travel guide to stockholm

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The 20 essential travel tips for visiting Stockholm

Wondering whether to use cash, or whether to bare all at the sauna? We've got you covered.

You can plan out every minute of every day when visiting a city like Stockholm , and you’ll still get caught out by one tiny little thing. Train tickets. Cash only. That sort of thing. You might even get caught in an embarrassing foreign blunder, where you order a coffee at completely the wrong time. 

Anyway, this is as true in the Scandinavian capital of cool as it is anywhere else. Want to know which stations to avoid, and what time you should eat cake? Do you bare all at a sauna, or keep your pants on? From metro tickets to how to say ‘hello’, here is every travel tip you’ll need for your first time in Stockholm. 

RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Stockholm 🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm 🏘️ Where to stay in Stockholm 🛍️ The best spots for shopping in Stockholm

This guide was updated by Madeleine Hyde , a writer based in Stockholm. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines .  

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The ultimate Stockholm guide

1.  Access the airport the sneaky way

Many travellers don’t realise that apart from the expensive express train and coaches, you can get from Arlanda airport to the city centre by public transport. Follow signs to the local buses at any terminal, and look for the one that goes to Märsta station, which is on a commuter rail line. The whole journey to central Stockholm can be covered on a single ticket, which you can buy on the SL app.

2.  Don’t bring a ton of cash

Stockholm aims to become a cash-free city in the coming years, and in fact, many cafes, restaurants and hotels already enforce this policy. So on your trip, it’s best to bring your bank card and only use cash if you have to. 

3.  Look beyond the metro lines

Booking accommodation in Stockholm can be dizzying. Which island is best? How much should you spend? And most commonly asked: Can they all be accessed easily? In the inner-city, the answer is yes. But it’s worth looking further, too: the prices of accommodation go down if you look along the commuter rail lines, rather than just the metro lines. Don’t be intimidated by these local lines; they’ll often get you to the city centre just as quickly!

4.  Avoid the ‘stress tunnel’ at Centralen

An early sunset normally tempts Stockholmers to leave the office around 4pm and so for most of the year, this is our rush hour. Avoid the central station, ‘T-Centralen,’ at 4pm and at around 8 in the morning, if you can help it—this is when the ‘stress tunnel’ between the different metro lines is at its most congested.

5.  On weekdays, breakfast is simple and healthy

In cafes, you’ll find mostly muesli and yoghurt or bread rolls with ham and cheese served in the morning hours. On weekends, however, it’s a whole different story. Popular brunch spots like Kitchen & Table and Greasy Spoon fill up quickly, so be sure to book ahead!

6.  Pack your toughest boots

If you’re planning a winter trip, bring along some very sturdy shoes. From November through till March you can expect the ground to be covered in ‘slask,’ a grotty mix of melted snow and grit. It keeps you from falling over, but it will leave its mark on your footwear!

7.  Have a whole Swedish conversation with just two words

Swedes are well-known for their English skills; you’ll hear and see English all around you in Stockholm. Still, if you want to try out some Swedish, you can do so with minimal effort. You can say hello or goodbye with just ‘hej’ or ‘hej hej’ (where the ‘j’ is pronounced like an English ‘y’) and ‘tack’ means both thank you and please, so it’s extra easy to be polite.

8.  The flavours of fika

‘Fika’ is the Swedish coffee and cake ritual that means that the best cafes in the city will be full to the brim in the afternoons, especially on weekends. The traditional fika is with a cinnamon bun, but some cafes do their own variations: the rhubarb crumble buns at Fabrique, or the pistachio and blackcurrant version at Il Caffe are some favourites. It’s a crowded time, but well worth pushing in.

9.  Saunas are for revealing all

Another Nordic ritual is stripping down in the sauna. In Swedish culture, it’s generally encouraged to keep things private—except for when it comes to the sauna. Don’t expect to bring anything but yourself and a towel, which is mostly for drying yourself off after you plunge into an icy-cold lake.

10.  Save your clean-eating week for Stockholm

The vegan offerings in this city are unrivalled. You can order your coffee with oat, almond or soya milk in most cafes, get delicious vegan ice cream in stores or at Stikki Nikki, or try vegan pulled pork (called oomph ) in Max Burger, Vigårda and many other burger establishments.

11.  Spend late night at a gallery

If you’re a night owl looking for something more intellectually stimulating than a night on the tiles, thank goodness for Fotografiska, the photography exhibition on Södermalm’s northern waterfront. After the rest of the galleries have closed, this former factory stays open until 11pm.

12.  Lunch starts early in Sweden

Lunch is Sweden’s biggest meal of the day. Restaurants typically offer buffet lunches for a fixed price and start serving at noon sharp. Oh, and there won’t normally be any desserts on the table, but you can save your sweet tooth for later (see fika )!

13.  Down-time in the summer

Swedes take holidays very seriously—normally, by disappearing off to their countryside cottages or island retreats on the archipelago. This means that at certain times of the year, Stockholm is a bit of a ghost town, especially after Midsummer in June and July. On the plus side, visitors get the city to themselves!

14.  Island-hop in style for no extra cost

Your SL card (SL being the Stockholm transport system) can get you onto pretty much any transport, including some of the ferries that run between the inner-city islands. In the winter season, you can even use an SL ticket on ferries to the archipelago.

15.  Buying alcohol here is a bit… systematic

The Swedish government has a monopoly on alcohol—if it’s over 3.5% ABV, anyway. For the strong stuff, you’ll need to head to government-owned Systembolaget, which close early afternoons on Saturday and don’t open at all on Sundays. If you fancy a 2% beer (affectionately known to locals as folköl , or ‘the people’s beer’), you can get these in any regular store.

16.  Get a pint at 4pm

Rush hour is also the start of ‘After-Work’, a Swedish version of happy hour beginning around 4:30pm. Many pubs will serve a cheaper pint during these hours, and there’s even a club, Out of Office, that kicks off in the late afternoon instead of the late evening to cater to thirsty office workers. Download the club’s app for your free entrance ticket and dance your suit off.

17.  Culture without the entrance fee

If beer and sauna culture don’t cut it, you can spend your Tuesday afternoon at a museum instead, without spending anything. The Nordic Museum has free entry on Wednesdays from 5-8pm, and the Nobel Prize Museum from 5-8pm on Tuesdays. The Modern Art museum on Skeppsholmen, meanwhile, has free admission the whole week round.

18.  The two words you need for a cheap pint

Stockholmers are big beer lovers, and there are many great micro-breweries and craft beer establishments across the city to prove it. That’s not to say that your pint has to be anything fancy or expensive, however; at any bar, you can order their cheapest pint of beer simply by asking for a ‘Stor Stark.’

19.  Drink in the evening sunlight in summer

In the summer, drinking goes outdoors. Bars reveal themselves in all kinds of innovative outside spaces, including under a bridge: Trädgården (the garden) opens under Skanstull bridge at the end of May. As a bonus, if you get there before 7pm you’ll avoid any entrance free and be offered cheaper drinks deals.

20.  Plan ahead to avoid taxis

Taxis are very, very expensive in Stockholm. Especially boat taxis (yes, really!), which will come and get you if you’re stuck on an island in the archipelago. Plan ahead by checking the SL app for your best travel options. On weekends, the metro runs all night, but on weekdays your best bet after 1am might be a night bus.

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Stockholm Travel Guide

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself contemplating a move to Sweden after a visit to Stockholm; the city makes traveling feel easy and effortless (even for newbies). Locals tend to be welcoming and friendly, English is widely spoken, and everything from the subway system to city streets are clean and straight-forward.

But beyond ease of travel, Stockholm delivers a one-of-a-kind experience thanks to its placement on an archipelago of 14 islands that each offer a distinct feel—from the colorful buildings and cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan to the nature-rich isle of Djurgården. It's a place where you can hop on a public ferry and find yourself in a different world without ever leaving the city. And no matter where you end up, you'll find yourself at ease in the contemporary, urban feel Sweden is known for. Just make sure to make time for fika , a coffee and cake break, so you can slow down and enjoy life like the locals do.

Central European Time (GMT+2)

Best Time to Go

Sweden can be chilly, making the summer months an ideal time to visit. Between May and September, the days are long, the weather is temperate, and the country's biggest national festival, Midsummer, kicks off—just keep in mind the summer is the city's busiest time as well. For good weather and fewer tourists, shoot for September to early November, when you'll experience the shift to fall and the coziness of Stockholm as the days begin to shorten. If you time it right, you might even catch the Stockholm Jazz Festival (October) and Stockholm International Film Festival (early November).

Things to Know

Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)

(Check the current exchange rate )

Language: Swedish

I don't speak Swedish: Jag talar inte svenska

I'm lost: Jag är vilse

I would like…: Jag skulle vilja...

Calling Code: +46

Capital City: Stockholm

How to Get Around

Trains: The city's underground subway network, known as the tunnelbana, is quick, easy, and much cheaper than hopping in a taxi. To ride, you can either buy a SL access card and load it with a single-use ticket (38 SEK, around $4) or pick up a travel card with unlimited access for a period of time (24 hours: SEK 160, around $18; 72 hours: SEK 315, around $36; and 7 days: SEK 415, around $48). Through the same transportation company you can get out of the city via an above-ground train.

Buses, Trams, Ferries: If you're just visiting Stockholm for a short time, you should be able to get around via subway, but if you need, the city also offers a bus system. In addition to buses, trams run on the island of Djurgården (where you'll find the Vasa Museum) and scenic ferries connect the islands. All three modes of transportation rely on the SL card (same as the subway and most trains).

Taxis: In addition to Uber, Taxi Stockholm offers a reliable track record and booking via their app. Just keep in mind that taking taxis around Stockholm can be expensive.

Car service: For a luxury private car service, check out Blacklane or Freys , who has been in operation for over 125 years.

Best Hotels

Address: Mariatorget 3 118 48 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 545 789 00 Website

It doesn't get more sunny and hip than The Rival, a luxury boutique hotel in the lovely neighborhood of Södermalm. In addition to designer rooms, you'll find gathering places for eating and drinking and an impressive theater showcasing some of the world's finest talent.

Lydmar Hotel

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2 111 48 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 22 31 60 Website

The Lydmar might be one of Stockholm's finest five-star hotels, but you won't find buttoned-up staff or a snobby air. The hotel strives for relaxed elegance in everything from their contemporary classic rooms (with pieces that will make you swoon) to the staff who are encouraged to share their local intel and let their personalities shine.

Red Boat Mälaren (The Red Boat)

Address: Södermälarstrand Kajplats 10 118 20 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 644 43 85 Website

As you might expect from a city built on the sea, Stockholm is home to a handful of boat hotels and hostels. The Red Boat and Ran of Stockholm offer both hotel and hostel-style rooms on Stockholm's most prevalent resource: water. Plus, the central location in the middle of Stockholm provides easy access to main tourist sites and the subway.

Villa Dagmar

Address: Nybrogatan 25-27 114 39 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 20 05 90 Website

This opulent property plops you right in the heart of Stockholm, minutes from the Royal Palace and Royal Swedish Opera. Each individually decorated guest room is as comfortable as it is lavish — and some have balconies. Don't miss a meal in the bright courtyard and garden for a visit to the gazebo with its curated gifts and fresh blooms.

Address: Sköldungagatan 2 114 27 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 20 05 90 Website

You won't find Sweden's iconic IKEA look at Ett Hem (which translates to "A House"). True to its name, the hotel is found in a private residence built in 1910 and offers up an at-home feel for each and every guest. The thoughtfully designed, cozy rooms are the perfect place to snuggle in when the weather cools and boast high-end features like marble bathrooms and local furnishings.

