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Friends Arena
stadium

Friends Arena

Stockholm, Sweden · Capacity: 54,000

Opened:2012
Capacity:54,000
Location:Stockholm, Sweden
Home:Sweden men's national football team, AIK Fotboll

About Friends Arena

Friends Arena is a major stadium in Stockholm, Sweden, with regular global sports and entertainment events.

  • Opened: 2012
  • Capacity: 54,000
  • Architect: Berg Arkitektkontor, Populous
  • Home teams: Sweden men's national football team, AIK Fotboll
  • Owner: Swedish Football Association
  • Official site: friendsarena.se
Fan Guide · Sweden

Friends Arena: Scandinavia’s biggest

Friends Arena in Solna is the national stadium of Sweden and the largest in Scandinavia, a retractable-roof bowl that hosts the national team and the country's biggest concerts.

It's north of central Stockholm on the commuter rail, near the city built across fourteen islands.

Below are the Stockholm stays, restaurants and bars fans use around Friends Arena.

Fan tip: It's a short commuter-rail ride from central Stockholm — base in the island-strewn old town, Gamla Stan.

Where Fans Stay, Eat & Drink near Friends Arena

All Stockholm hotspots →

Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Friends Arena in Stockholm — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the stadium first.

Where to Stay

Hotel Rival — Fan Stay
Fan Stay

Hotel Rival

Owned by ABBA's Benny Andersson and located on Mariatorget in Södermalm, Hotel Rival is the coolest sports traveller base in Stockholm, beloved by music and sports fans alike for its art deco cinema, rooftop terrace and perfect location for Hammarby match days. The hotel bar's Scandinavian cocktail programme and the brasserie's smörgåsbord brunch are highlights that draw non-guests as much as residents. The lively Mariatorget neighbourhood puts fans in the middle of Stockholm's most authentic working-class sporting culture.

Bars & Pubs

Gamla Stan Bar Circuit — Fan Bar
Fan Bar

Gamla Stan Bar Circuit

The medieval cobblestone alleys of Stockholm's Old Town are dotted with atmospheric bars and Irish pubs that fill with visiting sports fans and local supporters on match nights, creating an impromptu fan circuit through the lantern-lit streets. Venues like The Auld Alliance and Wirströms Pub broadcast English and Swedish football on traditional dark-wood pub screens. Starting in Stortorget square and working south through the alleyways is one of Stockholm's most consistently enjoyable pre-or-post match rituals.
Akkurat Beer Bar — Fan Bar
Fan Bar

Akkurat Beer Bar

Akkurat near Slussen is one of Scandinavia's legendary beer bars — over 800 bottled beers and 20+ draught taps alongside an extraordinary whisky collection that attracts Djurgårdens IF and AIK football fans seeking post-match sophistication. The dark wooden interior and knowledgeable staff make it the natural destination for serious beer-loving sports fans visiting Stockholm for Allsvenskan or SHL hockey matches. On Stockholm derby weekends, the passionate football discussions between Djurgårdens and Hammarby supporters here are worth coming for alone.
Stampen Jazz & Blues Club — Fan Bar
Fan Bar

Stampen Jazz & Blues Club

Stockholm's oldest and most beloved jazz bar in Gamla Stan has been hosting live music since 1968, creating a warm, smoke-tinged atmosphere that serious jazz and blues fans travel specifically to experience. The intimate space means musicians are visible in extraordinary detail, and the improvised nature of jazz here creates unique performances that can never be replicated. A late night at Stampen with a strong drink and extraordinary music is one of Stockholm's most authentic cultural experiences.

Restaurants

Things to Do

Fotografiska — Attraction
Attraction

Fotografiska

Sweden's world-famous contemporary photography museum on the Södermalm waterfront is the go-to cultural activity for sports travellers between fixtures in Stockholm, with rotating exhibitions that have included definitive portraits of Swedish sporting legends. The museum's top-floor restaurant with panoramic views over the Baltic inlet is one of the city's most beautiful dining rooms. Sports journalists covering Stockholm-based events routinely rank a Fotografiska visit as one of the city's best non-sporting experiences.
ABBA The Museum — Attraction
Attraction

ABBA The Museum

The world's only official ABBA museum on Djurgården island is an interactive celebration of Sweden's greatest musical export that converts even the most sceptical visitor into a devoted fan before the exit. Hologram performances, original costumes, and the actual recording desk from the Polar Music Studio make it a paradise for music historians and pop fans alike. The museum's joyful celebration of songwriting craft and cultural impact is genuinely inspiring for fans of popular music in any genre.
Friends Arena — Attraction
Attraction

Friends Arena

Scandinavia's largest stadium and Sweden's national football ground is a state-of-the-art concert venue that has hosted the world's biggest touring acts in a retractable-roof facility that ensures perfect conditions regardless of Stockholm's notoriously unpredictable weather. The stadium's Solna location is easily reached by metro, and the area transforms into a fan village before major events with food markets and street performers. Swedish audiences are renowned for their enthusiastic yet orderly fan culture that makes attending events here a pleasure.

Plan Your Trip to Friends Arena

Friends Arena in Stockholm is tracked across 0 events and seats 54,000 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:

  • Anchor Event: Use the event cards below to select your next anchor date.
  • Celebrities Tracked Here: Taylor Swift and others appear in linked venue sightings.
  • Post-Event Path: Continue into Stockholm and Stockholm hotspots for food, bars, and stay options.

Celebrity Sightings at Friends Arena

Sources & References

Structured facts on this page (capacity, opening year, architect, ownership) are compiled from public reference databases and verified against venue coordinates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Friends Arena

Taylor Swift have been spotted at Friends Arena.

Friends Arena has a capacity of 54,000 people.

Friends Arena opened in 2012. It was designed by Berg Arkitektkontor, Populous.

Sweden men's national football team, AIK Fotboll play home games at Friends Arena in Stockholm.

Check our events page for upcoming events at Friends Arena.