Secret Stockholm, the Less Touristy Places to Visit

Let's suppose that your mother has suppressed your shy desire to live on your own. Let's say you've been convinced that it would be a premature risk because, out there, as we know, there are many bad people. Let's also suppose that you really wouldn't find the courage to leave her just now, especially when she is anxiously waiting for you on the couch for the marathon of reruns of Don Matteo 18. In short, let's say that at 47 years old, you don't feel like throwing a tantrum and responding to her roughly. Feel free to relax; there is a precise explanation: you have all the symptoms of what is known as the Stockholm Syndrome.READ ALSO: WHAT TO SEE IN STOCKHOLM

That is to say, a well-known psychological diagnosis used to explain the behavior of some hostages who develop feelings of love and empathy towards their captor. To understand the origin of this little problem, even without the investigative acumen of good Terence Hill in clerical garb, it would suffice to take a stroll in the capital of Sweden, where Norrmalmstorg square intersects with Hamngatan, in the building that was once the headquarters of a bank. On one distant morning in late August 1973, a gentleman named Jan-Erik "Janne" Olsson entered armed with a submachine gun. Once he clarified to everyone that he was not there to apply for a mortgage, he took four people hostage, barricaded himself in the vault, and dictated his conditions to the police.However, during the five-day imprisonment, in a completely unexpected way, the hostages began to develop a bond of solidarity with their captor and hostility towards the police, who paradoxically were endangering their safety. Following this episode, psychologists associated this type of behavioral phenomenon with the name of Stockholm Syndrome, which continues to be encountered cyclically in similar situations and, in a certain sense, also in everyday life.

Today, that building hosts a luxury hotel, which, along with the police museum, displays memorabilia and photographs of the robbery's protagonists. What better first stop, then, to start your tour of unconventional places to visit in Stockholm? Below, we offer a series of suggestions to continue your search for activities and places that are not too frequented by tourist routes in the Swedish capital. Provided that mom is in agreement.

If you love wandering among the stalls of a flea market in search of hidden treasures, don't miss the Hornstull Market along the Södermalm waterfront. Here, you can find everything: vintage clothing, knick-knacks, books, vinyl records, local crafts, and various rarities. Moreover, every weekend from April to October, this space becomes a meeting place for street food lovers, live music, or simply those who want to enjoy a panoramic sunset on the floating wooden platforms in the waters of the archipelago.

For those seeking a fun winter activity or just looking to break a leg, we recommend carving out some time during your vacation to go ice skating. Doing Olympic spins in Stockholm is easy thanks to the large number of rinks scattered throughout the city. During the colder months, you can choose to skate on artificial rinks or in natural settings like lakes and rivers. Among the best ice skating rinks in urban Stockholm, we recommend Kungsträdgården, located in the central Gamla Stan, or alternatively the quieter and more spacious Vasaparken, situated in the northern part of central Stockholm. If you prefer, as many Swedes do, to skate amidst nature with due precautions, you can head west to the Södermanland area, where there are some spectacular wild lakes.

If you don't feel like entering a museum but still want to enjoy incredible artistic installations, just get a subway ticket and take a ride on one of the 100 stations of the Tunnelbana, also known as the longest art exhibit in the world. Along the roughly 110 kilometers that make up the underground railway loop of Stockholm, you can admire artistic works, paintings, fountains, Renaissance statues, rainbow-painted caverns, and 80s video game style tile decorations.

For those looking for something more lively than a walk in the greenery and a fun activity for the whole family, the advice is to head to the large Gröna Lund amusement park on Djurgården Island. Here, you will find over 30 different rides, including classic roller coasters and bumper cars, but also the opportunity to enjoy concerts, food stalls, and breweries. All in a strategic location with breathtaking views of the cityscape.

In the outskirts of Stockholm, within the former derelict industrial area of Snösätra, you can visit one of the largest graffiti art exhibits on the continent. Over the years, some of the best international street artists have initiated a cultural revival in this industrial neighborhood, transforming its abandoned walls into the Snösätra Graffiti Wall of Fame. Furthermore, every spring, a festival is held that brings together the best forms of street art, along with music, food, and the opportunity for the public to paint firsthand on a wall left open for everyone.

The tower of the building that houses Sweden's largest design school will offer you a unique opportunity. How many times have you seen the most iconic buildings in the world illuminated with colorful lights to celebrate something or send messages to the world?

Thanks to the interactive permanent art installation in the Telefonplan tower, anyone can control the color of the lights in the building's windows via their mobile phone using the Color by Numbers app. You will have 20 floors to choose from and project your personalized light games, visible from all across the skyline in southern Stockholm. CHECK ALSO: EATING IN STOCKHOLM