Trails https://fikatrail.com/category/trails/ Exploring Stockholm through the art of fika Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:42:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://fikatrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-fikatrail-favicon-32x32.png Trails https://fikatrail.com/category/trails/ 32 32 Gamla stan https://fikatrail.com/trails/gamla-stan/ Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:44:00 +0000 https://fikatrail.com/?p=112 Total time: 1 hour. Many steep streets and cobbled paths.

Recommended for: those of you that (not-so-secretly) love all that tourist-y stuff.

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  • Johan & Nyström
  • Stadshuset
  • Vasabron
  • Riddarholmen
  • Stortorget
  • Under Kastanjen
  • Bröd & Salt Skeppsbron
  • Strömkajen
  • Kastellholmen
  • Johan & Nyström

    An espresso and a cup of water.

    If you’re feeling like you need some energy to get you going, you’ve come to the right place for a caffeine fix. Johan & Nyström are masters of the cup of coffee. They roast their own beans, and you can even buy some to bring home with you. There’s a big focus on sustainability here, with the company heavily promoting buying good quality coffee for a fair price. No need to confess if you’re actually not a fan of coffee though, there’s also plenty of other choices of teas and cold drinks to keep you happy too. There’s also some lighter options for breakfast and lunch here, with the usual offerings for sandwiches and salads. Their pastries and buns are also all pretty good, but we’re going to be honest – it’s all about the coffee here.

    Address: Hantverkargatan 7, 112 21 Stockholm

    Directions: walk east on Hantverkargatan towards Skillinggränd. Stadshuset will be on your right.

    Stadshuset

    Illustration of City Hall. A red, fortress-yet-church-like building with one large central tower.

    We start our trail by walking past Rådhuset – Stockholm’s City Hall, and is another example of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Built from over eight million red bricks, Rådhuset plays host to the Nobel Prize banquet in the Blue Hall (only by name – the hall is actually…red). It’s another iconic building of Stockholm’s skyline with its spire featuring the three golden crowns, which is Sweden’s national emblem and on the coat of arms. The hall itself is open to the public through guided tours only, so you’ll need to book ahead if you want to go inside and go up the tower.

    Address: Hantverkargatan 1, 112 21 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue on Hantverkargatan, and cross Stadshusbron. Walk along the water on Klara Mälarstrand, and then turn right to cross Vasabron.

    Vasabron

    The view from vasabron over to Gamla Stan, with the Houses of Parliament showing on the left side of the image.

    Stockholm is a city that floats on water. It’s made up of fourteen islands, and was known as Staden mellan broarna (‘the city between bridges’). Whilst you’re in no short supply of bridges and views of the water whilst in town, we love crossing Vasabron. Whilst crossing, you’ll have a great view of Riksdaget, Sweden’s houses of parliament, on your right. On your left, you’ll see a tiny islet that holds Strömsborg (Stream’s Castle).

    Address: Vasabron, 111 28 Stockholm

    Directions: once you’ve crossed the bridge, continue straight on Riddarhusgränd, and then turn right onto Riddarhustorget to take you to Riddarholmsbron, which will get you over to Riddarholmen. At this point, feel free to explore around Riddarholmen as much as you like.

    Riddarholmen

    Riddarholmen is another islet, though part of Gamla Stan. It’s home to Stockholm’s last remaining medieval church from the 13th century, and a number of beautiful old houses and palaces. You’ll find Wrangel Palace, which was the Royal family’s residential palace between the 17th and 18th centuries. The Stenbock Palace, also from the 17th century, is also worth a vist, if nothing else to take a picture in front of its distinctive salmon-coloured walls. Consider it a bit of an introduction to the beautiful architecture of Gamla Stan!

    Address: Riddarholmen, 111 28 Stockholm

    Directions: get back to Riddarholmsbron. Keep to the right on Riddarhustorget, and take a right onto Storkyrkobrinken. Turn right onto Prästgatan.

