Sodermalm is Stockholm's design and alternative shopping district in general, not just for LGBTQ+ retail. The neighbourhood has a strong independent shop culture, with fashion, homeware, books, and lifestyle stores that would not look out of place in comparable districts in Berlin or Copenhagen. Within this environment there are some LGBTQ-specific shops alongside the general mix.

What you will find

Stockholm has a small number of shops with explicitly LGBTQ+ stock: pride merchandise, books and zines with a queer focus, clothing with a gay or alternative identity, and adult items. These tend to be concentrated in SoFo and the areas around the main bar streets. Some bars also sell merchandise, which can be more reliable in terms of hours and consistency than standalone retail.

The general Sodermalm shopping scene is strong enough that most things visitors look for in a gay travel context are available in some form. Design-conscious clothing, independent bookshops, good coffee, and the general texture of a creative neighbourhood are all present.

Practical shopping notes

Stockholm shops typically open around 10am or 11am and close by 6pm or 7pm. Sunday hours are shorter. During Pride week some venues and shops extend hours. The SoFo area has a street market on certain weekends in summer that is worth walking through.

Prices are what you would expect: Swedish retail is not cheap. Quality is generally high and the design culture means the products tend to be well-made rather than mass-produced.

The shops

    • NK Stockholm — The Swiss version of Barneys, NK Stockholm has all the luxuries a gay man or lesbian could want. Specializing in great local designers made big, J Lindeberg, Filippa K and Tiger, this five floor department store is uber cool. Start here, and branch out into nearby shopping scene, where you will find boutiques and specialty stores.

For the full Stockholm picture, see the Gay Stockholm Guide.