Södermalm

It took us a few hours to really explore this historic part of Stockholm with its old houses well preserved and it’s wonderful history. There are great views over the harbour areas and a couple of churches on the way which also have deep histories. We just wondered aimlessly but a fair bit of time is needed to really soak up the atmosphere.

The Södermalm district covers the island of the same name (formerly called Åsön), which, however, is not fully separated from the peninsula of Södertörn (or the rest of the Swedish mainland), as water to both its north and south does not flow freely but passes through a lock and a man-made waterway. Södermalm is connected to its surrounding areas by a number of bridges. It connects to Gamla stan to the north by Slussen, a grid of road and rail and a lock separating the lake Mälaren from the Baltic Sea, to Långholmen to the northwest by one of the city's larger bridges, Västerbron, to the islet Reimersholme to the west, to Liljeholmen to the southwest by the bridge Liljeholmsbron, to Årsta by Årstabron and Skansbron, to Johanneshov by Johanneshovsbron and Skanstullsbron to the south, and, finally, to Södra Hammarbyhamnen to the east by Danvikstull Bridge. Administratively, Södermalm is part of Stockholm Municipality. It constitutes, together with Gamla stan and some other districts, from 2007 the administrative district Södermalms stadsdelsområde, often translated as Södermalm borough.

Bustling neighborhood with an old town feel. Love the well-preserved historic buildings, the inclusion of parks, nice walkways and wide options shops and restaurants. Well-served by public transport. Here, you can always see the beautiful skies.

Beautiful part of Stockholm with some narrow, cozy streets, wooden red houses, great views and “climate” places. Very good place to hang around and spend lazy few hours while walking in Swedish capital. Best while sunset is near - for “magic hour” photos. Highly recommended.

Very nice place to visit. A lots of things to see and explored, old town hidden in modern town mixing together. You can see 300 years old house and modern arts building in the same place, Södermalm Stockholm

The architecture is very beautiful. You can take photos from the bridge. Taken on December 2023

Södermalm, often shortened to “Söder” (Swedish for “south”), is a district and island in central Stockholm. History Wooden buildings on Södermalm in 1924, drawn by Ferdinand Boberg. The name Södermalm (“suthaermalm”) is first mentioned in 1288 in a letter from Bishop Anund of Strängnäs. Until the early 17th century Södermalm was mainly a rural, agricultural area.[1] Its first urban areas were planned and built in the mid 17th century, comprising a mixture of working class housing, such as the little red cottages of which a few can still be seen in northeastern Södermalm, and the summer houses and pavilions of wealthier families, such as Emanuel Swedenborg's pavilion, which is now in the outdoor museum Skansen. During this time, it was also the location of perhaps the first theatre in Scandinavia, Björngårdsteatern. Södermalm is often poetically named “Söders höjder”, which reflects its topography of sheer cliffs and rocky hills. Indeed, the hills of Södermalm provide remarkable views of Stockholm's skyline. In the 18th century, the working-class cottages that clung to Mariaberget, the steep cliffs facing Riddarfjärden, were replaced by the large buildings that are still present today. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that urbanisation grasped the entire width of Södermalm, and even today parts of Södermalm have a rural feeling to them, as for instance the landscape of tiny allotments that climb the slopes of Eriksdal. Södermalm was once known as the "slum" area of Stockholm. However today, Södermalm is known as the home of bohemian, alternative culture and a broad range of cultural amenities. Meanwhile, the growing demand of housing, as well as an increasing gentrification of Stockholm's central parts, makes apartments in Södermalm more and more difficult or expensive to come by. Thus what was once a working-class district is now somewhat a district of the privileged.

I had a lot of locals recommend this area - but I didn’t find too much of interest. It seems to be more of a local living quarters than a tourist destination and that may be why the locals recommend it