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Stockholm is the urban and cultural epicentre of Sweden - its Konserthuset is where the Nobel Prizes are awarded. But it is also one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful natural environments. Built on 14 islands and considered by many travellers to be the Venice of the North, Stockholm has 57 bridges linking its different neighbourhoods, all offering spectacular views of Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. Only this could be the birthplace of the happy, harmonious pop of Abba, the band whose own story is so closely linked to the city.

But Swedes do not live for music alone and the city is also famous for the seventh art. Also It is the birthplace of Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman, and the location of films such us Let the Right One In or Millennium 1: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Every year it holds a prestigious international film festival, as well as another that focuses on Spanish cinema, as evidence of the interest aroused by Spanish culture.

Swedish design is quite unique and Stockholm’s Fashion Week is a force to be reckoned with among the international catwalks. But here we will turn our attention to Spanish design which also plays its part in the city:

Your first appointment is at 8, Hamngatan, where Zara has one of its four shops in the capital; the others are at 68, Drottninggatan; 6, Sturegallerian; and at Nacka Forum (12, Forumvägen). Here you will find trendy clothes for every kind of shopper and the superb value for money for which the brand is so well known.

Nacka Forum is also the place to find Mango, a huge hit Stockholmers as is clear from the four shops the Spanish brand now has in the city. The others are at 59, Arevägën, in Kista Galleria and at 2, Sergelgatan. There is also a retail corner at 4, Stureplan.

Continue your route and reach 10, Nybrogatan where multi-brand retailer Marzio has shoes by Pura López, a Spanish brand with ultra-feminine lines, fine materials and an unmistakeable style. It also offers Uno de 50, the padlock brand, which is all about exclusivity: they only make 50 of each of their designs and each one is handcrafted. This goes down a treat with the Swedes who like Concha Díaz del Río for the same reasons. She does not have her own shop in Stockholm but is available from two major multi-brand boutiques: Deisy’s (at 9, Hummlegårdsgatan) and Nibb (at 8, Ringvägen).

In Sturegallerian, Tous has its own shop and the teddy-bear brand can now be seen round many a neck in the city. Which will bring you to 26, Sturegallerian where Massimo Dutti offers up-to-date basics for men, women and children who, if they wish, can also buy clothes by this Inditex brand at 1, Norrmalstorg.

Biblioteksgatan is the Stockholm equivalent of New York’s Fifth Avenue and boasts some of the most select shops in the city. No surprise then that this should be the location chosen by high-end brands such us Pedro García which is available at Rizzo, at number 9, and Savannahs at number 20. Another big Spanish brand for luxury shoes is Magrit, on sale at the Skor mall (2, Sturegallerian).

Also don’t miss Alicante Shoes at 18, Scheelegatan, just the thing to spice up any look.

Since 1964, Pronovias has been at the vanguard of bridal and party wear and is available in Stockholm from two multi-brand shops: Söders Högtidskläder (at 114, Hornsgatan) and Bröllopssviten (51, Sveavägen).

On to Södermalm island, a former working-class neighbourhood that has become ultra-cool, brimming with alternative art galleries and indie clothes shops. At 46, Bondegatan is Tjallamalla, which sells creations by Potipoti, all the rage with trend-setters in the area: Silvia Salvador and Nando Cornejo are artists first and designers second, with collections influenced by pop culture.

Close by at number 50 is another multi-brand shop, Sara Clausin, which offers the traditionally manufactured but bang up-to-date style of Castañer rope shoes, which can be seen on feet across the city. Near too is Bonshoes (28, Götgatan), with shoes for girls and guys who want the latest thing. On sale here are Pikolinos (eco-chic footwear for both sexes, also at Shoescape, at 14, Tegnergatan) and Camper, which has struck a chord with Stockholmers and is available at Shoescape (as above and at 20, Humlegårdsgatan), Knulp (53, Kungsgatan), 42, Götgatan and 5B Wolmar Yxkullsgatan. Knulp also sells shoes by El Naturalista, which are made to strict environmental standards and are available at Zoom (41, Hornsgatan) and Brandos (Karlavägen).

On to Samira, the multi-brand shop at 46, Götgatan which offers exquisite swimwear and lingerie by Andrés Sardá which is also sold at Parlan (Söderhallarna) and Gustaf Mellbin (47, Västerlånggatan).

To visit Misako with its must-have bags, cases and wallets at the best possible price, you need to move on to the outskirts in Kista. The brand has a shop in Kista Galleria. Kista also has a cosmetics shop called Kicks, which offers lipstick by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, which glow with colour.

For a standalone full of fun and colour, you can head for Desigual in the district of Täby, located in the Täby Centrum mall. If that’s a step to far, Desigual products are also on sale at multi-brand shops like Plagg Odenplan (75, Odengatan), Leva (60, Hornsgatan), Günter Olsson Klader (26, Götgatan), Namo (45, Sts. Eriksgatan) and Åhlens (10, Ringvägen).

After a hard day’s shopping, why not gather energy with some fresh air at Ekoparken, the world’s first urban national park and Stockholm’s green belt.

Shops in Stockholm