Archipelago boats thin out from November to March

On Långholmen island the former Crown Prison is now a hotel and hostel, with guests sleeping in converted single and double cells and a restaurant, theatre and museum on site. It is quiet and close to the swimming rocks, and the walk to Hornstull metro is short. Ask about the museum tour, and check restaurant and…

Stockholm Jazz Festival started in 1980 as a summer event below Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen and has been an autumn festival since 2012, held in October. Its concerts are spread over indoor venues, including the museum auditorium. Book ahead on the festival's own ticket site, and come early to walk the island before…

Fasching is a concert venue, club, restaurant and bar at Kungsgatan 63, known for international jazz, late jam sessions and other live acts. Check the programme online and buy a ticket for the show you want, since the lineup changes by night. Weekend club nights run late, so plan your way home in advance. It is an…

Stampen is a small jazz, blues and soul bar in a vaulted cellar in Gamla stan, once a pawnshop, with antiques hanging from the ceiling. It aims for live music six days a week, and it is closed on Mondays. Reservations are not taken, so arrive early in the evening to get a seat. Expect an 18 age limit and a drop-in…

In Sweden, drinks above 3.5 percent alcohol are sold only in Systembolaget, the state-owned chain, and its stores are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Supermarkets sell only light beer and cider. Plan your bottle for the weekday before, check the store's hours in its app, and bring ID, since you must be 20 to…

On spring to early autumn weekends, Hornstulls Marknad fills the waterfront at Hornstulls strand with vintage clothes, second-hand finds, creative stalls and food trucks. Come on Saturday for the biggest choice and Sunday for a calmer browse. It closes for the midsummer weekend and the season has a set start and end…

Skinnarviksberget is a bare rock hill on Södermalm and the city's highest natural point, with a wide view over the water and rooftops. Take the metro to Zinkensdamm and walk about five minutes up. Locals bring wine, snacks and a blanket for summer sunsets, and in winter a coffee for a quiet walk. Wear sturdy shoes…

Monteliusvägen is a short cliff path on northern Södermalm with houses on one side and open views on the other, over Lake Mälaren to City Hall's tower, Riddarholmen and Gamla stan. Walk about ten minutes west from Slussen and look for the quiet stairs on Bastugatan. Arrive for sunrise or sunset, bring a flask, and…