Stockholm

The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, situated on a number of islands between lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea.

For Frequently Asked Questions, see the Stockholm FAQ wiki page.

Stockholm on CouchSurfing

The Stockholm group

The group currently consists of more than 1500 members, from the city of Stockholm and it's surroundings. Join to meet the people of Stockholm and take part in the events and activities arranged there.

CS Events in Stockholm

We have CS events every Friday! Usually we also have one or two more events every week. See the event page for current information.

Stockholm Couch Requests

Stockholm Couch Requests is a group designed to be a great way for members who do not come up in searches to be able to host and take care of Stockholm's guests! It is not meant to replace the "couchsearch tool" but be a nice addition to it. Please make sure that members only use CS emails and couch requests once a post for a request is made!

Stockholm Last Minute Couch Request

Stockholm Last Minute Couch Request is a group for guests who are looking for a last minute couch and it is also a group for hosts in Stockholm that don't mind helping people in the last minute. Keep in mind that this group is a last minute option. If you are looking for a couch you should first try using the "CouchSearch!".

Stockholm Host Network

The Stockholm Host Network is a group for the Stockholm members who are actively hosting as an information exchange. A useful network for all of us to stay connected. It allows us to coordinate better between the requests we individually get and to arrange events for our guest as well.

Ambassadors in Stockholm City

There are several ambassadors (city, country and nomadic) within Stockholm city due to the active group here. Below you will find links to their profiles, should the need arise for you to contact them. Please remember that the ambassadors do have lives outside of CouchSurfing, but will endeavour to reply to questions/mails as soon as possible. Before contacting an ambassador you could try to post your question/problem within the Stockholm group for a quicker response from the ever growing and helpful community there.

Contact information

Country Ambassadors: James Daykin -- Magnus Simonsson

City Ambassadors: Andreas Andersson -- Amy & Jonathan Lindgren -- Elina Pesonen -- Gunilla Gustafsson --Gustav Sjöstrand -- Håkan N ("invinoveritas")

Nomadic Ambassador: Edgard Antunes Dias Batista

Attractions

Apart from being a beautiful city with lots of water, green spaces and a pleasant architecture there are some major attractions that are worth coming to Stockholm to see. Parts of town you have to see include the Old Town ("Gamla Stan"), with the Royal Palace, then walk through the Parliament across the never freezing waters, to Kungsträdgården and on to the main shopping area around Hamngatan, Biblioteksgatan, Kungsgatan and Drottninggatan. For a slightly less commercial and more artsy part of town, try Södermalm (South side), around Slussen or Medborgarplatsen metro stations. Götgatan, Folkungagatan and Skånegatan have a lot of laid back nice places, whether looking for food, shopping or nightlife. Less well known, but nice, is Stadshuset (the city hall) and Kungsholmen around Rådhuset (Old Courthouse), and certain parts of posh Östermalm. If you don’t mind a slightly longer trip, the Haga Park has an indoor live Butterfly museum (heated; open all through winter).

This stub is intended for winter visitors: Stockholmians do the same in winter as in summer, only indoors... Bars and nightclubs are well visited. Many stay in home parties, though. Parks and outdoor areas are frequented more by moving people, so as not to turn into icicles... Walks, ice skating, etc are popular when conditions permit. Long-distance Ice Skating is a fun pastime; you can rent gear at many locations, though most are somewhat outside city centre. Hellasgården at Källtorpssjön, or Norrviken come to mind.

Top attractions

The Old Town - There are a lot of unique things to see when visiting the Old Town in Stockholm. "Gamla stan" (as it's called in Swedish) is a great place to walk around and look at the houses, the narrow streets, small shops and nice cafés. If you avoid Västerlånggatan (tourist street) you can spend a long time there. Don't forget to watch the castle and the parliament. For a special experience you could walk in the old town at night, with the shops closed and most of the tourists gone. Walk across from the underground station "Gamla Stan" to "Slottsbacken" and look at the winding alleys and the old houses. Get lost, no worries, it is an island - you can't get too lost.

The Stockholm archipelago - With its 24,000 islands, the Stockholm archipelago is a unique place to spend time all year round.

Skansen - Skansen is the oldest open-air museum in the world. Skansen is also a zoological park. It is located on the island of Djurgården, a royal park near the centre of Stockholm, and open every day of the year, except Christmas Eve. It is very nice if the weather is good. Make sure to get inside the various workshops and farms.

