We put the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on our gay travel itinerary, testing gay-friendly hotels, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and LGBTQ+-friendly activities like shopping, ABBA’s music heritage, and falling in love with Scandinavian design and architecture. The self-proclaimed “Capital of Scandinavia” is known for being open-minded, inclusive, and welcoming, and is especially, but not only, during Pride Season, a great destination for lesbian, gay, and queer travelers planning their gaycation in the northern part of Europe. But now enjoy our Gay Travel Tips for Stockholm in Sweden and see the Swedish capital through a couple of men‘s eyes!
– in paid partnership with Stockholm LGBT –
Stockholm is not just a city to visit. It is a place where you feel you can belong. Open-minded, progressive, and multifaceted, the Swedish capital offers a genuine welcome to LGBTQ+ travelers, not only as guests but also as people with their own stories and dreams. Its lived-in inclusivity is what makes Stockholm so special: a city where diversity is celebrated, acceptance is second nature, and everyone is free to grow, love, and thrive. Nowhere is this spirit more visible than in summer, when Stockholm bursts into color for Scandinavia’s largest Pride celebration. Pride here is not confined to one week, though: it is woven into daily life, embraced by locals, institutions, and neighborhoods alike. For visitors, it is an invitation to experience a city that leads with authenticity, champions equality, and inspires people to be wholeheartedly themselves.
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Our Gay Travel Tips for Stockholm
Good to know about Stockholm: Together with the rainbow family of Stockholm LGBT, we collected the best tips for a city trip in July and August to experience why Sweden is considered the most gay-friendly country globally and why you should travel to Stockholm. We explored Stockholm for four days, trying to find the best gay and lesbian spots, gather information on the most important events, and have fun nights at some of Stockholm’s best gay bars. But there is, of course, more to discover! ABBA fans will love the interactive ABBA Museum, for example. In contrast, fans of Swedish history should definitely not miss visiting the Vasa Museum and the Royal Palace. Theme park fans like us shouldn’t forget to ride ALL the rollercoasters at Gröna Lund. And there is more to explore on your gay travel to Stockholm!
Experience Stockholm
You are welcome anyhow, JUST AS YOU ARE! Because in Stockholm, you belong here. With this motto, Stockholm invites LGBTQ+ travelers from all over the world to experience queer joy every day in the city. Today, the city continues to be an LGBTQ+ hotspot in Europe. Book your flight, make a reservation for your gay-friendly hotel, and do not forget to pack your rainbow flag (alternatively rainbow umbrella) for the annual Pride and take a stand against homophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, and racism together in a peaceful and inclusive celebration. Check the video clip of Visit Stockholm below. We love it!
Sing along with ABBA at the ABBA Museum
You will not be able to avoid ABBA during your gay travels to Stockholm. So why not embrace Sweden’s cultural heritage, even today? There is almost (!) no better way of getting in touch with ABBA than visiting ABBA The Museum with its interactive exhibition. Fascinating background stories, and unique ABBA items from the couples Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
A unique way of dancing, singing, dressing, and playing together. Don’t miss a selfie with the ABBA figures, the helicopter arrival. Who knows, maybe you will be the next person picking up the phone when one of the ABBA four is calling directly to the orange telephone in the museum. We will never forget ABBA’s Mamma Mia song! What’s your favorite song? Get your ABBA tickets here >
Enjoy at Gröna Lund, Stockholm’s Theme Park
Stockholm’s theme park Tivoli Gröna Lund has captured the imagination of its annual 1.5 million visitors for 135 years already. Justifiably. We spent a whole day riding Gröna Lund’s 8 rollercoasters and about 25 rides throughout a well-themed park right by the water, with a stunning view over Stockholm’s islands (at least from the highest rides!). In addition to the rides, Gröna Lund hosts multiple events throughout the year as a concert venue.
In 2019 alone, more than 70 concerts by popular bands and singers like Marilyn Manson will give their best to impress the audience, as The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Lady Gaga did before. Have fun in Gröna Lund in Stockholm! Check the best ticket offers here >
Stay in the best gay-friendly hotels in Stockholm
Sweden is considered to be the most gay-friendly country in the world. Therefore, lesbian, queer, and gay travelers can be pretty relaxed when thinking about their LGBT-friendly accommodation. The capital city especially offers many great and gay-friendly hotels in and around Stockholm. We tested the Hotel Skeppsholmen on the island of the same name. The Hotel Skeppsholmen is set in a building constructed in 1699. Noble interior, spacious rooms, and an excellent eco/vegan/vegetarian-friendly cuisine was a spot landing for our stay. It is remarkable how Skeppsholmen feels like a quiet, green environment far away from everything, even though you’re just a bridge or ferry away from the city center.