Hotel Skeppsholmen

Address: Gröna gången 1 111 86 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 407 23 00 Website

Surrounded by trees near the waterfront, this hotel is designed for lovers of clean simplicity and brunch (yes, you read that correctly). In addition to beautiful rooms and a central location you'll find Restaurant Långa Raden, which is known for its popular weekend brunch and brunch-inspired lunch menu.

Best Restaurants

800 grader (pizza).

Address: Sigtunagatan 17 113 22 Stockholm Phone: +46 70 858 95 98 Website

Even the Swedes need a reliable pizza spot, and this place is all that and more. Inside you'll find a cool, laid-back interior, friendly staff, and a simple menu of four or five pizzas. You can't go wrong. No reservation is needed and dining is indoors.

Vina (wine bar)

Address: Sofiagatan 1 116 40 Stockholm Phone: +46 70 406 66 26 Website

Vina—as the name suggests—is all about the wine, but the food menu stands on its own. The tiny space is near Nytorget, one of Stockholm's trendier areas, and will draw you off the street and into its cozy, romantic atmosphere. Dining is both indoors and outdoors (depending on the weather) and reservations are recommended.

K25 (food hall)

Address: Kungsgatan 25 111 56 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 21 29 29 Website

Have you really been to Stockholm if you haven't experienced one of their food halls? These spacious markets packed with food stalls offer everything from traditional Swedish cuisine to international classics. At K25, one of the city's best halls, you'll find sushi and dumplings alongside Swedish meatballs and burgers. Dining is indoors and market-style (no reservations needed).

Asian Post Office (Asian fusion)

Address: Regeringsgatan 66 111 39 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 20 60 10 Website

Half the fun of eating at the Asian Post Office is kicking back in the restaurant's sleek, modern interior. You can pair innovative cocktails (and mocktails) with Asian fusion bites like pork buns, gyoza, and udon noodles with kimchi and lobster. To make sure you snag a seat, book a table in advance.

Knut Bar (Northern Swedish)

Address: Regeringsgatan 77 111 39 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 30 40 57 Website

You can't leave Stockholm without trying out traditional Swedish cuisine, and when you're ready to try the local delicacies, this is the place to go. You'll find good northern Swedish dishes including venison, moose sausage, deer tartare, and plenty of local fish. Not into wild game meat? They have amazing northern Swedish-style pizza flatbread and lingonberry sorbet. Just make sure to book a table in advance and come expecting indoor seating.

Woodstockholm (contemporary)

Address: Mosebacke Torg 9 116 46 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 36 93 99 Website

Woodstockholm takes food seriously, so much so that they constantly change the menu theme, delivering fresh dishes under a broad theme—like 'Art'. no matter what "theme" you find when you visit, you're guaranteed local, sustainable foods paired with a wine menu that showcases smaller producers.

Things to Do

Vasa museum.

Ivey Redding/Travel + Leisure

Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14 115 21 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 519 548 80 Website

The Vasa Museum's main draw is the almost fully intact 17th-century warship—the Vasa—which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The boat has been preserved beautifully and is the main event, but you'll also get a realistic look at life aboard and get to know the people who went down with the ship.

Fjäderholmarna

Address: Fjäderholmarna 100 05 Stockholm Website

Taking a ferry in the archipelago is a must, and the island of Fjäderholmarna is an easy destination both in what it offers and its ease of access. It's a breezy, 20-minute boat ride to the island, which has a restaurant and cafe and small shops along with trails and swimming.

Fotografiska

Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22 116 45 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 509 005 00 Website

If you like photography, even a little bit, this is the place to be. Heralded as the "largest photography museum in the world" you'll find a vast collection of thought-provoking photography around every corner.

Stockholm City Hall

Address: Hantverkargatan 1 111 52 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 508 290 00 Website

City Hall is one of Stockholm's most famous buildings, but beyond that, it gives anyone willing to climb the stairs in the tower an unparalleled view of the whole city.

Best Shopping

Address: multiple locations in Stockholm (Götgatan 31, Kungsgatan 42, Humlegårdsgatan 20, Långholmsgatan 36) Phone: +46 8 21 92 85 Website: granit.com/se

Granit has a West Elm feel paired with an eco-conscious mindset and that distinct clean Scandinavian look. Swing by for homegoods, gifts, and a calming escape from the city streets.

NK Stockholm

Address: Hamngatan 18-20 111 47 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 762 80 00 Website

NK—short for Nordiska Kompaniet—is a high-end department store with everything from Balenciaga and ba&sh to Hermès and HUGO. It's the place to go for a day of shopping at high-end retailers set in a relaxed environment.

Gina Tricot

Address: Götgatan 30 118 46 Stockholm Phone: +46 8 411 29 70 Website

Also known as Gina T, this Swedish boutique has a crisp, modern look that's coveted by women all over the world. The brick-and-mortar shop gives you easy access to the brand's feminine, stylish look.

Address: multiple locations in Stockholm (Drottninggatan 63, Götgatan 21) Phone: +46 8 642 02 59 Website

For an edgier take on Scandinavian style, check out Weekday, a beloved Swedish brand known for their minimal, street-inspired clothing.

Neighborhoods to Know

Gamla Stan (Old Town): It makes sense that the center of Stockholm, a city that's built on islands, is found on a compact island marked with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. Gamla Stan, also called Old Town, is so picturesque, you won't be able to put down your camera. Swing by the medieval Storkyrkan cathedral or watch the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace before stopping for a fika at Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm.

Djurgården : To the east of Gamla Stan is the much-larger island of Djurgården, best known for the Vasa Museum. But the island houses more than the city's most famous museum, the tranquil island is full of parks with walking trails and green meadows perfect for midday picnics. For a next-level experience take a ferry from Slussen (in Gamla Stan), so you can arrive via water.

Södermalm : It doesn't get more hip than Södermalm, also known as "Söder" or "The South Side." In this uber-trendy neighborhood south of Gamla Stan, you'll find endless cafes and restaurants alongside boutiques and shops. If you're looking for an escape from the busy city streets, grab a sandwich to-go and find a nook in Rosenlundsparken, a sprawling neighborhood park.

Norrmalm : Stockholm's "downtown" is a must for first-time visitors. In Norrmalm, you'll find yourself smack dab in the middle of Stockholm's commercial area, home to everything from the opera and ballet to giant department stores, hotels, and trendy cafes. Make time to rest your legs and people watch at Kungsträdgården park and enjoy the views over the water toward Gamla Stan.

Östermalm : To the east of Norrmalm is Östermalm, a large district with high-end residential areas sprinkled with smart restaurants and classy bars. It's a great place to explore if you're looking to get away from the buzz of Norrmalm and Gamla Stan.

Spring: The start of spring marks a happy time for the Swedes, who welcome the longer days and first signs of color and life. Temperatures vary greatly—March and April tend to be cooler—with averages typically hovering between 30 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. There's usually not a ton of precipitation, but you can expect a couple rainy days each month.

Summer: Summer may be tourist high season, but there's a reason for that—the months of June, July, and August are warm and pleasant, averaging temperatures in the low 50s to low 70s. The month of July tends to be the rainiest month of the year (around three inches of precipitation).

Fall: The weather starts to dip in the fall, when temperatures can get as low as the 30s and November marks the shift into winter. That being said, you'll find weather in the late 50s and early 60s in September. Precipitation is moderate, but might show up as snow in the later months.

Winter: As you might guess, winter in Stockholm can be chilly and dark. Temperatures range from the low 20s to mid 30s, and snow is a reality. When the weather shifts and winds blow in from the Baltic Sea, it's a good time to huddle in and enjoy a lavish fika.

Apps to Download

Uber: Ride hailing, electric bikes and motorized scooters, food delivery. iOs | Android

Google Translate: Word translation with offline capabilities. iOs | Android

SL – Journey Planner & Tickets: Stockholm metro map, route planning, route updates. iOs | Android

Bookatable: Restaurants near you with table booking. iOs | Android

Keyflow: What's going on in Stockholm nightly with in-app ticket purchasing. iOs | Android

©Westend61/Getty Images

Stockholmers call their city 'beauty on water'. But despite the well-preserved historic core, Stockholm is no museum piece: it's modern, dynamic and ever-evolving.

Best Time to Visit

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Go from dreaming to planning with trip planning options made to help you craft your ideal itinerary.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Kungliga Slottet

A massive structure with more than 600 rooms on 11 levels, Kungliga Slottet (the Royal Palace) dominates the north end of Gamla Stan. The official…

Fotografiska

Since opening its doors in 2010, Fotografiska has become one of the world’s leading photography museums and one of Stockholm’s most popular attractions…

Djurgården & Skeppsholmen

Often called 'Sweden in miniature', Skansen is an unmissable Stockholm highlight. Expect to spend a full day wandering this hilltop open-air museum, with…

Kungsholmen

The imposing Stadshuset (City Hall) defines the Stockholm skyline, with its blocky silhouette and waterside perch. It looks stern and weighty from afar,…

A good-humoured glorification of some dodgy calculations, Vasamuseet is the custom-built home of the massive warship Vasa; 69m long and 48.8m tall, it was…

Skogskyrkogården

One of Stockholm’s most unexpected attractions, Skogskyrkogården (the Woodland Cemetery) is an arrestingly beautiful graveyard set in the soothing pine…

Moderna Museet

Moderna Museet is Stockholm’s modern-art maverick, its permanent collection ranging from paintings and sculptures to photography, video art and…

Millesgården

Beautiful Millesgården was the home and studio of sculptor Carl Milles, whose delicate water sprites and other whimsical sculptures dot the city landscape…

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ABBA: The Museum

A sensory-overload experience that might appeal only to devoted ABBA fans, this long-awaited and wildly hyped cathedral to the demigods of Swedish pop is…

Historiska Museet

From Iron Age skates and a Viking boat to medieval textiles and Renaissance triptychs, Sweden's national historical collection spans over 10,000 years of…

Rosendals Trädgårdskafe

Set among the greenhouses of a pretty botanical garden, Rosendals is an idyllic spot for heavenly pastries and coffee or a meal and a glass of organic…

Vandrarhem af Chapman & Skeppsholmen

The af Chapman is a storied vessel that has done plenty of travelling of its own. It’s anchored in a superb location, swaying gently off Skeppsholmen…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Neighborhoods

Stockholm's a capital city with huge aesthetic appeal. Use our guide to the city's best neighborhoods to work out where you’d most like to spend your time.

With country palaces, windswept islets, and evidence of Viking culture, the greater Stockholm area has a wealth of fantastic day trip destinations.

Money and Costs

Although it has a reputation for being expensive, there are many low-cost things to do in Stockholm. Here are the city's best budget and free experiences.

Transportation

Getting around Stockholm is a breeze with its compact size and reliable public transport. Here's our guide to the best way to navigate the Swedish capital.

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Stockholm Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 17, 2023

Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. No matter how often I come here, I am always amazed by it. Everything is just so photogenic and picturesque – the parks, the islands, the harbor, the historic colored houses dating back hundreds of years.

In fact, it’s so incredible that I even spent an entire summer living in the city!

Stockholm spreads itself out across fourteen islands (though there are thousands of islands in the archipelago) and has a ton of museums, attractions, parks, and art to see while getting lost among the historic streets and buildings. The people are wonderful too. While Swedes generally are quiet and reserved, they are happy to share advice with visitors.

Stockholm isn’t the cheapest place in the world so many backpackers rush their visit (or skip over the city entirely). That’s a mistake if you ask me as a visit here is worth every penny.

This travel guide to Stockholm can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to Sweden’s capital!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Stockholm

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Stockholm

1. Walk around Gamla Stan

This is the oldest part of the city, with centuries-old buildings, the Nobel Museum, the Royal Palace, cobblestone streets, and the historic homes of the aristocracy. I never tire of wandering through it. Get here early in the summer to beat the crowds and have the narrow, winding alleys to yourself.

