Image by Aaron L

Fish and chips eat your heart out! Sweden’s version of the classic English favorite checks all the tasty boxes and comes up on top. Why is it better? First of all its Swedish, second, it’s healthier (it’s got some cucumbers…) and finally, it’s not covered in oily batter that’ll make you break out.

It is called nystekt strömming (freshly fried herring) and the best one you can find is a stall right outside on the square at Slussen subway station (Södermalmstorg). You can’t miss it. It’s been raved about by numerous publications and it’s equally popular with the locals as with the tourists. During the summers its not unusual to see a queue from the little kiosk window to…somewhere far from that little kiosk window. Anyway, humans are programmed to think that if there’s a queue, whatever it is, it’s gonna be good.

What you’ll be enjoying is the fried herring, some mashed potatoes of course and a special relish made of cucumber, radish and red onions. You’ll be able to choose a few variations: as a burger, a dish or in the old school way which is on a piece of knäckebrod a.k.a “Is that cardboard?” a.k.a brown Swedish hard bread.

It’s the perfect street snack before exploring Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace and/or the Stockholm’s City Museum which is right next to the stall. If you’re interested in more street food Stockholm has to offer, check out my article about Tunnbrödsrulle.

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Nystekt Strömming | Snacks | Main dish SEK 50
Södermalmstorg | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Image by Aaron L

When I think of street food, Stockholm definitely does not immediately spring to mind. However, although limited in choices and variety, there is one little gem that can save the city’s street cred. Apart from the usual ‘korv med bröd’/hot dog, my favorite thing to order is a “tunnbrodsrulle”. Actually, its more of a meal than a street snack.

Tunnbrödsrulle means ‘thin-bread roll’ in english and what it is, is mashed potatoes, one or two sausages, salad, tomatoes and räksallad (shrimp salad) all wrapped in a soft thin Swedish tortilla bread. Granted, not every hot dog stall will serve this monster wrap but just look for a larger sized grill and it is sure to be on the menu.

It’s typically Swedish and its as comforting as Friday night on the couch with a good movie and a warm blanket. Thats how it feels, tastes and looks. The combination of all the ingredients is just perfect as well. The warm soft mash potatoes with the crunchy chewy sausage and refreshing raksallad is the perfect takeaway for me after a night out while I’m sitting waiting for my bus home at 3 in the morning. With my tunbrodsrulle I never feel alone.

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Tunnbrödsrullar | Snacks | Tunnbrödsrulle SEK 50
All over the city | City/Norrmalm
Daily

Image by Natalia Urbanska

Fancy a drink with a vampire? This is one of the coolest bars in Stockholm, for sure! Pass the door, go down the stairs and enter a very different atmosphere set in a cave.

The drinks really make this place, most of them have vampire-names and are delicious as hell! You have to try a Milkshake drink, they’re like candy. My favourite is Vlad the Impaler and yeah, Monday is the day to come here since it’s much cheaper. There’s a new DJ playing records every night and if you’re not into alcohol it’s alright, all drinks can be ordered alcohol-free!

You have to leave your jacket for 20 kronor, even if you’re there only for a drink. I don’t like these kind of small expenses but this place is totally worth that 20. Sit down on a comfy, red sofa with your drink, red wine or beer and enjoy the atmosphere with candle lights and interesting ornaments. The toilet is also quite interesting…

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Vampire Lounge | Bars, Music, Snacks | Drink SEK 60.00
Östgötagatan 41 | Södermalm | +4686432240
Mon – Fri 17:00 – 01:00, Sat 19:00 – 01:00

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This museum is pure joy for photo lovers. Opened in may 2010 with the top name Annie Leibovitz. It was a big success, no doubt about it. They have lots of different exhibitions every year, so far I haven’t been disappointed.

Fotografiska is beautifully situated in Slussen, just by the water with a nice view over Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. It has really generous opening hours – everyday from 10:00 to 21:00! More museums should have these kind of opening hours! Perfect for some inspiring exhibitions before going out…

I loved the premiere exhibitions. Lennart Nilsson’s “A child is born” was really impressive and made me all nostalgic remembering his photos from my old school books. Leibovitz’s “A photographer’s life” was also impressive, beautiful, startstruck, melancholic and very personal. Speer’s “The birthday party” was beautiful (my favorite!) and Joel-Peter Witkin’s “Bodies” was uncomfortable, disgusting and absolutely beautiful.

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Fotografiska | Art & culture, Bars, Shopping, Snacks | Adult entrance SEK 110
Stora Tullhuset Stadsgårdshamnen 22 | Södermalm | +46850900500
10:00 – 21:00 daily

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This is a perfect spot if you want to do something different for a change. Their generous opening hours turn this place to a great spot to visit even on a Friday evening.

Klättercentret in Telefonplan is a centre for indoor climbing. It’s a big place with 14 meter walls and a really cool place for bouldering which reminds you of caves. Klättercenter have been closed for a couple of months due to a fire. Now everything is built up again with lots of new bouldering “puzzles”. Check out their homepage for accurate opening hours.

My friend and I are totally hooked on bouldering, which is climbing but not as high and without a rope. Ask climbers around you how to start and off you go! All you really need for bouldering is climbing shoes, you can borrow shoes here for 40 kr. Come on a weekday before 16:00, it’s cheaper and less people.

If you want to climb in the traditional way you have to bring along a friend that has a “green card”. Best thing is if you take a course in climbing and get a green card yourself so you both can climb.

They have a small but nice café where you can sit and watch people climbing above you, a very cool feeling but also, in my opinion, scary as hell. I prefer bouldering which is closer to ground…

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Klattercentret | Relaxing, Snacks | Entrance adult SEK 130
Tellusgången 24 | Outside South/East | +4687300093
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 20:00