Sofia Barré works as a communications officer at Svenskt Vatten. She spent her childhood in the inner-archipelago – Björnkärret in Gustavsberg to be precise – but has since worked her way closer to the city. Today she lives in the southern Stockholm suburb of Älta. Sofia describes herself as a "city hiker" and loves the contrasts between nature and urban areas in Stockholm. "You can experience a shift from nature to city in just a short bike ride, but often get both at the same time". Besides the family, her biggest love is her e-bike. "It's my enabler. It takes me everywhere I need to go".

English

Swedish

Sofia Barré

jogging

rooftop bars

trips on my e-bike

contrasts in everyday life

Summer in the Stockholm archipelago. A commuter ferry arrives in Nacka strand. Pictured is also Carl Milles statue, greeting passengers as they arrive.

Nacka Strand

My favorite summer hangouts in Nacka

Areas in Stockholm. The southern parts of Hammarby Sjöstad and Hammarbyhamnen. Residential buildings are just by lake Mälaren.

Södra Hammarbyhamnen

Discovering Hammarby Sjöstad on a bike

The Göteborg restaurant by the waterfront of Hammarby Sjöstad. Guests are sitting on the steps of a jetty, a motorboat has stopped just below.

Seasonal and fresh food served in a great setting at the waterfront of Hammarby Sjöstad. The menu at Göteborg (the restaurant, that is) is in constant flux, but with an affinity for delicious seafood. And just like the town of Göteborg, you can reach it either by boat or tram.

Göteborg

Bars in Stockholm. People enjoying drinks outside, at Nya Carnegie Bryggeriet. The sun is shining on a summer afternoon and people are dressed in summer clothes.

A modern artisan brewery and restaurant in a former lightbulb factory called Lumahuset, in Hammarby Sjöstad. From a collaboration between Brooklyn Brewery and Carlsberg come classical brews with a modern twist. Enjoy the gorgeous space, have a bite to eat, and try the house brews. The outdoor patio opens during summer.

Nya Carnegiebryggeriet

If you enjoy the outdoors, the Hellasgården recreation area, 20 minutes from downtown Stockholm, should be on you Stockholm bucket list. Here, you can walk or bike along the paths, or swim by the sandy beach. For the sporty visitor, open-air activities abound, including petanque, beach volleyball, fishing, tennis, canoeing, and yoga. During the winter ice skating and cross-country skiing dominate, with a hole cut in the ice for the bravest swimmers. (There is also a sauna on-site.) Hungry visitors can head to Storstugan, where fika, light lunches, and vegetarian dishes are served.

Hellasgården

Saltsjöbadens Friluftsbad

Like a castle made of wood, this open-air bathhouse lies in the sea in the Stockholm suburb of Saltsjöbaden. The building was designed by architect Torben Grut in the early 1900s and is open during the summer.

Nacka

Nacka is where big city and island meet. It is easy to get here by boat, car, bus, bicycle or the suburban Saltsjöbanan train, and the trip usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes from Stockholm proper.History buffs get their fill either at the Battlefield Museum HAMN, or have a fika at the 18th-century country estates Svindersvik and Stora Nyckelviken. If you&#x27;re into architecture, the designer hotel J at Nacka beach and the beautiful historic homes from the 20th century in Saltsjöbaden are sure make an impression. For art and culture, Dieselverkstaden is a creative space and exhibition hall well worth exploring, as are 20 newly-painted murals in the area that will make your jaw drop.For the outdoor types, Hellasgården and Velamsund’s nature reserves are classics that never go out of style.

Gamla Stan. A bicycle is standing in front of an old medeival building in Stockholm's Old Town.

Cykel i Gamla Stan

Gamla Stans Cykel has been around since 1917. Although changing ownership and address a couple of times, it&#x27;s always been a bicycle store and repair shop. They also have bicycles for rent, both for just a couple of hours of sightseeing or several days of two-wheeled exploration.

Gamla Stans Cykel

Architecture in Stockholm. Hammarby Sjöstad, a neighbourhood in southern Stockholm. Pictured are residential buildings overlooking a canal.

