48 hours in Stockholm

Spring to summer is the ideal time for a city break in Stockholm, as the sunshine lights up the city and the Swedish capital comes back to life after the cold and dark winter.

Spread across 14 islands, central Stockholm has several distinct districts that mean it is easy to navigate and find what you are looking for, making it ideal for a short break.

One of the best ways to take in the picturesque city is by taking a stroll down to the water from Birger Jarlsgatan, an upmarket street ideal for window shopping.

Once you reach the water the sights are plenty, from majestic buildings such as the Grand Hotel and the Royal Dramatic Theatre to trams and boats of all sizes.

From here it is a short hop to Gamlastan (the old town), the place to go to see the gigantic Royal Palace, touristy shops, old-fashioned eateries, and some relaxed bars.

If you are looking for a place to stop for a coffee, grab a sandwich or taste some incredible Swedish cakes, Riddarbageriet (on Riddargatan in the Ostermalm area) is a small, friendly and stylish bakery.

To eat with the locals and try some of the Stockholm's super-fresh seafood, Bakfickan is an old-fashioned eatery with an ornately tiled interior where you eat at the bar. It also has a wide selection of Swedish breads and beers, and is located close to Opera House on Jakobs Torg (just off the Kungstradgarden).

Many of Stockholm's biggest museums are located on the leafy, green and largely car-free islands of Djurgarden and Skeppsholmen.

Among the most impressive of these is the Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen, which has a strong collection that ranks alongside the Tate museums in London, and modern art museums of New York and San Francisco.

As well as excellent international exhibitions, its permanent collection includes works from artists including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miro, as well as more recent European and American artists Anish Kapoor and Robert Rauschenberg.

More family-friendly experiences can be had at Skansen, an outdoor museum with 150 historic buildings as well as a zoo, the Vasa museum, which has a surviving 17th-century warship.

Also worth seeing is the Nordiska museum (National Museum of Cultural History), which for the rest of this year is running an exhibition of amateur collections. These range from concert posters to more unusual items such as erasers, padlocks, Kinder Egg toys and hot air balloon memorabilia.

For interior design shops, high-end fashion boutiques, gourmet food halls and antiques the peaceful area of Ostermalm is the place to explore. By contrast, the larger, more modern and eclectic Sodermalm offers bars, nightclubs, fashion boutiques and cheaper cafes.

Though compared with many European destinations Stockholm would not be considered a cheap getaway, prices for eating out, transport and accommodation are largely similar to London.

And if you do not mind cooking for yourself, reasonably priced and good quality self-catering accommodation can be found at Stockholm Guest House (www.stockholmguesthouse.com).

For more information on visiting Stockholm see the city's tourist board at www.stockholmtown.com