    Prästgatan

    Gamla Stan has absolutely no shortage of lovely streets to take photographs on. However, it can be quite cramped, unless you happen to visit during an off-season when things quieten down a little (although it’s all relative with a tourist hotspot like Gamla Stan). If you’re looking for a recommendation on a quieter street, Prästgatan is one of our favourites to take a snap or two without constantly battling confused tourists from ruining your shot.

    Address: Prästgatan, 111 60 Stockholm

    Directions: depending on how far you’ve gone down Prästgatan, you’ll want to either go up or down to find Kåkbrinken. From there, turn left to get to Stortorget. If you suddenly find yourself beside lots of other people, particularly tourists, you’ve probably found the place!

    Stortorget

    Illustration of the buildings at Stortorget, Gamla Stan. From left to right, a green building, a red one, an orange one, and a yellow.

    Stortorget is the central square of Gamla Stan, and the city’s oldest, having changed little since the medieval ages. If you’ve seen any photos of old buildings in Stockholm, then its probably from Stortorget. On the west side are some of the square’s most iconic buildings, each in a distinctive colour – green, red, orange and yellow. The red house is called the Ribbinska huset (the House of Ribbing), and was built in the 15th century. Don’t let its pretty architecture fool you, as each of the white bricks scattered throughout the red facade supposedly represent the heads of murdered Swedish nobles! Some people think the white bricks (which were added much later after the building was originally built, in 1628) symbolise the decapitated heads of the 82 Swedish nobles who were killed by the Danish King in 1520.

    Address: Stortorget, 111 29 Stockholm

    Directions: walk east across Stortorget, to Källargränd. Walk onto Köpmangatan, and turn right onto Själagårdsgatan. Our nex stop, Under Kastanjen, will be on your right.

    Under Kastanjen

    Meatballs and mash at Under Kastanjen. Lingon and cucumbers are served alongside.

    The café Under Kastanjen (literal translation: Under the chestnut) lies right in the heart of Gamla Stan and, like its name implies, sits in a square, covered by a chestnut tree. In this cosy spot you’ll find great fika and lunch options – from simple salads and soups, to the Swedish classics of meatballs and mash, or waffles and pancakes with sylt (our version of jam). They also specialise in gluten-free and lactose-free options. Whether you’re making a proper stop or just grabbing something on the go, we definitely recommend exploring the side streets around the place – you’ll find yet more beautiful townhouses to dream of living in.

    Address: Under Kastanjen, Kindstugatan 1, 111 31 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue down on Själagårdsgatan towards Tyska skolgränd. Take a small left, and then right onto Södra Benickebrinken. Walk down Tullgränd, and turn left onto Skeppsbron. Our next stop, Bröd & Salt, is on your right, by the water.

    Bröd & Salt Skeppsbron

    A cardamom bun, on a white plate.

    A chain of bakeries across Stockholm, Bröd & Salt concentrate on quality ingredients and bake all their own goods in their stone ovens. They make solid cardamom and cinnamon buns, and if you fancy something that’s more suitable for a lunch, they sell pizzas by the slice and the toppings change fairly frequently. There’s nothing overly fancy here – just good coffee and food, with a gorgeous view over the water.

    The outside of the Royal Palace, by the water.

    Address: Tullhus, Skeppsbron 3, 111 30 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue north on Skeppsbrokajen, and cross over Strömbron. You’ll want to turn right to continue over Södra Blasieholmshamnen.

    Strömkajen

    The view of Gamla Stan from Strömkajen.

    There’s little to point out here, other than the gorgeous views! Hope you brought your camera. Blasieholmen is home to a number of iconic, luxury hotels, so you’ll see a number of opulent hotel buildings on one side, and the lovely skyline of Gamla Stan on the other. You can either finish the trail here, or if you don’t mind the walk there and back, you can continue on to Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen (our next and official final stop) which is about fifteen-twenty minutes away, one-way.

    Address: Strömkajen, 111 48 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue along Södra Blasieholmshamnen to cross Skeppsholmsbron. Walk down the main road Svensksundsvägen, all the way down to Kastellholmsbron. Kastellet lies on Örlogsvägen, on your left.

    Kastellholmen

    Illustration of Kastellet. A red and white building with multiple towers and a central, rounded tower.

