Behind an anonymous door in Gamla stan lies Den Gyldene Freden – one of the world's oldest restaurants with continuous operation since 1722. The restaurant has been a popular haunt for cultural figures such as Cornelis Vreeswijk and Anders Zorn, and Evert Taube even had his own table. It is also where the Swedish Academy holds its traditional Thursday dinners.

Since 1883, Gröna Lund has offered laughter, screams, and cotton candy on Djurgården. It was founded by James Schultheiss, who was granted permission to set up attractions on the site where a garden restaurant had previously been located. From old carousels to breathtaking rides and concerts with world stars – the amusement park is a beloved institution where childhood memories and adrenaline always fill the air.

The blue-green copper tents in Hagaparken look like they are taken from a fairy tale. They were erected in the 1790s as stables for Gustav III's Royal Guard, designed by the architect Louis Jean Desprez in the form of Roman military tents – but made of copper. Today, they house both a café and a museum, and among the trees, the feeling of royal dreams and theatrical splendor still lingers.

Skansen opened in 1891 and was the world's first open-air museum. Here on Djurgården, you can wander through Swedish cultural history with old farmsteads, animals, and traditions from all over Sweden. Artur Hazelius founded the place to preserve Swedish culture – and even today, Stockholmers gather here to celebrate holidays, sing along, or just enjoy an ice cream among pigs and folk costumes.

Stortorget, Stockholm's oldest square, is surrounded by colorful 17th-century houses. It was the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520 – a dramatic event whose memory still lingers. Today, the square is one of the city's most visited spots, where people stop for a coffee and a taste of old Stockholm.

Alex Schulman is an author, journalist, and one of Sweden's most high-profile media personalities. Through his books, podcasts, and columns, he has made a significant impact on Swedish cultural life with a voice that is both personal and sharp. He grew up in Farsta, but over the years has become associated with Östermalm – a district that is often reflected in his stories and podcasts.

With his pen as a weapon and Drottninggatan as his base, he shook up both culture and society. August Strindberg lived in the now preserved Blue Tower and wrote some of his most famous works, such as The Red Room and Miss Julie, with a view over the rooftops. In him, tumultuous emotions and sharp intelligence met – and Stockholm was always his eternal backdrop.

King Carl XVI Gustaf was born in 1946 at Haga Palace and is a beloved and popular monarch, known for his humor and warmth. Since becoming king in 1973, he has been involved in environmental issues and youth projects, and is known for his down-to-earth style despite his royal title. Here he is with his first grandchild, Princess Estelle.

Raised in Södermalm in one of Sweden's most famous acting families, Gustav went from the National Academy of Mime and Acting to the Royal Dramatic Theatre and on to Hollywood. He brings a commanding presence to every role – from Viking to Hamlet – but it was among the cafés of Mariatorget and at the National Academy of Mime and Acting that his expression was once shaped.

Pernilla Wahlgren is one of Sweden's most beloved artists and actresses, known for her many years on stage and television. With her strong connection to Stockholm, Pernilla has left her mark on the city's entertainment scene for several decades. In 2024, she married Christian Bauer – a wedding that viewers got to follow in Wahlgrens Värld.

Zara Larsson grew up in Enskede, and already at the age of ten, she won Talang Sverige (Sweden's Got Talent) and had a massive breakthrough. Since then, she has made the whole world her stage. With her powerful voice and uncompromising attitude, she has become a pop icon. But Stockholm is always in the background – as the place where the dream took off, and as part of her style and identity.