The Swedish minister for climate’s green guide to Stockholm

Stockholm is a playground. I visit a lot of different cities for work and nothing beats my hometown. There’s a unique freedom here: in the sense that a 28-year-old woman can hold the position of minister for climate and the environment, and also in the diversity of its arts and culture.

There are always exhibitions, concerts and readings happening. Rönnells is an antiquarian bookshop on Birger Jarlsgatan that’s filled with literature and poetry. It’s old, but it’s punk rock: the best titles are hidden far away from the entrance, which is my litmus test for a good bookshop. 

You can breathe the air here without losing months of your life

I also like Sven-Harrys Art Museum in Vasaparken. At larger museums like the Louvre I can get overwhelmed as it would take several days to experience all the art. At Sven-Harrys you can sit and contemplate a painting for 20 minutes and still see the entire exhibition in a single visit. There’s also a quaint restaurant called Bistro Guld that does a great halloumi salad and has views over the park. Art was my worst subject at school, which is quite embarrassing given that the Iranian side of my family is full of artists and musicians.

Stockholm is very aware when it comes to fashion. I usually shop at Arkivet, a vintage shop that’s grown into a chain of boutiques around Sweden. They were early in making second-hand clothing something exclusive, showing that circular fashion doesn’t have to be a washed-out T-shirt in a cardboard box. One of my best finds is a Massimo Dutti coat that I wore the day our government was installed in 2022. It was a very intense day: I was 26 and the coat felt like a big hug helping me deal with the pressure.

Fashion is interesting when it comes to my line of work. I don’t really think about my style when I attend EU summits; equality has come further here. When I was chairman for the council of environment ministers I didn’t have to dress as “Madame President” to earn the respect that comes with the role. On the other hand, when I join UN negotiations, I choose clothing that invigorates my authority. It can be difficult for some leaders to understand that I represent my country. Clothes that make me feel confident and comfortable are necessary, hence the heels and turtlenecks I wear.

Stockholm is a green and tidy city. You can breathe the air here without losing months of your life. Instead of one big park we have trees, birds and gardens throughout the city. One of my favourites is Rosendals Gardens. It has a café in a greenhouse where they grow everything from herbs to flowers.

I work most weekends and evenings, but when I do have time off I like to go out. The city has plenty of gems when it comes to restaurants and wine bars. One of them is Tranan, a basement bar that’s quite sentimental as it’s where my boyfriend and I had our first date. I like the cosy atmosphere and French-Swedish food. It’s also very vibrant, which is unusual as Swedes are not the most vibrant of people.

Another favourite is Bio Rio, an art-house cinema in the neighbourhood of Södermalm. The space has a great retro aesthetic and restaurant, Riri. Beauty is an underestimated value in life; I believe it weighs heavier than most people realise. Beautiful things and places really do something to a person and you can feel that here.

My hometown is a liberal and playful space. Occasionally I go dancing at Södra Teatern, a 19th-century theatre turned concert venue, nightclub and champagne bar. Or I’ll go to Reimersholme Hotel, which has a laid-back bar with mismatched furniture and bad air conditioning — but good dancing! I love to sneak away from my government security guards to go out late. Just don’t tell anyone.