Downtown Stockholm hosts home grown Swedish design and fashion boutiques, souvenir outlets, and international brand name stores. In short, it is great for shopping.
Shopping in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan (Old Town) is a mix of clothing (high end and mid priced), jewelry, art, antiques, souvenirs, and history. Kilgren on Västerlånggatan (one of Gamla Stan’s principal streets) sells fur trimmed, hand knit Nordic sweaters for a pretty kroner (Swedish money). There are numerous souvenir shops dotting the pedestrian only streets of Gamla Stan. Brightly painted wooden horses, hand carved wooden bowls and utensils; hairy little troll dolls; Christmas decorations; stuffed reindeer and moose toys; and wool clothes (caps, stockings, mittens) are popular items. Pick up a Viking helmet or forged iron sword (those with a bit less of Viking zeal can get a letter opener modeled on a Viking sword) at one of the many shops specializing in Viking-inspired souvenirs. Browse antique china, gleaming copper pots, and lovingly restored furniture at the antique store on the corner of Storkyrksbringen and Prestgatan. There are a handful of galleries along Västerlånggatan selling watercolor paintings of Stockholm and the Swedish countryside. The Catwalk boutique(Västerlånggatan 23) has an eclectic collection of jewelry and gemstones for men and women. When you need a break, drop into one of Gamla Stan’s cozy cafes or restaurants to linger over a coffee, a pastry, or lunch.
Upon leaving Gamla Stan from the north, cross over Helgeandsholmen to reach the pedestrian area of Norrmalm, where cafes and international retail chains are mixed with eclectic local stores. Drottninggatan is the main pedestrian street. During the warmer months, you might see musicians or magicians entertaining the crowds. You’ll find the Danish footwear store Ecco; clothing stores Zara, BikBok, and the Adidas Concept Store; locally made leather coats, pants, and bags at Skinn Kompaniet; and Swedish design store Designtorget, among many others. The main square, Sergels Torg, is home to an outdoor market selling everything from spices, to Nordic sweaters, to second hand knick knacks. Near the pedestrian district is the Galleria, offering shopping opportunities at 80 stores in climate controlled comfort.
