Shopping in Stockholm

Stockholm is known as a leading design centre, and design in the broadest sense – both contemporary and traditional – is an important part of the city’s exciting shopping scene. Stockholm attracts shopping-hungry visitors from all over the world. And compared to other international cities, Stockholm is reasonably priced. In the city district you’ll find the big department stores and chains, with affordable shopping, especially for the young trendy crowd. Stockholm is filled with shop after shop of dazzling merchandise -- often at dazzlingly steep prices that reflect the high esteem in which Swedish craftspeople are held. Bargain shoppers should proceed with caution. Some good buys do exist, but it takes a lot of searching. If you're a casual shopper, you may want to confine your purchases to handsome souvenirs and gifts. Swedish glass, of course, is world famous. Swedish wooden items are works of great craftsmanship, and many people like to acquire Swedish functional furniture in blond pine or birch. Other items to look for include playsuits for children, silver necklaces, reindeer gloves, stainless-steel utensils, hand-woven neckties and skirts, sweaters and mittens in Nordic patterns, Swedish clogs, and colourful handicrafts from the provinces. The most popular souvenir is the Dala horse from Dalarna. Östermalm is Stockholm’s most exclusive district, offering the finest of everything interior design, international fashion, jewellery, etc. The blocks south of Folkungagatan are packed with interesting, cool and creative shops specializing in clothing, design, jewellery, knickknacks, vintage and second-hand. Several fashion brands have their own stores in this district. There are also scores of restaurants, cafés and galleries. The atmosphere is laid-back, yet highly aware. In the warm months, Nytorget Square is a bustling social atmosphere. Typical tourist shops are in Gamla Stan, the old town in the heart of the city. If you are looking for souvenirs you’ll certainly find something in Västerlånggatan, the busiest street in Gamla Stan. Prices are high. Nevertheless, many find a cuddly elk or a straw puppet dressed in Swedish yellow and blue hard to resist.

Shopping hours - Stockholm shops are open Monday to Friday 10am to between 6pm (for large department stores) and 7pm (for smaller, boutique-style shops). Saturday shopping is possible between 10am and somewhere between 1 and 4pm. Once a week, usually on Monday or Friday, some of the larger stores are open from 9:30am to 7pm (July-Aug to 6pm).

The value-added tax in Sweden, called MOMS, is imposed on all products and services, but you can avoid MOMS if you spend a total of at least 1,200SEK ($240/£120) in each shop. Just give the store your name, address, and passport number and ask for a tax-free check. Don't unwrap your purchase until after you've left Sweden. The customs official will want to see both the tax-free check and your purchase; you'll be given a cash refund, minus a small commission, on the spot. If you're departing by plane, hold on to your luggage until after you've received your refund, and then you can pack your purchase in your bag and check it (or carry the purchase with you, if it's not too big). At the Tourist Center,Hamngatan 27 (tel. 08/508-285-08), you can pick up a pamphlet about tax-free shopping in Sweden.

 

Ikea

A phenomenon that has changed the entire world's view of home furnishing. Kungens Kurva in Skärholmen, south of Stockholm, is the home of the largest IKEA store in the world. IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer.The area is also home to numerous other megastores and shopping centers with affordable shopping. Founded in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden, the company is named as an acronym comprising the initials of the founder's name (Ingvar Kamprad), the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd), and his home parish (Agunnaryd, in Småland, South Sweden).

 

Södermalm

Generally, shopping in Södermalm is trendy, young and bohemian. It is an area in Stockholm that houses atypical, modern boutiques for vintage merchandise and antiques, design, fashion and interior décor. Unique and acclaimed vintage items can be found in SoFo, the area south of Folkungagatan. SoFo, coupled with Götgatan, has become an assorted scene for new and unanticipated shopping variety, as well as classic retail. These blocks south of Folkungagatan are home to shops specializing in jewellery, vintage and second-hand, clothing, design, books and magazines, music and more. Several fashion brands have their own individual stores in this district. The area has a laid-back atmosphere but in the warm months is usually an active social scene, especially Nytorget Square. A row of galleries can be found west of Slussen at Horngatspuckeln, along with art, jewellery and handicraft stores. Between Mariatorget and Zinkensdamm, further up Hornsgatan, is a group of vintage clothing stores, such as the well-known Judits Second Hand, Herr Judit and typical budget savers such as Stockholms Stadsmission and Myrorna.