Kulturhuset - See exhibitions of photography, art and design. Listen to music, see dance and theatre performances and meet writers. Read papers and magazines from all over the world and visit the only library for Comics and Graphic Novels in Sweden.

Södermalm - Try to find to Ivar Los park, Bastugatan 26, a small park with the best view over Stockholm! Other places to hang around there is Medborgarplatsen, Bondegatan, Skånegatan, Götgatan and Folkungagatan where you have a lot of cosy restaurants, cafés, pubs, shops and cool people.

Djurgården - The whole island of Djurgården is a good tourist spot in summer, but can be cold and damp in winter. Sunny days are your best bet. And you'll likely go there anyway, as The Vasa Museum, Nordiska museet, Liljevalchs konsthall and Skansen are located there. You could take a walk along the waterfront from Berzeli park/Norrmalmstorg in the city centre out along Strandvägen to the bridge over to Djurgården. Admire the impressive buildings along the way, look over the water to The Vasa museum, stop for a cool drink at the bar in the back on the National museum, walk further the tree-lined street past the old wooden villas to the end of the island where you can cross over to Gärdet and Kaknästornet. As nice from below as it is from the top, so no need to take the lift up. :-)

The City Hall - The City Hall is one of the best known symbols of the city.

Art galleries

Liljevalchs konsthall - An art gallery of Swedish and international art, has Stockholm’s most beautiful exhibition environment.

Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall - Is one of the leading institutions of contemporary art in Sweden.

Millesgården - Millesgården is more than a museum; it's also a lovely relaxing park and garden with an unparalleled vivew of Stockholm.

Museums

Museums in Stockholm - There are some 70 different museums in the Stockholm area.

Moderna Museet - Moderna Museet has one of the world’s best collections of art, spanning 1900 to the present day.

Nationalmuseum - Nationalmuseum is not only Sweden's largest art museum. In itself, the building is a striking feature of the Stockholm cityscape.

Nordiska museet - Nordiska museet is situated on Djurgården, next to Djurgården bridge.

The Stockholm City Museum - The Stockholm City Museum's function is to preserve the city's cultural heritage, bring it to life and convey it to Stockholm residents, visitors and future generations.

The Vasa Museum - The Vasa is the world’s only surviving 17th-century ship and one of the foremost tourist sights in the world. The ship is displayed in a purpose-built museum in Stockholm.

Other attractions

Drottningholm Palace - The palace is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It's the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden and at the same time is representative of all European architecture for the period.

Gröna Lund - An amusement park on Djurgården.

Hellasgårdens motionscentral - A calm and quiet lake in the stockholm area. There's both a "nude rock" and "swimsuit rocks" along the lake. To get there, take the 401 bus wich leaves from Slussen to Älta once an hour. Please note that the website is only in Swedish.

Kanotguiden - Canoeing and kayaking in Stockholm.

Skogskyrkogården, The Woodland Cemetery - In December 1994 Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm Woodland Cemetery, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Events

Free events in Stockholm - Free events in Stockholm. Please note that the website is only in Swedish.

Herräng Dance Camp - Every summer people from all over the world go to Herräng, north of Stockholm, to swing dance and have fun.

The Cultural Festival of Stockholm - The cultural life in Stockholm will explode during this late summer week.

Parkteatern - Free theatrical performances and concerts in the summertime.

Popaganda - Concerts taking place in late summer every year.

Stockholm Pride - Stockholm Pride is one of Stockholm's largest annual festivals, as well as the largest Pride celebration in Scandinavia. It's held in late July/early August.

Stockholm International Film Festival - Stockholm Int'l Film Festival takes place in November each year, showing around 180 films from all over the world during ten days. They also arrange "Summer Cinema" - films for free in the Tanto park every August.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Stockholm - The Stockholm Visitors Board's Online Reservations.

Youth Hostels

Some central Youth Hostels

2 kronor hostel -- Backpackers Inn -- Cityhostel -- Castanea hostel -- Citylodge -- STF Fridhemsplan -- Gustaf af Klint -- Hostel Bed and Breakfast -- Långholmens vandrarhem -- Rygerfjord -- Skanstulls vandrarhem -- Stf Af Chapman -- The Red Boat -- Zinkensdamms vandrarhem -- Östra reals vandrarhem

Youth Hostel Organizations

The Swedish Tourist Association

Independent Youth Hostels in Sweden

Restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs

Allmänna galleriet - AG 925 is a nice bar and restaurant in a rough former printing shop on Kungsholmen, Kronobergsgatan 37, metro Fridhemsplan.

