June has finally arrived, bringing with it warmer weather, longer days, and an explosion of queer singles in Stockholm, who visit the city seeking a love affair in the ‘Venice of the North’. For us LGBTQ+ folk, June is no ordinary month – It’s Pride Month, of course; a time when we all come together to celebrate our community and commemorate a tipping point in queer history – the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which took place in (you guessed it) the month of June.
This 6-day rebellion in Manhattan sparked a fire that would forever change the course of history, not just in the States, but across the pond here in Stockholm, which is now recognised as one of the most gay-friendly destinations in the world.
For many queer singles, Pride Month in Stockholm is a fabulous opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals in a place that is safe and accepting; not to mention breathtakingly beautiful and brimming with culture and history. Here are some of the best hot spots to do so:
Go on the prowl at Royal Djurgården
Known as the ‘lung’ of Stockholm, Royal Djurgården is a gloriously green, 279-hectare oasis that is home to many of the city’s most iconic attractions, such as Skansen, The Vasa Museum, and ABBA The Museum to name a few.
Djurgården is unquestionably a queer magnet all year round, but the real magic happens in the height of summer during Pride Month when both Stockholmers and visitors flock to the island to picnic, listen to music, take romantic strolls, and bask in the sun with a cold beverage in hand. The communal spaces on this island provide a pressure-free environment to strike up a conversation with that cute guy, gal, or non-binary person you have your eye on!
Harmonise with a hottie at ABBA The Museum
Picture this: you’re dancing, ‘jiving’, and singing your lungs out at the world’s first and only ABBA museum, in the gayest month of the year, in one of the best cities on earth. Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong. Camp comes in full force at this interactive museum on the island of Djurgården dedicated to one of the greatest success stories in music history.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a single Stockholm visitor who doesn’t have ABBA The Museum at the top of their itinerary. For gay fans in particular, the Swedish pop group has been the bullseye of our musical universe for many decades, with Björn Ulvaeus (one of the B’s in ABBA) even crediting the gay community for the band’s return to music after a 40-year hiatus. It goes without saying that a visit to ABBA The Museum is a sure way to bump into some queer singles who are up for a duet.
Get your flirt on at Mälarpaviljongen
Next up on our list of best places to meet queer singles in Stockholm, we have Mälarpaviljongen – a verdant, gay-owned bar and restaurant on the banks of Lake Mälaren with a seasonal menu and impressive selection of wines and beers.
This high-spirited floating bar/restaurant is only open from April to September each year. It is particularly busy during Pride Month when both queer Stockholmians and visitors congregate to eat, drink, admire the view, meet new people, and watch the day go by as they make the most of the Swedish summer.
Whether you’re looking for a platonic friendship, racy romance, or something more meaningful, you’re sure to meet countless like-minded people at Mälarpaviljongen.
Turn the heat up at Hotel Hellsten
You’ll need a place to stay when exploring the city and living your best gay life! We highly recommend Hotel Hellsten: a cosmopolitan, queer-friendly hotel in the heart of Stockholm, packed with personality and camp-ish antique charm. This stylish hotel puts you right in the centre of the Pride Month festivities and Stockholm’s most cherished attractions.
Be sure to stop by the Hellsten Earth Bar for a Swedish beer or two. This fabulous bar transforms into one of Stockholm’s leading jazz venues every Thursday and is a great place to make connections with other queer people in the city.