About Östermalm
Östermalm is located in the eastern part of inner-city Stockholm, encompassing the area between the streets of Sveavägen and Valhallavägen, and the neighborhoods of Gärdet, Norra Djurgårdsstaden, and Hjorthagen. The district is mentioned in official papers dating back to the 17th century, but then as Ladugårdslandet. It wasn’t until the 1880s, as the area was being redeveloped with blocks of townhouses and residential buildings, that the district got its current name. Ladugårdslandet, literally meaning “the field of barns”, was deemed unrefined by its new wealthy residents and changed to Östermalm.
Östermalm is an upscale district with many facets: residential, popular with its many bars, restaurants and nightclubs around Stureplan, but also shopping with Bibliotekstan which is full of Scandinavian and international brands. For gourmets and lovers of fresh produce, a visit to the covered market hall Östermalmshallen is a must. Pleasure for the eyes and taste buds guaranteed! A true invitation to stroll, the banks along Strandvägen offer a total change of scenery with its tall ships and moored yachts. Overview of this district with a relaxed atmosphere and typical architecture!
At Östermalm you’ll find beautiful architecture, fascinating museums, and classic theater stages. Here are some of the district’s highlights. Read more.
Area
Östermalm (Eastern city-borough) is a 2.56 km2 large district in central Stockholm, Sweden. With 71,802 inhabitants, it is one of the most populous districts in Stockholm. It is an extremely expensive area, having the highest housing prices in Sweden.
During the reign of the ruler of all of Scandinavia, king Eric of Pomerania in the early 15th century, a royal cowshed/barn was erected on the lands of the village Vädla.
The old official name “Ladugårdslandet” (literal meaning “The Barn Land”) was replaced with “Östermalm” (literal meaning Eastern Outer City). Since the Crown had been the owner of parts of the district for centuries, a number of official buildings, museums and higher public educational institutions were located in the area.
In the 20th century, a large number of embassies, including those of America, Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Thailand, Norway and Malaysia were established in Östermalm.
Commuting
Östermalm covers a wide and long area stretching along the eastern part of central Stockholm. It is a very accessible and well communicated neighborhood.
It has two main metro stations being Östermalmstorg and Tekniska Högskolan, both on the red line. Karlaplan and Stadion metro stations as well in the neighborhood.
Three of the city’s main bus lines – 1, 2 and 4 – run through this area. There are two tram lines going in and out of Östermalm – Roslagsbanan runs out towards the north eastern suburbs and Spårväg City connects the Central station with Djurgården through Östermalm.
There are also commuter boats traveling from Nybrokajen to the northern and southern outskirts of Stockholm. Östermalm has also very well planned cycleways which make it easy to bike through the neighborhood for both commuters and leisure riders.
Distance to airports
Arlanda Airport (ARN) – 39 min for 41.5 kms for both domestic and international flights.
Bromma Airport (BMA) – 24 min for 15.1 kms away with mostly domestic flights
Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO) – 1 hour 20 min for 111.3 kms connecting a few low-cost airlines
Nearby Östermalm
Östermalm is known for high-end shopping, fine dining restaurants, posh bars and nightclubs, and venerated cultural institutions. No wonder then, that “Östermalm” has become short-hand for luxury, glamor, and affluence. The streets of Biblioteksstan for example are a must for anyone who’s looking for exclusive fashion and design brands. And vendors in Östermalmshallen market hall have sold fresh fish and vegetables, prime cuts of meat and aromatic cheeses, and other delicacies since the late 19th century. Read more.
Diplomatstaden (Swedish for “Diplomat City”) is a neighborhood in the Östermalm district in central Stockholm, Sweden. As the name suggests, the neighborhood is the home of many embassies and ambassadorial residencies. Eriksberg, Lärkstaden, Nedre Östermalm, Villastaden & Övre Östermalm are the nearby areas that are absolutely worth seeing and pass through.
Museums
There are several attractions and museums in Östermalm. Here is a list of museums that one must visit.
Army Museum
Follow men, women, and children through Sweden’s history of war and peace. Roam from the 16th century to the present day among dramatic, full-scale scenes and original artifacts in temporary and permanent exhibitions. Don’t miss the Trophy Chamber with its unique spoils of war and trophies. Learn more about Raoul Wallenberg and his deeds during World War II. Audioguide in English. Free entry for all visitors on Tuesdays 5 – 8 pm. Artilleriet, the museum restaurant next door, is also worth visiting. Read more.
The Royal Stables
This workplace museum is located in the heart of the city in a historic building dating back to 1890. The King’s coachmen guide visitors around the unique stables with their horses, cars, decorative harnesses and a fine collection of 19th-century carriages. Guided tours only. Summertime the horses go to graze. Read More.
