A Grand Old Time In Stockholm, Sweden (July 2016)

This was my second time in Stockholm, Sweden, in over a decade, but my first time seeing it in the summertime. Previously, I experienced a Stockholm covered in snow and filled with holiday cheer. The buildings were vibrantly colorful, and so was city life. The Old Town was beautifully aged, with cobblestone alleyways and graffiti. It felt like a thrilling treasure hunt for photographers. The intersection of Prastgatan and Marten Trotzigs Grand was the coolest find—it led to the narrowest passageway I had ever seen (under a meter wide!).

One major difference on this trip compared to the last one was the amount of construction happening throughout the city. To get a better bird’s-eye view of the development, I ascended the viewing tower in Stockholm’s Old Town, Gamla Stan, near the restaurant Gondolen. Similar to Boston’s Top of the Hub, I had to walk through a fancy dining hall to access the city’s scenic overlook. Places change over time, so it felt meaningful to pause and appreciate that moment—what Stockholm looked right then. Stockholm’s renowned medical university, the Karolinska Institute, was a good example: the campus was redeveloped to expand its research and educational facilities.

Of course, my visit wouldn’t have been complete without revisiting some familiar sites, like the Nobel Museum and the Grand Hotel, where Nobel laureates stay during Nobel Week. A few more pretty sites in Gamla Stan included the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and the Stockholm Concert Hall with its towering columns.

As for parks, Ulriksdals Slott in the Royal National City Park hosted weddings. Behind the Stockholm School of Economics, just off Sveavagen, was a peaceful area for sunbathing and picnicking. This parkland included a large pool and the Stockholm Public Library, with its striking interior rotunda. Both this Sveavagen park and the library were designed by the Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund.

Just as interesting as the streets was what lay below ground—like Dansmuseet, the world’s first museum of dance and movement, located in the basement of the Royal Swedish Opera. There was much to uncover in this old city, and many more stops and cobblestone hops.

Stockholm, Sweden Gallery