Fotolia in Stockholm

Following our travels to some amazing cities around the world including Paris, London, Berlin, New York, Madrid, Seoul, Rome, Tokyo, Cape Town, Brussels, Rio de Janeiro, Amsterdam, Mexico City, and Istanbul we’re heading north to Scandinavia and the beautiful city of Stockholm.

Stockholm is known as the Capital of Scandinavia, a city spread across 14 islands and renowned for its impeccably clean surrounding water, open green spaces, and - come the summer months - the bright Scandinavian nights where the sun barely sets.

We spoke to our Swedish team based in Stockholm to get their perspective on where is the best place to visit in the city from a cultural, touristic and personal point of view.

The Kungsträdgården (King's Garden) is located in the middle of city. Come April the large amount of cherry trees around the large fountain burst into beautiful blossom and during the summer it is a popular meeting place and hangout for both Swedish people and tourists. You can relax with a drink in the sun at one of the cafés, but most people simply sit back in the grass and enjoy the open space.

If you're lucky there are regular performances on the large stage, around around 150 per year with the most recent being Steve Angello from the Swedish House Mafia playing a huge free concert there called Size In The Park.

The fame and caliber of the performers may vary, but the concerts are always free, making for a unique and inclusive atmosphere.

Skeppsholmen is a small island in the middle of Stockholm City connected to the mainland by two bridges. Besides being a great area to explore by foot, it also has a lot of interesting museums.

The Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art) always has an eclectic and diverse range of exhibitions showcasing some of Sweden's finest modern art from 1900 to the present, as well as some of the contemporary art world greats including Picasso, Dali, Bourgeois, and Schneemann.

The Östasiatiska Museet (East Asian Museum) is a vivid and colorful collection of antiquities predominantly from East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea, although it also hosts some fascinating artifacts from Southeast and Central Asia.

The Arkitektur-och designcentrum (Center of Architecture and Design) has a key focus on architecture and design within society as well as being a meeting place for anyone working in those areas. Exhibitions can be based on specific individuals to the history and importance of design creations such as the bicycle.

The Kulturhuset in the heart of Stockholm is a cultural center housing a large library, two restaurants (with a fantastic view over the city center) a cinema showing only smaller, more artistic/independent films, and a variety of different photo and art exhibitions. There's also a large theater in the same building (Stadsteatern), which holds three stages for theater (often featuring well-known Swedish actors).

Located in the same area is a large black and white square called Sergels Torg, after the famous Swedish sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel. It provides a meeting place for people and a venue to celebrate Swedish sporting victories - usually in the fountain!

The Skansen is an open-air museum, located in Djurgården. It 's a large park with a zoo that houses both Nordic wildlife and more exotic animals. The park was established in 1891 and contains around 140 original old buildings; the oldest is around 700 years old, and the whole place really gives a sense of Swedish history as you stroll through encountering characters dressed in authentic period costume.

South of the city center and the royal castle is a part of Stockholm called Södermalm. If you want to get away from the city center this is where you'll find some of the best restaurants, great bars and nice cafes. The atmosphere is more laid back and there are many small art galleries to visit with a fantastic portfolio of interesting photographers and artists making and selling art.

For Fotolia contributors and clients alike we recommend the Fotografiska (Museum of Photography), which always has a variety of interesting photography exhibitions on display. There's a good mix of Swedish and contemporary photographers and classic international artists, all housed in the beautiful Art-Nouveau building. After your visit you can enjoy a meal in the restaurant - it has a great view over the water.

For a different experience of Stockholm take an early morning walk. In Södermalm, for example, the day after Midsummer's Eve (June 20th) the streets will be almost completely empty until noon. The majority of people leave the city to celebrate with family or friends in the countryside, while the remaining minority will probably be hungover.

Stockholm is a wonderful place to visit, particularly if you’re interested in visiting the vast range of design and art exhibitions that are housed there – it’s obvious why Sweden is considered one of the world’s most important countries for design.

To get a more visual insight into Stockholm check out our dedicated gallery.