Discover Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and one of the most striking cities in Northern Europe. Built across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, Stockholm balances medieval history with sleek Scandinavian design, and you are never more than a few minutes away from the water, a park, or a café worth lingering in. With long, bright summer evenings, it is a city made for exploring on foot.
Begin your visit in Gamla Stan, the medieval old town where Stockholm was founded more than eight centuries ago. Its narrow cobblestone lanes wind between colorful merchant houses and open onto the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe still in use by a head of state. Just across the water you will find Stockholm City Hall, the red brick landmark whose Blue Hall hosts the Nobel Prize banquet every December.
Set aside a full day for Djurgården, the green island that holds many of the city's best museums. The Vasa Museum is the highlight: a warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628, spent more than three centuries on the seabed, and was raised almost completely intact. A short walk away is Skansen, the world's first open-air museum, where historic buildings brought from every corner of Sweden sit alongside a zoo of Nordic animals. Photography lovers should also make time for Fotografiska, just across the bridge in Södermalm.
Each of Stockholm's districts has its own personality. Södermalm is the creative, bohemian side of the city, full of vintage shops, independent galleries and some of the best nightlife in town. Norrmalm is the commercial heart, where Drottninggatan is lined with shops, bars and restaurants. Östermalm is the elegant one, known for its grand architecture, designer boutiques and the beautiful Östermalms Saluhall food market.
Swedish food is worth the trip on its own. Try köttbullar, the classic meatballs served with creamy potatoes, gravy and lingonberry jam, along with gravlax cured in dill and the pickled herring found on every traditional table. Most importantly, take part in fika, the Swedish coffee break that is closer to a national ritual, and pair your coffee with a warm kanelbulle, the cinnamon and cardamom bun you will quickly start craving daily.
Getting around is part of the adventure. More than 50 bridges connect the islands, ferries double as public transport, and the metro is often called the world's longest art gallery, with paintings, mosaics and sculptures built into the bedrock of more than 90 stations. Head east and the city gives way to the Stockholm archipelago, a vast chain of more than 30,000 islands and islets that makes for an unforgettable day out on the water.
Between its history, its design, its islands and its endless summer light, Stockholm offers something for every type of student looking to study abroad this summer. It is a city that feels calm and cosmopolitan at the same time, and one you will not want to leave.