Berns - A palace for clubbing, with a nice terrace bar in the summer. They also arrange a lot of other things. Berzelii park, metro Östermalmstorg.

Boulebar - Boule and buffé! Boulebar has three different locations - Rålambshov in Rålambshov's park (outdoor), metro Fridhemsplan, Surbrunn on Surbrunnsgatan 46 (indoor), metro Odenplan and Prins Bertil on Rosendalsvägen 38, Djurgården (indoor), bus 47.

Boule & Berså - A place by the water where you can eat, drink, play boule (pitanque) or lie in a hammock under the trees. Sjökvarnsbacken 13, bus from Slussen.

Glenn Miller Café - A jazz club and restaurant. Brunnsgatan 21A, metro Hötorget.

Grodan Coctail Club - They have two locations, but the night club is located in the basement of the Greve Ture branch. Mostly house music. Grev Turegatan 16, metro Östermalmstorg.

Hemma Hos - A restaurant and bar with free pasta salad on weekdays 5-7 pm. Kammakargatan 22.

F12 Terrace - A nice outdoor club open May-September, with great view over the water and Gamla stan (old town). Different dj's every night. There is also a restaurant under the terrace. Fredsgatan 12, metro T-centralen.

Jazzclub Fasching - A jazz club with live music almost every night, Kungsgatan 63, metro T-centralen or Hötorget.

La Isla - If you want to dance salsa, you should go to La Isla at Fridhemsplan. It's a big place, with a lot of people dancing.

M/S Gerda - Nice bar and restarurant on a boat, open May-September. Norr Mälastrands kajplats 466, metro Rådhuset.

Operakällaren Bakfickan (the Back Pocket) - A good place for traditional Swedish food. A small restaurant at the back of the Opera. Go there for lunch or early dinner.

Stampen - A cozy historical jazz pub located in Gamla Stan, the old town.

Stureplan area - The mecca of club Stockholm! On Stureplansgruppens webiste you will find info on at least a dozen clubs located in this area. Stureplan, metro Östermalmstorg or Hötorget.

Terrenos Vinotek - The Wine Bar on Kungsholmen! About 40 wines by the glass thanks to special wine machines. Great service from educated sommeliers. Good food and a relaxed way to learn about wine.

Tranan - Frequent DJ sets in the bar downstairs. The restaurant, established 1929 and serves excellent traditional Swedish food. Karlbergsvägen 14, metro Odenplan.

Olé olé El bar espanol - A gem - a very small but cosy bar located in Kungsholmen close to the bar street Scheelegatan. Their tapas might be one of the best in town. Very international crowd. Mix of different ages.

VASA´s - Cheap beer, wine and drinks. After work prices until 8pm. Nortullsgatan 15 (Odenplan)

On Södermalm

Café Puck - A very nice café on Hornsgatan 32, metro Slussen.

Chutney - Veggie place and so far home to CS monthly dinners! Kataring Bangata 19, metro Medborgarplatsen.

Café String - A café to spend time at. Cheap brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Nytorgsgatan 38, metro Medborgarplatsen, bus 66 or 3.

Debaser - Debaser has two locations, one in Slussen and one in Medis. They are focusing on concerts and nightclubs to the indiepop/rockish side. Nice outdoor bars in the summer. Karl Johans torg 1, metro Slussen or Medborgarplatsen 8, metro Medborgarplatsen.

El Mundo - The bar with the best drinks in town? Erstagatan 21, bus or walking distance from metros Slussen and Medborgarplatsen.

Hermans - Great vegetarian food. Enjoy a lunch or dinner buffet with a great view. Fjällgatan 23, walking distance from Slussen.

Kvarnen - Beer hall, restaurant and two smaller bars (H20 and Eld/Fire). The restaurant serve some typical Swedish food, Tjärhovsgatan 4, metro Medborgarplatsen.

Koh Pangan - Thai restaurant with kitchy interior, thunder & lightning 21.00 every night. Skånegatan 57, metro Medborgarplatsen.

Marie Laveau - A night club focusing on house or electronic music. Hornsgatan 66, metro Mariatorget.

Mosebacke Etablissement - A nice restaurant and huge outdoor bar in the summer, with a great view over the city. Mosebacke torg, metro Slussen.

Morfar Ginko & Papa Ray Ray - Good restaurant and bar with an inner yard and outdoor tables in the summer. Swedenborgsgatan 11-13, metro Mariatorget.

