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About Stockholm:
Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden is also the largest city in the country. Over 20% of the population of the country resides in Stockholm. Stockholm proper has a population of approximately 815,000 residents. The overall metropolitan area in and around Stockholm has a population of over 2 million people. The population of the city of Stockholm itself has been fairly constant over the course of the past 200 years.
Stockholm has a long history. The city has been the political, economic and cultural center of Sweden since the 13th century. One of the reasons that this has been the case rests in the fact that Stockholm is strategically located at the mouth of Lake Malaren by the Stockholm archipelago.
At the present time, Stockholm is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Nordic region. Over 1 million people visit Stockholm on holiday or vacation each and every year.
The first mention of a community at Stockholm is in 1252. What is called Old Town in Stockholm today was constructed between 1300 and 1500. By the 17th century, Stockholm became an important international city as Sweden itself rose to prominence. Indeed, it was during this time period that Stockholm became the capital of the growing Swedish Empire.
During the latter part of the 20th century, Stockholm saw very significant changes. First of all, many of the old, even historic, buildings were eliminated to make room for modern structures. Additionally, the Stockholm economy witnessed a major shift towards the high tech arena. At this juncture in time, Stockholm has become one of the international centers for high tech development. There is no industrial activity in Stockholm whatsoever. Stockholm has been ranked the cleanest city in all of Europe. Stockholm is one of the cleanest communities in the world.
The Stockholm climate technically is considered to be humid continental. Despite its northern location, Stockholm has surprisingly mild temperatures. The city is sunnier and far warmer than most other locations at a similar latitude. Snow falls from December through March. However, recent winters have been nearly devoid of snowfall.
Because of its northern latitude, the daylight in the city varies significantly. In midsummer, there are more than 18 hours of daylight. In late December, daylight drops to about six hours a day.
The educational system in Stockholm traditionally has had a significant focus on the sciences. This has played in nicely with its growing high tech economy. The city is home to some of the most important institutions of higher learning in the Nordic countries.
Cultural opportunities of different types abound in Stockholm. There are a number of highly regarded museums and other cultural institutions. These include two UNESCO World Heritages sites in the city: The Royal Palace Drottningholm and the Skogskyrkogarden – the “Woodland Cemetary.” In fact, Stockholm has more museums (over 100) than most cities in the world. The museums alone in the city attract over 1 million visitors annually.
The Old Town District (known locally as Gamla Stan) dates back centuries and provides wonderful examples of the architecture of the city since its early days. The District contains not only historic points of interest but fine restaurants and bistros and interesting shops and boutiques at this point in time.
National Geographic Magazine ranked the Old Town District – Gamla Stan – in Stockholm number six on its list of ranked historic places in the world, underscoring what a unique and iconic location it is across the board.
Theater has also played an important role in the history of the city. Stockholm remains an important international theater city to this date. The distinguished theaters in Stockholm include the Royal Dramatic Theater (which is one of the oldest theater venues in Europe – and one of the most highly regarded as well). The Royal Swedish Opera was established in 1773 and remains one of the most accomplished in the world.
On the lighter side, Stockholm is the location of a very popular amusement park, Grona Lund. Grona Lund boosts over 30 attractions and a number of enjoyable restaurants. Thousands of people visit the park daily, Grona Lund being open from the end of April until the middle of December. Grona Lund is also a major concert venue in Stockholm.
The dining and restaurant scene in Stockholm is one of the most eclectic in Europe. Because of the significant amount of immigration to the city in recent times, Stockholm is home to restaurants of all types – spots that features Asian, Turkish, French, Italian, Scandinavian, Greek, Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisine. Bistros of all types can be found throughout the city. Additionally, there are numerous bars, pubs and nightclubs in the city as well.
As the capital city, Stockholm is the site of the nation's parliament. The Royal Family also is headquartered in the city (Sweden having a constitutional monarchy).
Stockholm Hotels: (Page 1 of 1)
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