The secret to Stockholm's air quality

Stockholm's air quality has significantly improved due to the city's 760 kilometres of cycling lanes and its congestion charge, it has been reported.

Recently crowned Europe's first Green Capital for 2010, the Swedish metropolis - which is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges - is also home to sustainable hotels, green cuisine and organic fashion.

One expat from Toronto, who has lived in Stockholm for the past three years, believes that facing the cold weather in the capital is easier than in his hometown.

"The air is so fresh and Stockholmers are so sun-starved that at any opportunity, regardless of the temperature, they'll get outside," he told the Globe and Mail.

Meanwhile, a waiter at the city's Le Rouge restaurant is representative of many who deem bottled water to be unnecessary in a region where the water quality is so high.

"Our own water is clean and just as good and it's free," he said.

Written by Claire Manning