Visit the Golden Royal Palace (& handsome Royal Guard)
The Swedish Royal Palace was the first major sight we visited, taking a tour through Swedish, Scandinavian, and European history. But before our tour started, we witnessed the changing of the royal guard on the palace square. Some guards would look much better with a beard and not clean-shaven; what do you think?
Anyway, the royal palace tour took us on a journey through richly ornamented rooms and halls. It also gave us an interesting insight into how Sweden became one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Check admission info here >
Shopping for Nordic Fashion & Design
Shopping is an essential part of a trip to Stockholm, aside from sightseeing, eating, and roller coasters, of course! Especially if you are a fan of Scandinavian design items to decorate your house and are looking for some great fashion statements from the cool, hip, gender-neutral north of Europe.
For an exclusive shopping experience, you should visit Stockholm’s fashion district “Bibliotekstan,” located just a 5-minute walking distance from the ferry terminal Nybroplan behind the Berzelii Park. The area offers a wide variety of high fashion statements like HOPE and OUR LEGACY, the gender-neutral clothing brands, or lesbian jeweler Efva Attling.
If you like your purchases to be a bit more alternative, then you will find more than enough special little shops spread over the city. Furthermore, definitely check out the Hornstulls Marknad on Södermalm.
Sing & dance along to MAMMA MIA The Party Musical
ABBA seems to be omnipresent in Stockholm. And that is not a bad thing at all! To become even more part of the success story of Agnetha, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny, and Anni-Frid, we decided to book a dinner show for MAMMA MIA The Party – Musical. A great location themed in a Greek island style, delicious food, and an interactive and positive atmosphere sent us on a dinner trip to Greece singing and dancing along with a dozen of ABBA fans. We also met great musical actors and dancers. A highlight of the night was the after-show party, where we could literally sing and dance together with guests and the stars of the night. The show is located right next to the entrance of Gröna Lund theme park. The songs are in English, but the texts are in Swedish. Those among you who would like to see an English version should check out the website for info about the musical coming to London! Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t see an ABBA musical for the storyline… so enjoy the jabber and sing along with the songs. Check ticket rates here >
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Test some of the best vegetarian & vegan restaurants
Stockholm has a very diverse food scene, specialized in vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Definitely on our top highlight food list for Stockholm is the restaurant “Mälarpaviljongen Backfickan” (formerly known as The Green Queen) on the island Kungsholmen.
Just across the street from the restaurant, we found another wonderful place, the restaurant and bar “Mälarpaviljongen” right next to and on the water with Pride beer, very handsome waiters, a romantic pavilion, and a stunning view over the water “Riddarfjärden”.
But we discovered some more great places in Stockholm to have lunch and dinner. For example, connect a visit to the East Asian and Modern Art Museum with the delicious creation of the Skeppsholmen hotel restaurant “Långa Raden“. After a shopping and sightseeing tour, we recommend having dinner at The Hills or Pelago, both in Södermalm. For more recommended places to eat, check out the restaurants recommended by Stockholm LGBT.
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WOW! 300 years old Vasa Ship at Vasa Museum
Do you know the story of the glorious Swedish ship that sank during its maiden voyage in 1628 even before it could leave the harbor? No? It is the tragic but true story of the Swedish warship Vasa, which was considered one of the biggest and most heavily armed ships of its time.
In 1961, after more than 330 years at the bottom of the bay and several unsuccessful recovery attempts, the well-preserved ship Vasa was raised successfully. Today, the ship is exhibited in the Vasa Museum around the corner of the Nordic Museum and Junibacken, the children’s attraction devoted to Swedish children’s literature, especially Astrid Lindgren.
