Stockholm Business City Guide: Stockholm activities & culture
Stockholmers are avid consumers of all things cultural. The city has museums devoted to everything from medicine to butterflies. New art galleries open every month and the vibrant music scene has something for all tastes. Sweden House, Stockholm’s visitor centre, is centrally located opposite the NK department store and has friendly service and hundreds of brochures. Address: Hamngatan 27; tel: 08-789 24 90.

Stockholm and its surroundings are a tourist’s treasure trove. If you have less than three hours to spare, try to squeeze in a themed city walk. There are several to choose from each week, such as Ghosts of the Old Town and Royal Splendour. See www.stockholmtown.com for dates and times.

What to do in limited time

In 3 hours: Vasamuseet
Galärvarvet
Djurgården
08-519 548 00
www.vasamuseet.se
Sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628, the mighty warship Vasa broke the surface again 333 years later in 1961. The biggest single object to have ever been preserved and one of Sweden's top attractions.

In 3 hours: Skansen
Djurgårdsslätten
Djurgården
08-442 80 00
www.skansen.se
A living testimony to Swedish culture and history with 150 transplanted buildings and a zoo for indigenous wildlife. The world’s first open-air museum.

In 6 hours: Hasseludden Yasuragi
Hamndalsvägen 6
Saltsjö-Boo
08-747 61 00
www.hasseludden.se
Japanese-style spa for business or pleasure. Treatments, outdoor hot springs, conference rooms, hotel and restaurant – an oasis of tranquillity for body and mind.

In 6 hours: Gripsholms castle
Gripsholms slott
Mariefred
0159-101 94
www.royalcourt.se
A royal palace and portrait gallery in an idyllic town. Open weekends noon–3pm. X2000 train from Central station to Läggesta station, then bus to Gripsholm Castle.

In 12 hours: Uppsala town
Uppsala
www.uppland.nu/turist/eng_index
Historic city of learning and culture. Check out the hilltop castle, medieval cathedral and Viking history. A 40-minute bus ride or 20-minute train journey from Stockholm.

Stockholm culture

Moderna Museet
Skeppsholmen
Skeppsholmen island
08-519 552 00
www.modernamuseet.se
On 14th February, after a two-year makeover, the museum of modern art re-opens its collection of Picasso, Matisse, Dalí, Warhol and the best of 20th-century Sweden.

Kulturhuset
Sergels torg
City
08-508 315 08
www.kulturhuset.se
Three galleries of photography, art, multimedia, fashion and design, plus the State Theatre, an experimental performance space, an animation library and two cafés.

Nationalmuseum
Södra Blasieholmshamnen
Blasieholmen
08-519 543 00
www.nationalmuseum.se
Sweden’s largest art museum – from Rembrandt and the Renaissance to modern industrial design. The gift shop is perfect for jewellery and exclusive souvenirs.

Royal Dramatic Theatre
Nybroplan
City/Östermalm
08-667 06 80
www.dramaten.se
Known to locals as “Dramaten”, this is where all Scandinavia comes to see classics by Ibsen and Strindberg plus newer works.

The Royal Palace
Slottsbacken
City/Old Town
08-402 60 00
www.royalcourt.se
All the regalia of the realm. Changing of the guard (Wed & Sat noon, Sun 1pm). English-language tours (Wed, Fri, Sat, call to confirm times).