Sidewalks and Roads

Welcome back to another episode of A'lil Hoohaa's monthly photo blogging challenge. 

After an entire month of blogging from A to Z, during which I attempted to (dis)prove that Zurich, Switzerland, is like every European city, (according to a humorous map, anyway), it’s time for April’s themed post: Sidewalks and Roads.

This month’s adventure took us north, to a place I’d never been before (but definitely hope to return to): Stockholm, Sweden. Over the Easter weekend, we strolled countless sidewalks and crossed even more roads - some historic, some bustling, all filled with charm.

🚶‍♂️Stockholms Sjömanshem (Fengerska Huset)

This building, built in 1647 by the burgher Lars Mårtensson Remmare, once housed the Stockholm Seamen’s Home Foundation (from 1891 to 1964). It’s now classified as a “blue” building by the Stockholm City Museum, meaning it holds “particularly high cultural-historical value” - basically, a protected monument!

🏛️ Stortorget – Where History Meets Coffee

Stortorget is Stockholm’s oldest square, dating back to at least 1420, and sits in the heart of the old town, Gamla Stan. It’s home to must-sees like the Nobel Prize Museum, the famous Chokladkoppen café, and the bakery Grillska Huset. The colorful facades lining the west side of the square? Easily the city’s most photographed backdrop!

🥐 Off the Beaten Path – Fabrique Stenugnsbageri

Instead of the most photographed bakery, we wandered to Fabrique Stenugnsbageri, a local favorite that’s since expanded to London and New York. Known for its traditional stone-oven sourdough, we actually came for another classic: the kanelbulle, Sweden’s iconic cinnamon bun, best enjoyed during fika, the beloved Swedish coffee break ritual.

🌸 Magnolia Magic on Drottninggatan

I have no historical tidbit about this next building - I just liked it. And across the road (which happens to be Drottninggatan, (Queen's Street), a pedestrian-only shopping street), a blooming white magnolia tree made the scene even more picture-perfect.

🌸 Cherry Blossoms & Café Culture at Kungsträdgården

The Kungsträdgården (Royal Garden) might be more park than pavement, but it definitely earns its place in this month’s theme. Lined with bustling sidewalk cafés, it's the perfect spot for more fika breaks.

But the real showstopper? The blooming cherry trees. We were lucky to catch them in full glory, drawing every influencer, photographer, and selfie stick in a several-block radius. It felt like the entire city came out to marvel at the pink canopy.

In summer, the sunken square in the middle becomes a shallow pool. And in winter? It transforms into a public ice rink, of course—because skating is basically a national pastime here.

🌉 Crossing Vasabron

We crossed the Vasabron, the bridge over the Norrström, connecting Gamla Stan with Norrmalm, Stockholm’s business district. The bridge's old gas lamps were electrified in 1911, but they still cast a wonderfully atmospheric glow, especially on foggy evenings.

And that’s just a glimpse of the sidewalks and roads that crisscross this elegant, waterside city. I was enchanted by Stockholm’s mix of old-world charm and Scandinavian simplicity, and all the walking made fika stops even more rewarding!

What’s the most memorable city you’ve explored on foot, and what made it special for you?

As always, don’t forget to check out the posts from my fellow bloggers participating in this month’s challenge!