Stockholm Area Map - Nobis Hotel Stockholm

Stockholm is located in the southeast of Sweden in northern Europe and is accessible from several international airports. The city center lies on what is known as the Stockholm archipelago, which consists of 14 islands on a winding course of bays and inlets, and it faces the Baltic Sea, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the north. The downtown area sits on the bay of Riddarfjärden, and most of the city's sites can be found in what's known as the innerstaden (inner city), typically divided between north and south.

Inner City North

To the north of the inner city is Norrmalm, the major commercial district. Here you'll find the T-Centralen metro center and the city's main railway station. One of the more popular tourist stops, the Drottninggatan shopping district is a major pedestrian, shop-lined avenue. However, Kungsgatan is Stockholm's main shopping street, with movie theaters, cafés and boutiques.

Also in the Norrmalm district is the Hötorget City, a series of five skyscrapers containing a shopping promenade known as Sergelgatan. Nearby Hötorget is Sergels Torg, Stockholm's main public square, which contains a large pedestrian plaza, Stockholm's iconic obelisk made of glass and steel, and an accompanying fountain. The Vasastaden district, located just north of Norrmalm, offers cheaper hotel rates and several excellent restaurants and theaters.

In the Östermalm district, also in the northern inner city, you'll find the Stureplan Square, an expensive shopping area and affluent residential area. The area surrounding the nearby Karlaplan Square holds many of the city's best museums, including the Historiska Museet, known in English as the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities. To the north, the Humlegården is a popular public park and home to the city's Kungliga Biblioteket (or Royal Library). The southern area of Djurgården holds some of Stockholm's main attractions, including the Skansen open-air museum and the Gröna Lund Tivoli amusement park.

Inner City South

In the south of the inner city, Stockholm's historic town, known as Gamla Stan, contains the Kungliga Slottet or Royal Palace and the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament building. Also within Gamla Stan is Stortorget Square, a popular meeting point lined with narrow and colorful buildings. The area also contains the city's oldest restaurant, Den Gyldene Freden; since its opening in 1722, professional travel writers report few changes to its interior or its surroundings.

Just south of Gamla Stan, Södermalm, or simply Söder, contains several bohemian restaurants and pubs. It's also home to the popular Medborgarplatsen, or "Citizen's Square," a bustling area brimming with great eateries and nightlife options. The area contains a variety of historic and charming churches, including the Katarina kyrka (Church of Catherine), Maria Magdalena församling (Maria Magdalena Church) and Katolska Domkyrkan (St. Eric's Cathedral)

On the small island of Kungsholmen, just northwest of Södermalm, the grandiose brick Stockholm City Hall sits along the Riddarfjärden bay. You can also find several small restaurants and bars that make for great stops after a long walk. Also within the neighborhood is the expansive Västermalmsgallerian shopping mall. 

Safety

Stockholm has a reputation for being a very safe city, for locals and visitors alike. Take sensible precautions, as iGuide points out, it's a good idea to "avoid late-night walks through the darkest and most desolate back streets and tunnels, as well as close encounters with rowdy groups of drunk people."