2. Wander around Skansen

Skansen was the first open-air museum in the world. It’s also a zoological garden specializing in Nordic fauna, such as moose, reindeer, bear, wolf, lynx, and wolverine. Entry is 160-220 SEK depending on the season.

3. Tour the archipelago

Stockholm is surrounded by beautiful islands and waterways. You haven’t really seen the city if you haven’t explored the archipelago. The good tours take a full day, going out to more secluded islands. Tours only operate during the summer. Or take the ferry and island hop yourself!

4. Enjoy fika

Each day, Swedes pause to have a coffee (or tea) and a baked treat. This daily ritual is called fika . For Swedes, fika (or “to fika”) is a normal part of everyday life and can be done wherever you want, with friends or solo.

5. Tour the Vasa Museum

This museum houses the world’s only preserved 17th-century ship. The Vasa was so poorly built that it sank a mile from the dock. The cold sea preserved the ship and the museum does a wonderful job of putting the ship into its historical context. Admission is 170-190 SEK.

Other Things to See and Do in Stockholm

1. spend the day at djurgarden island.

Djurgarden is an island right in the middle of Stockholm. You can take a walking tour, eat at a relaxing restaurant, enjoy the amusement park located here, and visit a historic Swedish village. There are a lot of easy walking paths and it’s a popular spot for a picnic. In the summer, it’s a wonderful place for people watching or lounging with a book.

2. Take a bike tour

To explore all the city’s neighborhoods, rent a bike or treat yourself to a guided bike tour of the city. The city is not traffic-heavy and the winding streets are so much fun to explore on wheels. Expect to pay around 200-250 SEK per day for a rental while guided bike tours range from 200-400 SEK per person.

3. Enjoy Stockholm’s wild nightlife

Stockholm is known for its nightclubs and bars. It may be expensive, but Swedes love to go out and party. Hit the clubs and party with the locals. Watch out for the blackjack tables (they have them at every club!). My favorite places to go out at night are Debaser Hornstulls Strand, Anchor, Retro, Under Bron, Rose, and Soap Bar. The main nightlife area is called Stureplan. Expect to pay 100-260 SEK per club just in entrance fees!

4. Tour the Royal Palace

Built between 1697-1760 and located on the east side of the Old Town, the Royal Palace is a Baroque palace open to the public. It’s one of the must-see sights in Stockholm. The building dominates Gamla Stan. The royal family doesn’t live here anymore, but it’s still an important historical site. A combined ticket to visit the treasury, reception rooms, and museum costs 140 SEK. The palace is closed when dignitaries are being hosted.

5. See the art at the National Museum

The National Museum was founded in 1792 and contains works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Goya, Renoir, Degas, and Gauguin, as well as well-known Swedish artists such as Carl Larsson, Ernst Josephson, C.F. Hill, and Anders Zorn. The collection is quite robust, especially if you like Scandinavian artists. Admission is free, though temporary exhibitions cost 70-170 SEK.

6. Explore the Medieval Museum

Located underneath the Royal Palace, this museum is one of the better history museums in the city. The museum was built around excavated monuments and sections of the city wall so you can actually see and experience what the city was like 400 years ago. There’s also a medieval graveyard here and a warship from the middle ages. You learn a lot of details about medieval Sweden and life in Stockholm. It’s free too!

7. Tour city hall

Built in 1911, Stockholm’s City Hall is a historic brick building that features daily guided tours for 110 SEK. You’ll see the official areas of the hall and learn about the history of the building and local government. You can also go up the tower from May-September (for an additional 50 SEK) for amazing views of Gamla Stan and the city. Tours go through the areas where official council business takes place, as well as the ceremonial halls used for official city events and banquets.

8. Walk along Monteliusvägen

This is a mile-long walking path that offers fantastic views of Lake Mälaren. It’s one of the best places in the city watch the sunset from too. I love coming here for a sunset stroll.

9. Visit Fotografiska

Fotografiska features some of the best works in contemporary photography. It’s only a couple of floors, but its rotating exhibits are always top-notch so I’m always happy to visit. There’s a bar and café on the top floor that offers panoramic views of the harbor and Gamla Stan. Admission is 165-245 SEK.

10. Visit the ABBA museum

A visit to Stockholm wouldn’t be complete without checking out the quirky ABBA museum. Tickets are not cheap (admission is 250 SEK) but it’s a colorful way to experience Sweden’s legendary pop group (they’re one of the most popular pop groups of all time, with some 150 million records sold). The museum displays their original costumes and outfits, gold records, and props from the Mamma Mia films (which were based on the music of ABBA). There are lots of interactive displays highlighting the history and achievements of the group too.

11. Visit the Swedish History Museum

If you’re interested in Scandinavian history, this museum covers the Stone Age to the Vikings. Highlights include the Gold Room, which houses gold treasures from the Bronze Age to the 16th century. It’s a very detailed museum and I think they do a really good job explaining their Viking history. Admission is free.

12. Day trip to Uppsala

It’s easy to day trip from Stockholm, so take the train to Uppsala and enjoy this university town’s abundance of quaint shops, beautiful parks, and waterways. There are several fantastic museums as well. Sigtuna is another great day trip option, especially for its preserved medieval buildings dating back to the 10th century.

13. Have fun at Gröna Lund Theme Park

This 15-acre amusement park has over 30 attractions and is a popular venue for concerts during the summer. Originally opened in 1883, the park is located on Djurgården so it’s easy to access. Just keep in mind that the schedule changes a lot so be sure to check the website before you go. Admission is 120 SEK.

14. See the stunning subway art

Stockholm’s subway system also doubles as the world’s longest art gallery. Since 1957, artists have been invited to decorate the subterranean stations with their work, and today over 90 out of 100 stations feature public art. Kungsträdgården is one of the most famous stations and features a colorful abstract garden complete with sculptures formerly housed at the palace.

15. Visit Drottningholm Palace

Located just 30 minutes outside of the city, this 17th-century palace is the most well-preserved in all of Sweden. Modeled after the Palace of Versailles, the UNESCO-listed complex includes ornate gardens, a theatre, a Chinese Pavilion, and elaborately decorated interiors. It is the official private residence of the Swedish royal family and is only open on weekends. Admission is 140 SEK or 170 SEK including a guided tour in English.

16. Stroll Strandvägen

Hugging the waterfront in the prestigious district of Östermalm, Strandvägen is a boulevard lined with beautiful Art Nouveau buildings on one side and floating bars and cafes on the other. Finished just in time for the Stockholm World’s Fair in 1897, the promenade remains a popular place to spend an afternoon.

17. Take a canal tour

There’s no better way to learn about this maritime city than by taking to the water. Join one of the many different canal tours showcasing different aspects and areas of the city. A 1-hour tour generally costs around 240 SEK.

  For more information on other cities in Sweden, check out these guides:

• Gothenburg Travel Guide

Stockholm Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a 4-8-bed dorm room costs 200-260 SEK per night. For a private room, expect to pay at least 650 SEK per night. Most hostels in the city also add a 50-80 SEK surcharge for bed linen to offset the cost of cleaning (you are allowed to bring your own sheets, but sleeping bags are not permitted).

Fortunately, some of the hostels have some great perks. City Backpackers , for example, has a free sauna as well as free pasta while Skanstulls Hostel has free pasta, coffee, and tea. In expensive Sweden, free goes a long way to save money if you’re on a budget!

For those traveling with a tent, wild camping is legal outside the city. You just need to make sure you aren’t too close to someone’s house and are not camping in a cultivated field. But otherwise, Sweden’s Freedom to Roam law means you have a lot of leeway when it comes to wild camping.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels cost around 900 SEK per night. TV, free Wi-Fi, and coffee/tea makers are usually standard. Several hotels include free breakfast, so opt for these to save on your food budget.

Food – Food in Sweden is hearty and based heavily on meat, fish, and root vegetables. One of the most iconic and popular dishes is meatballs and a creamy sauce with potatoes and lingonberry jam. Crayfish, shrimp, mushrooms, and fresh summer berries are other popular staples. For breakfast, Swedes usually eat dark bread with cheese and vegetables. For fika, cinnamon buns are the go-to choice for many.

Like all of Sweden, eating out is expensive in Stockholm. You can get cheap food from outdoor street vendors starting at around 50 SEK, though these are few and far between. You can get hot dogs for around 30 SEK at places like 7-Eleven and Pressbyran.

Many convenience stores and cafes offer pre-packaged sandwiches and meals for 50-100 SEK if you’re on the go and want a quick bite. Whole pizzas cost around 65-95 SEK and most nice sit-down restaurant meals begin at 200 SEK for a main dish (for yummy pizza, check out Omnipollos Hatt).

If you’re looking for a drink, beer can be as cheap as 40 SEK, though 65-75 SEK is more common. Wine costs around 55-75 SEK at your average restaurant, and cocktails are around 100 SEK. If you’re on a budget and want to drink, stick to beer. You can buy your own alcohol at the government-run Systembolaget for even greater savings.

Some of my favorite places to eat are Herman’s, Omnipolls Hatt, Beijing8, Ramblas Tapas Bar, and Hattori Sushi Devil.

Grocery shopping costs around 600-700 SEK per week for basic groceries like pasta, rice, and veggies. However, if you cut down on your meat and cheese intake (some of the most expensive food items in Sweden) you can lower your costs significantly.

Backpacking Stockholm Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget, you should plan to spend 825 SEK per day. This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all your own meals, using public transportation, walking, limiting your drinking, and participating in free activities like visiting free museums and taking free walking tours.

On a mid-range of budget of 1,600 SEK per day, you can stay in private hostel rooms, get a public transportation pass and take the occasional Uber, eat some fast food, enjoy a couple drinks, and do some more paid activities like museum visits or a guided bike tour.

On a “luxury” budget of 2,330 SEK or more per day, you can stay in a budget hotel, eat out for all your meals, take taxis tog et around, drink more, do some excursions to the islands, and day trip to Uppsala. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in SEK.

Stockholm Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Stockholm may not be the most budget-friendly city to visit, but luckily there are a lot of ways to save money. It’s not too hard to save big if you know just a few tips. Here is how to visit Stockholm on budget:

• Purchase the Go City Stockholm Card – This pass gives you access to the city’s public transportation system and free entrance into 99% of the museums and canal tours. It’s well worth the money and definitely saves a lot more than it costs if plan to do a lot of sightseeing. It includes access to over 60 attractions and is 669 SEK for a 1-day pass or 1,569 SEK for a 5-day pass (which is a much better deal!).
• Stay with locals for free – Accommodation is expensive in Stockholm. Consider using Couchsurfing, a site that connects travelers with locals who offer a free place to stay. If you can cut out your accommodation costs, you will save a lot of money. It’s also a great way to get to know the local culture because you’re staying in someone’s home and you can ask them all the questions you want.
• Free walking tours – Free Tour Stockholm runs the best walking tours in the city. They offer a few different tours, including a tour of Gamla Stan. They generally last two hours and are available in English. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Drink beer – If you are going to drink, stick to beer. It costs about half as much money as mixed drinks or wine at bars and restaurants. For greater savings, buy your own alcohol at the government-run Systembolaget (it can be up to 50% cheaper that way).
• Avoid the big restaurants – Eating out in Stockholm is very expensive. If you want to eat out, try to stick to the outside grills you see on the side of the street. You can find a variety in them and they are under 100 SEK per meal (which is half the price you’ll pay at a sit-down restaurant).
• Try the lunch buffets – If you choose to eat out, the lunch buffets are an economical way to do so, often costing around 110 SEK. They are a popular option with locals. For a healthier option, try Hermans or Hermitage.
• Get a metro card – If you don’t plan to get the Stockholm Card, make sure you get a week-long metro pass. At 415 SEK for a week of rides, it is a better deal than paying 160 SEK for just 24 hours.
• Avoid clubs – Most clubs have a cover charge of over 250 SEK. Don’t waste your money.
• Refill your water bottle – Water is about 30 SEK per bottle. Since the tap water is drinkable (one of the cleanest in Europe!) you should just buy one bottle and reuse it. Not only will this save you money, but it will save the environment too! My go-to bottle is LifeStraw since they have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.
• Avoid the taxis – With the subway open late (or all night long depending on the day) you can avoid taking taxis. A typical ride costs more than 250 SEK, so avoid them at all costs! (Uber is cheaper than taxis but it’s still very expensive).

