10 facts about Stockholm

14 islands

Stockholm is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, and is on the central coast of eastern Sweden

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is one of the best preserved medieval city centres in Europe. A series of cobbled streets, baroque restaurants and beautiful churches, Gamla Stan is where the capital was founded in 1252

City parks

The Royal National City Park in Stockholm was the world’s first national city park, and is a green oasis a stone’s throw from the city centre. A popular recreational area, visitors can stroll through forests and parkland or cool off with a swim

Two million

Greater Stockholm has a population of around two million and around 16% of its inhabitants are immigrants

70 museums

There are more than 70 museums in Stockholm, covering an eclectic mix of topics and attractions, and showcasing the city’s heritage in all its glory

Largest spherical building

The Ericsson Globe is the world’s largest spherical building and is a popular Stockholm landmark. For those not afraid of heights, Skyview, consisting of two glass gondolas, takes you to the top of the building where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Stockholm

Hours of sunlight

On Stockholm’s shortest day the capital sees a mere six hours of sunlight, while on the longest day it’s light for nearly 21 hours

Ikea

Swedish brand Ikea has famously changed the face of home furnishings. Kungens Kurva in Skärholmen is the home of the largest Ikea store in the world, covering a huge 56,301 square metres

Nobel Prize

Stockholm is the home of the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature . The Nobelmuseet – Nobel Museum – proudly displays a portrait and Prize citation for each laureate, whilst the Stadshuset City Hall holds the Nobel Banquet

First open-air museum

Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum, founded in 1891. A microcosm of Swedish rural life, the museum illustrates changing social conditions in Sweden between the 16th century and first half of the 20th century