    Kastellholmen is another small island, and is technically an extension of Skeppsholmen, which you walked through to get here. The ‘crown’ of Kastellholmen, if you will, is Kastellet, a bright red naval fort that sits on a hill in the center of the island. Ever since its completion in the 17th century, a forked Swedish flag flies from its top, signifying whether or not the country is at peace. When the navy left the fort in the 90s, they tried to end this practice, but it only lasted three days after heavy protests from Stockholmers. After that little incident, a marine comes to Kastellholmen every day, twice a day to raise the flag in the morning and take it down at night.

    Address: Kastellholmen, 111 49 Stockholm

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    Östermalm https://fikatrail.com/trails/ostermalm/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://fikatrail.com/?p=116 Total time: About 1 hour, mostly flat.

    Recommended for: those who like to go where locals go.

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  • Karlaplan
  • Tysta Gatan
  • Tössebageriet
  • Humlegården
  • Fabrique Humlegårdsgatan
  • Östermalms Saluhall
  • Greve Turegatan / Strandvägen
  • Hedvig Eleonora Kyrkan
  • Bageriet Kringlan
  • Karlaplan

    We start things off at Karlplan station, and right outside sits the park gives the station its namesake. During WW1, the park was used to grow vegetables to assist in the war effort. August Strindberg, the playwright, lived on Karlaplan for a few years, and to this day, Karlaplan is one of the most expensive addresses in the city. These days, there’s usually not much going on here, and that’s why it’s a pretty good introduction to this calmer part of Stockholm.

    Address: Karlaplan 115 20 Stockholm

    Directions: At Karlaplan, take the first exit onto Lützengatan. Turn right onto Tysta gatan.

    Tysta Gatan

    Illustration of some houses on Tysta Gatan. One red, one orange, and one yellow.

    If you like European architecture, you’ll like Tysta gatan. It’s name translates to ‘quiet street’, though we’d argue you could apply that name to the whole of Östermalm, especially if you’re visiting in the summer! If you’re after the old school vibes of Gamla Stan without the crowds, this is the perfect street for taking some pictures of the beautiful architecture in some relative peace and quiet.

    Address: Tysta gatan, 115 20 Stockholm

    Directions: Return to Lützengatan. At Karlaplan, take the 3rd exit onto Karlavägen. Tössebageriet will be on your right, about 5 minutes walk.

    Tössebageriet

    This bakery has been on Karlavägen since the 1920s, and there’s something fitting about the classic sweet treats they concentrate on making here. If you happen to visit around ‘Fettisdagen’ in February, Tössebageriet’s semlor frequently hit various ‘Best of’ lists in Stockholm every year. They’re also the inventor of the semmelwrap – a semla reimagined as a kebab wrap!

    Address: Tössebageriet, Karlavägen 77, 114 49 Stockholm

    Directions: continue up Karlavägen, about eight minutes walk. The park is on the other side of the road, on your left.

    Humlegården

    A view from Humlegården in Östermalm with shady trees and groups of people picknicking on the grass.

    The word ‘humle’ might suggest it’s name has something to do with bumblebees (‘humlor’ in Swedish), but it’s actually a bit of a false friend. Humlegården was once the Royal Fruit garden, and it’s name refers to the hops (‘humle’) that were grown here. Now it’s super popular with the locals. You’ll see office works eating their lunch here, young families taking their kids out for a play, and plenty of dogs sniffing about. It’s one of our favourite spots in all of Stockholm, in any season. Have a picnic or relax on a bench in spring and summer, enjoy walking through a riot of oranges and reds in autumn, and if it’s snowing in winter, take plenty of pictures!

    Address: Karlavägen 32, 114 31 Stockholm

    Directions: your next stop is Fabrique. Walk through the park down to the Royal Library where Sturegatan on the edge of the park meets Humlegårdsgatan. Turn left onto Humlegårdsgatan. A few minutes down lies Fabrique, on the right.

    Fabrique

    You might already be familiar with Fabrique – they’ve got bakeries dotted around Stockholm, as well as a few international locations in New York and London. But, they’re on the list because their bakes are pretty damn good. Anything made from their sourdough is usually worth the effort, and their cardamom buns hold up to other bakeries.