Hammarby Sjöstad, kanal

Hammarby Sjöstad is one of the most recent additions to Stockholm&#x27;s cityscape and was built between 1994-2020. Most of the buildings are located around Lake Hammarby, an area that had previously been known as the &quot;Lugnet&quot; industrial park. But a portion of the new neighborhood is located across the canal on Södermalm. Initially, the idea was for &quot;Sjöstaden&quot; to act as the Olympic Village during the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Stockholm, before being turned into a permanent residential area. Although Stockholm lost the bid for the games the construction went ahead. When it was completed it was comprised of 12 700 apartments, many restaurants, and shops, and had four stops along the newly constructed Tvärbanan-tram. During the expansion on the Stockholm metro, one of the new stations will be built in Hammarby Sjöstad. The architecture is an excellent example of the urban supermodernism that was in vogue during the &#x27;90s. Simple and clean shapes and materials, that put function before form. Its central location made open spaces and daylight something of a commodity, which was compensated by large windows, balconies, and higher ceilings. Since the project took over 15 years to complete, small differences can be found when comparing the first buildings with the more recent ones. Uniform for the whole area though is its high environmental profile. Already in its planning stages, Hammarby Sjöstad was meant to spearhead sustainable city-planing. For example, Lake Hammarby and its surrounding area were restored having been polluted by the industries in &quot;Lugnet&quot;, and eco-friendly materials were used during the construction.

Hammarby Sjöstad

Cafées in Stockholm. A tray of cinnamon buns at Magnus Johansson Bageri & Konditori in Hammarby Sjöstad.

Magnus Johansson Bageri & Konditori

Magnus Johansson has made dessert for the Nobel banquet a total of 11 times, which makes him the current record holder! At his own café and bakery in Hammarby Sjöstad you&#x27;ll get a taste of his pastries, cakes, cookies, bread and buns. Also in Hammarby Sjöstad, just a stone&#x27;s throw away, you&#x27;ll find Magnus Johansson Glass &amp; Konfektyr where you&#x27;ll be treated to artisan ice cream and sweets.

Restaurants in Stockholm. A burger and fries at Texas Longhorn, a Swedish chain of steak house restaurants.

Texas Longhorn

Texas Longhorn is a Swedish chain of steakhouse restaurants focused on American bbq classics. Burgers, ribs, bangers, and steaks with a side of fries, coleslaw, or mac &#x27;n cheese. There are several locations in Stockholm; Hammarby Sjöstad, Gamla Stan, and Kungsholmen for example.

Texas Longhorn Hammarby Sjöstad

Restaurants in Stockholm. Interior at Pong, an Asian family restaurant in Hammarbysjöstad.

Pong

Family-friendly Pong is a chain of pan-Asian restaurants that can be found in several locations in Stockholm. The menu is a mix of some of the most beloved dishes of Asian cooking; sushi, dim sum, gyoza, and pad thai.

Pong Henriksdal

Restaurants in Stockholm. Tezukuri Sushi, a sushi restaurant in the southern suburb of Hammarby Sjöstad.

Tezukuri Sushi

Tezukuri is a sushi restaurant, located by the shore of Lake Hammarby in Hammarby Sjöstad. Chose between a selection of maki, sashimi, and moriwase or a warm dish like gyoza, tempura and yakitori.

Icecream bars in Stockholm. Two cups with icecream, at Kennys Gelato in Sickla.

Kennys Gelato

In 2022 Kenny Mattsson – founder and namesake of Kennys Gelato – was crowned Swedish ice cream master at the national ice cream championships. The flavors at his parlor vary from timeless classics (vanilla, chocolate, pistachio) to creative combinations (rhubarb and cardamom, lemon, and ginger sherbert). Currently, you&#x27;ll find Kennys Gelato has three locations; on Markusplatsen Square in Sickla, just outside The Viking Museum on Djurgården, and at the docks in Tollare.

Activities in Stockholm. The minature golf course att Golfbaren in Nacka Strand.

Golfbaren Nacka Strand

Golfbaren currently operates six miniature golf courses around Stockholm. Four summer open outdoor courses, and two all-year-round indoor courses. The course in Nacka is beautifully located by the water and offers a fun challenge for all ages and something to eat and drink, before or after the game.

Activities in Stockholm. A view of Boule and Berså under the Danvik bridge.

Boule & Berså

Boule &amp; Berså is a summer-open petanque bar, secluded under the Danvik bridge in Nacka. As long as the weather permits, B&amp;B is a great place for some summer-petanque, a simple meal, or a drink by the waterfront.

Visitstockholm is the official guide to Stockholm for visitors and talents. The website is editorial, and the content is based on an independent, qualitative selection of what Stockholm has to offer.

Visit Stockholm

The official guide for visitors and talents about things to see and do, activities, restaurants, cafés and events in Stockholm.

Sofia Barré

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