Where to Stay in Stockholm

Stockholm has lots of hostels and they’re all pretty comfortable and sociable. These are my suggested and recommended places to stay in Stockholm:

• Archipelago Hostel Old Town
• Generator Stockholm
• City Backpackers
• Skanstull Stockholm
• Castanea Old Town Hostel

How to Get Around Stockholm

Public Transportation – Public transportation in Stockholm costs 38 SEK per ticket, making the day pass (or multi-day pass) your best choice.

You need to purchase a reloadable card in advance or download the app. Cards cost 20 SEK and can be filled with as much credit as you need (including multi-day passes). A week-long pass is the best deal at 415 SEK, though you can also get a 24-hour pass for 160 SEK or a 72-hour pass for 315 SEK. These can be used on buses, ferries, and trains.

The subway is known as the tunnelbana (or T-bana). Subway trains operate 5am–1am on weekdays and all night on Fridays and Saturdays. Trains come every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night.

When coming from Arlanda airport, the bus is your cheapest option. Flygbussarna runs shuttles regularly, with tickets costing 119 SEK (one way). The journey takes around 45 minutes.

You can also take the Arlanda Express train to Stockholm’s central train station. It’s 299 SEK for a one-way ticket. The journey takes around 20 minutes.

Taxi – Most cabs cost around 285 SEK and should be avoided as the trains and buses run all night. Avoid taxis unless you have no other choice as they will burn a hole in your budget!

Ridesharing – Uber here is a little cheaper than taxis but it’s still quite expensive. I don’t recommend using it unless you have to.

Bicycle – Stockholm is a very easy city to bike around. Many hostels rent bikes or organize bike tours. Rentals cost around 200-250 SEK per day and guided bike tours range from 300-400 SEK per person.

When to Go to Stockholm

The ideal time to visit Sweden is from June to August, when the weather is warm and the days are (really) long. Stockholm is at its liveliest during this time, with locals taking advantage of the good weather at every opportunity. The parks are always full, and there are always fun events happening around town. Temperatures are often in the 20s Celsius (60s and 70s Fahrenheit) during the summer.

The downside to visiting then is that, since Sweden has a very short summer, the city is rather crowded, so be sure to book your accommodation in advance. This is especially true if you are visiting during Midsommar, the big Swedish holiday at the end of June. It’s a great time to experience Swedish traditions (which involve a lot of drinking).

May typically has great weather with occasional rain, while September has cooler temperatures and changing leaves. You’ll beat the crowds and still be able to explore the city on foot without the weather getting in your way (too much).

Attractions begin to close around late September, and the days get dark early in October. Temperatures start dropping around this time too. However, prices also decrease, and you’re likely to find cheaper airfares and accommodations during this time. Be sure to pack layers if you plan on visiting during this time of year.

The winter is very cold and sees a lot of snow and darkness. In the depths of the winter, you only get a few hours of light each day and temperatures plummet below -0ºC (32ºF). The plus side of traveling during the off-season, however, is that you can get the cheapest accommodations, and fees for certain attractions will be lower as well. While Stockholm is quite beautiful in winter, you won’t want to be walking around as much, and since it’s a great city to explore on foot, you will potentially be missing out.

How to Stay Safe in Stockholm

Sweden is one of the safest countries in the world. In fact, it ranks 15th on the ranking of the world’s safest countries (for comparison, the USA is 122nd) it’s a great destination for solo travelers — including solo female travelers.

However, Stockholm is still a large city, so the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). Keep an eye out for pickpockets, especially around the train stations and on public transportation.

As in any city, be aware of your surroundings and use common sense and you should be just fine. You’re not really going to find any scams in the city either. It’s pretty safe.

That said, always keep an eye on your drink when out at the bar and never walk home alone if intoxicated.

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, here’s a list of common travel scams to avoid.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Stockholm Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Stockholm Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Sweden and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hotels in Stockholm

Where to Stay in Stockholm: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 9 Best Hostels in Stockholm

Living Lagom in Sweden: An Interview With Lola Akerstrom

The Swedish Birthday Party

10 Ways to Visit Stockholm on a Budget

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Stockholm Travel Guide

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“It is not a city at all. It is ridiculous to think of itself as a city. It is simply a rather large village, set in the middle of some forest and some lakes. You wonder what it thinks it is doing there, looking so important.”

Kungsholmen

Millesgården, old stockholm: gamla stan and around, skeppsholmen, swimming in stockholm.

Ingmar Bergman

Without a shadow of a doubt, Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Built on no fewer than fourteen islands, where the fresh water of Lake Mälaren meets the brackish Baltic Sea, clean air and open space are in plentiful supply here. One-third of the area within the city limits is made up of water, while another third comprises parks and woodlands. As a result, the capital is one of Europe’s saner cities and a delightful place in which to spend time.

Broad boulevards lined with elegant buildings are reflected in the deep blue water, and rows of painted wooden houseboats bob gently alongside the cobbled waterfront. Yet Stockholm is also a high-tech metropolis, with futuristic skyscrapers, a bustling commercial heart and one of the world's hottest start-up scenes.

For most visitors, the first stop is the Old Town, Gamla Stan , a medieval jumble of cobbled streets and narrow alleyways huddled together on a triangular-shaped island. Close by is the tiny island of Skeppsholmen, home to the city's main modern art gallery and a quirky floating you hostel. To the north of the Old Town, the district of Norrmalm swaps tradition for a thoroughly contemporary feel: this is Stockholm's downtown area where you’ll find shopping malls, huge department stores and conspicuous, showy wealth. The Central Station and the lively park, known as Kungsträdgården – are located here too. Most of Stockholm’s museums and galleries are spread across this area and two others: to the east, the more residential Östermalm , with its mix of grand avenues and smart houses; and to the southeast, the green park island of Djurgården . Here the extraordinary seventeenth-century warship, Vasa , rescued and preserved after sinking in Stockholm harbour, and Skansen , the oldest and best of Europe’s open-air museums, both receive loud and deserved acclaim. To the south of the Old Town, the island of Södermalm was traditionally the working-class area of Stockholm, but is now a haven for hipsters. Its grids of streets, lined with lofty stone buildings, create an altogether more homely ambience than the grand and formal buildings of the city centre. It’s here, in a fashionable area known as SoFo (south of Folkungagatan) that you’ll find some of the city’s most enjoyable bars and restaurants. Crossing the narrow neighbouring island of Långholmen, known for its popular beaches, you’ll reach Kungsholmen, an island that’s fast becoming a rival to its southern neighbour for trendy restaurants and drinking establishments.

Brief history

Swedish stateman Birger Jarl founded Stockholm in 1255 in an attempt to secure the burgeoning city of Sigtuna from maritime attack. However, it was vibrant trade with other towns of the Hanseatic League, such as Hamburg, that helped give Stockholm, rather than Sigtuna, its prominent position within the Swedish realm during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Following the breakup of the Kalmar Union with Denmark, Swedish king Gustav Vasa established royal power in Stockholm, enabling the city to grow into the capital of one of Europe’s major powers by the seventeenth century. Military defeat by Russia in the Great Northern War (1700–21) put paid to Swedish territorial expansion in northern and eastern Europe, and, instead, Stockholm developed politically and culturally at the centre of a smaller Swedish state.

By the nineteenth century, Stockholm was still essentially rural, with country lanes, great orchards, grazing cows and even windmills in the centre of the city; the downside was the lack of pavements (until the 1840s) or piped water supply (until 1858), and the presence of open sewers, squalid streets and crowded slums. Having escaped bomb damage during World War II thanks to Swedish neutrality, the mid-twentieth century ushered in a huge modernization programme as part of the Social Democratic out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new policy: Sweden, and particularly the capital, Stockholm, was to become a place fit for working people to live. Old areas were torn down as “a thousand homes for a thousand Swedes” – as the project had it – were constructed. Today, Stockholm is a bright and elegant place, and with its great expanses of open water right in the centre, it offers a spectacular city panorama unparalleled anywhere in Europe.

To the west of the city centre, Kungsholmen has a very different feel, with wider, residential streets, larger parks, select shops and Stockholm’s Stadshuset (City Hall). Whereas Norrmalm is easy to get to on foot, Kungsholmen is best reached by T-bana (either Rådhuset or Fridhemsplan T-bana stations). Venture further into Kungsholmen and you’ll discover a rash of great bars and restaurants, and an excellent beach – Smedsuddsbadet – at Smedsudden, where you can swim in Lake Mälaren and enjoy fantastic views of the Stadhuset and the Old Town; to get to it, head through the popular park, Rålambshovsparken , or take bus #4 to Västerbroplan, from where it’s a five-minute walk.

Northeast of the city centre, Lidingö is a well-to-do commuter island, close to the ferry terminal at Värtahamnen serving Finland, Estonia and Latvia. The island’s main attraction is the startling Millesgården , the outdoor sculpture collection of Carl Milles (1875–1955), one of Sweden’s greatest sculptors and art collectors.

Phalanxes of gods, angels and beasts sit on terraces carved into the island’s steep cliffs, many of the animated, classical figures also perching precariously on soaring pillars, which overlook the distant harbour. A huge Poseidon rears over the army of sculptures, the most remarkable of which, God’s Hand , has a small boy delicately balancing on the outstretched finger of a monumental hand. Those who’ve been elsewhere in Sweden may find much of the collection familiar, as it includes copies and casts of originals adorning countless provincial towns.

If this collection inspires, it’s worth tracking down three other pieces by Milles in the capital– his statue of Gustav Vasa in the Nordiska Muséet on Djurgården; the Orpheus Fountain in Norrmalm’s Hötorget; and, out at Nacka Strand (Waxholm boat from Strömkajen), the magnificent Gud på Himmelsbågen , a claw-shaped vertical piece of steel topped with the figure of a boy, forming a stunning entrance marker to Stockholm harbour.

Three islands – Riddarholmen, Staden and Helgeandsholmen – make up the oldest part of Stockholm , a cluster of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century buildings backed by hairline medieval alleys. It was on these three adjoining polyps of land that Birger Jarl erected the town’s first fortifications. Rumours abound as to the derivation of the name “Stockholm”, though it’s now widely believed to mean “island cleared of trees”, since the trees on the island that is now home to Gamla Stan were probably felled to make way for the settlement. Incidentally, the words holm (island) and stock (log) are still in common use today. You can experience a taste of Stockholm’s medieval past at the excellent Medeltidsmuseet , at the northern end of the two bridges – Norrbron and Riksbron – which lead across to Gamla Stan.

Although strictly speaking only the largest island, Staden, contains Gamla Stan , this name is usually attached to the buildings and streets of all three islands.

Once Stockholm’s working centre, nowadays Gamla Stan is primarily a tourist hub with many an eminently strollable area, in particular around the Kungliga Slottet (royal palace), Riksdagshuset (parliament building) and Storkyrkan (cathedral). The central spider’s web of streets – best approached over the bridges of Norrbron or Riksbron – is a sprawl of monumental buildings and high airy churches which form a protective girdle around the narrow lanes. Some of the impossibly slender alleys lead to steep steps ascending between battered walls, others are covered passageways linking leaning buildings. The tall, dark houses in the centre were mostly owned by wealthy merchants, and are still distinguished by their intricate doorways and portals bearing coats of arms.