Multi Kulti - The music café Multi Kulti are pioneers in providing folk music to music lovers. S:t Paulsgatan 3, metro Slussen.

Patricia - In the heart of Stockholm lies the restaurant boat Patricia. Almost half price for the food on Sundays. Sundays are gay club nights.

Pet Sounds Bar - Good bar in Södermalm, they also have a record store across the street. Skånegatan 80, metro Medborgarplatsen.

Rival A bar, bistro and restaurant in a hotel (co-owned by one of the guys in Abba), sometimes they have concerts or shows in the old cinema. Mariatorget 3, metro Mariatorget.

Snotty - A small bar. Skånegatan 90, metro Medborgarplatsen.

Södra Bar - Chill out place with a great view from their glass veranda - as well as outdoor veranda in the summer. Mosebacke Torg 1-3, above Mosebacke Etablissement, metro Slussen.

Thaiboat - Best hangout in the early evening. Catch the sun while having your toes stuck in the sand, drinking a Singha and looking at the crocodile in the water. Good food as well. At the end of Östgötagatan, metro Skanstull.

Gay Stockholm

QX GayMap - Gay events calendar Stockholm.

Patricia - In the heart of Stockholm lies the restaurant boat Patricia. Almost half price for the food on Sundays. Sundays are gay club nights.

Veggie places

Chutney - Great vegetarian food. Katarina Bangata 19.

Govindas - Great vegetarian food. Fridhemsgatan 22.

Hermans - Great vegetarian food. Enjoy a lunch or dinner buffet with a great view. Fjällgatan 23, walking distance from Slussen.

Kafé 44 - A veggie café. Tjärhovsgatan 44.

Lao Wai - Great vegetarian food. Luntmakargatan 74.

Seyhmus Vegetariska delicafé - Great vegetarian food. Varvsgatan 29.

Things to eat

Do you wanna try some local food while in Stockholm? Then you should try one of these specialties:

Toast skagen - A toast (bread) with a mayonnaise mix with shrimps and on the top some fish roe with dill and lemon.
Kåldolmar - Cabbage rolls filled with pork and rice. (Not really Swedish though!)
Köttbullar - meatballs, usually served with mashed or boiled potatoes, brown sauce and lingonberry jam
Pyttipanna - A mix of potatoes, onion, sausage or ham and usually served with a fried egg and beetroot.
Sill - pickled herring, usually served with boiled potatoes and sourcream.
Stekt strömming - Fried herring usually served with cooked or mashed potatoes and some sauce.
Ärtsoppa och pannkakor - Pea soup and pancakes. Usually only served at restaurants on Thursdays.

Transport

Stockholm Transport - Here you will find information about travelling with Stockholm Transport (SL), tickets, and the Journey Planner in English.

Stockholm City Bikes - Around the city – fast and healthy!

Waxholmsbolaget - Waxholmsbolaget operates in the Stockholm archipelago.

SJ - Go by train.

Säfflebussen Express Bus - Cheap busses out of Stockholm, good connection to Göteborg, Oslo and Copenhagen.

Swebus Express - Busses out of Stockholm, to major cities for as low as SEK49, limited seats of course.

Tallink Silja - If you have too much time and in acute need of cheaper alcohol beverages, take a ferry to Finland or Estonia.

Viking Line - If you have too much time and in acute need of cheaper alcohol beverages, take a ferry to Finland.

Airport Transportation

Flygbussarna - You can find airport bus connection and schedule here. Airports: Arlanda, Bromma, Skavsta, Västerås.

Ryanair FlybyCoach - Ryanair's direct bus between Cityterminalen, Stockholm – Skavsta airport (NYO) alternatively Västerås airport (VST).

Arlanda Express - The non-stop journey Stockholm-Arlanda takes 20 minutes.

Airports

Stockholm-Arlanda Airport - The main airport. There are many ground transport alternatives to and from Stockholm-Arlanda − high-speed trains, long-distance trains, local trains, airport coaches and local buses.

Stockholm-Bromma Airport - Stockholm’s city airport. It is easy to get to and from Stockholm-Bromma Airport. You can choose among several alternatives: take a taxi, ride the airport bus or a Stockholm Transport (SL) bus, or drive your own car and park at the airport.

Stockholm Skavsta Airport - The airport is situated 100 km south of Stockholm, 7 km northwest from Nyköping - right next to the main E4-highway. You can reach Stockholm Skavsta Airport by coach/bus, car, train or taxi.