    Address: Fabrique, Humlegårdsgatan 9, 114 46 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue down Humlegårdsgatan. Turn right onto Nybrogatan.

    Östermalms Saluhall

    Illustration of Ostermalm's saluhall from the front. A red building with smaller towers, and a green turret on its roof.

    Östermalms Saluhall (Market Hall) is something of a crown jewel in the neighbourhood, and has lived on Östermalmstorg since 1888. Many of its traders have been here for generations, and you may even spot a Swedish celebrity or two doing their weekly shop here. If you’re after fika or something more casual, we highly recommend Panisano (their blueberry custard buns are amazing!), or Paula’s (if you’re after something savoury, try their grilled croissants).

    Address: Östermalms Saluhall, Östermalmstorg, 114 39 Stockholm

    Directions: walk back to Fabrique on Humlegårdsgatan. Turn left onto Greve Turegatan. To get to Strandvägen from Greve Turegatan, continue down the latter, and turn left onto Birger Jarlsgatan. Strandvägen lies at the end, on your left.

    Greve Turegatan to Strandvägen

    We’ll always struggle to pinpoint a favourite street in Östermalm, and if you have the chance to, we’d highly recommend going off this beaten path (trail?), and explore a little for yourself. Greve Turegatan has a bit more buzz for Östermalm, with plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants.

    Birger Jarlsgatan houses the serious designer shops in Stockholm, from Gucci to Louis Vuitton and many more. It’s named after Birger Jarl, the statesman who’s generally named as the man who founded Stockholm back in 1250.

    A view over Strandvägen from the water.

    Strandvägen is another famous part of Östermalm. This boulevard is one of Stockholm’s most exclusive and expensive addresses, and many Swedish celebrities live in the luxurious buildings that line the street along the water.

    Address: Greve Turegatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Strandvägen, Stockholm

    Directions: continue along Strandvägen until you see Grevgatan on your left. Continue up Grevgatan away from the water, until you can turn left onto Storgatan. The Hedvig Eleonora kyrkan will be on your left.

    Hedvig Eleonora Kyrkan

    Illustration of Hedvig Eleonora's church. An imposing stone yellow building, with arched and circular windows.

    Another one of Stockholm’s Wes Anderson-like buildings, the Hedvig Eleonora church takes its name from the Queen of Sweden (1636 – 1715). If the weather’s being kind, we quite like escaping the buzz of the main shopping streets like Biblioteksgatan by coming here and taking a breather in the church grounds.

    Address: Storgatan 2, 114 51 Stockholm 41 Stockholm

    Directions: continue up Storgatan. Turn right onto Sibyllegatan, and after about 150 metres, turn left onto Linnégatan.

    Bageriet Kringlan

    We’re ending as we started – in a fairly sleepy spot of Östermalm, lies Bageriet Kringlan. They’ve been here on Linnégatan since 1923, and you can expect the typical, traditional Swedish goods here, both sweet and savoury. You can never go wrong with a slice of their blueberry pie when it’s available, and we’re definitely coming back here for semla season. Maybe because they grate an obscene amount of mandelmassa into their semlor…Maybe.

    Address: Bageriet Kringlan, Linnégatan 25-23, 114 47

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    Norrmalm https://fikatrail.com/trails/norrmalm/ Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:10:00 +0000 https://fikatrail.com/?p=23 Total time: 1 hour. Mostly flat, though there are some stairs to enter and exit the park.

    Recommended for: those who want a bit of everything.

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  • Stadion
  • Bullar&Bröd
  • Stockholm Public Library
  • Café Pascal
  • Observatorielunden
  • Vete-katten
  • Stockholm Concert Hall
  • Nordiska Kompaniet
  • Stadion

    The hall of Stadion subway station. The rock ceiling is bright blue, with a rainbow painted across it.

