Hipstoric Södermalm Private Walking Tour

Slussen translates to “the lock,” and the reason for the lock is the difference in water level. Two bodies of water surround Stockholm: Lake Mälaren on the one side (west) and the Baltic Sea on the other (east). Lake Mälaren is approximately 70cm higher than the Baltic Sea.

Götgatan turns in to Götgatsbacken and is the main pedestrian street of Södermalm, or Söder, as the locals would say. The street is home to, amongst others, shopping with modern-day brands like H&M, Filippa K and Cheap Monday. For those looking for vintage, op shops are found here, there and everywhere. There are also bars and pubs which offer a more laid-back and unpretentious nightlife.

Omnipollos hatt (Omnipollos Hat) is one of the many places on Södermalm that can be described as “out of the ordinary.” Omnipollo was originally a phantom brewery and is now also a pub.

The Katarina Elevator, once a substitute for taking the stairs up the cliff side of Södermalm, is today a " picture-perfect” viewpoint/photo stop. Be sure to bring your camera!

Mosebackestorg is a quiet square where the theatre, Södra Teatern, offers the most popular Biergarten in Stockholm during the summer. The sculpture is also home to The Sisters (and was made by Nils Sjögren, an apprentice of sculptor Carl Milles, known for his Millegården).

Fiskargatan 9 is where Stieg Larsson, the author of the Millennium Trilogy, pictured Lisbeth Salander living when she, in the second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire, purchased a very luxurious apartment after stealing quite a significant sum of money. The island of Södermalm functions as the main playground for the characters of the books, with both Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomqvist living here.

The original church was inaugurated in the late 1600s but has since been rebuilt twice after being destroyed by fires. Several famous Swedes are buried in the cemetery surrounding the church, most notably the assassinated Foreign Minister, Mrs. Anna Lindh, but also Per Anders Fogelström, the author of City of my Dreams, and the troubadour, Cornelis Vreeswijk.

This lovely little street got its name in the 1930s after Mikael Reissuer, the executor of Stockholm for 15 years in the 1600s (not so adorable!). The houses along the street were built in the early 1700s and are owned by AB Stadsholmen, a real estate company owned by the government whose mission is to look after buildings of great cultural heritage.

Cornelisparken was inaugurated in 2000 and is dedicated to troubadour Cornelis Vreeswijk, the Swedish equivalent of Bob Dylan. It, too, offers a stunning view of Stockholm!

Meatballs for the People is seen as the Södermalm temple to the most Swedish of dishes – it really is more of a deli than a restaurant, but it's worth a mention as a great place to sample the mighty köttbulle (meatball) as it should be eaten.

SoFo is a play on SoHo, the districts in London and Manhattan. It is an invention of local entrepreneurs who, since 2003, have attempted to rebrand the area as a centre of creative and innovative Swedish fashion and retailing. The name SoFo is registered as a trademark at the Patent Office. The blocks south of Folkungagatan, which SoFo stands for, are packed with interesting, cool, and creative shops.

Nytorget is often described as the heart of Södermalm and is a popular place to hang out. Here, you can shop till you drop on the surrounding streets or replenish your energy at one of many hip cafés and restaurants on the square.