrkan (The Great Church), the oldest church to visit in Stockholm and home to numerous royal weddings and coronations.
Stockholm City Hall
Climbing the 365 steps of the City Hall tower for the best panoramic views of the Old Town is one of the best things to do in Stockholm. The Stadhuset or Stockholm City Hall, located in a privileged position on the shores of the island of Kungsholmen, is distinguished by the red color of its bricks and its tower. Inside is the Blue Room, home to the annual banquet of the Nobel Prize winners and, above all, the Golden Room, decorated with mosaics made up of over 18 million gold tiles.
Vasa Museum
On the island of Djurgarden is the Vasa Museum, built specifically to house the Vasa warship. This ship, the largest and most powerful in the Swedish fleet, sank due to excessive weight on the day it was launched in 1628. Recovered in 1961, 331 years later, it has been perfectly preserved thanks to the low salt level of the Baltic Sea.
Skansen Open Air Museum
The 1891 Skansen Museum, located on the island of Djurgarden, is the oldest open-air museum in the world. This large green space traces the history and culture of Sweden before the Industrial Revolution, through its more than 150 farms and houses characteristic of each region of the country.
ABBA The Museum
Close to the Vasa Museum and Skansen on the island of Djurgarden is the ABBA Museum, which honors the band that revolutionized 1980s music by selling over 400 million records. An interactive museum, which traces the history of the pop group from its beginnings in 1970 to its dissolution in 1983 with original objects from the group. You can try out many fun activities like dancing to ABBA's choreography, trying on one of their costumes or singing songs like Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia along with the group's holograms. We really enjoyed ourselves a lot!
Södermalm District
Located south of Gamla Stan on the island of the same name, it is a hipster and bohemian neighborhood full of atmosphere, alternative shops, art galleries and designer cafes, which over time has become one of the trendiest places to visit in Stockholm. Don't miss the Museum of Photography and Götagatan Street, full of vintage clothing stalls. To round off this neighborhood, we recommend Mariatorget Park at sunset, with some great views over the city, or take the Katarina elevator, another great vantage point to watch the sunset.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visiting this city at its best depends essentially on how long you have to fully enjoy it. Here is a solution based on the number of days available to you:
Day 1 - Stoccolma (Gamla Stan & Södermalm) - Google Maps
Day 2 - Stoccolma (the Best Museums) - Google Maps
Extra - Drottningholm Palace (from Train Station) - Google Maps
(By opening the Maps with Google, you can easily follow our path)
10 BEST EXCURSIONS from STOCKHOLM
We advise you to book the best excursions here: Viator - Musement - Get Your Guide
Drottningholm Palace
Broby Bro & Vikings Tradition
Sigtuna
Uppsala
Viking Settlement of Birch Island (Björkö)
Lake Malar (Mälaren)
Medieval Gripsholm Castle
Archipelago to Visit the Fortress of Vaxholm
Seaside Resort of Saltsjöbaden
Island of Sandhamn
Click'n'Go - Click on Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Clubs
to find them on the Map or visit their Website
WHERE TO SLEEP in STOCKHOLM?
10 BEST GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS in STOCKHOLM
Pop House Hotel **** ® Tested by World Mappers
STF Jumbo Stay Stockholm ** ® Tested by World Mappers
Map'Hotel • JUMBO STAY
Have you ever slept in a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet? It is possible at the Jumbo Stay in Stockholm, right next to the Arlanda airport. An old Boeing 747 converted into a particular and unique hotel is ready to welcome you in one of its cabins. From the more classic ones, to those in the engines up to the suite in the cockpit! Buckle up and enjoy this unique experience. To find out everything about this particular hotel click here to read our article Map'Hotel • JUMBO STAY
Map'Hotel • POP HOUSE HOTEL
If you are a music lover and especially Abba, the legendary Swedish musical group that revolutionized the world of music, you cannot fail to stay at the Pop House Hotel, the hotel right above the Abba The Museum, the Abba museum. Friendly staff, spacious and obviously Abba themed rooms, close location (just opposite) to the tram stop and the ferry to the city center but not only. In fact, the Pop House Hotel is located in Djurgården, the area of Stockholm where the Skansen, the Vasa Museum and many other cultural institutions are located.
