Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. It is sometimes referred to as Venice of the North. Founded circa 1250, Stockholm has long been one of Sweden's cultural, media, political, and economic centres.

The 2008 Global Cities Index, Stockholm ranked 24th in the world, 10th in Europe, and first in Scandinavia. Stockholm is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, its abundant clean and open water, and its many parks.