Stockholm-Västerås Airport - Västerås Airport is approx 5 km east of Västerås city centre, at Hässlö. It is about 75 minutes by bus from Stockholm.

Useful links

The Official Visitor Guide - Information about Stockholm and The Stockholm Card.

The City of Stockholm - The official gateway to the City of Stockholm.

Sweden.se The official site about Sweden

Maps

Type/search for an address.

Eniro

Hitta

News

Radio Sweden - SR International is the international and multicultural channel of public broadcaster Swedish Radio, with programs in 14 languages.

The Local - Sweden’s news in English.

Internet

Many cafés offer wifi access if you have your own laptop.

Sidewalk Express - internet points to be found around the city - at Central station, in McDonalds, Pressbyrån, 7 Eleven, supermarkets etc. 19 kr/hour!

Weather

SMHI - The local weather forecast for Stockholm.

Weather in Sweden and When to Go - Information from Lonely Planet.

Living

Abc-annons - Please note that the website is mostly in Swedish.

Blocket - Please note that the website is mostly in Swedish.

Bostad direkt - The largest actor in Sweden on second-hand leasing.

Bostäder uthyres - Rooms for rent. Mostly for students (Stockholm University ad board).

Click flatshare - Stockholm Flatshare Flatmate flat and house share accommodation to rent.

EasyRoommate - Flatshare.

Working

Jobs in Stockholm - Your search for English speaking jobs in Sweden starts and stops here.

Jobs in cooperation with StepStone - By The Local.

Annonstorget övrigt - Please note that the website is mostly in Swedish.

Grannar.se - Please note that the website is mostly in Swedish.

Work permit - You must have a work permit in order to work in Sweden.

Studying

Beckmans College of Design Beckmans offer three year programs in Advertising & Graphic Design, Product Design and Fashion.

Berghs School of Communication - Berghs educate planners, copywriters, art directors, graphic designers, web strategists, web creatives, production managers, and public relations specialists. Fees apply.

Konstfack - University college of arts, crafts and design - Konstfack offers Undergraduate and Master's programs, Art Education programs and independent courses.

KTH - Royal Institute of Technology - KTH is the region's centre for higher education and research within the technical field.

Stockholm University - SU is the region's centre for higher education and research in the humanities, law, sciences and social sciences.

Södertörn University - SH offers more than 70 study programmes within the humanities, social sciences, life sciences and education.

Study in Sweden - Study in Sweden is a comprehensive resource for information about higher education in Sweden.

Language

BBC Languages Quick Fix Swedish - Essential holiday phrases. Now with mp3 downloads.

Language Kompis - A language exchange community.

Lexin - A Swedish-English dictionary.

Svenska utifrån - A book in Swedish to learn Swedish.

Sweden.gov Sfi - Swedish for immigrants

Stockholm.se Sfi - Swedish for immigrants

Safety

Safety links

Safety for surfers

Safety for hosts

Tips for solo women

Emergency

Police/Fire/Ambulance (emergency) 112

Police and Local Authority (Non-Emergency) 11414 (from abroad +46 77 11414 00)

Police stations:

Norrmalm

Address: Kungsholmsgatan 43, Map

Södermalm

Address: Torkel Knutssongatan 20, Map

Katarina

Address: Tjärhovsgatan 21, Map

Klara

Address: Klarabergsviadukten 49, Map

Kungsholmen

Address: Kungsholmsgatan 37, Map

Maria

Address: Rosenlundsgatan 9, Map

Vasastan

Address: Tulegatan 4, Map

Östermalm

Address: Brahegatan 49, Map

Hospitals:

In the list below there are 5 emergency hospitals which are located in the Stockholm area. But only the first two are located in Stockholm city. Next to the name of the hospital you will see the name of the closest subway stop. So you will know in which part of town they are located.

S:t Görans (Closest subway stop Fridhemsplan)

Address: S:t Göransplan 1, Map Map

Södersjukhuset (Closest subway stop Skanstull)

Address:Sjukhusbacken 10, Map

Danderyds sjukhus (Subway stop Danderyds sjukhus)

Address:Danderyds sjukhus 18257 Stockholm , Map

Karolinska Huddinge (Closest Commuter (suburban) train stop Flemingsberg)

Address:Hälsovägen, Map

Karolinska Solna (Closest subway stop S:t Eriksplan)

Address:Karolinska vägen, Map