With Stockholm now ranked among Europe’s top 10 cities by Resonance Consultancy’s prestigious Europe’s Best Cities ranking and a significant increase in global search interest for Gothenburg and Malmö, Sweden’s major cities are capturing global attention. New data reveals a surge in interest driven by their unique blend of urban experiences, Swedish culture and lifestyle, and easy access to nature. With no extra fees beyond public transport and ferries, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö offer autumn escapes that exceed expectations. Autumn city break or nature adventure? Why choose when you can have it all? Here’s what autumn 2025 has in store for each city.
Stockholm – Between Cobblestones and Pine Trees
Stockholm climbed from 16th to 10th place among Europe’s top cities by Resonance Consultancy’s prestigious Europe’s Best Cities ranking in 2025*. With over 48 million global searches annually, it solidifies its status as Sweden’s capital and cultural heart. This growth is driven by an interest in cultural events like the Stockholm Marathon (+1563%) and attractions such as the ABBA Museum (+814%) and a remarkable 2031% increase in searches for flights to Stockholm.
Autumn transforms Stockholm’s downtown 14-island landscape into a canvas of gold. Within just 30 minutes, travellers can be exploring the Stockholm Archipelago’s magic season, with thousands of islands perfect for a quick nature escape.
Autumn Highlights:
- Nämdö Archipelago National Park, Sweden´s first marine national park in the Baltic Sea, opening September 5, 2025: the purpose is to preserve a marine archipelago landscape representative of the Baltic Sea in an unchanged state. Encompassing 25,300 hectares (mostly water, with only 840 hectares of land), it will offer protected coastal trails easily accessed by city ferries, ideal for day escapes.
- House of Q: Stockholm’s new cultural hub in Värtahamnen, located in a former industrial building in the Harbour Blocks of Stockholm. The new venue is set to be a meeting place for queer and LGBTQ culture, with 3400 square meters of bars, restaurants and event spaces.
- The city’s culinary scene continues to gain recognition with new Michelin distinctions, including Ergo (1 star) and ÄRLA (Bib Gourmand).
- Hagastrand: a new destination hotel in northern Stockholm. It will feature several activities, a spa and wellness section, and conference rooms. Located on the banks of Brunnsviken Lake, in Hagaparken, it is just a short walk from Haga Palace.
Top reasons to visit Stockholm in Autumn:
- Fika then forest and culture: enjoy cinnamon buns indoors by candle light at charming Café Ektorpet in the park of the art museum, Prince Eugen’s Waldermarsudde followed by a walk among flaming autumn leaves in Royal Djurgården, the world’s first national city park that hosts some of the greatest museums of Stockholm, such as the Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum or Skansen.
- Museum to marina: tour a royal palace or one of Stockholm’s main museums, then kayak along tranquil canals within sight of the city skyline.
- Island-hopping escapes: visit hidden coves and coastal hikes such as Stockholm Archipelago Trail in the Stockholm archipelago, all accessible by commuter ferry.
- Golden-hour glamour and contrasts: start your day in the Old Town’s cobbled streets, visit the Nobel Museum, then continue with Nobel glamour at Stockholm City Hall, and end it with a sauna and sea view in Nacka.
- Metro and art gallery: featuring artworks by over 150 artists, the metro is often referred to as the world’s longest art exhibition. Perfect for a rainy day!
