StockholmCapital
Sweden · Country profile
Stockholm is Sweden’s grand water-city, a capital spread across fourteen islands where medieval lanes, royal palaces and seafaring history meet a modern, design-driven skyline. Gamla Stan’s ochre-yellow old town, the royal park of Djurgarden and the Vasa ship that sank in its harbour sit beside sleek uptown districts, archipelago ferry piers and a working waterfront. The air smells of salt and pine, the light is soft and northern, and the city’s museums, cafés and steam-bath culture slow the pace. A reliable tunnelbana, networks of ferries and a tree-lined coastal walk loop the whole thing together. In summer the days stretch long and bright; in winter they shrink to candle-lit coziness.
About Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. The city's documented population is around 990,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK) and Swedish is spoken; the dialling code is +46. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
Fourteen Islands, Bridges, Ferries and Salt Air
Stockholm is a collection of islands stitched by bridges, ferries and the blue-line tunnelbana, and the water is the real show. It is refined, clean, orderly and quietly beautiful — the kind of city you photograph from a boat and then walk for a week. The pace is easy: museums close early and cafés serve cinnamon buns all day, and the locals dress for the weather and the season. It feels open and safe, with green parkland and pine forest within reach of the centre. The archipelago, all thirty thousand islands large and small, is the great escape and easy to reach hourly.
White Nights, Museum Wednesdays and the Cashless Habit
The long summer days from late May to mid-July make outdoor plans effortless, but bring something to cover the cool evenings; winter is dark and cold, yet beautifully lit. The city is card-first — Sweden has almost gone cashless, so a card or phone will cover everything. Book the Abba Museum, the Vasa Museum and the Skansen open-air park online in summer when the queues build. A single ticket covers buses, the tunnelbana and the archipelago ferries within the city zones. Many attractions keep shorter hours on Mondays, and Wednesday evenings often bring free museum entries in the summer months.
The Painted Tunnelbana, Fika Hour and Ferry-as-Commute
The tunnelbana is one of Europe’s best metro systems and quietly the world’s longest art gallery — some stations are painted like caves. Ferries are part of the transport network, so riding one to the islands counts as ordinary commuting. Fika, the mid-afternoon coffee and cake ritual, is a social obligation — join it at any café. Swedish cash is rare, so don’t worry about carrying notes. Swim or sauna by the city’s waters: the inner harbour has floating saunas and the outer islands open up a proper summer-bathing life. English is spoken everywhere, and the local politeness is famous.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Sweden
- Population
- 990,000
- Coordinates
- 59.6519, 17.9186
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Swedish Krona (SEK)
- Languages
- Swedish
- Calling code
- +46
- Country code
- SE
Entry requirements for Sweden
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Sweden for tourism.
Getting to Stockholm
Airports we list for Stockholm:
Frequently asked questions
Is Stockholm the capital of Sweden?
Yes — Stockholm is the capital of Sweden.
What currency do I need in Stockholm?
The local currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK). Languages spoken in Sweden include Swedish.
What is the dialling code for Sweden?
The international dialling code for Sweden is +46.
Which airport should I fly into for Stockholm?
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is the airport we list for Stockholm.
Do I need a visa to visit Sweden?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and Argentina currently enter Sweden visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Stockholm? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.