Stockholm Transport Museum
The Stockholm Transport Museum showcases a vast number of objects and activities that illustrate how public transport has affected the lives of Stockholmers for more than 150 years, and what its future might entail. The collections feature nearly 70 vehicles, 20,000 drawings, 10,000 other objects, and 500,000 photos of which 30,000 have been digitized. Since May. Read more.
Swedish History Museum
The Swedish History Museum narrates Sweden’s history from the earliest times to the present. See gold and silver treasures and magnificent medieval art. The museum also has the world’s largest collection of objects from the age of Vikings. Read more about the Swedish history museum and other museums in Stockholm here.
Swedish Museum of Performing Arts
Scenkonstmuseet, or the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts, is devoted to theater, dance, and music. Besides offering insights into the history and future of the performing arts, its interactive exhibitions let you be a part of the experience. Take place in a virtual dance troupe, try on theater masks or create your own piece of music from a multitude of instrument samples. Read more.
The Economy museum – Royal Coin Cabinet
The Economy museum – Royal Coin Cabinet is a great place to learn about economy and money, and how they affect you and the world around us, through exciting exhibitions and activities. The museum’s restaurant, Restaurang Rosengården, serves lunch and fika during opening hours. Read more.
Restaurants in Östermalm
Sturegallerian
Sophisticated shopping center with boutiques, restaurants, cafes & bars, plus a posh, storied spa. Read more.
Stureplan is the vibrant epicenter of the lavish Stockholm nightlife. Around the famous mushroom shaped landmark Svampen, you can visit what are by now well established Östermalm party institutions: Spy Bar, East, Sturehof, and Sturecompagniet. If you’re more of a fine diner than a party animal you can always find your way to the classic Swedish cuisine flagships Riche and Konstnärsbaren or the more avant garde Michelin star restaurants Etoile and Gastrologik.
Parks around Östermalm
The residents of Östermalm are lucky to enjoy a variety of charming parks such as Tessinparken, Humlegården and Norra Djurgården. In the area in and around Humlegården you will also find great places to have a meal or a drink such as Omnipollos flora, Taverna Brillo, and Tyge & Sessil.
Gustav Adolfsparken
Gustav Adolfsparken is located at the end of Karlavägen, opposite the Garnisonen quarter. The park is an important meeting place for all ages and is used by many schools and preschools in the area.
Gustav Adolfsparken consists of undulating grassy areas with large mature trees, plantings and bushes. The park’s large deciduous trees, and above all the older oaks, form important habitats for birds and insects.
In the center of the park stands Gustav Adolf’s church. The area closest to the church and north towards Wittstocksgatan belongs to Gustav Adolf’s parish. In the park there is a memorial stone erected in 1997 to commemorate Svea Livgarde’s activities at the site.
A playground with a playground and splash pad is located in the eastern part of the park. There are a total of three ball fields in the park as well as a bowling alley. Read more.
Humlegården
Humlegården is a green oasis a stone’s throw from nightclub mecca Stureplan, in the middle of the exclusive Östermalm district.
Here you can see businessmen in suits eating brown-bag lunches on the grass when it’s warm and sunny, but also lots of young families and dog owners. In the beginning, the park was a royal garden established by Johan III, who grew fruit, spices, and hops. “Humlan” has been a public park and a popular spot to relax since 1869.
The park includes a large playground area, a skateboard ramp, Surfer’s summer restaurant, and Omnipollos Flora, a summer biergarten. A statue of the flower king Carl Linnaeus stands in the middle of the park, and the National Library of Sweden is right next to Stureplan. Read more.
Stureparken
Stureparken is a small park in the borough of Östermalm in Stockholm, Sweden. The park is situated at the corner of Östermalmsgatan / Sturegatan. The park began construction in 1906. Stureparken is surrounded by several architecturally interesting buildings. Included are the residential buildings Björken 18 which was designed by architect Fredrik Dahlberg and built between 1885-1886 and Rosenborg Huset which was designed by Ferdinand Boberg and built between 1883–1884. Read more.
Norra Djurgårdsstaden
Norra Djurgårdsstaden (officially Stockholm Royal Seaport in English) is a large area of central Stockholm, Sweden. The area is located in the borough of Östermalm and is undergoing brownfield redevelopment.
The area consists of former harbors and industries. An important part of the development concerns a concentration of port operations to the two piers in Värtahamnen and at Frihamnen. 10,000 dwellings and 30,000 workplaces will be developed in the area up to 2025. The project is part of the Clinton Climate Initiative. Read more.
Tessinparken
Tessinparken is located on Gärdet and has its main entrance from Valhallavägen. In summer, the park is particularly beautiful with its rose plantings and bubbling fountain.
The park’s southern entrance towards Valhallavägen consists of a small square with lime trees and flower urns. The southern part of the park is symmetrically built around a central axis of plantings and rows of pyramidal oaks. The park is framed by chestnut avenues and walking paths.
