Gamla Stan/Södermalm
Gamla Stan, Stockholm's charming Old Town, has narrow cobblestoned streets and few cars, so it's a good place to let the kids roam and tire themselves out. Away from the famed changing of the guards at the Royal Palace and the touristy main drag, you'll find quiet places to stroll and undiscovered shops and cafés. A 10-minute walk across Skeppsbron bridge takes you to trendy Södermalm. Once the working-class neighborhood of Stockholm, it is now home to chic young designers and eclectic cafés. When shopping gets to be too much for the little ones, there are plenty of small parks and places to pop in to use the bathroom or grab a snack. Start your meanderings at Götgatan Street.
Eat
Cafe Skeppet
9 Österlånggatan, Gamla Stan
A cozy breakfast or lunch stop in a 15th-century building.
Den Gyldene Fredene51 Österlånggatan, Gamla Stan
Opened in 1722, this upscale yet family-friendly tavern offers Swedish specialties, including fresh Baltic fish and reindeer with juniper berries.
AH-glass Bar83 Skanegatan, Södermalm
This ice cream shop, located in a small park, has been a neighborhood staple for over 20 years.
Shop
10 Swedish Designers/10-Gruppen
25 Götgatan, Södermalm
Best for aprons, smocks, bibs, and bags with bold graphic prints.
Kalikå18 Österlånggatan, Gamla Stan
All-natural toys, from musical instruments to kid-size garden utensils.
Stockholm Stadmission3 Stortorget, Gamla Stan
While these Salvation Army–like stores are all over Stockholm, the one on Stortorget is great for modernist pottery at a fraction of the price you'd pay in the States.
Do
The Royal Palace
3 Slottsbacken
Watch the changing of the guards year-round. The Royal Armoury displays antique weapons and has princess and knight costumes for kids to dress up in.
Ivar Lo ParkEnter from Bastugatan or Monteliusvägen, Södermalm
Parents can enjoy a great panorama of Stockholm while the kids play.
Post Museum6 Lilla Nygatan, Gamla Stan
This museum provides costumes so kids can dress up and play in a re-creation of a 1920s post office.
Next Page: Stockholm Guide: The Island of Djurgården