WHERE TO EAT in STOCKHOLM?
10 BEST RESTAURANTS in STOCKHOLM Quality / Price
€€€ - Aifur (un Ristorante in pieno Stile Vichingo!)
€€€ - Den Gyldene Freden
€€ - The Hills (Gay Friendly) ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Restaurang Hasselbacken ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Stockholms Gastabud
€ - K25
GAY NIGHTLIFE in STOCKHOLM
10 BEST GAY PLACES, BARS & CLUBS in STOCKHOLM
Most of the bars, restaurants, cafes and clubs can be found in Södermalm, in the old town (Gamla Stan). But all over the city you can find clubs displaying the rainbow flag. Whatever kind of club or music you are looking for, you can find it in Stockholm. There really is something for everyone. Here is a list of the best gay bars in Stockholm.
The Secret Garden (Gay Bar) ® Tested by World Mappers
Side Track (Gay Bar)
Club Backdoor (Gay Club)
Guldrumme (Gay Party at Hotel Berns)
Melt (Gay Bar)
SLM (Gay Bar)
Manhattan Biograf (Gay Club)
Stay Bar (Gay Bar)
Space STHLM (Gay Club)
Patricia - Restaurang & Nattklubb på Södermalm (Gay Bar & Club)
For more information and advice on Stockholm LGBT click on the Stockholm LGBT website
TRAVEL TIPS about STOCKHOLM by World Mappers
To visit Stockholm at its best, we recommend the Go City: Stockholm All-Inclusive Pass, the perfect tourist card to save time and money, offering access to more than 45 must-see museums and monuments in the Swedish capital.
To conclude the list of essential places to visit in Stockholm, we suggest a short trip by metro or ferry to Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Residence of the Swedish royal family, it is located on the island of Lovön, about 15 kilometers from the city center of Stockholm and is comparable in beauty to the Palace of Versailles. To reach the palace you will have to take bus lines 301 and 323, which leave from the Brommaplan metro station, or in summer take the ferry that leaves from the pier located in front of the town hall.
The Stockholm Metro Network is one of the most beautiful places to see in Stockholm and one of the most impressive in the world, with 90 of its 100 stations decorated with works of art. This underground museum has been declared the longest art gallery in the world. In our opinion the most beautiful stations are Kungstttadgarden, Radhuset, Thorildsplan, Solna Centrum, Slussen, Stadium and Tekniska Höskolan. Don't miss the Rainbow Metro stop at Stadion stop and Newton's Apple, a giant sculpture in the Tekniska Högskolan metro station near the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, celebrating the fruit that inspired Isaac's theory of gravity Newton.
If you have time, another of the most interesting places to see in Stockholm is the new part of the city which revolves around Sergel Square. Here is the Kulturhuset, a cultural hub full of bars, galleries and activities at all hours. A few meters from this square, in Hötorget square, there is the colorful Hay Market and the Hötorgshallen underground market.
Do not miss the Bokbåten, a library ship that twice a year, since 1953, delivers thousands of books between the islands of the Stockholm archipelago (there are more than 24,000). As soon as the library ship docks in an island harbor, the inhabitants have about an hour and a half to get on board and borrow some books.
Located next to the Royal Palace, Kungstradgarden Park is the most popular with Stockholmers and another one of the most beautiful places to visit, especially in spring with cherry blossoms.
One of the places that most fascinated us in Stockholm is Aifur, a Viking restaurant in the center of Stockholm. You can taste recipes based on vegetables, reindeer and lamb and sip mead, beers flavored with myrtle and fir.
"SECRET STOCKHOLM"
Unusual and Particular Places to See in Stockholm
Outside the classic places to visit of the city, there is a "Secret Stockholm" that has simply bewitched us. Here are the 10 Things and Places to See in Secret Stockholm (and Surroundings):
Samkönade Trafikljusen - Stockholm traffic lights celebrate LGBTQ pride. Initially installed for the 2017 Pride they have become permanent and today 47 traffic lights reproduce same-sex couples. Some of these can be found at: Mäster Samuelsgatan - Drottninggatan; Hornsgatan - Mariatorget; Ringvägen - Skansbrogatan; Telefonvägen - Mikrofonvägen (Telefonplan); Norr Mälarstrand - Polhemsgatan; e Karlavägen - Nybrogatan.
