Stockholm's underrated Sights

Hello and welcome to UBC's Day 27! Consider today a field day!

Stockholm is bursting with iconic sights: Gamla Stan, the Vasa Museum, Drottningholm Palace... 

But once you’ve ticked off the big names, what else is out there? On our recent visit, I found myself drawn to the lesser-known gems: Unexpected architecture, curious sculptures, and places that made me pause, snap a photo, and later dig into their stories. Here's a personal round-up of the "B-sights" that might not make the front of a guidebook . but should.

🎭 The Royal Dramatic Theatre (Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern)

This striking building on Nybroplan is Sweden’s national stage for spoken drama. Since 1908, it has housed some of the greatest names in Swedish theater, including the legendary Greta Garbo. With eight stages and over a thousand performances annually, it's a cultural cornerstone, yet many visitors may walk right by without realizing what it is.

🚡 Katarinahissen & the Gondolen View

The Katarina Elevator is a historic outdoor lift connecting the waterfront Slussen area with the heights of Södermalm. Originally built in 1883 and reconstructed in the 1930s, it once symbolized Stockholm’s modernity.

Ride it up, and you’ll arrive near the famed Gondolen restaurant and skybar, dramatically suspended above the city. Even if you don’t dine there, the panoramic view over Slussen, Gamla Stan, and the archipelago is absolutely worth the detour.

There's a pedestrian walkway that leads from the elevator directly to a viewing platform; ideal for photos.

🏠 Villa Lusthusporten

Also known as Villa Wicanderska, Villa Brinckska, or Villa Liljevalchska (depending on which owner you ask!), this charming 19th-century merchant's house sits gracefully on Djurgården. It’s one of those buildings that feels plucked from a storybook; quietly elegant and steeped in history, but rarely talked about.

🌐 Avicii Arena (formerly Globen)

You can’t miss this: the world’s largest spherical building, formerly known as the Ericsson Globe, now renamed in honor of the late Swedish artist Avicii. It’s part of the Globen City complex and hosts major concerts, sports events, and yes, Eurovision in both 2000 and 2016.

Want to get high? Take a ride on SkyView, a glass gondola that glides up the outside of the dome to a breathtaking 130 meters above sea level. The view is as impressive as the engineering.

🏒 A Note on Hockey History

The nearby field hockey stadium has seen some thrilling moments, including two Men’s World Championship finals (2013 and 2025), where Switzerland reached the final both times, earning silver medals on each occasion. A proud moment for fans of the red and white!

🎶 Fun fact: The renaming in 2021 was a tribute to Avicii’s legacy and his influence on music worldwide.

🌸 Berzelii Park in Bloom

This small city-center park punches above its weight in charm. It’s home to the Chinateatern (China Theater) and Berns Salonger, an ornate restaurant and entertainment venue dating back to the 1860s.

We were lucky enough to visit while the white magnolias were blooming, a fleeting spectacle that transformed the space into something ethereal.

🏛️ The Arch - Vision of a World Without Borders

Located in front of the main entrance of the National Museum of Stockholm, this arch-shaped cage of polished steel is pierced by the silhouette of two people holding one another, appearing to break through it. The 12-meter-tall work of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei seeks to promote the idea of a world without borders.

Installed in 2022, the piece is part of the museum’s commitment to public dialogue through contemporary art.

❤️ The Ever-Changing Heart of Stockholm

There’s an oversized red heart installation (you’ll know it when you see it) in central Stockholm that’s become a social media favorite. It changes seasonally, decked out for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or just to match the spring vibe.

Of course I wanted to take a photo of it... But a young woman had basically claimed the spot for an extended solo selfie shoot, adjusting her hair, her outfit, her angles on repeat. After standing there like an idiot for what felt like ten minutes, I finally asked if she could move. Either she genuinely didn’t speak English or pretended not to, but thankfully, exaggerated hand gestures did the job.

Was the photo worth it? Absolutely.
Was I annoyed? Also yes.

Lesson learned: Apparently, even public Instagram spots come with their own unspoken turf wars.

📚 Riksdagens Bibliotek – Parliament Library

Tucked within Sweden’s Parliament complex, this specialized social sciences library is one of the country’s most important knowledge centers. It may not be a flashy tourist stop, but for lovers of architecture and quiet spaces with history, it’s a hidden gem.

Do you have favorite "B-sights" in Stockholm or any popular city for that matter? Or unexpected moments you stumbled upon while everyone else lined up for the number one tourist spot? I’d love to hear about them.