The main square of the Old Town is Stortorget , an impressive collection of tall pastel-coloured stone buildings with curling gables which saw one of the medieval city’s most ferocious battles, the “Stockholm Bloodbath”. Now, as then, the streets Västerlånggatan, Österlånggatan, Stora Nygatan and Lilla Nygatan run the length of the Old Town, although today their time-worn buildings harbour a succession of souvenir shops and restaurants. Happily, the consumerism here isn’t too obtrusive, and in summer buskers and evening strollers clog the narrow alleyways, making it an entertaining place to wander or to stop for a bite to eat. There are few real targets, but take every opportunity to wander up side streets, where you’ll find fading coats of arms, covered alleys and worn cobbles at every turn.

Off the western shore of Gamla Stan, the tiny islet of Riddarholmen houses not only one of Stockholm’s most beautiful churches, Riddarholmskyrkan , the burial place for countless Swedish kings and queens over the centuries, but also the Baroque Riddarhuset (House of the Nobility), a reminder of the glory days of the Swedish aristocracy.

East of Birger Jarlsgatan – the main thoroughfare that divides Norrmalm from Östermalm – the streets become noticeably broader and grander, forming a uniform grid as far as the circular Karlaplan, a handy T-bana and bus interchange full of media types coming off shift from the Swedish Radio and Television buildings at the eastern end of Kalavägen. Östermalm was one of the last areas of central Stockholm to be developed; the impressive residences here are as likely to be consulates and embassies as fashionable homes.

Off Gamla Stan’s eastern reaches lies the island of Skeppsholmen , home to two of Stockholm’s best youth hostels. However, it’s the eclectic clutch of museums and galleries, including the excellentModerna Museet, that draw most people here.

Whatever you do in Stockholm, don’t miss the delights of the city’s southern island, Södermalm , whose craggy cliffs, turrets and towers rise high above the clogged traffic interchange at Slussen. The perched buildings are vaguely forbidding, but venture beyond the main roads skirting the island and a lively and surprisingly green area unfolds, one that has, historically speaking, been working class at heart. After dark, you’ll probably end up in one of Söder’s bars or restaurants in the hip area known as So-Fo ; this is the handful of streets lined with cafés and restaurants which lie “ so uth of Fo lkungagatan” (hence the name), predominantly Åsögatan, Bondegatan and Skånegatan.

Fotografiska Muséet

A mere five minutes’ walk from Slussen along Stadsgårdsleden towards the Viking Line ferry terminal, Stockholm’s latest attraction, the Fotografiska Muséet , is housed inside one of the city’s former red-brick customs warehouses. Spread across three floors of airy exhibition space, the museum showcases the work of world-renowned photographers both in print and on film. Exhibitions change frequently though there’s every chance that one of the big names will be on display when you visit: recent displays have included Robert Mapplethorpe, France’s Sarah Moon and Scottish photographer Albert Watson, whose work featured on over two hundred magazine covers, including Vogue . For unsurpassed views of the Stockholm waterfront, head up to the museum’s top-floor café where the vistas are as breathtaking as the photographic work downstairs.

True to its name ("long island"), Långholmen is a skinny sliver of land that lies off the northwestern tip of Södermalm, crossed by the mighty Västerbron bridge linking Södermalm with Kungsholmen. There are a couple of popular beaches here. Leafy and peaceful, Långholmen is a delightful place to take a walk; on the way you’ll also get some stunning views of the city towards Stadhuset and Gamla Stan.

The water in Stockholm is clean and perfect for swimming during the long days of summer. The best beaches are all west of the city centre: on Långholmens there's Långholmens strandbad to the west of Västerbron bridge, and rocky Klippbadet to the east of the bridge; and across on Kungsholmen, Smedsuddsbadet has a large grassy area for sunbathing.

Alternatively, Södermalm is the place to go for swimming pools ; there are three in fairly close proximity: Forsgrénskabadet in Medborgarplatsen ( t 08 508 403 20; Medborgarplatsen T-bana); Erikdalsbadet, Hammarby Slussväg 20, ( t 08 508 402 58; Skanstull T-bana), which has an open-air pool; and the wonderful little Liljeholmsbadet, Bergsundsgatan 2, ( t 08 508 411 77; Hornstull T-bana), a pool in a boat-like pontoon contraption that floats in Lake Mälaren. The last of these is closed from mid-June to mid-August, and has nude swimming for women on Mondays, and men on Fridays; the water here is always 30°C. For unofficial nude bathing, head out to one of the islands in the archipelago and find your own private spot.

Top image: Things not to Miss: Rocky skerry in the outer archipelago of Stockholm, Sweden © Mikael Broms/Shutterstock

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Stockholm Travel Guide: 31 Best Things To Do & See in the Swedish Capital

The venice of the north.

Stockholm, Sweden’s capital , is super cosy!

As Alexander’s grandmother and grandfather live just south of the city, we have been lucky to visit Stockholm countless times over the years in all seasons.

“Fika”, old streets, walks along the canals and nice interior design shops… That’s just some of the things we love most about Stockholm.

You can easily spend a weekend in Stockholm – or several days – because there is so much to do and see at the many islands in the archipelago (which has given the city the nickname the Venice of the North).

In this travel guide to Stockholm, we share the best things to do and see as well as tips and recommendations for where to stay, good restaurants and cafés, how to get around and much more.

Where to stay in Stockholm?

• Budget: STF Zinkensdamm Hostel – Hostel five minutes from the beach in Södermalm.
• Value for money: Backstage Hotel Stockholm – Nice hotel close to nature on Djurgården.
• Luxury: Grand Hôtel Stockholm – Stockholm’s finest hotel.
• Search for the best value accommodation in Stockholm here .

Table of contents

Best things to do and see in Stockholm

Where to stay in stockholm, best restaurants and cafés in stockholm, how to get around stockholm, how to get to stockholm, our best tips for visiting stockholm.

Stockholm map and geography

Stockholm is spread over several different islands and islets. The central part of the city is located on 14 islands , all of which are connected by more than 50 bridges .

Stockholm’s archipelago consists of more than 20,000 islands (some say 30,000!), which spread east from the city towards the Baltic Sea.

Stockholm City Card

We’ll start this guide to Stockholm by mentioning an all-inclusive pass to the city: Stockholm City Card .

It’s a really great idea if you want to experience several museums or go on sailing trips in the archipelago.

You get access to more than 50 attractions and tours in Stockholm which you can visit freely for either 1 day, 2 days, 3 days or 5 days.

The card is valid, among other things, for:

• Going on an Archipelago Sightseeing Cruise with a guide.
• Sailing to Drottningholm.
• Visiting the Vasa Museum.
• Going up to SkyView Stockholm.

Some of Stockholm’s biggest and best highlights , in other words.

Several of the things to do and see in this travel guide to Stockholm are included in the Stockholm City Card, so we will mention it again later.

If you want to check out the prices and which museums, attractions and tours are included, you can read more about the Stockholm City Card here ( adlink ).

Tip: Remember to check the digital guide you receive after your purchase to see the updated list of included experiences and attractions, opening hours and specific booking instructions.

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Since you are reading this travel guide, you are probably wondering what to do and see in Stockholm.

Well, we have been to Sweden’s capital many times and still find new exciting shops and cafés to visit as well as parks and museums we haven’t been to before.

There are plenty of sights and attractions for both a weekend trip and a longer stay.

In our opinion, here are the best things to do and see in Stockholm:

• Gamla Stan – The old town
• Stockholm Palace – The royal residence
• Stockholm Cathedral – The royal church
• The Parliament House – The legislative assembly
• Riddarholmen and Riddarholm Church
• Stockholms Stadhus – The City Hall
• Walk along the canals
• Canal cruise – See Stockholm from the waterside
• Djurgården – The green lungs of Stockholm
• The Vasa Museum – A well-preserved 17th-century warship
• The Viking Museum – Norse mythology and an interactive exhibition
• Skansen – The world’s oldest open-air museum
• Gröna Lund – Stockholm’s amusement park
• Rosendal Garden and Rosendal Palace
• Junibacken – A fun playground for children
• Södermalm – Hip atmosphere and great food
• Fotografiska – Museum of Photography with a view
• Katarinavägen – View of Gamla Stan
• Skinnarviksberget – Natural view of the city
• Sofia Church and Vitabergsparken
• Östermalm – Fancy shops and beautiful architecture
• Östermalms Saluhall – Food market for aestheticians
• Norrmalm – Shopping and culture in the centre
• Hallwylska Museet – A luxurious family mansion
• Paradox Museum – Optical illusions for children
• More parks and green areas in Stockholm
• SkyView – View of Stockholm from the Globe
• Stockholm’s metro stations – An underground art gallery
• Hop-on hop-off bus tour – See the best of Stockholm
• Shopping – Everything from vintage shops to Swedish chain stores
• Drottningholm Palace – Royal castle from the 17th century

1. Gamla Stan – The old town

Stockholm’s old town Gamla Stan is a must-visit when in Stockholm.

The area is located on an island in the middle of the city ( Stadsholmen ) between Norrmalm and Södermalm and it’s lovely to stroll through when walking from one district to the other.

The streets of Gamla Stan are narrow, old and really cute .

And yes, it is a bit touristy with souvenir shops and slightly more expensive food options… But the area is still super charming!

Our favourite streets in Gamla Stan:

• Västerlånggatan with the many shops.
• The more quiet Prästgatan , which, among other things, includes The German Church.
• Köpmangatan (Stockholm’s oldest street).
• Österlånggatan , where there are several small galleries and special shops.

Also, don’t miss Stortorget with the beautiful coloured houses and The Nobel Museum as well as the narrowest alley of Stockholm: Mårten Trotzig’s Alley .

In Gamla Stan, you will find Stockholm Palace , Stockholm Cathedral and the Parliament House – all of which we will get into in more detail below.

2. The Royal Palace – The royal residence

If you are interested in history , royal families or as Victoria loves historical drama series and movies about the royals, you can’t miss The Royal Palace ( Kungliga Slottet in Swedish).

Even though it’s the royal couple’s official residence and workplace , large parts of the castle are open all year round.

The Royal Palace is built in Baroque style and we were really impressed with the pompous rooms , the art and the gold details in the old castle.

It’s like stepping into a movie! It’s also fun to experience if you have watched the Netflix series Young Royals .

In addition to the castle itself, the entrance ticket also gives access to the Royal Treasury ( Skattkammaren ) with incredible royal crowns and weapons as well as the Museum Three Crowns ( Tre Kronor ), where you can learn more about the development of the old Tre Kronor Palace from a defence fort to a Renaissance palace.

See opening times, prices and different types of tickets on their website .

3. Stockholm Cathedral – The royal church

Right next to Stockholm Palace (described above), you’ll find Stockholm Cathedral ( Storkyrkan in Swedish).

The cathedral, which is also called Sankt Nikolai Kyrka , is the oldest church in Stockholm.

Inside the church, there is, among other things, a famous statue of Saint George and the Dragon, a beautiful organ and an impressive altar.

It’s worth checking out if you are in Gamla Stan.

By the way, this is the church in which Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel .

The church can obviously be seen from the outside for free, but (unfortunately) going inside costs a little bit .

You can buy a ticket at the entrance.

Tip: The entrance fee to the church is included if you have the Stockholm City Card ( adlink ).

4. The Parliament House – The legislative assembly

The Parliament House is called Riksdagshuset, and it is the seat of the Parliament of Sweden .

The building is located on a small island, Helgeandsholmen , just north of Gamla Stan, and it’s open to the public ( read about visiting the Riksdag here ).

It’s an impressive building and it’s worth passing by to admire even if you don’t intend to go inside.

5. Riddarholmen and Riddarholm Church

Riddarholmen is located on a small islet west of Gamla Stan.

