Sweden Guide
Stockholm
Kungsträdgården
Norrmalm's eastern boundary is marked by Kungsträdgården, most fashionable and central of the city's numerous squares, reaching from the water northwards as far as Hamngatan. The name means "the king's gardens", though if you're expecting neatly trimmed flower beds and rose gardens you'll be sadly disappointed – it's actually a great expanse of concrete with a couple of lines of trees. The area may once have been a royal kitchen garden, but nowadays it serves as Stockholm's main meeting place, especially in summer when there's almost always something happening, with free evening gigs, theatre and other performances taking place on the central open-air stage. Look out too for the cafés on the square, packed out in spring with winter-weary Stockholmers soaking up the sun. In winter the square is equally busy, particularly at the Hamngatan end where there's an open-air ice rink, the Isbanan (mid-Nov to March daily 9am–6pm; skate rental 40kr).