Disappointed in Stockholm

Unfortunately, lots of cities suffer from the same problems. What I feel sad about Stockholm is that crime is on the rise. "Beware of pickpockets" signs were everywhere. I stayed at the Marriott, and such signs were on every table top in the lounge.

Hi, thanks for your post.

I am planning a trip to Stockholm.

I’ve been reading up on criminal activity. Is it safe in the tourist areas?

Have a great evening

Amy

Think of it as with an American city. The neighborhoods with the biggest problems are areas that tourists don't go to. The same applies to Stockholm. So where you will be is very safe...

We are in Spain and just met a nice man from Sweden traveling around. We got to talking and I mentioned how surveys always tell us that Danes and Swedes are the happiest people. He answered that it might have been true before organized crime got a toehold in his country. He seemed hesitant to put the blame on any one group.
So, travelers should read up on where the problem areas are.

Huh. Well, I could imagine that crime is 'up' in Sweden but I would suggest you actually look at statistics compared to any US city of a similar size, and don't forget violent death rates, which are minuscule in Sweden comparatively. Are there bad neighborhoods? Probably, but as a tourist you're just not going to get to them. I can only speak to my experience, visiting Stockholm & beyond for 18 years, living here for 3 - I have NEVER felt a single moment of hesitation in a neighborhood, whether out in the day or evening, in crowds, on public transport, or on my own. In contrast to how I feel in California, where I'm careful to look over my shoulder often.

I have only been to Stockholm once, this summer. So I don't have a then and now perspective. As I read your description, I can appreciate how you see the change from 30 years ago.

Interestingly, to this first time visitor, everything in Stockholm felt so orderly and rhythmic. Yes, it was crowded in August with tourists and visitors. And especially because I was there during Kultur Festival. Even that seemed so well planned and nicely organized - and I'm not normally one to tolerate crowds.

In particular, I remember watching, several times, what seemed like peaceful streams of bicyclists pedaling their way to work. I recall contrasting that with the fevered pace of the rush hour traffic I used to tolerate at home.

Our different views of Stockholm remind me of the children's book, Too Much Noise. As the wise man teaches the lesson in that story, I guess it's all in our perspective.

As for Gamla Stan, I only wandered around a bit, but enough to share your view there.

No longer was it the calm, sedate city that I lived in. Now it is almost frantic, with young adults walking down the street talking on their phones, even seemingly talking to themselves (lol). Large numbers of bicyclists darting to and fro. Nothing wrong with that per se, but it was a lot less peaceful.

You could say the same thing about virtually every city when comparing it to 30 years ago. I also lived in Stockholm (late 90s and 2000) and it did seem busier on my last visit; however, it was still just as beautiful. There were plenty of cell phones and bikes in the late 90s, more when I visited in 2014, and I am sure there are even more now.

So, travelers should read up on where the problem areas are.

Honestly, this isn’t necessary for a tourist to Sweden. As a tourist, you are extremely unlikely to encounter gang violence. We have gang violence here in the Washington DC area; fortunately, I’ve never encountered it. Similarly, when I visited NYC a few years ago, I didn’t bother to read up on ”problem areas” knowing that I’d be focusing on places that were on the tourist circuit. I think the general rule of ”be aware of your surroundings” applies almost everywhere. To put things in perspective, a recent Wall Street Journal article reporting on the increase in homicides in Sweden also reported that the homicide rate in Sweden was one-sixth that of the U.S.