On the cute little streets , you will find the town court, Birger Jarl’s tower, the Gamla Riksarkivet and lots of beautiful views of the water.

Riddarholmen Church is a beautiful burial and memorial church where former Swedish regents are buried.

The church is open to visitors during the summer season and also arranges several concerts throughout the year.

6. Stockholms Stadhus – The City Hall

The city hall , Stockholms Stadhus, was built between 1911 and 1923 and it was designed by the Swedish architect Ragnar Östberg in a national romantic style.

There are tours of the city hall almost daily ( read more about times and prices here ).

The city hall is located next to the water at the tip of Kungsholmen , where you can get a great view of Riddarholmen and the western part of Södermalm from the City Hall vantage point ( Stadshuset utsiktspunkt ).

In addition to being the seat of Stockholm’s municipality, it’s also where the Nobel Prize is awarded every year in December in the magnificent halls.

7. Walk along the canals

One of the most characteristic features of Sweden’s capital is the many canals and waterways that wind through the city.

In fact, there is so much water that Stockholm is sometimes called the Venice of the North .

Taking the time to walk along the canals is definitely recommended!

Enjoy the views over the water from the many bridges and roads along the waterfront, for example from Strandvägen , which runs from Norrmalm to Djurgården, North Mälarstrand a little west of the city hall, or Söder Mälarstrand just on the other side on the western part of Södermalm.

8. Canal cruise – See Stockholm from the waterside

You can also choose to see Stockholm from the water by going on a canal cruise.

Several companies offer boat trips in the canals where you get a unique perspective on the city and pass several of the best sights in Stockholm.

There are also several different types of boat trips included among the experiences you can get with a Stockholm City Card ( adlink ).

Going on a canal cruise in Stockholm is definitely a wonderful way to see the city.

9. Djurgården – The green lungs of Stockholm

The island of Djurgården is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Stockholm which is especially nice to visit in the summer because of the large green areas.

Rosendals Trädgård (the Rosendal Garden) with Rosendals Slott (the Rosendal Palace), Ekoparken, Djurgårdens Bokskog and Frisens Park take up a large part of the island.

The historic open-air museum Skansen is worth a visit on a day with good weather, too.

Near the water, you will find the amusement park Gröna Lund , ABBA The Museum and other popular museums such as the Vasa Museum , The Viking Museum , The Nordic Museum and the children’s park Junibacken .

Below we go into more detail about several of the experiences and sights on Djurgården.

10. The Vasa Museum – A well-preserved 17th-century warship

The Vasa Museum is one of Stockholm’s most famous museums and iconic landmarks .

The Vasa Ship sank in 1628 shortly after it sailed from the port of Stockholm on its maiden voyage.

Around 300 years later, the ship was raised from the bottom of the sea and restored. Now it can be experienced up close.

Alexander naturally visited the Vasa Museum as a child with his Swedish family – because it’s truly an exciting museum for children where you, among other things, can play between the cannons and imagine being inside the ship.

On our most recent trip to Stockholm, we both visited the museum and it was impressive to see the gigantic ship from six different floors . That way we could soak in all the details and see the ship from all angles.

There are several small exhibits, including a screening of a 17-minute documentary about the ship’s history.

The Vasa Museum is included in the Stockholm City Card ( adlink ) which gives access to more than 50 experiences and sights in Stockholm.

You can also buy your ticket online ( adlink ) or at the museum entrance.

Children up to 18 years old can enter The Vasa Museum for free.

11. The Viking Museum – Norse mythology and an interactive exhibition

We have to admit that we didn’t have high expectations for the Viking Museum. But we were positively surprised and really enjoyed our visit.

Here, you can learn about Norse mythology , Scandinavian history and of course the Viking way of life .

If you have seen Viking-themed TV series like Vikings, The Last Kingdom or Norsemen, it’s fun to see some of the more in-depth descriptions of the characters you know from the screen.

The museum is right next to the Vasa Museum on Djurgården, so it’s easy to combine a visit to both – and that’s exactly what we did.

Something that made the Viking Museum special was a small “ride” called Ragnfrid’s Saga , where you sit in a carriage (like in an amusement park) that takes you on a journey back to the Viking Age and tells the story of the fate of a Viking family.

In the course of 11 minutes, the carriage takes you through different rooms with figures, exhibitions, videos as well as light and sound installations. It was really well made!

You can choose to hear the story in English, Swedish and several other languages.

Visiting The Viking Museum, like the Vasa Museum, is also included in the Stockholm City Card ( adlink ).

Alternatively, you can buy tickets online ( adlink ) or at the entrance.

12. Skansen – The world’s oldest open-air museum

It has been quite a few years since we visited Skansen but we still include it in this travel guide to Stockholm as it’s a really cosy place.

At the world’s oldest open-air museum, you can travel back in time and learn about how the Swedes lived in the 16th century and up to the first half of the 20th century.

There are 150 historic houses and farms from all over Sweden.

During the summer season, there are singing, dancing and concerts at the outdoor museum while the winter season includes a Christmas market and Christmas concerts.

We have to admit that we are a bit conflicted about the fact that Skansen also has enclosures with wild Nordic animals, an aquarium and a children’s zoo with farm animals. As vegans and animal lovers, we don’t think animals should be kept in captivity like that.

13. Gröna Lund – Stockholm’s amusement park

Gröna Lund is Sweden’s oldest amusement park and it’s beautifully located next to the water on Djurgården.

If you are travelling with children , this is a fun place to spend the day.

There are around 30 rides , lots of stalls with games and lotteries as well as several restaurants and snack stands.

In addition, there is also entertainment for children, concerts and dance evenings.

Read more about Gröna Lund’s opening hours, prices and events on their website .

14. Rosendal Garden and Rosendal Palace

Go for a walk, relax in the sun or enjoy the many flowers and plants in the large green garden in the middle of Djurgården.

In Rosendals Trädgård (the Rosendal Garden), you’ll find biodynamic fruits, vegetables and flowers (which you can buy and take home with you).

There is a cute greenhouse café with lunch dishes, coffee and cake, too.

Apart from that, the garden also has a cool labyrinth and the beautiful Rosendal Palace from the 19th century ( read more about opening hours and prices here ).

15. Junibacken – A fun playground for children

We have not visited Junibacken ourselves, but if you are in Stockholm with young children , you should definitely check it out.

The children’s museum is a cultural centre for children (and childlike souls) , and it has a theatre, interactive exhibitions, places to play, a large bookstore with children’s books and many references to Astrid Lindgren’s world.

Among other things, you can “lift up” Pippi’s horse and ride a story train that takes you through several of the well-known Astrid Lindgren stories.

It’s recommended to buy tickets in advance – they can be purchased online here ( adlink ) or at the museum entrance where they cost a little more.

16. Södermalm – Hip atmosphere and great food

Södermalm, often called Söder , is a large area in Stockholm south of Gamla Stan with lots of green parks, cosy cafés and restaurants, thrift shops, interior design and clothing stores.

The hippest part of Söder is the SoFo district (South of Folkungagatan), where you’ll find many creative and innovative fashion stores, designer shops, small galleries and trendy eateries.

Further down, we’ll mention some of the best things to do and see in Södermalm.

17. Fotografiska – Museum of Photography with a view

With a beautiful view over the water and Stockholm’s small islands, the museum Fotografiska is located in an old customs station building in the northernmost part of Södermalm.

The modern photography museum is often recommended as one of the best things to experience in Stockholm – and for a good reason!

When we stopped by, there were three exhibitions at the museum and we were particularly fond of the News Flash exhibition which displayed unique news photographs from different decades.

The museum shop is also quite cool with many books, posters and Swedish design objects.

Furthermore, the museum is open from 10 am to 11 pm every day which can be convenient if you have more energy in the evening when all the other museums and shops are closed.

You can see the current exhibitions on Fotografiska’s website .

And if you have already considered buying a Stockholm City Card ( adlink ), you will be pleased to hear that Fotografiska is also included in the pass.

Alternatively, you can buy tickets online ( adlink ) or at the entrance, where they (according to the museum) typically are more expensive.

Children up to the age of 13 enter for free.

18. Katarinavägen – View of Gamla Stan

Katarinavägen is technically not a thing to see in Stockholm but nevertheless, we think it should be mentioned in this travel guide.

The road starts at Slussen and if you continue further up, you’ll get a nice view of Gamla Stan and the rest of Stockholm.

When we visited in February 2023, a fence had been put up in connection with some road work, so the view wasn’t the best. Luckily, you could still see – and take pictures – through the fence.

19. Skinnarviksberget – Natural view of the city

Another scenic view of Stockholm can be seen from the top of Skinnarviksberget.

In the northwestern part of Södermalm, you can go up to a small cliff , from where you can see the town hall Stockholms Stadshus, among other things.

It’s free and we can imagine it’s a lovely area in the summer or around sunset.

20. Sofia Church and Vitabergsparken

If you are in the eastern part of Södermalm – east of SoFo – it might be worth checking out Sofia Kyrka (Sofia Church) and Vitabergsparken.

The church is quite special from the outside (nothing too special from the inside though) and we can imagine that the park is beautiful in the summer.

21. Östermalm – Fancy shops and beautiful architecture

North of Djurgården and east of Norrmalm, one of the finest areas in the city with some of the highest property prices is located: Östermalm .

Here you’ll find designer shops, fancy bars, classy restaurants, green parks, Stureplan Torv , theatres and museums (for example Dramaten and Historiska Museet ).

It is a lovely area to walk around with beautiful architecture.

22. Östermalms Saluhall – Food market for aestheticians

One of the popular experiences for both locals and tourists in Östermalm is to stop by the beautiful market hall Östermalm’s Saluhall.

The market is from the end of the 19th century and you can buy fresh ingredients , get a bite to eat or have a drink from one of the many stalls.

And even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can just take a look inside, because it’s simply a stunning building .

23. Norrmalm – Shopping and culture in the centre

Norrmalm – the large area in the middle of Stockholm – brims with (Swedish) fashion and design shops along the shopping street Drottninggatan as well as on the smaller streets near it and in the shopping centre called Gallerian.

In addition, you will find lots of restaurants and cafés in different price ranges.

Norrmalm is also where you’ll find Stockholm Central Station , The Royal Swedish Opera , Stockholm Concert Hall , St. Clara Church and Sergels Torg with the Cultural centre Stadsteatern and the park Kungsträdgården .

24. Hallwylska Museet – A luxurious family mansion

As we have already mentioned earlier in the guide, Victoria has a thing for historical dramas and luxurious residences .

Although Hallwylska Musee is not a royal residence, the family that lived there was extremely well off – and you can see their beautiful rooms and all the fine things they have collected at the museum today.

It is free to visit the museum on Wednesdays (when it’s also open for longer).

See prices and opening hours on their website here .

25. Paradox Museum – Optical illusions for children

If you are in Stockholm with children, they will love to experience the Paradox Museum.

The museum is full of interactive experiences and optical illusions where you can take cool pictures.

Buy tickets online here ( adlink ).

26. More parks and green areas in Stockholm

We have already mentioned several parks in Stockholm city but if you want to check out even more parks for a relaxing time or a picnic in the summer , these are great options:

• Observatorielunden
• Humlegården
• Tantolunden
• Drakenbergsparken

Rålambshovsparken , Hagaparken , Skogskyrkogården (the Forest Cemetery) and Nackareservatet are a bit further away from the city but they also look lovely.

27. SkyView – View of Stockholm from the Globe

The world’s largest spherical building , the Stockholm Globe Arena (which is now called the Avicii Arena ), is just south of the central part of Stockholm.

Large music, sports and cultural events are held here, and along the outside of the round building, you can get a ride in a glass gondola and get a “sky view” over Stockholm.

If you already have a Stockholm City Card (adlink) , a ride in SkyView is included. Remember to check whether you need to book a visiting time in advance.

