In order to see something else... and other Stockholm, Sweden Off The Beaten Path Tips

In order to see something else than the inner city and obvious attractions, take the subway into the suburbs and see another face of Stockholm.

Try the blue line, direction 'Hjulsta'. Along this line there are several places to visit.
Rissne, Rinkeby and Tensta are all conglomerations of houses mostly built in the seventies when housing was scarce.
In Sweden the extensive house-constructions that took place inte the late sixties and eary seventies were called 'The million programme', since the goal was to build one million new homes in ten years.
Naturally, with such a tempo, often aestetics and architecture had to stand back.
But then again, if we today think some buildings are ugly, then they were a reflection of the future, clean, straightm abd practical. Judge for yourself.

I once did a study of the neighbourhood of Tensta, which has a different landscape solution than most neighbourhoods. Here the planners tried to keep pedestrians and vehicles separated from each other by keeping them on different levels.
Traffic in Tensta centre therefore, is lowered, with streets runnig under ground level, yet in open air.

I kind of like that idea!

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"Can you stop time?" That is the question posed by the museum Hallwyllska. And this museum has done its best to do just this.
The Hallwylska Museum consists of a private house built in the 1890's. The house, the interiors and the furniture have been preserved exactly as they were when the owner passed away some 60 years ago.

On the guided tours you go around and see the rooms and the extensive art collections, china collections and weapons collections of the eccentric countess Hallwyll and her husband. You really get to step into a bourgeois home of the early 20th century. It is very impressing, and sometiimes weird - they even kept the trash in the dust-bins exactly as it was!
The down-side is that you are only allowed to visit with a guide, no free browsing, no lingering in front of a cabinet. The guides try to reenact the old days a bit, making it into a more complete experience, I suppose. But they do hurry a lot, you don't get to stay as long as you want, because the next group is waiting. Still, I definitely recommend a visti.

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Phone: +468-519 555 92
Other Contact: Adress: Hamngatan 4, Stockholm

Behind the City council building, there is a little garden, or "park" with a great view over Stockholm and the waters. It is calm and you can just sit and relax, read a book or something.

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Saluhallen "the market house" in the neighbourhood of Ostermalm (Östermalm) is so pretty. Here you can shop for delicacies or just have a stroll.

Secret tip: There is a free public bathroom, really clean also, where you can sneak in. (But don't tell anyone!)

Directions: The metro station is called "?stermalms Torg". Just get off the train there and ask your way, it's really close...

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...but take the detour.
Coffehouse Café Lyran, with old-style Swedish fika, in an oddly picturesque building on the Mälaren shore. Closest Metro Staion "Bredäng", red line.
In decent weather, try the waterfront walk along the Mälaren shore, you'll end up at café Lyran after some 90 minutes walking from for example Aspudden, south of central Stockholm and southward.

Foddwise the place is great, and its view is hard to top, if you like a bit of nature even though close to the city. The house itself so cute, and don't miss going up the tower.

Adress: Café Lyran
Ålgrytevägen 90
Skärholmen
Metro: Bredäng
Opening hours: closed on mondays - other days open from noon until 18. Longer during summer.

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Phone: +46 8 646 80 50