I would pay a visit to the archipelago! Stockholm archipelago is massiv with thousands of islands! A amazing way to see stockholm and the surroundings! check out: http://www.waxholmsbolaget.se/

Skansen is an open air museum where the Midsummer celebrations will take place! It is in the central part of Stockholm and from here you have amazing views over Stockholm, check out: http://www.skansen.se/

ENJOY!!!!

A lot of stockholmers leave Stockholm for the midsummer. I was in town last midsummer and it was deserted.

The main attractions will still be opened, such as Vasa museum, Royal Palace and some small shops in Gamla stan. Some restaurants will be closed, but by far all. There are variations in opening times too. For example Modern Art museum is closed 22 June but opened the other days. The main festivity is 22 and little less 23. Sunday is a day of recovering.

If you have specific reasons to visit Stockholm midsummer and really want to visit a specific museum etc, I recommend you to browse the net for opening times.

opening times in swedish: öppettider

midsummer: midsommar or midsommarhelgen

closed: stängt

Do not be scared now, it can still be great fun. But when visiting do not expect Stockholm to be THAT calm all other days of year.

Hello,

I'm somewhat confused, as I've heard and read various things about the 22nd, 23rd and 24th in regards to opening hours in the shops.

I'm hoping someone will enlighten me - are the shops closed for the last half of Friday the 22nd, or open all day? And are the shops closed for all of Saturday (23rd) and Sunday (24th)?

Thanks!

The confusion will continue if you do not tell what shop or what kind of shops. It varies... :)

In Sweden most shops normally are open:

- Mon-Friday (09)10--18(19).

- Saturday (09)10--15, (16, 17)

- Sunday (10)12--16(15,16)

Less common in parentheses.

Then there are shops which stay open 24 h and there are those which have different opening times. It is not as strict as in Finland, Denmark or Norway.

Friday, midsummer eve will some shops be closed all day and some stay open half day. Half day can be --12, --13, --15. It varies.

Saturday, midsummer day will most shops be closed

Sunday 24th is a normal Sunday but less crowdy.

Here in old town some restaurants close earlier or are not opened att all during this two-three day period. Still plenty of restaurants to have a good choise.

Many people leave the town for this holiday, to celebrate with their relatives, or they go to their holiday cottage in the archipelago or around the big lake Mälaren. This is a very traditional swedish holiday and no one wants to work, not even some shop or restaurant owners. That is why the town always is "deserted" in two, three days.

This is maybe hard to understand and even worse to describe...

I'd better try to minimize the confusion then.

I'm thinking along the lines of department stores, clothing, books, interior design and trying to avoid souvenir shops, candy shops etc. Does this in any way change what you've already been kind enough to tell me?

Thanks again!

I think Baggen have explained everything very detailed so if you dont understand this, what has the world come to?

Otherwise check out www.alltomstockholm.se and maybe find out more info!

I try once again, and I put it simple:

If you choose days to go to Stockholm for shopping do not go:

New years day

Epiphany (13th day after christmas and the eve the day before)

Easter Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday

30 April and 1 May

Ascention Day (40 days after Easter day)

6 June National Day

Midsummer Friday and Saturday

Whitsunday and the eve before (decreasing in importance though)

Christmas eve, christmas day and 2nd day of Christmas

New years eve

Very silent days overall in Stockholm are:

New years day

Epiphany

Easter Friday; Saturday, Sunday and Monday

1 May

6 June

Midsummer Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday

Christmas eve, christmas day and 2nd day of Christmas

Sorry, take 6 June away from "silent" days list... Copy and paste failure by me... :)

It is the National Day, and I cannot say it is silent.

I actually DID understand all of this, but Baggen's very detailed and good answer starting with "the confusion will continue if you do not tell what shop or what kind of shops. It varies... :)" seemed to imply that his answer may differ depending on the kind of shopping I wanted to do. Hence my further explanations...

Now I do hope that no more Forum members will jump at my throat - kind of unusual for Tripadvisor, isn't it?

Hunbille