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Södermalm

Trendy island district south of the Old Town

The trendy island rise south of the Old Town is Stockholm's creative heart – with vintage shops and cafés in the SoFo quarter, buzzing bars and the best viewpoints in the city.

The distinctive dome and tower of Katarina kyrka on Södermalm rise above the surrounding apartment blocks.

Stockholm's creative side

Södermalm – known to locals simply as "Söder" – is the large island south of the Old Town and Stockholm's hip, creative heart. Where working-class tenements once stood, the streets are now lined with vintage shops, record stores, independent boutiques, cafés and buzzing bars. The trendy SoFo quarter (south of Folkungagatan) is its epicentre.

Views and atmosphere

Söder sits on high ground and offers the best viewpoints in the city: the terrace at Katarinahissen, the picturesque Fjällgatan and the Monteliusvägen ridge walk. Down by the water is the photography museum Fotografiska. In the evening, the district becomes the centre of Stockholm's nightlife.

Woman walking the Monteliusvägen viewpoint path with a view across the water to the city centre

Laid-back and lively

Södermalm is edgier and more relaxed than the smarter districts to the north – a popular place to live for anyone after a lively, local slice of Stockholm, with a short walk over Slussen into the Old Town.

Around Södermalm

Fotografiska in the former customs house right on the Stadsgården waterfront

Fotografiska

Fotografiska on Södermalm shows rotating world-class exhibitions of contemporary photography in a former customs house on the water – open late, until 23:00.

The Katarinahissen lift tower at Slussen with its walkway

Katarinahissen

A steel lift from Slussen up to a hilltop walkway over Södermalm, with panoramic views over Gamla Stan, the harbour and the water. Ride and view are free.

18th-century wooden houses on Fjällgatan high above the water

Fjällgatan

A cobbled lane high above the water on Södermalm, lined with wooden houses from the 18th century – with sweeping views over Gamla Stan, the harbour and Djurgården.

View from a SkyView glass gondola on the Avicii Arena (Ericsson Globe) over Stockholm's Johanneshov district.

SkyView

A glass gondola glides up the outside of the Avicii Arena – Stockholm's former Globen – to 85 metres, with wide views over the city. The ride takes around 20 minutes.

The distinctive dome and tower of Katarina kyrka on Södermalm rise above the surrounding apartment buildings.

Katarina kyrka

A landmark Baroque church by Jean de la Vallée on Södermalm, rebuilt with historic techniques after the 1990 fire. Free admission.