Stockholm

Stockholm is one of the world's most beautiful capitals — a city built on 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, creating a cityscape of water, bridges, parks and elegant architecture at every turn. The Swedish capital combines exceptional natural beauty with world-class design, one of Europe's finest music scenes and a quality of life that makes it consistently one of the most desirable cities in the world to live in. Gamla Stan (Old Town) is the medieval island heart of the city — cobblestone streets, the Royal Palace (the world's largest palace still used as a royal residence), the Nobel Museum and excellent restaurants. Södermalm is the bohemian island to the south, dense with independent design shops, coffee roasters and vintage stores. Djurgården is the green island to the east, home to the extraordinary Vasa Museum (a 17th-century warship preserved almost perfectly after sinking in Stockholm Harbour in 1628) and the excellent Skansen open-air museum. Swedish design culture — clean lines, natural materials, honest craftsmanship — is visible everywhere, from the furniture shops to the architecture to the way the city is planned. The archipelago outside Stockholm (30,000 islands) is one of Scandinavia's finest destinations in summer, accessible by ferry. Midsummer (late June) is Sweden's most important festival. Stockholm is expensive but genuinely excellent, and the long summer days at this latitude make July–August magical.