Stockholm shopping - Drottninggatan

Drottninggatan is one of the oldest streets in Stockholm. It stretches from the Old Town and quite far north, all the way up to Odenplan. By most Stockholmers it is probably seen as retail chain haven (or hell – depending on who you ask) but the street is so much more diverse than that.

 

 

 

The lower part of the street, closest to the Old Town, is a complete tourist trap but also home to all the ministries so walking here you will bump into a mix of tourists and busy politicians. Once a year the Minister of Finance walks down the street on his way to Parliament where he presents the budget proposal for the upcoming year. 

This part of the street is totally uninteresting when it comes to shopping if not on the hunt and desperate for a blue and yellow elk, a Viking helmet or something similar to that.

 

It is when you reach the big square Sergels Torg (Sergel was a famous artist in the 18th century) that the retail haven begins. Here you will find all major chains like H&M, Kappahl, Lindex, Joy, Stadium and also the largest Top Shop outside the UK. The largest department store in Stockholm, Åhléns City, is also located here (and they just happen to have very good fashion departments for women as well as men).

 

Åhléns City is located just at the beginning of “retail haven” but only a few blocks away you will find something quite different – super trendy department store PUB. It might seem like an odd location but PUB is a very old department store, though it has just undergone a complete refurbishment that was finished in the beginning of April 2009. Popping in here is a must for every eager fashionista that want to see the latest, not the least when it comes to Swedish and Scandinavian fashion.

 

Keep walking up Drottninggatan (up because the lowest street number is always closest to the Royal Palace on all streets in Stockholm) and the street will change its character once more. This part of the street, which reaches all the way to the end, is filled with cute and odd little shops where you will find everything from club wear to fashionable furs and trendy men´s wear. You will also find a whole lot of cute little restaurants, coffee shops and bars so it is perfect for a break after a long day of shopping.

 

In this part of the street you will also find Centralbadet (the central bath) which is a very old bath and spa right in the heart of Stockholm. They offer all kinds of beauty treatments as well as a small swimming pool. During the summer it is possible to just relax and enjoy the sun on the very popular roof terrace. Another option is to sit down for lunch or coffee in the beautiful yard that is just off Drottninggatan.

 

Right at the end is the observatory park with the gorgeous little 18th century observatory on top of the hill. If you need a rest or just want a spectacular view over parts of the city you should definitely make it all the way here and just sit down and relax for a little while.

Drottninggatan means Queen´s Street in Swedish and is one of the oldest streets in Stockholm. It goes from the Old Town to Odenplan and is not only filled with shops and restaurants but also a lot of history. If looking for accommodation in this part of the city we can recommend Rica Hotel Kungsgatan which is located in the same building as PUB.