Kungsholmen turns its best face to the water, and this loop walks that face end to end: the City Hall gardens, a willow-hung quay, a generous park, and a bridge that gives you the whole city at once. Four kilometres along the southern strand (shore), best when the afternoon light starts to go gold.
Come up at Rådhuset and head for the water, where the Stadshuset — Ragnar Östberg's brick city hall — opens its gardens to anyone, tower ticket or not. Step down to the quay, then follow Norr Mälarstrand west: willows over the water, houseboats along the edge, the City Hall slowly shrinking behind you. It's the calmest waterside stretch in central Stockholm; walk the whole length.
Duck inland to Kungsholms torg for a coffee and the ordinary life of the island, then carry on to Rålambshovsparken, the open park sloping to the water beneath the bridge.
Finish by climbing onto Västerbron. From the arch, Riddarfjärden spreads out — Gamla Stan and the Stadshuset in a single frame, the water gold if you've timed it. Thorildsplan or Fridhemsplan takes you home.
