A Week in Sweden: Postcards from Stockholm
A week of work, good food, and a glimpse of beautiful Stockholm.
This week, I had the pleasure of travelling to Sweden for work, spending four exciting days supporting with the delivery of our annual colleague awards. It was a whirlwind of long days, new faces, and ensuring every detail came together seamlessly. It was my first time experiencing a new city in this way, and I loved every moment. Busy? Absolutely – but also incredibly rewarding.
In between the schedule, I managed to steal a few moments to explore Sweden’s beautiful capital. Here are some of my favourite postcards from Stockholm.
Gamla Stan: Stockholm’s Old Town
One of the highlights of the trip was taking a group over to Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved old town. We joined a walking tour and spent the morning wandering through its cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, and colourful buildings.
Starting at Munkbrohamnen, we made our way around the island, passing key landmarks including Stockholm City Hall, the statue of Birger Jarl, the House of Nobility, the St. George and the Dragon statue, Stockholm’s narrowest street (Mårten Trotzigs Gränd), and finishing at the Royal Palace.
Gamla Stan is considered one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. I loved how each corner of this island seemed to hold a small fragment of history, as though it had remained largely untouched by time. From medieval murders to public executions, our tour guide also had no shortage of fascinating tales to bring the walk to life (shoutout to Caoimhe – she was a great host!)
Find some of the landmarks we visited pinned on the map!
My favourite photo from the trip – a beautiful cobbled street in Gamla Stan.
Ready to see the sights of Stockholm (the light jacket wasn’t too suitable, it was pretty cold this day!)
Storkyrkan, the oldest church in Stockholm, with its beautiful clock tower.
Gamla Stan was full of winding cobbled alleyways, lined with colourful buildings and beautiful architecture.
St. George and the Dragon – a late medieval sculpture located in Storkyrkan in Stockholm.
The Birger Jarl Statue in Stockholm is a bronze monument that commemorates the traditional founder of Stockholm.
Mårten Trotzigs Gränd - Stockholm’s narrowest street!
TAK | Restaurant
For food, a highlight was TAK, a contemporary Nordic-Japanese bar and restaurant set high above the city. From here, you can take in beautiful panoramic views across Stockholm, and as evening fell, we were treated to a gorgeous pink sunset stretching across the skyline.
One night, we enjoyed the Sakura Menu, a four-course dining experience that showcased a wonderful mix of flavours and beautifully presented dishes. Highlights included fresh sashimi, oysters, beef tartare, before finishing with a rich Basque cheesecake for dessert. It’s safe to say the food was exceptional.
TAK also has a lovely terrace and bar area, which I can imagine is ideal for summer drinks when the season arrives. The décor draws on Asian influences, with koi fish features and soft lantern lighting, and the views offer a beautiful backdrop across the city. After a successful event, it was the perfect place to raise a glass and enjoy some bubbles.
One of the courses from the Sakura menu – beef tartare.
Watching the sunset light up Stockholm from the rooftop at TAK.
Fortunately, we were treated to a week of glorious weather, with clear skies and sunshine for the most part, with temperatures around 12–14°C. This also meant we were able to catch a beautiful sunset over Stockholm.
I’ve heard April in Sweden can be a bit unpredictable (snow one day, sunshine the next), so we definitely got lucky. Despite the sunshine, there was still a slight chill in the air, so a warmer jacket was a must. I even packed a scarf – although it never quite made it out of my bag!
My long coat was perfect for the cool but sunny April days.
Evening falling on Klarabergsgatan in Stockholm, during my final night in the city.
The end of a wonderful few days in Stockholm.
After four days in Stockholm, the trip came to a close feeling both rewarding and enriching.
I’d love to return one day as a complete tourist, with more time to explore at a slower pace. Even so, I was grateful for the small pockets of time to discover the city – from wandering the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan to sampling local eateries along the way.
This trip was a reminder that work travel often offers more than just meetings and busy schedules. It can also open doors to new people, unexpected experiences, and places you might not have found otherwise.
Stockholm, you were wonderful. Until next time…