Alternatively, you can buy tickets here (adlink) .

28. Stockholm’s metro stations – An underground art gallery

The metro stations in Stockholm deserve their own spot in this travel guide because many of them are worth a visit just for their special designs.

The metro system has been called “the world’s longest art gallery” and there are more than 90 subway stations decorated with paintings, rock formations, sculptures, mosaics, installations and more.

And it’s almost like walking into an art exhibition as so much work has gone into making them unique and exciting .

The metro system is also called tunnelbanan or t-banan.

Some of the most beautiful metro stations in Stockholm:

• T-Centralen – especially the blue line with blue plants on a white background.
• Stadion Station is built into the mountain and has, among other things, a beautiful rainbow painted on the wall.
• Solna Central Station is red and green with cool nature details.
• Kungsträdgården Station is green with references to the old French garden that once lay above ground.
• Tensta Station illustrates acceptance, equality and love with pretty paintings.
• Rådhuset Station has the bedrock is exposed and unsculptured which resembles a large cave.
• Tekniska Högskolan has a technology theme with quotes from the history of science mixed with paintings and sculptures that refer to the four elements and the laws of nature.

You can see more cool metro stations on Instagram if you search for #stockholmmetro or #metrostockholm .

29. Hop-on hop-off bus tour – See the best of Stockholm

The classic hop-on hop-off buses also exist in Stockholm and you should consider going on a tour if you don’t have much time in the Swedish capital, or if you prefer to walk less .

The buses drive directly to many of the best attractions in Stockholm (including top sights like Stockholm Palace, the Vasa Museum, Gamla Stan, Gröna Lund and the City Hall).

You can easily jump on and off as you like in either 24 hours or 72 hours or you can stay on the bus and see most of town from the comfort of your seat.

See prices and read more about which sights the buses stop at here (adlink) .

30. Shopping – Everything from vintage shops to Swedish chain stores

Stockholm has it all when it comes to shopping.

The city is full of thrift stores, flea markets, design shops, antique shops and, of course, interior design in all price ranges (including the world’s largest IKEA).

In many places, you will find Swedish chain stores such as H&M, Weekday, COS, & Other Stories, Arket, Tiger of Sweden, Acne, Fjällräven, Filippa K, Lindex and the like.

Stockholm’s largest shopping street Drottninggatan (in Norrmalm) is a long pedestrian street with all kinds of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.

Biblioteksgatan on the border between Norrmalm and Östermalm is a good place to go for more exclusive shops such as Mulberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and the like. The most expensive shops are located on the nearby Birger Jarlsgatan .

Some of the best vintage and thrift shops are Beyond Retro, Arkivet, Judit’s Second Hand, Humana Second Hand, Emmaus, Modern Retro Vintage and Myrorna – and Södermalm in general is probably your best bet if you’re looking for those kinds of shops.

For large shopping centres , you can check out NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Gallerian, Åhlens City, Mood Stockholm and Sturegallerian.

The flea market Hornstull’s Market can be visited every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from the beginning of April to the end of September along the southwestern part of Södermalm. Second-hand clothes, books, art, antiques, delicacies and street food are sold here and live music is often played.

There is also a daily fruit and vegetable market on Hötorget – and at the weekend there are various other stalls, too.

31. Drottningholm Palace – Royal castle from the 17th century

Unfortunately, we have never been to Dronningholm Palace and it was closed on weekdays during our last trip to Stockholm – but next time we must go there!

The large well-preserved royal palace from the 17th century is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and surrounding it, there’s a beautiful palace garden in baroque style, a fountain, an English landscape park with canals and bridges, a Chinese pavilion and a theatre.

The Swedish king and queen live in the palace’s south wing , so that part is closed but the rest of the palace is open to the public. And it looks pompous.

A boat trip to Drottningholm is included in the Stockholm City Card ( adlink ) from May to September and as far as we can see, it takes about 50 minutes to sail to the island of Lovön, where it is located.

See opening times, entrance prices and get more information on the palace’s website .

We can imagine that it’s a fantastic experience if you have plenty of time in Stockholm or already have seen many of the sights in the city.

Map of the best things to do and see in Stockholm

Find all the best sights and attractions in Stockholm on the map below.

Although it’s easy to get around Stockholm, it will be convenient for most people to live relatively centrally in the city.

The most central areas are Gamla Stan (Old Town), Norrmalm and Östermalm . Here, you will find many of the best hotels in Stockholm as you will be in the middle of the action and close to all the most famous sights and attractions.

Södermalm and Vasastan are great if you want to be a little further away from the inner city and live more like a local. We think most of the city’s best eateries can be found here – and it’s still easy to get into the city.

On Djurgården , you will be very close to the centre and especially Östermalm but at the same time, you will stay in a very quiet and green area. It’s also a really nice option.

Find great hotels in the different areas below or scroll further down to see the best hotels in Stockholm divided by price range.

Search for the best and cheapest hotels in each area here:

Södermalm .

• Östermalm .
• Djurgården .

Here are our favourite hotels in Stockholm divided by price range:

Luxury hotels in Stockholm

• Grand Hôtel Stockholm – The finest hotel in Stockholm. Norrmalm .
• Bank Hotel – Gorgeous and lavish. Norrmalm .
• At Six – Hotel with a subdued, exclusive colour palette. Norrmalm .
• Hôtel Reisen – Gamla Stan’s most luxurious hotel. Gamla Stan .
• NOFO Hotel – Close to several of Stockholm’s best eateries. Södermalm .
• Hotel Diplomat – Sophisticated 5-star hotel. Östermalm .
• Ett hem – Luxurious, exclusive atmosphere with only 12 rooms. Vasastan .

Value for money hotels in Stockholm

• Hotel With Urban Deli – Close to everything and with a roof terrace. Norrmalm .
• Victory Hotel – Hotel with a sailor theme. Gamla Stan .
• Nobis Hotel Stockholm – Sleep well in Östermalm. Östermalm .
• Backstage Hotel Stockholm – Djurgården’s best hotel. Djurgården .
• Hotel Hasselbacken – Perfect place to relax after a day in Stockholm. Djurgården .
• Best Western Plus Time Hotel – Cosy “standard” hotel. Vasastan .

Budget hotels in Stockholm

• City BackPackers Hostel – Shared dormitories and shared bathrooms for budget travellers. Norrmalm .
• Generator Stockholm – Centrally located with dormitories. Norrmalm .
• Castle House Inn – A good and cheap option for some very central accommodation in Stockholm. Gamla Stan .
• STF Zinkensdamm Hostel – Hostel in Hornstull. Södermalm .
• Hostel Dalagatan – Great prices at a slightly secluded location. Vasastan .

Since we eat plant-based, we have visited cafés and restaurants in Stockholm with great vegan options and these are the ones we have included in this guide.

But don’t be alarmed if you normally don’t eat plant-based foods. We have included the places because the quality is amazing and the food has plenty of taste – for all types of eaters!

We had breakfast at the cute little plant-based cafe À La Lo and were really impressed with their “frozen banana yoghurt” which was a smoothie bowl with lots of fresh fruit and granola.

Their Croque Mon Dieu with “cheese”, smoked tofu, tomatoes and (perhaps a little too much) mustard was perfectly crispy and delicious.

The coffee comes from The Belleville Brûlerie roastery in Paris and they bake their own cakes.

If you want to come by at the weekend, make sure to come early or reserve a table in advance.

Vegan Mahalo has two cafés in Stockholm – one in Vasastan on Odengatan (close to À La Lo) and one on Hornsgatan in Södermalm .

We tried the latter and it was nicely decorated and had plenty of seating.

They had a good selection of breakfast options but we love smoothie bowls and of course, we had to try one of their three options. We ordered a pretty pink “pitaya” (dragon fruit) smoothie bowl with delicious toppings and a sinful stack of pancakes with whipped cream, fresh berries and syrup.

Their quinoa croissants tasted a bit too healthy for our liking but plus points for having vegan croissants at all!

Victoria enjoyed a Golden Latte which was creamy with a good, not too-strong spice mix (turmeric, ginger, pepper and cinnamon).

Vasastan and Södermalm .

Piccola Nonna Pizza

When we passed by Piccola Nonna Pizza, two nice ladies were behind the counter making pizzas to go and to stay in the cosy, small shop with Italian pictures and artefacts on the walls.

The place is known for making great Neapolitan pizzas (with a thick, soft edge and bottom), and it’s our favourite kind of pizza.

We tried a Potato pizza with pesto and one with nduja – both were really good!

Falafelbaren

Fresh falafels are the best and at Falafelbaren, they serve them in pita bread with homemade red cabbage, pickles, tomatoes, cucumber and tahini sauce – just as it should be.

Drop Coffee

The specialty coffee shop Drop Coffee serves some of the best coffee in Stockholm .

Here we filmed a few shots for our coffee documentary Shade Grown Coffee .

Delivore and Goodstore

Not far from Piccola Nonna Pizza, there’s a café called Delivore .

It doesn’t look like much from the outside but we had the best Snickers cake with chocolate, caramel and peanuts.

We already had lunch and weren’t that hungry, but we simply had to try it and we’re so glad we did. Yum!

In the same store, behind Delivore, there is a hidden 100% plant-based supermarket : Goodstore .

You have to know it’s there because it’s not really something that’s advertised to the street – but if you’re vegan, vegetarian or just curious about alternatives, you should definitely stop by.

We came home with “salmon”, “shrimp”, “sausages” and various snacks that we had never seen in Denmark before.

Fern & Fika

The atmosphere was lovely at Fern & Fika, which is located all the way west in Södermalm close to Hornstull Station.

We got a black coffee from Gringo Nordic and a chai latte as well as a raw raspberry chocolate cake which was amazing – and there were many other delicious dessert options in the display case.

Kafé Plattan

In the big Kulturhuset at Sergels Torg and T-Centralen metro station in the middle of Norrmalm, you will find the 100% plant-based Kafé Plattan on the bottom floor.

While Kulturhuset (the House of Culture) has a shopping mall vibe, Kafé Plattan has actually made their corner really nice.

In the display case, they have several dishes ready to be heated and eaten in the café or taken away. At lunchtime, there is an even bigger menu.

We tried a sandwich with pesto and a hoisin “duck” wrap .

And then Victoria couldn’t help herself, so she had to try a vegan semla (a traditional Swedish sweet roll) with almond filling and whipped cream – it was tasty!

Normally we wouldn’t recommend dining in the middle of a touristic area as the prices are often higher and the quality lower…

And while the prices are perhaps a bit higher at Verte, which is located in Gamla Stan , the quality of the food followed!

Their plant burger was absolutely perfect and for a few extra Swedish kronor, we could replace the regular fries with sweet potato fries which we loooove.

We also had a bowl with “chicken” in BBQ sauce , black rice, avocado, mango, bean sprouts, chickpeas, sriracha mayo and more. Super delicious!

Gamla Stan .

It’s amazing walking around in Stockholm – it’s safe , clean and there are a lot of interesting things to see on the way.

The pavements are wide and pedestrians can walk everywhere in the city.

If you want to experience many of the sights we have included in this travel guide to Stockholm, you must prepare to walk several thousand steps a day .

You can for example use public transport for the longest distances and then walk around the different areas between all of the museums, parks and iconic buildings.

Public transport

Stockholm has a very good public transport system with several bus lines, metro (also called tunnelbana or t-bana), trams and boats.

If you take the metro , you can get an art experience too, as most of Stockholm’s subways are beautifully decorated. Check out number 28 of the best things to do and see in Stockholm further up in the guide to see which stations are extraordinarily cool.

A one-way ticket is valid for 75 minutes and can be purchased in SL’s ticket machines, in the SL app or directly on the bus and subway using a contactless credit card, Apple Pay or similar.

The price per trip for an adult was 39 Swedish kronor in 2023.

