Capital city dubbed 'most underrated in Europe' has 14 islands and an ABBA museum

A European capital made up of 14 islands linked by 57 bridges has been hailed as "the most underrated city in all of Europe". The city is the largest in Scandinavia, and can be reached in less than two and a half hours. With direct flights on offer from numerous major UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, for as little as £150, it represents a brilliant choice for those seeking a getaway without breaking the bank.

The city is steeped in history and boasts an impressive array of museums covering everything from historic artefacts and contemporary art to ABBA. A series of striking photographs of the city were shared on X, formerly Twitter, by the account Glimpses of Culture, who declared: "This is the most underrated city in all of Europe."

That final clue has likely given the game away, but for those yet to work it out - the city in question is Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

Tourism website Visit Sweden describes Stockholm as a place that "effortlessly intertwines a rich history and stunning nature with the cultural sophistication, modern architecture, and dynamic attitudes of a thriving metropolis". It further notes: "This unique blend is enhanced by the omnipresence of water, adding an extra layer of charm."

The city is also home to the Nordic region's most recent Pride festival, and serves as the headquarters of several tech giants, amongst them music streaming platform Spotify and Minecraft developers Mojang Studios. "Each district in the city has its own unique personality," Visit Sweden states.

"For example, Södermalm is known for its creative atmosphere, Östermalm for its elegance, and Norrmalm for its vibrant energy. In between you find the Old Town (Gamla Stan), contributing to the diverse appeal of Stockholm.

"Located on Sweden's southeast coast, the weather in Stockholm changes according to four distinct seasons. Summers are warm – sometimes quite hot – and it rarely gets dark during summer nights.

"The winters may be mild and rainy but can also be cold and snowy. The colours of autumn are spectacular in the city parks, and spring is welcomed by locals, wrapped in blankets and sipping a drink, at outdoor restaurants and cafés."

Numerous users on X agreed with this glowing assessment. One remarked: "Was there recently, absolutely loved it, such a chill place."

Another added: "I have visited Stockholm twice. It's a calm, clean, and peaceful city. The people are friendly and helpful. Spending time in Gamla Stan, especially during Christmas, was wonderful."

Someone else said: "The magic of Stockholm lies in its enchanting little streets. But the entire city is beautiful." And a different user said: "Stockholm is a superb place. Quite small, but defo worth going back to."

However, others took exception to the city being described as "underrated". One remarked: "Hahaha whaaaaat??! No-one, literally NO-ONE, would call Stockholm underrated? Everyone knows it's a nice Scandinavian semi-big city with culture and good food and a nice archipelago?"

Some were considerably less enthusiastic. One commented: "It's not underrated at all. The cost of an apartment in Stockholm on par with the cost in London and New York. One might even say it's overrated. The winters are long and harsh. You get a few weeks per year of weather as shown in the pictures."

Another wrote: "It really isn't. Places like this are a long way down my list of European city destinations." And someone else quipped: "You clearly haven't visited Wolverhampton yet."