The beautiful waterside city of Stockholm can easily hold its own against the truly gorgeous cities of the world.

With its elegant tall toy-town buildings lining Scandinavianly-clean streets, the ancient city spreads itself majestically across 24,000 islets on the edge of the Baltic Sea.

Laced with numerous waterways, this natural oasis in mid-Sweden has been the nation's capital since 1634, but has been on record as one of the country's largest cities since 1252.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Stockholm became a huge industrial centre, exporting copper and iron to the rest of Europe, making both the country and the city very wealthy.

This fineness shines through in the city's glorious architecture and design, with the modern Stockholm a world innovator of design standards.

Walking the many attractive streets of this ancient city can instil calm in even the most stressed-out traveller, as the city's spectacularly welcoming inhabitants make life a breeze – with the majority of Stockholm's Swedish residents, especially the younger generation, speaking English.

Historic Stockholm can be seen in all its quaint and intriguing glory in the Old Town, or Gamla Stan, where ancient taverns dating back to the 13th century still welcome thirsty travellers in for a refreshing drink amongst their wooden-beamed walls.

The Gamla Stan is a small island in the centre of Stockholm, just yards away from a cluster of beautiful historical buildings, including the Royal Palace and Town Hall.

Its narrow stone streets and charming old buildings make the area a pleasure to walk around, stopping every now and then to sample some of the best restaurants and shops in Stockholm.

The photogenic Old Town passes into the equally photogenic Stockholm Royal Palace - the largest palace still used by a head of state, King Carl XVI Gustav.

One of the most interesting and recognisable sights in the city, the palace houses the Royal Apartments, the Hall of State, the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry, the Treasury, the Tre Kronor Palace Museum, the Armoury and the Museum of Antiquities of Gustav III.

The changing of the guard, bedecked in blue uniforms with gold helmets and trim, is a real treat and takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12.15, and on Sundays and public holidays at 13.15.

One drawback of the city is that it, like the rest of the country, has a reputation of being very expensive.

Whilst this can be true in the very touristy areas and in peak times, Stockholm has much to offer the budget traveller, with an array of hostels and hotels to cater for all.

Christmas in the city is a true highlight, as the Swedes pull out all the stops to create a northern grotto of glittering lights and trees.

In the summer, Stockholm can be surprisingly warm, and with its stunning waterside architecture and scenery, visitors can be forgiven for thinking they are walking the streets of a sun-scorched Mediterranean town.

Flights to the city leave regularly from most major European airports, with many budget airlines from the UK flying to Skavsta – an hour's scenery-laden journey to the north.

Sweden is one of the most attractive and interesting places in the world, mixing a lively, bustling nightlife with a chilled out and cool ambience – the perfect mix for any traveller in search of a good time.