One of Europe's most beautiful capital cities, Stockholm stretches across 14 islands between Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. Home to around 1.5 million people, Sweden's capital is a fascinating snapshot of how old and new can blend harmoniously. Indeed, the cobblestoned streets of 13th century Gamla Stan (Old Town) are home to a fanciful array of first-rate restaurants and cafés, small hotels, art galleries, and boutiques, all of which are cozily surrounded by medieval city walls. In stark contrast, the glass and steel towers of the modern Norrmalm district bustle daily with bankers and brokers, and the pedestrian-friendly Drottninggatan, one of Scandinavia's premier shopping districts, always manages to be at the center of attention - and foot traffic. With more than 50 major museums, beautiful public parks, historic buildings, and unique districts waiting around every corner, it's little wonder that Stockholm is one of Europe's favorite tourist destinations. The world's oldest open-air museum (1891) is Skansen in the Djurgärden area, and it's here that visitors may glimpse the past, thanks to more than 150 original buildings collected from all over the country and re-assembled as a traditional Swedish village. Kungliga Slottet, the world's largest royal palace currently in use, is a fabulous example of Baroque architecture and its several museums house such important collections as the royal treasure, royal regalia, crown jewels and 18th and 19th century portraits of the Royal Family. Sweden's National Museum, an Italian Renaissance structure dating from the 1860s, boasts one of Europe's most impressive art collections, including pieces by Vernet, Goya, Ruysdaël and Rembrandt. Stockholm enjoys life's finer amenities as well, and its dazzling dining scene features some of Europe's top seafood restaurants, among them Wedholms Fisk and Operakällaren. Meanwhile, nightlife is in no short supply, and trendy strips like Birger Jarlsgatan, Södermalm and Kungsträdgården offer plenty of chances to dance or just enjoy a few tankards of Swedish beer. Those with something more cultural in mind should consider catching the Royal Swedish Ballet or the famed Royal Swedish Opera at Drottningholms Slottsteater, an 18th century theater located on an island in the middle of Mälaren.