Beards and bicycles abound on this uber-hip island of central Stockholm. Often shortened to “Soder”, Sodermalm has been lauded by Vogue as the coolest neighbourhood in all Europe. Though its reputation is barely older than many of its residents, the trending area is not to be missed.
Pet Sounds Bar started attracting artists and musicians as a hipster hangout in the 1990s, and the cool kid vibes spread from there. Vintage clothing stores and other quality boutiques fill the streets where visitors can splurge on cutting-edge street wear at Boutique Sportif or time warp to the 1950s at the well-hidden Sivletto. Trendy bars and restaurants are plentiful, and other points of interest include the 17th century Katarina Kyrka Church, Tantolunden park, and the Stockholm City Museum. Great photo ops can be found at the Monteliusvagen walking path, Skinnarviksberget hill, or Fjallgatan street.
There are ample bus and train stations on Sodermalm, Slussen being the largest, busiest, and closest to Gamla Stan. Both the red and green subway lines stop here with commuter rail stops at Stockholm's Sodra station.
Before earning its reputation as Sweden’s hipster capital, Sodermalm was simple farmland. An 1860 railroad turned the area into a working class district. Gentrification is a recent, and indeed ongoing, process.