Large open grassy areas meet the fountain pond in the center of the park. Close to the fountain is a cafe with outdoor seating.
In the north, the park has a freer design with rock outcrops and bushes. Here there is a playground with ball fields and a paddling pool.
Facing Värtavägen in the east, the park has an open character with large grassy areas and a place for urban cultivation.The park is located within the Royal National City Park, where it is the narrowest. It therefore has a very important task as an ecological distribution corridor between North and South Djurgården. Read more.
Nobelparken
At the end of Strandvägen on the border with Diplomatstaden is the Nobel Park. There is both a beautifully landscaped beach promenade and natural areas with many different species of coniferous and deciduous trees.
The park’s promenade serves as an entrance to the National City Park and Södra Djurgården. It connects in the west to Strandvägen’s esplanade and merges into Nobelstranden in the east. In the western part of the beach park is the bronze sculpture First sailboat by Daniel Wretlund. The wooded hill in the center of the park is partly mountainous with several beautiful pines. This is a nice destination for preschool groups. Read more.
Iconic buildings
There are several notable historical buildings and locations in the area near the market hall. Just a short westward walk from its main entrance, along Sibyllegatan, will take you to The Royal Dramatic Theater – probably Sweden’s most important theater stage. Going north instead, down Linnégatan, you’ll reach Humlegården park. Humlegården was founded on a royal decree in 1619, as farmland for herbs, fruits, and hops. Since 1869 it’s been a public park instead.
The Royal Library (Kungliga Biblioteket)
The Royal Library (Kungliga biblioteket, or just KB) is Sweden’s national library. Besides being just that, a library, KB is tasked with preserving and storing everything that is published in Sweden, whether it’s a school book, fashion magazine, a DVD movie, or a news bulletin broadcast on the radio. Its vast collection includes well over 18 million items, of which the oldest are over a thousand years old. KB has been housed in its current location, in the middle of Humlegården park, since 1877.
It is one of the world’s largest. The main building, with an underground annex, is in Humlegården park, with further storage facilities located north of Stockholm. The Royal Library moved into its Humlegården-location in 1878. It’s Sweden’s national library, tasked with preserving everything that is printed and published in Sweden. In 2009 it merged with the Swedish National Archive of Recorded Sound and Moving Images, and has since then also preserved radio and tv-transmissions, movies, music recordings, and more. Read more.
Filmhuset
The aptly named Filmhuset (quite literally Swedish for “The House of Film”) is home to the Swedish Film Institute. Built in the late ’60s, the building’s brutalist architecture mirrors the daily film-related activities going on inside. Windows resembling perforations on a strip of film, elevator doors looking like make-up mirrors. In fact, the building as a whole is shaped like a camera, and – from above – it almost looks like a roll of film.
In addition to being the center of the Swedish film industry, you’ll also find Sweden’s largest library with books and magazines on film. Filmhuset is also the main venue for Cinemateket; a movie club showcasing a wide program of auteur masterpieces, cult rarities, world cinema, and beloved classics.In 2022 the museum was relocated to Hjorthagen, north of Östermalm. The easiest way to reach it is by taking the metro’s red line north, to the station of Ropsten. Read more.
The Royal Dramatic Theater
Sweden’s national theater is a beautiful Jugend building located on the waterfront at Nybroviken bay. The guided tours of Dramaten starts at the main entrance and moves through the elegant marble foyer and the main stage. A fascinating look behind the scenes, including a visit to the theater’s extensive wardrobes. If you fancy a drink, the Marble Foyer (Marmorsalen) and its adjacent terrace are great places to hang out in both a beautiful and cultured atmosphere. Read more.
Stockholm Olympic Stadium
The classic arena was built for the 1912 Olympics and is still used for various events and concerts. But it’s also open to the public, for anyone wanting to use it for their daily exercise.
Also in this part of Östermalm is Östermalm IP. Every august Östermalms IP transforms from a regular sports arena and football field into Pride Park; the main festival area of Stockholm Pride.Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium was built for the 1912 Olympic Games., and is still used for sports events and concerts. This makes it the oldest Olympic stadium in the world that is still regularly used. Read more.
Östermalm Market Hall
Östermalm Market Hall has been an institution ever since it opened in the beautiful brick building on Östermalmstorg in 1888. Stroll around the counters packed with fresh fish, meat, sweets, and traditional delicacies or have a seat at one of the many restaurants or wine bars for some people watching. Östermalmshallen houses 17 traders, many of which have been here for generations.
In March 2020, the market hall re-opened after several years of renovation. The original star-shaped floor plan has been reinstated, there are three easily accessible floors, and visitors can enjoy several new stores and restaurants. Read more.
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