Travel with Per

Some cities shout. Stockholm doesn’t need to. It just turns up, effortlessly cool, let’s the light hit just right, and gets on with being fabulous. Coming back here – after 31 years away – wasn’t just a trip. It was a kind of gentle homecoming. I’ve changed. So has the city. But somehow, we still fit.

That First Feeling

Landing at Arlanda, there was a quiet buzz in my chest. Not nerves. Just something that said, “You know this place – but give it a fresh look.”

And that’s exactly what I did. The younger me – 20-something, full of wanderlust, hair, and high hopes – would have hit the ground running. These days? I move slower. Still curious, still light on my feet, but craving vibe over volume. Stockholm gave me both.

The Vibe

There’s a confidence here. A calm, polished kind of charisma. People dress sharp, walk like they know where they’re going (even if they don’t), and everything from the metro stations to the coffee cups has that slick Scandinavian touch.

But it’s not pretentious. That’s what I love. It’s cool, but it doesn’t care if you notice. It’s neat without being sterile. Warm, but never loud. You don’t have to impress Stockholm. It’s already impressed – with itself, quietly.

Places That Got Me….Again

Gamla Stan. Yes, it’s touristy – but trust me, it’s still magic. Those cobbled alleys, golden buildings, and candlelit corners feel like stepping into a memory. I walked through it like I had somewhere to be. I didn’t.

One street reminded me of a walk I took years ago, with someone I once loved. They didn’t love me back. It is what it is. Still a good memory, just shaped differently now.

Fotografiska. If you like photography, you’ll love it. If you don’t – you will, by the time you leave. Views from the café upstairs are unreal. Sat with a glass of red, 80s tune in my ears, watching the city soften under a setting sun. Perfection.

Södermalm. My kind of area. Where I once lived in a small but perfectly formed apartment. Independent shops, vintage clothes, strong coffee. A little messy, a little artsy, but it works. It’s the city’s creative heart – beating a little louder than the rest.

Djurgården. Green, peaceful, full of museums and a breath of fresh air in every direction. Felt like a secret Sunday, even though it was packed. Took a long walk, stopped nowhere in particular, and loved every second.

Fika Is a Lifestyle, Not a Snack

Look – if you come to Stockholm and don’t have fika twice a day, I can’t help you. Grab a kanelbulle (cinnamon bun), find a sunlit table, and just sit. Watch the world do its thing. It’s therapy – sugar-coated and caffeine-fuelled.

Moments That Stuck

One afternoon, I sat by the water, glass in hand, watching boats bob like they had nowhere better to be. The city was glowing – literally. The golden hour here is outrageous.

A couple strolled past holding hands, mid-laugh. Behind them, the skyline looked like it was painted on.

That’s when it hit me: I didn’t come back to relive the past. I came to meet it. To see what it had turned into. And what I have turned into, too.

Why Stockholm?

Because it’s stylish without trying too hard. Because it balances calm and culture like it’s no big deal. Because it looks after you without fussing over you. And because it reminds you that slowing down doesn’t mean standing still.

Final Thought

You can go home again – just don’t expect it to stand still for you. Let it surprise you. Let it move you in a new way. Stockholm didn’t change everything about me. But it reminded me of the version of myself I still love – and maybe needed to reconnect with.

That, and the cinnamon buns.