    Kick off the trail at Stadion station. If you arrived by taking the subway, hopefully your day was brightened by this colourful station. The station was one of the city’s first ‘cave’ stations, where the station was built into the rock. The rainbow design aimed to bring the outside sky to the underground, and to call back to the area’s significance in sport history – close by is Stadion, the site of the 1922 Olympics.

    Valhallavägen is one of inner Stockholm’s longest roads, at 3532 metres long, and yes, the name is indeed related to Sweden’s old Norse mythology. How busy the area gets depends quite a bit on when you visit, and if the students are in town. On the way, you’ll be passing by some of Stockholm’s gymnasiums (college, give or take) and university campuses.

    Address: Valhallavägen, 114 41 Stockholm

    Directions: your next stop is Bullar & Bröd, which lies higher up on Valhallavägen, number 65 on your right.

    Bullar&Bröd Stenugns­bageri

    Just after the Kugliga Tekniska Högskolan (known as just KTH to the locals) lies the quiet Bullar&Bröd Stegugnsbageri. All their bakes and sweet treats come from the stone oven (stenugn), and they’re big on choosing ecological products for their creations. If you’re after something sweet, we recommend sticking with a traditional cardamom bun (they’re usually big enough to share between two!), but if you’re after something a bit more savoury for a breakfast or lunch, you can’t go wrong with their topped sourdough toasts, with most of the topping choices being vegetarian-friendly. It’s the perfect place to cool off for a bit if you’ve come on a sunny day, as Valhallavägen isn’t the most shaded of spots.

    Address: Vallhallavägen 65, 114 41 Stockholm

    Directions: turn left onto Odengatan. It’s a 10-12 minute walk to Stockholm Public Library, which will sit on your left.

    Stockholm Public Library

    Illustration of Stockholm Public Library. An orange building with a circular turret on its roof.

    Stadsbiblioteket is the main branch of Stockholm’s public library system, and has one of the most dinstictive buildings in the city, built in a style known as “Swedish Grace” where decorative shapes were reduced to their most basic forms. As beautiful as the colour of the sunset orange walls are on its outside, we also recommend actually going inside too! As it’s a public library entry is free – just remember to be quiet and respectful to those working inside!

    Address: Sveavägen 73, 113 80 Stockholm

    Directions: Continue down Odengatan and turn left at Norrtullsgatan. Your next stop is Café Pascal, which will be on your left.

    Café Pascal

    Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Odenplan lies the quiet little Café Pascal. Well, we say quiet…it’s a popular place so it can get pretty busy at times! But it’s understandble once you’ve visited, or if you’ve even taken a peek at their instagram. Their tagline is ‘good coffee, good ingredients and craft’, and we couldn’t agree more. Their savoury baked goods are just as delicious as their sweet ones, so if you’re feeling brave, try the sliced egg and Kalles (fish egg spread – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!) sandwich. Or, if you’re not hungry just yet, maybe grab something to go as our next destination is a park.

    Address: Café Pascal, Norrtullsgatan 4, 113 29 Stockholm

    Directions: immediately after Café Pascal, turn left onto Sandåsgatan. Take the stairs up and you’re in the Observatorielunden park. If you take the trail to your left, you can walk through the park and see the Observatory listed next.

    Observatorie­lunden & Stockholm Observatory

    Illustration of Stockholm observatory from the front. A yellow building with a green turret.

    Observatorielunden is up there on our list of favourite parks in the city. For one, it’s a quiet little oasis that seems far removed from the hustle and bustle right beside it. Two, you can get some great views up from the hill. As the name of the park implies, it’s also home to the Stockholm Observatory, crowning the park’s hilltop with it’s castle-like building. The observatory was once home to Sweden’s prime meridian, until Greenwich took over as the world’s standard in the 19th century. There’s also a metereological station that’s been measuring the temperature daily since 1756, and still does today – the oldest continuous temperature record in the world.

    Address: Drottninggatan, 113 60 Stockholm

    Directions: wherever you’re exiting out of the park, we recommend going towards Drottninggatan, south-east of the obsevatory. Then it’s a good 12-15 minute walk down Drottninggatan. Turn right at Olof Palmes gatan. Turn left onto Klara Norra kyrkogata, and Vete-katten will be across the road on Kungsgatan, number 55.

