Norrmalm
Yes, we're technically starting on the border of Östermalm and Norrmalm on this trail. It's all for good reasons though, as the walk from Stadion across to the library and over to Observatorielunden is one of our favourites. As we get further into the central part of Stockholm known as Vasastan, you might notice things get a bit busier. No worries though, because you'll get a chance to finish the trail at Nordiska Kompaniet, where you can take yet another well-deserved break if needed.
Starting point: Stadion | Nearest subway station: Stadion (red line)
Finishing point: Nordiska Kompaniet | Nearest subway station: Centralstationen (red line, blue line, green line), Hötorget (green line)
Total time: 1 hour. Mostly flat, though there are some stairs to enter and exit the park.
Stadion
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
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
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
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
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
