8 Best Fun Facts About Stockholm

Stockholm is home to the music group ABBA, the Nobel Prize ceremony, and IKEA.

Central Stockholm, the capital city, is known for being one of the most livable and walkable areas in Northern Europe, especially for young travelers. The city’s streets lined with wooden houses, museums, and Viking history make it feel like an open-air museum.

Let’s get into these 8 fun facts about Stockholm!

But first, let’s start with a history lesson.

Quick history of Stockholm

Stockholm began as a trading post during the Viking Age and grew into a strategic settlement. In early 1520, Sten Sture the Younger, Sweden’s regent under Danish rule, led opposition forces against the Danes but was mortally wounded in battle at Lake Åsunden.

When Danish King Christian II entered Stockholm later that year, he was crowned King of Sweden after promising amnesty to his opponents. However, he ordered the execution of around 80-90 Swedish nobles and clergy in Stockholm’s main square. This act was known as the Stockholm Bloodbath and ignited widespread outrage across Sweden.

Gustav Vasa emerged to lead the rebellion, uniting Swedes against Danish rule. By June 1523, his forces had driven out the Danes and he was elected King of Sweden at Strängnäs, marking Sweden’s independence from the Kalmar Union.

His name lives on in Stockholm’s famous Vasa Museum, the museum that houses and is named for a warship built by his descendants.

1. Start with Kungsträdgården, the “King’s Garden” in Stockholm

Kungsträdgården is a central park and one of Stockholm’s most popular gathering spots. Also known as the Kings Garden, it is open year-round and hosts a winter ice rink and summer open-air concerts. The park is surrounded by cafes, art galleries and restaurants.

People coming together in Kungsträdgården.

During my summer visit to Stockholm, I spent my weekends in Kungsträdgården and loved the vibes. The park was lit, with people playing Kubb and soaking up the sun while live music filled the air. I highly recommend visiting.

Tip: In spring, the park transforms into a cherry blossom paradise, giving you all the feels of being in Japan.

2. You can go to an ABBA Museum

Stockholm houses a museum dedicated to the group ABBA. You can see some of the band’s gold records, clothing and memorabilia.

The museum allows you to be the fifth member of ABBA. You can sing in the Polar Studios, a recording studio founded by one of the band members, and even perform on stage with holograms of ABBA.

Sweden, Stockholm in particular has many global artists including:

• Avicii was a DJ known for blending EDM with pop hits like “Wake Me Up.”
• Robyn is a pop artist celebrated for dance-infused, emotionally charged music.
• The Cardigans are a pop-rock band known for Nina Persson’s distinctive vocals.
• Roxette was a duo famous for memorable pop-rock hits like “It Must Have Been Love”.
• Zara Larsson is a pop singer known for catchy dance-pop anthems. Her song, “Lush Life” was my go-to summer track in 2015.

3. The world’s longest art gallery is underground in Stockholm

Next stop: Stadion Station

The Stockholm Metro stretches 68 miles of tracks, and 90 of its 100 stations are decorated in artwork. Collectively, Stockholm’s metro stations are the world’s longest art gallery. Artists transformed the stations with paintings, mosaics and carvings since the 1950s.

I recommend starting your artistic experience at T-Centralen Station.

>> LEARN MORE: 25 Immersive Art Exhibits and Museums Around the World

4. Stockholm city is built on 14 islands

Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, spans fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. As it was built on 14 islands, the city of Stockholm is often referred to as “The Venice of the North”.

>> LEARN MORE: Fun Facts About Helsinki (Finland)

5. Stockholm has three UNESCO World Heritage sites

Stockholm has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Drottningholm Palace, the royal palace in Sweden. It was built in the 1600s, influenced by French architecture. Now Drottningholm Palace is the permanent home of the King and Queen.

• Drottningholm Palace Address: Drottningholm, 178 02 Drottningholm, Stockholm, Sweden
• Skogskyrkogården (The Woodland Cemetery) designed to harmonize with the natural landscape. Address: Sockenvägen, 122 33 Enskede-Årsta-Vantör, Stockholm, Sweden
• Birka and Hovgården are archaeological sites on Björkö Island that highlight Viking-age trading centers and early settlements. Address: Björkö Island, near Ekerö Municipality (accessible from Stockholm by ferry)

Just as the Swedish Flag Drottningholm Palace is shining in yellow and blue.

6. Stockholm is home to the Nobel Prize

Building in Gamla Stan featuring the Swedish Flag.

The Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine and Literature have been awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, every year since 1901 on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The Nobel Prize ceremonies are held annually at Stockholm City Hall.

The Nobel Prize Museum, housed in Stockholm’s former Stock Exchange Building in Gamla Stan (Old Town), highlights the Nobel Prize, its laureates and its founder, Alfred Nobel. Formerly called the Nobel Museum, it was renamed in 2019.

The Nobel Peace Prize, however, is awarded in Oslo, Norway.

>> LEARN MORE: Fun Facts About Oslo (Norway)

Walk, bike, drive and cruise through the park.

7. The world’s first National City Park is in Stockholm

The Royal National City Park in Stockholm was established in 1995 and is the first of its kind. In fact, there are fewer than 100 national city parks in the world and most are located in Sweden.

This large park offers plenty of space for walking, with about an hour’s stroll from one end to the other. While biking is also an option, public transport runs through the center, making it easy to explore without covering the entire distance on foot. Additionally, a boat from Gamla Stan (Old Town) stops at Djurgården, another scenic way to reach the park.

As a nature lover, this was my favorite spot in Stockholm.

8. Visit Astrid Lindgren’s World for the full Pippi Longstocking experience

Astrid Lindgren’s World, where characters like Pippi Longstocking come to life.

Just three to four hours by train from Stockholm City Hall is Astrid Lindgren’s World, a theme park located in Vimmerby, Sweden. Opened in 1981, this park is dedicated to the characters of Astrid Lindgren, including Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga and Karlsson-on-the-Roof.

Each area of the park perfectly captures the descriptions from the books, creating an amazing experience for people of all ages. Astrid Lindgren’s World is open daily from May 17 to August 18.

As a young girl who grew up with Astrid Lindgren’s stories, this was my favorite spot in Sweden.