    Vete-katten

    Vete-Katten is one of the most iconic cafes in all of Stockholm, and it’s considered a Stockholm institution as much as a fika place. And how can it not be, when its name translates to ‘wheat cat’, or ‘the cat knows’? Vete-Katten was founded back in 1928, by Ester Nordhammer and truth be told, it feels like the decor hasn’t been changed since then. Visiting the Vete-Katten is like taking a step back in time amongst the labyrinth of corridors and rooms. The Vete-Katten name now includes a few locations across the city, but this is the original, and no visit to Norrmalm would be complete without it.

    Address: Kungsgatan 55, 111 22 Stockholm

    Directions: Your next stop is Stockholm Concert Hall. Turn right out of Vete-katten, and continue up Kungsgatan. Turn right onto Hötorget, and the concert hall will be on your left.

    Stockholm Concert Hall

    Illustration of Stockholm Concert Hall. The building is built like an opulent Greek temple with many columns, and is a baby blue colour.

    Stockholm’s Konserthus is one of the most recognisable buildings in town, not in the least for it’s bright blue colour. Built in 1926 with its temple-like design taking inspiration from Athens itself, it houses Stockholm’s Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, and hosts the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, as well as around 200 concerts per year. The structure of the building was unique at the time, since all classes of society would enter through the same doors to get to their seats.

    Address: Hötorget 8, 103 87 Stockholm

    Directions: walk down Hötorget to Sergelgatan. Continue all the way down to Sergel’s Torg. You can use Sergelgången to take you straight into NK. Otherwise, you’ll need to go around Sergel’s Torg to cross over to Hamngatan on the left.

    Nordiska Kompaniet

    Illustration of Nordiska Kompaniet from the front. The building is Art Nouveau in style, with many windows and protruding sections.

    And now we’ve reached the end of this trail. Finishing us off is a visit to Nordiska Kompaniet (NK for short), one of the most famous department stores in Sweden, and probably wins the prize for being the most beautiful. Opened in 1915, it’s renowned for its impressive architecture, its rotating neon clock sign, as well as its luxurious insides where you’ll find top Swedish and international brands selling furniture, fashion, cosmetics and much more. If you haven’t already had your fix of feasting or you’re just not much of a shopper, we still recommend ending the day by visiting the NK Market Hall on the bottom floor.

    Address: Hamngatan 18-20, 111 47 Stockholm

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    Djurgården https://fikatrail.com/trails/djurgarden/ Fri, 23 Jul 2021 18:22:17 +0000 https://fikatrail.com/?p=131 Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes. Mostly flat, some low hills and gravel paths.

    Recommended for: those who love being outside.

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  • Strandvägen
  • Djurgårdsbron
  • Flickorna Helin
  • Rosendals Slott
  • Rosendals Trädgård
  • Skroten Café
  • Breda Gatan
  • Strandvägen

    A view over Strandvägen from the water.

    Kicking off our walk to Djurgården is the scenic route along Strandvägen, a boulevard that stretches along the water for a good kilometer or so. It’s also one of the city’s most prestiguous – and expensive! – streets, and a number of Swedish celebrities call it home. It wasn’t always like this though – historically, Östermalm was little more than a swamp, and was an undesirable area to live in. In the 1870s, King Oscar II wanted to redo the area into something great. Architects took their inspiration from Parisian boulevards and avenues, and the buildings that line the street vary in styles – from Renaissance to art nouveau and deco.

    Directions: you’re heading towards Djurgårdsbron. Continue walking along Strandvägen until you see a bridge on your right – you can hardly miss it!

    Djurgårdsbron

    There are four bridges connecting Djurgården to the mainland, though Djurgårdsbron is probably the most well known. As you’re crossing the bridge, see if you can spot the bridge’s four guardians. Four old Norse gods stand on their own columns – Heimdall, Odin’s wife Frigg, Freyja, and Thor.

    Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’re looking to go through Blå Porten on your left – the blue port. It’s pretty hard to miss with its bright blue and gold paint! This was once the entrance to the King’s hunting park, but it will now take you on a walk by the water until our next destination.