Colour by Numbers - A permanent lighting installation in Stockholm's Telofonplan tower, the only one in the world that can be controlled by anyone with a smartphone using an app or by calling the dedicated number to choose the color and the top to be colored.
Victoriahuset (Victoria House) - A Victorian-style greenhouse designed to house giant water lilies. It is located in the Bergian Garden, an 18th century botanical garden, near the Royal Brunnsviken Lake.
Nobels Spränggropar (Nobel's Explosive Bunker) - The remains of Alfred Nobel's first nitroglycerin factory still stand on the shores of a Swedish bay. Vinterviken was the site of the first nitroglycerin factory in the world behind Alfred Nobel's success. Today the former explosives factory houses a restaurant, but some explosive bunkers can still be found near the water.
Ribbinska Huset (House of the Ribs) - Each of the white stones in the red facade of this 15th-century house is said to represent the head of a murdered Swedish nobleman.
Mårten Trotzigs Gränd - The narrowest alley in Stockholm, just over half a meter wide.
Love Locks di Västerbron - As in many cities, Stockholm also has a bridge full of love locks, but the Västerbron Bridge is also famous for its high number of suicides.
"Två Myror" ("Due Formiche") - Huge ants wielding giant pine needles guard the office of a Stockholm real estate firm. To reach the sculpture by subway, get off at the Radmansgatan stop.
Katarina Elevator - An elevator built in 1881 that connects the neighborhood of Slussen to that of Södermalm. Also perfect as a panoramic point over the city.
Two Sisters - This statue, known as "The Two Sisters" actually hides the story of two lovers who gave their lives because they could not live their love.
GAY FRIENDLY TOURS
Do you want to discover the city more deeply through Stockholm's Best Gay Tours? We recommend the following local operators:
Gaily Tour - Tour Operator offering tours and excursions dedicated to the LGBT + community throughout Europe. Special Tours and Gay & Lesbian Friendly Guides ready to make you discover the beauties of this destination. Info & Booking: info@GailyTour.com
Stockholm • Classic Tour
Begin your exciting LGBT Friendly walking tour from Gamla Stan, the name of Stockholm's Old Town. Here you will find the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag and the Royal Palace. Check out this huge Baroque building which is the official residence of the king and with 600 rooms is one of the largest palaces in Europe. Continue to the spectacular Vasa Museum, a very impressive museum displaying the historic 17th century Vasa warship. Your tour will end at the Skansen Open-Air Museum, where you will be free to enjoy a visit to a unique museum that includes the Stockholm Zoo, a history exhibit, and an exhibit on traditional Swedish festivals.
Included:
* Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tourist Guide for city tour (3 hours)
* Public Transport - Day Pass
* Entrance ticket - Vasa Museum
Stockholm • Gay Tour & ABBA's Secrets
Get ready to learn more about one of the most famous LGBT icons of the world's musical tradition: ABBA. Enjoy an exciting walking tour with our LGBT Friendly tour guide through the narrow streets of the Old Town, where the history of Stockholm began about a thousand years ago. Stroll through the narrow medieval cobblestone streets and soak up the atmosphere of the historic buildings of the old town. The area has a lot to offer, such as the Cathedral, the Nobel Museum and the Royal Palace, as well as numerous boutiques and restaurants. Afterwards continue to the ABBA museum, a splendid example of gay iconography for many LGBT people around the world. Learn all about ABBA's life and music on our guided tour before enjoying ABBA's interactive experiences. After the explanation of our Tourist Guide, you will be free to explore the museum and get closer to ABBA and experience what it is like to be the fifth member of ABBA!
Included:
* Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tourist Guide for city tour (3 hours)
* Entrance ticket - ABBA Museum
Stockholm by Night • Gay Tour
See an illuminated Stockholm and a fantastic walking tour of Stockholm's gay and lesbian bars and clubs to experience the city's magical atmosphere and LGBT scene. Enjoy your included drink (soft drink also available) and enjoy!
Included:
* Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tourist Guide for night tour (2 hours)
* Aperitif in a Gay Bar (1 Drink)
What to see near Stockholm?
