Stockholm marathon by Mariana

They say the best way to know a city is to walk it. So naturally, I walked Stockholm until my feet questioned my life choices, but it was worth it.

Arriving in Stockholm, I stepped into a city that somehow manages to be both grand and intimate, a city built on so many islands, yet still connected so organically. It wasn't just about bridges or ferries, it was about how the city flows, how small pieces of land are seamlessly tied to each other.

For a capital city with almost a million people, Stockholm doesn't overwhelm you. Instead, it welcomes you in a way that reminded me of a village, but in that good way of a place where you don't feel like a stranger, where the pace is just right.

I could list all the places I visited, Gamla Stan, Kungliga Djurgården, the City Hall, Stortorget, but honestly, the best part of my trip wasn't ticking landmarks off a list, it was walking. I had no strict itinerary, no must-see checklist, just my curiosity and a good pair of walking shoes. Over two days, I covered almost 40 kilometers on foot, letting the city unfold in front of me, one step at a time.

I let my feet guide me through the city, and they took me to unexpected corners, down streets that weren't on my itinerary, across bridges with views that no travel guide could have prepared me for.

Gamla Stan felt like stepping into a storybook, with tiny restaurants creating a cozy, bohemian atmosphere, houses painted in warm, rich colors, shaped as if they were made of gingerbread, their imperfect forms adding to the charm, and narrow, asymmetric tunnels connecting them, making every turn feel like a step back in time.

I'd love to return in summer, to see the long days, the golden light reflecting off the water, and the way the city embraces the warmth.

But even in cooler weather, Stockholm had a quiet magic, a city that doesn't rush you, doesn't overwhelm you. It simply invites you to walk, explore, and feel at home, one island at a time.