Go ‘out’ on the scene
Stockholm has no gay enclave as such, but gay and gay-friendly establishments are scattered throughout this city, and rainbow flags fly high in most of Stockholm’s central districts. But the greatest concentration of gay bars and clubs is to be found in two areas: the Södermalm district and in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, where the original medieval town lives on in the cobblestone streets and the stunning buildings. Södermalm is where you’ll find, for example, the gay club Side Track, as well as the SM/leather clubs LASH (for women) and SLM (for men) – if that’s your taste …. In the Old Town, Torget is a firm favorite among gay bars, with different themes each evening.
For dancing queens, a unique event is the Sunday tea party on the old steamship Patricia, from whose upper deck you can admire the lights of Stockholm while taking a rest from the dance-floor. Or try the intimate Connection club every Friday and Saturday, or the more male-dominated Lino club, just west of the Old Town, with four bars, three dance-floors and a big outdoor terrace.
Go sightseeing
This friendly, spotlessly-clean city starts with a massive advantage: its breathtakingly beautiful setting. Stockholm is built on 14 islands, set in a sparkling sea so unpolluted that you can even swim in it (and many people do!). And, if the sea is never far away, the same is true for nature in all its splendour and ever-changing variety. Whether you are exploring the Old Town or the stylish modern architecture of Stockholm’s business district, beautifully-designed parks and gardens are a constant reminder of nature’s responses to the changing seasons.
Go dining
There’s much more to Swedish food than meatballs and a smorgasbord, and Stockholm abounds in fashionable restaurants with enticing menus, rivaling those of any European capital city. The restaurant scene is known for its wide selection of dining options, high standards, and professional service.
Creative menus in of hip locations are on offer in the many gay-friendly restaurants all around the city, such as Ghetto and Spisa Hos Helena. Or for a gourmet seafood meal afloat, you could try the gay-managed former troop transport ship M/S Gerda which now functions as an exclusive floating restaurant. In Södermalm's fashion district Roxy is a lesbian-run restaurant/lounge.
Go shopping
For all its lovingly-preserved traditions, Stockholm is clearly a 21st century city that has made quite a name for itself in recent years, as one of the world’s leading centers of design, fashion and music. You will inevitably want to take some of those typically Swedish goods back home with you, so head for Stockholm’s shops – you have 4,000 to choose from. In the department stores and exclusive boutiques, traditional Swedish handicrafts sit side by side with clothes and accessories, glass-ware and ceramics of superb contemporary design that often draw their inspiration from Swedish folk-art and crafts. The street called Hamngatan is a good place to start, since two of Stockholm’s leading shopping paradises are to be found right there. The Gallerian, Stockholm’s first shopping mall offers more than 60 different stores; and NK, a former department store now accommodates many exclusive shops selling exclusive brands, as well as the acclaimed Restaurant Boberg.
Stay in Style
TAG Approved top hotels include the luxurious Grand Hotel and the Hilton Stockholm Slussen, boutique spots such as the stylish Berns Hotel, the newly opened Hotel Stureplan, the trendy Clarion Hotel Stockholm, Hotel Hellsten and the Nordic Light Hotel, voted “The World’s Sexiest Hotel” by British Elle.
Or stay at one of the charming hotels, Victory, Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, in the heart of the historical district for those seeking that “something extra”!
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