    As you’re walking, you might spot a few of the museums that also live on Djurgården. On your left about halfway to the Blå Porten, you should see the Nordic Museum on your left. We’ll leave it up to you as to whether you want to stop for a visit now or maybe on your way back, if at all – but we do think it’s worth going up to the entrance to have a look at the building itself just for the gothic architecture.

    Directions: your next stop is a coffee stop at Flickorna Helin, about 850 metres away.

    Flickorna Helin, Skånska Gruvan

    What’s not to love about a fika place that looks like a set piece out of a Wes Anderson movie? It was built to look like an old mine, which is why it’s also known by its second name, the Skånska Gruvan (the Scanian mine). There’s usually plenty of options if you fancy something sweet, but there’s also savoury options more suitable for a lunch with their soups and salads. We like to buy some of their ‘must’ (a very traditional type of fermented drink, though it’s non-alcoholic) to take away for any later walking.

    Address: Rosendalsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm

    Directions: continue along Rosendalsvägen, away from the direction you came in from. When you reach a fork in the road, take the left to continue on Rosendalsvägen. Your next destination is on your left.

    Rosendals slott

    Rosendals slott was built back in 1820, and though it’s name includes the word for a palace, it was never a full-time royal residence. Instead, it was simply built to provide an escape from the rigidity of court life. Not too shabby, huh? Little inside or outside the palace has been changed since then, and during the summer months its open for guided tours.

    Address: Rosendals slott, Rosendalsvägen 49, 115 21 Stockholm

    Directions: Walk back to Rosendalsvägen. You’ll need to take a left onto Rosendalsterrassen. You’ll need to take the small path by the greenhouses across to Rosendals trädgård, about five minutes in.

    Rosendals trädgård

    Rosendals trädgård is something of a hidden oasis tucked away in the centre of the Djurgården island. If all that walking has made you hungry by now, no worries! The garden houses a wonderful cafe which uses organic and biodynamic ingredients, with many of them having been grown in the garden itself.

    Address: Rosendalsterrassen 12, 115 21 Stockholm

    Directions: return to Rosendalsterrassen, and continue along this road until you meet Sirishovsvägen. Turn left. It’s about a five minute walk to Djurgårdsvägen. Turn left onto Beckholmsvägen, and you’ll find Skroten Café on your right.

    Skroten café och skeppshandel

    Another hidden gem on this part of the island, we’ve come to Skroten café (literal translation: ‘Junkyard café’). It’s also a shipping trader’s, which explains why you might find yourself sitting around fishing nets, life vests, rudders and other tools and ship parts. That’s just all part of the atmosphere here. The food here is pretty rustic and simple Swedish fare – expect prawn sandwiches, berry pies, småkakor like chokladbollar and mazariner, and you’ll likely spot locals chowing down on the fish soup. A quiet little spot, you almost wouldn’t believe it lies behind Grönalund, the theme park!

    Address: Beckholmsvägen 14, 115 21

    Directions: continue along Beckholmsvägen, to Lilla Allmänna Gränd. Turn right onto Östra Varvsgatan, and then Breda Gatan will be on your left.

    Breda gatan

    An traditional house sign, showing the two-storey yellow house surrounded by green leaves.

    Hidden away from the water behind the amusement park Grönalund, lies a small part of Djurgården called Djurgårdsstaden (Djurgårds town). Here you’ll find a number of streets that will take you back in time, with many buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. We recommend walking down Breda gatan (Broad street) and Långa gatan (Long street) in particular – just don’t tell us we Swedes don’t come up with particuarly imaginative street names, ok…?

    Address: Breda gatan 7-5, 115 21 Stockholm

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    Södermalm https://fikatrail.com/trails/sodermalm/ Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:12:02 +0000 https://fikatrail.com/?p=95 Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes. Quite hilly at times.

    Recommended for: those of you that are secretly hipsters (just admit it)!