 

Vasastan

For many young people in Stockholm, Vasastan is the district that holds the most appeal – the area is rich with cozy cafés and a range of shops that guarantee to suit all tastes. More and more designers are looking to Vasastan for potential store locations, first and foremost the Birkastan area with the most popular section for shopping being Rörstrandsgatan, where for example Swedish designer Carin Wester can be found. Expanding on Rörstrandsgatan, the boutique area encompasses the streets all the way down towards the train station Karlberg. One store of Stockholm’s infamous second-hand chain Myrorna can be found on Tomtebogatan, offering a selection of everything from clothing, shoes and accessories to books, pottery and decorations at relatively low prices. This organization is run by the Salvation Army and all of the revenue goes to charity, so if you find you’re not interested in buying anything it would be an appropriate place to do away with your unwanted clothes or knick-knacks. Next to Myrorna is People Like Us, a somewhat more expensive but well-assorted second-hand boutique where one can find vintage clothes paired with shoes and accessories from their own self-titled brand.

 

Kungsholmen

The island to the west of the city centre, Kungsholmen is a popular place to live. The area is quiet and not the first place to recommend for shopping, but nevertheless if you find yourself in this district and want to do some shopping there are a variety of options to choose from. International designers have set up shop in the area, for example old-photography-studio-turned-store Beneath on Kronobergsgatan, with a selection of street fashion including designs from New Zealander Karen Walker. If you’re looking for merchandise from typical Swedish designers such as Bea Szenfelt and Ulrika Sandström, Few on Fridhemsgatan offers shoes, bags, jeans and such from Swedish designers while also offering a few international brands such as LA-label Teenage Millionaire. On Hantverkargatan one can find unique, moderately sized vintage and second-hand stores that mix new, trendy pieces with classic ones for their collections. 59 Vintage Store and Katitzi, to name a few, have a range of second-hand clothing along with brands like Stylein and La Principessa. For general shopping the mall Västermalmsgallerian on St Eriksgatan has everything from mainstream clothing stores H&M, Saks, Indiska and more to shops for interior design, health and beauty, books, and electronics.

 

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan, “the old town”, is the original Stockholm, with most of the buildings in the area dating back to the 18th and 19th century. The Royal Castle, the largest building in the area, is one aspect that draws many tourists to the rich display of history available there. It is because of this popularity that Gamla Stan’s shops aim to satisfy the visiting crowds; tourist shops offering souvenirs, handicrafts and such line the many cobblestone streets. It is said that Stockholm’s biggest range of restaurants, small shops, studios and museums can be found in this district, and the prices for this variety are relatively high. Despite the expensive merchandise, there are a lot of stores along for example Västerlånggatan that are worth going into. Stockholm’s old town, when it comes to shopping, has everything from unique clothing boutiques that import their own products from exclusive producers worldwide, to interior décor shops and art galleries with pieces from all over Sweden and Scandinavia. Examples of the selection on Köpmangatan, to name one of many streets in Gamla Stan, include antique stores Kreuter Konst & Antikhandel and Antiques of the Future. Also nearby is Jackson’s 20th Century Design which sells designer furniture, lamps, pottery and jewelry. For those interested in books and fantasy-themed items, Science Fiction Bokhandeln on Västerlånggatan is well-known and has a large assortment of interesting objects.

 

Östermalm

Östermalm, with major luxury brands clustered around Birger Jarlsgatan, Biblioteksgatan, Nybrogatan, Östermalmstorg and Stureplan, is the most exclusive district in Stockholm. Elite international labels such as Guess, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani and Boss are situated in the area (along Biblioteksgatan), as well as Swedish brands J Lindberg, Anna Holtblad, Northface, Peak, Filippa K and more. A popular store in the neighbourhood is American fashion brand Urban Outfitters, which is in the old Röda Kvarn movie theatre building also on Biblioteksgatan. Östermalm is recognized for its collection of high-class Scandinavian design in fashion and décor; on Kungsgatan and Birger Jarlsgatan one can find merchandise of Swedish art glass and crystal makers Kosta Boda and Orrefors. International furniture design is also something to look out for in Östermalm; those interested in interior design shouldn’t miss Svenskt Tenn on Strandvägen which features classic and contemporary Swedish furniture, plus other stores such as Malmstensbutiken, Asplund and Nordiska Galleriet. In short, with its largely exclusive goods – Östermalm’s shopping offers timeless classic design, in addition to the latest in international fashion.

 

Hornstullstrand Street Market

Funky Items for Counterculture Shoppers, the Hornstullstrand Street Market, often known simply as "Street", is a funky, battered market positioned at the western waterfront on the rapidly gentrifying island of Södermalm. This relative newcomer to Stockholm's punk underground scene is often compared to London's Camden Market. In cold weather, its booths are confined to the impersonal perimeter of a city-owned, cement-sided former parking garage that evokes a penitentiary. Dozens of stalls here sell costume jewellery, second-hand clothing, and budget-conscious products of struggling, up-and-coming designer wannabes. In clement weather, the venue expands into rows of outdoor booths.