Home / Sweden / Stockholm

Capital & gateway · Sweden

Stockholm

Sweden's elegant island capital — the gateway south of the Arctic, on fourteen islands.

Getting there

Arlanda International (ARN) serves the capital; domestic flights north to Kiruna

Best for

Arrival/departure, the old town, the archipelago, a city night before Lapland

The land

A capital spread across fourteen islands where lake meets Baltic

Good to know

Most Lapland trips connect through Stockholm, with a short flight north to Kiruna

What it is

Stockholm is Sweden's graceful gateway — a capital on fourteen islands, and the staging point for the Arctic north.

Built where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic, Stockholm spreads across fourteen islands of waterfront, the medieval Gamla Stan old town, museums and design. For most travellers it is a stylish night either side of Lapland, with the famous archipelago on the doorstep.

PhotoStockholm — capital & gateway.

The reason to come

The island capital

Stockholm offers culture and waterfront charm before the journey heads to the Arctic.

Gamla Stan

The medieval old town of cobbled lanes and the Royal Palace.

Museums & design

The Vasa ship, world-class museums and Scandinavian design.

Archipelago

Thousands of islands stretching into the Baltic.

Worth knowing

The gateway south of the Arctic

Stockholm gives a stylish city counterpoint to the wilderness of the far north.

PhotoThe waterfront and old town of Stockholm.

When to come — honestly

When to go

December – March

Best

Crisp Nordic winter — a snowy city break before Lapland's aurora.

June – August

Best

Long bright days, the archipelago and outdoor city life.

September – November

Good

Autumn colour and fewer crowds.

Context

The southern gateway

Stockholm is the cultured bookend to a Swedish Lapland journey, a short flight from the Arctic.

It opens or closes the longer Sweden itineraries.

We use Stockholm as the city hinge, with the flight north to Kiruna for the aurora.

Beyond the obvious

More to Stockholm.

PhotoGamla Stan

Gamla Stan

The medieval old town.

PhotoVasa Museum

Vasa Museum

The preserved 17th-century warship.

PhotoArchipelago

Archipelago

A boat into the Baltic islands.

Why Wild Voyager

We base you where the skies are clearest.

Abisko's microclimate gives the best aurora odds in Sweden — we build your nights around it, and pair the ICEHOTEL and Sami culture with real wilderness.