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  • Fern & Fika
  • Hornsgatan
  • Monteliusvägen & Mariaberget
  • Svartensgatan
  • Katarina Kyrkan
  • Fotografiska
  • Fern & Fika

    We’re starting off our trail at the lovely Fern & Fika. Previously known as STHLM Raw, this plant-based cafe serves up all kinds of raw-based fika and lunch treats. Even if you’re not plant-based yourself, it’s difficult to deny that their treats look like miniature pieces of artwork. If you’re starting off the day nice and early, you can’t go wrong with one of their classic avocado sandwiches. If you fancy something sturdier, their weekly soup bowls will keep you full. They aim to be sustainable by reducing their use of plastics, and concentrate on using organic and seasonal ingredients.

    Address: Fern & Fika, Långholmsgatan 11, 117 33 Stockholm

    Directions: Walk south on Långholmsgatan towards Folkskolegatan. Turn left onto Hornsgatan.

    Hornsgatan

    The cobbled streets at Bellmans Gatan in Södermalm.

    Hornsgatan is one of the main roads of Södermalm, stretching from Hornstull to Slussen, just before the connecting bridges over to Gamla Stan. It’s also one of the area’s busiest, and you’ll find plenty of shops, bars, restaurants, cafés, night clubs, and whatever else the whole way down. If you’re into fashion, this’ll be your place to explore – you’ll find everything from the uber contemporary boutique to the specialist vintage store.

    Address: Hornsgatan, Stockholm

    Directions: continue down Hornsgatan, down to Mariatorget. Turn left onto Torkel Knutssonsgatan. Turn right onto Bastugatan, which will take onto Monteliusvägen on the left. Continue through Olle Adolphsons park to get to Mariaberget.

    Monteliusvägen & Mariaberget

    Hopefully you aren’t sick of beautiful views just yet, because here’s some more for you. Monteliusvägen offers some spots for a panoramic view over the water and across Stockholm’s skyline. Make sure you’ve got your camera ready!

    Address: Monteliusvägen, 118 25 Stockholm | Mariaberget, Monteliusvägen, 118 25 Stockholm, Sweden

    Directions: From Monteliusvägen, turn right onto Blecktornsgrändd. Continue walking down to Mariatorget. Turn left onto Sankt Paulsgatan. Continue onto Urvädersgränd, and carry on until it becomes Mosebacke Torg. Finally, turn right onto Svartensgatan.

    Svartensgatan, Fiskargatan

    Lotsgatan in Södermalm. A cobbled street lined with traditional falu-röd (a dark red) wooden houses.

    A small detour on the way, just to take you back in time. The cobbled streets and traditional wooden houses give you a glimpse into what Södermalm used to look like, before all the cranes and construction set in. The name for fiskargatan dates all the way back 1646! Most of the houses are from the 18th and 19th centuries.

    Address: Svartensgatan, Stockholm

    Directions: Walk south on Östgötagatan towards Högbergsgatan. Turn left onto Högbergsgatan.

    Katarina Kyrkan

    Illustration of Katarina Kyrkan. A yellow church with orante white trim and turrets.

    Katarina Kyrkan is named after Princess Catherine, mother of King Charles X of Sweden. The original building was built in 1656–1695. Since then, the church has been reconstructed twice, after being destroyed by fires. If you step off the trail slightly, you’ll find similarly fairy-tale like streets as on Svartensgatan.

    Address: Högbergsgatan 13A, 116 20 Stockholm

    Directions: walk through the park to Nytorgsgatan, and turn left onto Folkungagatan. This final part will take about half an hour. Continue left on Folkungagatan, and cross the zebra crossing. Stay on the right side, along the water, and you will see Fotografiska on your right.

    Fotografiska

    Illustration of Fotografiska, from the side. A red and black industrial building.

    We end the trail at Fotografiska – the largest photography museum in the world. Normally our philosophy is to let you decide whether you stop at a museum that’s along a trail or not, but we’re making a slight exception to recommend visiting Fotografiska especially. Housed in a former warehouse, the museum features both world-famous and emerging photographers’ work. Exhibitions change regularly, usually with at least three on at any given time. If you’re tuckered out from the walk and the exhbitions, Fotografiska also has a lovely restaurant at the top floor with phenomenal views.

    Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm

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