What’s so special about Stockholm? It’s a Nordic western city like many other metropolises in Europe. The harsh lines that characterize its architecture, with its pointy bell towers and fortified bastions dotting the skyline, make it seem rigid and unfriendly. In reality, Sweden, with Stockholm as its capital, is an incredibly happy, welcoming, and serene place to visit and live in, despite its undesirable climate characterized by long frigid winters and short humid summers.
My travels have brought me to the Scandinavian Peninsula several times in the past 12 years, and, although Iceland and Norway are objectively more sensational thanks to their dramatic landscapes, Sweden is the one Nordic nation that keeps me wanting to return and soak in more of its “Sweden-ness”.
Similarly to Scotland, there is something intangible at work in this place of balanced peacefulness that beckons me. I’ve been thinking on the reasons why Sweden is so dear to my heart, and here’s what I managed to put into words. As ever, my photography may describe the innate beauty of a territory better than any of my feeble words ever could.
The varied vibrancy of the city
Said to be on top of the list of the most exclusive bar scenes in Europe, not only does Stockholm possess marvelous cocktail lounges, waterfront restaurants, and nightclubs, it also features countless urban green-spaces, the most notorious being Djurgården (more on this will follow), a large variety of museums and science halls, majestic expressions of Nordic architecture, and many, MANY islands. In fact, the Stockholm archipelago boasts a mind-boggling 30,000 islands, some inhabited while others completely deserted.
In other words, Stockholm has something special to offer to anyone, whether that be sailing in the summer, sledding in the winter, experiencing new food and drinks in exclusive posh bars or hole-in-the-wall traditional restaurants, or simply lounging by the breezy waters of the canals and firths.
The best known island is the Djurgården, one of fourteen islets on which the greater city is built on. Notorious for hosting ABBA, The Museum and the Vasamuseet, the island isn’t just for pop music aficionados and history nerds – this gorgeous 279-hectare green space (equivalent to 1 sq mile!) has won several sustainability awards through the years and continues to be one of the most beloved recreational spaces by Swedes and visitors alike.
The park features a seasonal amusement park, several cafes and restaurants, natural history and biology museums, art halls, and notably, Skansen, an interactive cultural heritage estate where visitors can catch a glimpse of indigenous livelihoods and folkcraft.
For detailed information about the capital’s attractions and calendar of activities, visit https://www.visitstockholm.com/
the culture of “lagom”
Oh, yes, this is my favorite Swedish concept: “lagom” is a term that describes the feeling of balanced fulfillment in life, that which is “just enough” to be content, comfortable, and at peace with oneself and others. It’s the idea of having not too little or not too much, but just the perfect amount of something, to enable one to lead an easygoing and equable lifestyle.
Essentially, lagom epitomizes the slow living philosophy that so many of us nowadays aspire to, myself included. Sweden has coined a term for all that I’ve mentioned above… Genius, efficient, as they are.
After observing and partaking to daily interactions in Sweden, I understood that lagom is an intrinsic part of what constitutes sweden-ness. It’s such a pervasive concept that one can sense it merely by perusing the city streets and forests alike. For instance, I felt it in the absence of disturbing noise and chaos, as well as in the way in which everything seems to follow an underlying rhythm and arrange itself into a harmonious pattern that brings about serenity. The landscape outside the urban centers reflects this balance, but so do the cities and the people. They all seem to wear the complacency of lagom on their faces.
I love seeing cities that are designed by people for the people, cities like Stockholm an Uppsala, where social wellbeing and happiness become priorities and the urban planning reflects these very concepts.
happiness everyday
On a usual weekday in Stockholm, strangers on the streets approached me with a bouquet of flowers. They offered a bright-red poppy to me explaining that the city was celebrating happiness that day. The government had gathered volunteers to dispatch them around Stockholm to present passersby with gifts, such as flowers, healthy fresh foods, and pet treats. Why? Simply to bring a smile to people’s faces.
That day I saw people queueing in front of a kiosk to ring a bell which popped open a small window. Through that window, volunteers gifted the petitioner with a fresh salad. I saw people give away treats, plant-based creamers, and pet accessories to anyone around them. I felt a contagious glow of happiness and serenity in the crisp, clean city air. This is a city where humans treat each other with kindness, respect, and dignity, where the government takes small initiatives to make ALL of its citizens feel valuable and integrated into society, where the culture shows that communal wellbeing is possible and achievable by taking small steps toward altruism, collectivism, and the pursuit of simple pleasures.
the abundance of textures in nature
While I was taking a mindless morning walk in Norrsundet, as small fishing village on the Baltic coast, I noticed that everything around me had peculiar textural interests. The tree bark, the newly-grown moss, the fragmented ice, and dried grass looked incredibly deep and nuanced. The way the intricate and texturized elements of the natural world reflected the light of day was incredible.
Objects had a life and movement of their own, and that was something that I had never noticed before, how the simple things around me could look so fascinating, complicated, and infinitely separable. The Swedish landscape taught me how to search for the minute details in what’s common, meditate on the complexity of fractal patterns, and find fresh creative inspiration in the mysterious ways of nature.
pages from my travel journal
They just know how to take advantage of what they have, and somehow, they all seem to be on board with initiatives for the community.
It all works. The society is heterogeneous though integrated, and people make an effort to strive for egalitarianism. Services appear to be accessible to everyone regardless of gender, status, religion, or national origin. Sweden surely has its problems and discrepancies as any other nation does, but its citizens show a distinct determination to make it work.
With all this in mind, I hope you’ll feel compelled to pursue a visit to Sweden soon. Should you have any questions, please reach out to use on Instagram or via email.
Instagram: @apronandsuitcase_travel
Email: apronandsuitcase@gmail.com
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Until we meet on the road again.
Yours truly,
G
