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Vasa Museum: This is the most popular museum in all of Scandinavia, where you can inspect, close-up, a 17th century shipwreck, beautifully preserved in a dry dock. It is the three-master fighting ship Vasa, one of the most powerful of its time, which sank in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage in 1628. It was raised from the depths 333 years later and restored to almost all its former splendour. You can admire the hundreds of carvings which adorn the ship, and the oldest sails in the world, as well as thousands of other items retrieved intact from the wreck, just as they were when time stopped for the Vasa in the frozen depths of the Baltic. Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, 0046851954800, www.vasamuseet.se

Royal Palace: The home of the Swedish royal family rises high above the northern edge of the old town. With more than 600 rooms, on seven floors, this Baroque 18th century palace is one of the largest in Europe. You should visit the Treasure Room, the Tre Kronor Museum, which recounts the history in mediaeval times of the Swedish crown, as well as the museum of antiquities of King Gustav III. Also worth seeing are the soldiers on parade and the daily changing of the guard. Address: Gamla Stan, 004684026130, www.royalpalaces.se

Nobel Museum: The history of the famous awards bestowed by the Swedish Academy, from 1901 to the present day, is brought alive in the state-of-the-art Nobel Museum, housed in one of the finest 18th century buildings on Stortorget Square. You can draw your own inspiration from ideas which have changed the world, learn about the personalities who have received Nobel Prizes for their achievements in their various fields, from Marie Curie and Nelson Mandela to the Greek poets Giorgos Seferis and Odysseas Elitis, winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Through films, themed tours and multimedia exhibits you can find out why the cosmopolitan inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel, decided to introduce this global awards system, and exactly how the awards are bestowed. Address: Stortorget, 0046853481800, www.nobelmuseet.se

Museum of Modern Art: Built on Skeppsholmen Island, the impressive Moderna Museet by the Catalan architect Rafael Moneo is a sight worth seeing in its own right. It houses an exceptional collection of paintings, installations, graphic arts and sculptures by Swedish and famous international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Picasso, Dali, Matisse, Pollock and Kandinsky, as well as a collection of photographs from 1840 to the present day. Address: Exercisplan 2, 0046851955200, www.modernamuseet.se

The Archipelago: The Stockholm Archipelago starts just twenty minutes from the city centre. Its 30,000 islands are tiny earthly paradises of unspoiled nature, picturesque villages, with saunas, kayaking and relaxing walks across the rocky islands that still bear traces of the Viking era. Boats leave from the city’s Strömkajen Pier. Address: www.stockholmarchipelago.se/

Stockholm Canals: Tour the canals of Stockholm, which extends over fourteen islands and is justly known as the Venice of the North. The boats leave from Strömkajen Pier, taking visitors beneath the bridges and alongside the historic buildings on the banks of the canals.

Djurgården Island: An urban oasis just 7 minutes from the city centre, and a favourite destination with both local people and visitors. The green spaces of the island are home to an aquarium, zoo, funfair and no fewer than 22 museums, including one dedicated to the legendary pop group Abba. You can also see the whole of Sweden displayed in a miniature model in the open-air Skansen Park. A fabulous place to walk or cycle, or take a boat or canoe ride on the canal. Address: Djurgården, 00468667 77 01, www.visitdjurgarden.se

Swedish History Museum: To find out the truth behind the terrible tales of the Vikings, enter the Gold Room with its treasures of silver and gold and take a thrilling trip back in time – from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Address: Narvavägen 13-17, 0046851955600, www.historiska.se

Strindberg Museum: The library and personal effects of the great Swedish dramatist, all just as they were during his lifetime. Address: Drottninggatan 85, 004684115354, www.strindbermuseet.se

Discover the work of Sweden’s fashion designers in the Bibliotekstan pedestrianized shopping area, in the city centre. The boutiques between Stureplan and Norrmalmstorg Square stock inspired prêt a porter creations, most of them featuring the unaffected Nordic look. You can also explore the design stores, with their austere lines, colours and shapes inspired by the Scandinavian landscape, using materials like Swedish timber, porcelain and glass. Or visit the up-and-coming SoFo district (the acronym stands for ‘south Folkungagatan) for a shopping safari in the vintage shops and boutiques around Nytorget Square. You’ll find groovy clothes and small items, jewellery and household goods – all stamped with that distinctive Swedish style. For souvenirs you could buy decorative items with the black triangle on white background motif of the paving of Sergels Torg Square, or soft vanilla-flavoured sweets, perfumes and Swedish clogs from the malls and the little streets in the Gamla Stan area.

In a city with three thousand restaurants and cafes, there is no shortage of food options. There is more to Swedish cuisine than smörgåsbord, smoked herring and chips, ginger crackers and the pungent Västerbotten cheese. Traditional Swedish cuisine is blended with fusion trends in hip restaurants where Baltic eels are served alongside Japanese sushi in a minimalist setting. Sample the cosy warmth of one of the old Swedish bathhouses, in Stockholm since 1885, and make an appointment for a Swedish massage. Or try ice skating in Kungsträdgården Park, among the birches and limes. Hipsters will find their paradise in the Hornstull district, with its sophisticated bars and cafes. The little streets of the Gamla Stan district are full of lovely bistros, while if you’re interested in fast food of high quality, try one of the Streetkäk, the twenty mobile canteens positioned around the city. The latest trend in the nightlife of the Swedish capital is known as mixology – a creative mix of drinks in the bars, where original cocktails are taken to the limits of alcoholic surrealism! Sample the glamorous party zone in Stureplan Square, where all the most fashionable clubs are situated. You’ll find a more relaxed atmosphere and sophisticated music in the alternative venues of the Södermalm district or in trendy SoFo.

• Stockholm International Film Festival: Film lovers flock to this internationally renowned festival, held in the second half of November, for non-stop, 24-hour screenings. The guest list includes famous actors and directors, and the best film in the competitive section wins the Bronshästen award – the Bronze Horse.
• A taste of Stockholm: A whole parade of Baltic gourmet delights, traditional Swedish recipes as well as creative variations on classic dishes, presented by the chefs of the city’s restaurants at an open-air festival of gastronomy in Kungsträdgården Park in the first week of June. This al fresco food party, emphasizing organic raw ingredients, is accompanied by parallel music events.
• Skansen Christmas Market: This is one of Sweden’s most historic markets, dating back to 1903. From early December to Christmas Eve, the open-air museum on the island of Djurgården echoes to the sound of Christmas carols, while the stalls are laden with wooden toys, hand-made candles, red- and white-striped mint-flavoured candy canes, smoked salmon, eel, sausages and mulled wine, known as glögg.
• Tram Day: Every 31st May the city of Stockholm celebrates its historic trams, with themed rides from Norrmalmstorg to Djurgården, guided tours and all sorts of special events, with children given a chance to take the wheel of some of the old tram cars.

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at Arlanda International Airport, 37 km to the north of the city. This ultra-modern airport has cafes and restaurants serving local and ethnic dishes, duty free shops and boutiques with designer labels, banks and bureaus de change, a post office, pharmacy, clinic, beauty salon, children’s play areas, free Wi-Fi and even a dog hotel. Most amazing of all, you can be married in the airport’s Control Tower! The fastest way into the city from the airport is to take the Arlanda Express to the main Stockholm train station. There is also the Flygbussarna Airport Coach which goes to the Cityterminalen in the centre of town. If you take a taxi, be sure to check the cost, because there is no fixed tariff.