The 50-metre outdoor pool at Eriksdalsbadet in central Stockholm was built for the 1962 European Aquatics Championships and is an oasis in the summer heat for children and adults alike. But what makes this pool so special is what happens the last weekend before it closes for the summer, when it’s transformed into Popaganda; a two day festival with an impressive line-up. Artists this year include Robyn, Hot Chip, Elle Goulding, Belle and Sebastian, The Concretes and Shout Out Louds. Where else can you go for a cool swim whilst watching some of the hottest bands around, all in the heart of a capital city?

www.eriksdalsbadet.se/
Hammarby Slussväg 20, 118 60 Stockholm, (400m from Skanstull underground station
Skanstull)
Google map: tinyurl.com/2vsqkj4

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This is an amazing pool in Stockholm. It's got a roof, so whether it can be officially classed as outdoor could be debated. However, as it's built on a pontoon floating on the Hornstullstrand in southern Stockholm, it definitely feels like an outdoor pool. However, it comes with one overriding advantage: the water is maintained at a balmy 30C, so perhaps it's more of a bath. You can certainly swim in it though, at nearly 20 meters in length. It's as popular as ever, despite being over 80 years old and is still maintained in the original late-20s style. They also have regular sessions with classical music accompaniment. Very Swedish and very civilized.

Bergsunds Beach 2
117 38 Stockholm
www.stockholm.se/KulturFritid/Sim--och-idrottshallar/Liljeholmsbadet/

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Langholmen is one of the many islands on which Stockholm is built. It used to be a prison but ceased operation in 1975. Now the old buildings (the earliest dating back to mid-18th century) house a hostel and café.

Langholmen is quite small and very beautiful, with a beach on the north side, where there are also cliff areas which are very suitable for sunbathing and swimming. For younger travellers, this is one of the coolest places to go in the wee hours when bars and clubs are closing down - a lot of young locals come here for a nightcap and a sunrise swim before going home (around midsummer the sun goes up around 3.30am-4.00am, which means that you'll have a lovely, sunny swim in the midle of a city still sleeping). Sometimes spontaneous parties occur on these occasions and they are not to be missed. In the daytime it's a lovely area for walks, recreation and sunbathing. This is a well-kept secret that is very popular with the locals (I lived in Stockholm from the age of eight to 23 so consider myself an insider).

The easiest way is to get the tube to Hornstull or to take the no. 3 bus and walk from there (approximately a 10-minute walk).

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