A Not at All Comprehensive Photo Tour of Stockholm

As someone who hasn't biked much since elementary school, I have been happily surprised by how easy everything is when you have a bike. Stockholm isn't a huge city, necessarily, but you are pretty limited in what you can see if you want to just walk, or you have to deal with the prices for the rather expensive (but also quite good) public transportation. With a bike, everything from grocery shopping to commuting to getting to a nice nature reserve outside the city is wonderfully simple. The bike lanes here are absolutely amazing by Boston standards (though people here actually still have the gall to complain about them sometimes) and the city is also easily navigable, with a generally reliable grid system, as well as great landmarks that make it difficult to get completely lost.

All of this is to say, I have been having a fantastic time exploring Stockholm. Sometimes after work I just hop on my bike and wander around. Without fail, I stumble upon something exciting, whether it's a beautiful and historical building, an interesting store, or a massive, prairie-like park full of trails, a nice forested area, and even paddocks with horses, all right in central Stockholm. Stockholm is actually extremely good about making sure that you are never very far from nature. There are the usual parks and tree-lined streets, but also areas right in the middle of the city that feel quite wild. The island of Djurgården, in particular, is covered in forest and even has cattle and horses in some parts, in spite of also housing some of the most tourist-y sights in Stockholm. So, for anyone planning a trip to Stockholm, renting a bike is the way to do it (there are even city bikes similar to Hubway all over the city).

If you need further convincing, some of the pictures from my adventures are below.

Stockholm is quite the hub for cruise ships. You can also see bits of Gamla Stan, Östermalm, and Skeppsholmen in the background.

A deer on Djurgården, an island that also houses the Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum, an amusement park, and a smattering of extremely wealthy people.

There are lots of swans around Djurgården in particular. 

A view of Södermalm from the bridge to Gamla Stan. A motorcycle caught fire below the church, making for some pretty cool pictures (don't worry, nobody was hurt).

The view of Gamla Stan from the bridge. 

Stockholms Stadhus

Evert Taubes Terass on Riddarholmen offers some great views.

Bikes, cobblestones, and warm-colored buildings are almost ubiquitous here (also note the "no bikes" sign directly behind the bike).

Riddarholmen in the late afternoon (also, nothing like funky lighting to hide the construction and tour bus).

One of the many narrow, cobblestoned streets on Gamla Stan. This island is one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Europe and is absolutely one of the most charming and intriguing places I've visited. Be forewarned, though: even on a dreary, off-season day like today, there are some impressively large crowds of tourists. 

The central square in Gamla Stan. Makes for some entertaining people (and dog) watching.

More of Gamla Stan's unbelievably quaint streets. People do actually live on the island and it's fairly easy to stay here through Airbnb or the like.

One more picture of Gamla Stan from that bridge. Trying to bike across near sunset is difficult because plenty of people stop to enjoy the view and it's hard to resist joining them.

Gamla Stan from a wonderful little path called Monteliusvägen on Södermalm. A strömmingsrulle, which is about the most Swedish food you'll find anywhere, from Nystekt Strömming makes for a pretty good accompaniment for watching the sunset.