For us, it was impressive to see the beauty of the ship, the restored sculptures, and to get to know about the influence of the Vasa dynasty on Swedish history. Find reviews & your tickets here >
Night Out in Stockholm’s Gay Party Scene
Although the gay and LGBTQ+ community seems perfectly integrated into Swedish society (at least in Stockholm), gay travelers will find some great gay parties, bars, events, and hang-out hot spots all over the city. We started our gay night out in Stockholm at Mälarpaviljongen for a Pride beer and a glass of Pride sparkling wine with our gay travel buddies Whitney & Megan, aka WEGAN. The spot on the water is just magical and a popular LGBT hot spot in Stockholm. From there, we headed towards Secret Garden, a popular gay bar and meeting point for the LGBT community on the island “Gamla Stan.” Ready for the night? Yes!
We went out to several parties during our stay, including Club Backdoor in the south of the city center at Arenavägen 75 (Tele2 Arena) with a very young mixed crowd and international and Swedish pop songs.
Stockholm’s gay nightlife scene has moved on since our visit, so here are two more names worth knowing before you go. Sidetrack, Stockholm’s oldest gay bar, is a true institution: cozy, unpretentious, and beloved by locals for its warm and welcoming vibe. Open since the early eighties, it is the kind of place where everyone feels at home, whether you are dropping in for a drink, a chat, or its famously hearty comfort food. More than just a bar, Sidetrack is a cornerstone of the city’s queer community, a space where generations have gathered, celebrated, and connected. Blue Oyster, one of Stockholm’s newest gay openings, brings a fresh pulse to the city’s queer nightlife with sleek design, great cocktails, and a playful, modern energy. It is already carving out its own identity, stylish yet laid-back, flirtatious but friendly, and quickly becoming the go-to space for a new generation of LGBTQ+ locals and visitors.
The stunning photo exhibitions at Fotografiska
LGBT travelers interested in the art of photography probably know about the photography museum “Fotografiska” in Stockholm. Located in a former customs house in the Södermalm district of Stockholm, it is actually not a museum but a modern center for contemporary photography hosting varying exhibitions worldwide. Lucky us, we could see the magnificent art of Christian Tagliavini, “The Extraordinary World of Christian Tagliavini,” while we were there, but the exhibitions change throughout the year. But “fotografiska” in Stockholm means more than “just” watching photography. It is meant to be a place to meet, drink, eat, and enjoy the amenities of appreciating the art of photography together.
Explore Sweden’s history at open-air museum Skansen
The end of April (April 30th) in Sweden means it is time for Valborg (Swedish: Valborgsmässoafton), the official arrival of Spring. We got the tip from the Swedish tourism board to join hundreds of Stockholm people and attend the singing celebrations with performing dancers and singers on a gigantic stage. The gigantic bonfire was inflamed by women dressed in traditional Swedish garments at the world’s oldest open-air museum called Skansen.
Located close to the ABBA museum, the traditional Swedish houses and farmsteads from every part of the country, together with typical Swedish animals like the Eurasian moose, made us travel back in time. We experienced the origins of the Swedish culture. Goodbye, winter, and welcome, spring! Check visiting info here >
Stockholm has some great photo spots to offer. Our favorite spot of them all was Monteliusvägen, right behind Ivar Los Park. The short, narrow, and unpaved trail is only accessible for pedestrians in approximately 15 minutes’ walking distance from Gamla Stan or 5 minutes from Park Mariatorget. And the view is spectacular. Lucky us, we caught the sunset during our stay after a whole day of rain when the air was clear and the view was simply stunning!
Our Tips for Your Gay Travels to Stockholm and Sweden
Before you start your travel planning to visit Stockholm, we have some general information for you! The main airport of Stockholm is Stockholm Arlanda ARN. We took the Arlanda Express train to reach the city center of Stockholm.
Please purchase your tickets before you board the train. This applies to all public transportation as far as we know. We encountered ticket inspectors on the train as well as on the tram.
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Sweden still has its Swedish Kronor currency (100 SEK = € 8,90), but payment by card is widespread. Taxis are unregulated in Sweden. We recommend using the “Taxi Stockholm” company, characterized by the 15 00 00 phone number. Other companies might be good and be aware of the sometimes significant price difference from a taxi company to a taxi company. That all being said, we love Stockholm with its close connection to nature, the open-minded and free-thinking people, and the LGBT friendliness we experienced during our five days in the Swedish capital. Have fun in Stockholm, and drop us a line if you see anything new in the Swedish capital.
Do you want to know more about our travels in Europe and around the world? Stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok. See you soon again in Sweden and in Stockholm! Karl & Daan.