The gay beach at Frescati is must for queer visitors. The rocky beach takes its name from the nearby Villa Frescati, which King Gustav III had built in 1791 for his gay lover Gustav Armfelt. Gustav III’s Palace is just across the inlet. Also cruisey and popular with the gays is the beach on the west side of Langholmen Island.
You won’t be starved for less cruisey seaside options, either. The Stockholm archipelago comprises more than 24,000 islands, islets, and rocks spilling out into the sea for 80 km/50 miles east of the city. Various cruise and ferry operators will take you through the picturesque islands, some inhabited and built for vacationers, others completely deserted.

The core of Stockholm is the wonderfully preserved Old Town (Gamla Stan), whose narrow streets are ideal for exploring on foot. Much of the Old Town dates from the gothic period through to the 18th century, which gives the district a distinctly fairy-tale feeling.
One of the most stunning buildings is the 18th-century Royal Palace, which is fully open to the public (the Swedish Royal Family only uses it for special occasions). The main attractions are the luxurious royal apartments and the royal treasury, where the crown jewels are kept.
The Stadshuset (City Hall) is another key attraction and its huge tower is one of the best vantage points for an aerial view of the Old Town. This is where the annual Nobel Prize Banquet is held and tours will take you to sumptuous halls where the festivities take place. If you’d like to know more about the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Museum is not far away, located in the old stock exchange building. Visitors can learn about the history of the prize and watch video recordings of speeches by Nobel laureates.

Stockholm has more than 70 museums and dozens of art galleries and none of them can be described as run-of-the-mill. Some of the best are described below.
The Vasa Museum’s main highlight is Vasa, an original Swedish warship dating from 1628, which sank shortly after it was launched. It was found and retrieved from the sea in 1961 and is remarkably well-preserved. Because it is the only one of its kind in the world, this museum should be on your must-visit list.
The Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum and zoo. Here you’ll find more than 150 historical buildings dating from the past 800 years of Stockholm’s history as well as costumed hosts and hostesses demonstrating domestic activities through history, such as weaving, spinning, smithing, and glass blowing. The Skansen zoo focuses on Nordic animals, such as moose, reindeer, and wolverines. There’s also an “aquarium” that houses tropical animals such as primates and reptiles.
The Museum of National Antiquities is a great place to learn about pre-Christian Swedish history, from the stone age to the Vikings. One of the highlights is the Gold Room, which includes treasures dating from as far back as the bronze age.

Stockholm is home to dozens of great galleries and exhibition spaces, but one of its most charming institutions is actually the Stockholm subway system, which calls itself “the world’s longest art gallery.” Each of the Stockholm stations has beautiful artistic flourishes and installations, which makes each one a unique experience. When you’re using the system, keep your eyes open for these fantastic designs. For example, Kungsträdgården station is built to be a spooky blue cave, while Östermalmstorg station is ornamented with monumental black and white drawings by local artist Siri Derkert. You can download a free English guide to the artwork from the Stockholm subway web site.