Stockholmers can wait for up to a decade to get their hands of one of the small allotments. And no wonder, the place is gorgeous; the hundreds of allotments, with their little houses, sheds and huts, sprout out from a steep rocky outcrop that marks the end of this part of Södermalm at Årstaviken bay. The allotments burst into life in spring each year splashing the area in a kaleidoscope of colours. It’s almost like the allotment holders are trying to outdo each other in a colour competition.

The city of Stockholm started giving out allotments at Tanto in 1915 for the purpose of growing potatoes and soon enough the allotment holders started building on them and developing them into gardens. There are number of original cottages from the 1920s, 30s and 40s that you should definitely look out for.

You’ll find all types of gardens here: designer gardens, kitchen gardens, countryside gardens, vegetable gardens etc. and you’ll usually see the allotment holders tending to their precious patches or chatting with their neighbours over a cup of coffee. A great time to comer here is well….any time, but particularly at the end of August when the allotment holders put on a harvest festival.

There are frequent buses to Tanto allotments from all over town and the nearest underground station is Zinkensdamm.