Of course, you can drive around Stockholm (as locals obviously do to some extent) but for tourists, we wouldn’t recommend it.

Parking in Stockholm can quickly become a nightmare and it’s expensive . It’s not unusual with prices from 90 to 120 Swedish kronor per hour or a 24-hour ticket for 400 Swedish kronor.

There are of course several hotels that offer parking if you travel with a car.

The bike lanes in Stockholm are good (and there are many) so it is definitely an option to bike around the city .

In the summer, we imagine it’s a nice way to get around in the sunny weather.

There are several bicycle rental companies with both regular bikes and electric bikes.

Read more about the various options for renting bicycles here .

Drive to Stockholm

Although it is not great to experience Stockholm with your own car, it is certainly possible to drive to Stockholm from other locations in Sweden or its neighbouring countries.

The trip from Copenhagen in Denmark is 650 kilometres, which takes ~8 hours to cover. From Oslo in Norway , you’ll be driving for about 6.5 hours with a length of 520 kilometres.

From Gothenburg, there are 460 kilometres to Stockholm and a journey time of just over 5 hours, while the trip from Helsingborg is 550 kilometres, which according to Google Maps takes about 6 hours.

We would recommend that you either park your car at your hotel car park/parking garage , or alternatively find a free parking lot outside the city and take public transport back in.

With a little research, we have found free parking in the suburbs of Liljeholmen and Solna , but check for yourself what applies at the time you visit the city and whether the free parking is valid for only 24 hours or for several days.

Train to Stockholm from Denmark or Norway

The best way to get to Stockholm from Denmark or Norway is in our opinion by train.

Stockholm Central Station is located in the heart of the city, and it’s easy to get everywhere from here by public transport.

The journey from Copenhagen Central Station to Stockholm Central Station only takes a little more than 5 hours if you hop on an SJ express train (fast train).

From Oslo Central Station , the train ride takes about 5.5 hours.

It is also possible to travel to Stockholm with Snälltåget (a different train company) from Malmö , which takes approx. 6 hours, or from Helsingborg , where it takes 5-6 hours.

Find train tickets and see prices on SJ’s website .

Fly to Stockholm

There are many flights from Europe and the rest of the world flying into Stockholm every day.

The main airport is called Arlanda and it’s located 45 kilometres north of the city.

If you take the (slightly expensive) train Arlanda Express , you can reach Stockholm from Arlanda in just 20 minutes.

If you want to make it a little cheaper, you can take a bus from Arlanda to the train station Märsta and then take the train to Stockholm from there. That takes ~45 minutes in total.

There is also a less-used airport in Bromma, which is somewhat closer to the city.

You can use our adlink below to find the cheapest tickets:

Find the cheapest tickets to Stockholm on Momondo .

• Remember a good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use .
• Drink tap water . The water quality in Sweden is excellent. You can easily drink water from the tap.
• Walk around . Walking from one place to another is often the best and most pleasant way to get around Stockholm.
• Take the subway . You can also take the metro and enjoy the art installations on the stations.
• Consider buying a Stockholm City Card (adlink) where you get access to more than 50 sights and attractions in Stockholm. In summer, there is also free transport with selected hop-on hop-off buses and boats.
• Explore the parks . The parks in Stockholm are great places to relax and breathe some fresh air.
• Don’t forget fika . Having a cup of coffee and something sweet is a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
• Credit cards can be used virtually anywhere, so you don’t need to carry cash. In fact, not every shop accepts cash.
• Travel insurance (adlink) is important. Never travel without it.

Thanks for reading along

Thank you for reading our travel guide to Stockholm. We hope it has been helpful!

What do you think of Sweden’s capital? Are any of the things to do in Stockholm on your list yet?

If you’ve already been there, it would be great to hear your best tips and tricks.

Don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments below if you haven’t been to Stockholm yet. We are happy to help.

Pin for later:

Our favourite travel resources:

• Booking.com for cheap hotels.
• Momondo for the best flight deals.
• SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller . All three compared here .

Our camera gear:

• Panasonic GH5 . Used for all of our photos and videos.
• DJI Mavic 2 Pro . Best drone out there!
• Sirui Tripod . Lightweight and strong.
• See all of our camera gear here .

Related articles:

• Helsingborg, Sweden Travel Guide : 11 Best Things To Do & See - Everything you need to know about Helsingborg in Sweden, including what to do, where to stay and our best tips
• Day Trip to Malmö From Copenhagen: How to Get There & What to Do - Discover the charm of Sweden’s 3rd largest city just 40 minutes by train from Copenhagen
• Mölle and Kullaberg Nature Reserve: Breathtaking Slopes and Hiking Trails in Scania, Sweden - Hiking with great views over Kattegat and Öresund in Southwest Sweden
• City break in Lund, Sweden: 6 Amazing Things to Do - A day in the charming university city in Scania
• Hiking in Söderåsen National Park in Scania, Sweden - A beautiful afternoon with lush forests, high cliffs and flowing streams

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Easily Scandinavia’s most beautiful capital, Stockholm is an exemplary mash-up of creative and eco-friendly lifestyles, innovative startup companies, a flourishing indie music scene, a hipster café culture, and an undying love for the outdoors due to its vast archipelago and proximity to water. Geographically, Stockholm is spread out across 14 unique islands, from historic Gamla stan (old town)—with its cobblestoned streets, earth-toned buildings, and the Royal Palace—to lush Djurgården, with its forests, green parks, rose gardens, and biking paths. For the city’s most exciting districts, head over to Östermalm to hobnob with Stockholm’s elite in Michelin-starred restaurants and upscale clubs, or wander around Södermalm, Kungsholmen, and Hornstull for eclectic shopping, excellent fusion restaurants, and cool indie nightclubs.

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When’s the best time to go to Stockholm?

The best time to visit Stockholm is between the months of May and September, when the city emerges from a dark winter and fully comes alive. Summer temperatures are moderate, and Stockholm’s archipelago is at its most beautiful during the long summer days from June to August.

How to get around Stockholm

Stockholm is served by two international airports. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the main gateway and takes 40–60 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic conditions. Stockholm Bromma Airport is located right in town and serves short-haul flights between Stockholm and a few Baltic and Northern European countries. Taxis are expensive, so avoid them. The cheapest way of getting from Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport to town is to take an airport transfer bus like Swebus , which gets you downtown in 45–50 minutes. The fastest way is to take the 20-minute Arlanda Express train from the airport directly to Stockholm’s Central Station.

Run by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) , Stockholm’s public transport system is comprised of subways (tunnelbana), bus and tram networks, ferries, and some long-distance trains. Tickets can be purchased at stations and kiosks showing the “SL” logo, and you can find departure times and schedules online. Alternatively, you can purchase the Stockholm Card , which provides unlimited rides on public transportation including access to over 80 attractions around the city.

Can’t miss things to do in Stockholm

Take a three-hour brunch cruise aboard the refurbished 1931 steamboat SS Stockholm to Vaxholm and back, and enjoy impressive views of Stockholm and its archipelago along the way from panoramic windows. You’ll dig into traditional Swedish classics like pickled herring ( sill ) and cured salmon (gravlax) alongside a variety of warm dishes, salads, potatoes, breads, and desserts. Pace yourself on the cold starters because once you start gorging, the tables are cleared to bring out sausages, meatballs, bacon, scrambled eggs, and other hot plates.

Food and drink to try in Stockholm

Eating out can dent your wallet, so choose wisely. Stockholm shines when it comes to seafood—think fish and small shellfish like crawfish and shrimp, but forget jumbo-sized prawns—and local game like reindeer, moose, and wild boar. While you’ll find some excellent restaurants that serve international fare such as Indian, Thai, Middle Eastern, and Japanese, the really excellent ones are few and far between. Be sure to “fika like a local” and dig into Swedish pastries such as kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) while you’re in town. For fine dining and upscale Michelin-starred restaurants, head over to Stockholm’s Östermalm and Norrmalm districts. You can find more laid-back yet high quality restaurants in the Södermalm, Kungsholmen, and Hornstull districts of town. Stockholmers love their happy-hour cocktails, and the city’s nightlife is hip, indie, and fresh. Most of its pubs and clubs are clustered around the neighborhoods of Östermalm, Gamla stan, and Södermalm.

Culture in Stockholm

Stockholm’s subway system, the tunnelbana , is the world’s longest art exhibition —110 km, with a variety of paintings, sculptures, mosaics, tiles, installations, and other durable art displays put together by 150 artists in over 90 of the city’s 100 stations. Stockholm also has dozens of offbeat museums that showcase its diverse interests—from the ABBA museum , dedicated to the legendary Swedish band, to Fotografiska , the city’s best contemporary photography museum, as well as Skansen , which opened in 1891 to spotlight pre–industrial-era Swedish lifestyles and now is the world’s oldest open-air museum.

When summer rolls around, Stockholmers are out and about celebrating numerous festivals. Summer begins with the most iconic, Midsummer , when both locals and visitors dance around maypoles with wreaths of wildflowers and garlands on their heads. Other popular festivals include Smaka På Stockholm (Taste of Stockholm), which is the country’s largest food festival; Kulturfestival and Street Festival , celebrating the performing arts; Stockholm Pride , Scandinavia’s largest LGBT parade; and various music festivals such as Summerburst.

Local travel tips for Stockholm

• Most locals know to ditch their cars. Frankly, most of them don’t own cars anyway, for good reason. Frequent traffic jams congest Stockholm’s narrow streets. But public transportation is extensive and punctual, so you won’t miss not having a car.
• Because eating out can add up quickly, locals also know to look for signs that read “Dagens rätt” or “Dagens Lunch.” This means “dish of the day”—often a discounted meal.
• If you plan on shopping, know that many stores and attractions open their doors late in the morning (10-11am) and close early (5-6pm). Plan accordingly to avoid surprises.

Local Resources

• Slow Travel Stockholm
• Visit Stockholm
• Spotted by Locals
• Totally Stockholm

Practical Information

• Most locals speak English, so you can get away with knowing only “hej” (hello) and “tack” (thanks) in Swedish.
• Many stores open around 9 or 10 a.m. and close between 5 and 6 p.m. On weekends they shut even earlier—and on Sundays they may not open at all—so plan your shopping accordingly.
• Many businesses operate on a queuing system using a number dispenser, so be on the lookout for these when entering a store.
• Sweden is an almost cashless society—everyone uses credit cards, though you should save a few coins for public toilets.
• The country is very environmentally conscious—from organic restaurants and cafes to recycling habits and ubiquitous biking culture—so be cognizant of this when using public spaces.
• If you’re pushing a stroller, you get to ride public buses for free.
• Tipping is not required in Sweden.
• Sweden uses the 230 volt Europlug—type C and F. Sweden’s currency is the krona.

Guide Editor

Stephen Whitlock is a Yorkshireman who moved to New York and then, a decade later, relocated to Stockholm, Sweden.

Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Stockholm-based award-winning writer and photographer.

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Essential travel guide to stockholm, sweden [updated for 2024].

Stockholm is a brilliant city, both in the short, cold hours of winter, and the long, warm days of summer. You’ll find many great things to fill your vacation in Stockholm. We’ve put together this essential travel guide to Stockholm so you know where to start when planning your trip.

This guide includes all the top things to do, where to eat and drink in the city, and where to stay in Stockholm. Get ready, because you’re going to need as much energy as you’ve got to see it all.

These are not only some of the top things to do, see, eat and drink in Stockholm, they are also some of our personal favorites. It is an awesome city, easy to walk around, with plenty of things to do and see, especially in the summer months when the sun stays up until late into the night.

Table of Contents

What to Do in Stockholm

There are many great things to do in Stockholm that you don’t want to miss. One of my favorite things to do, besides walking around the incredible Gamla Stan, is taking an archipelago cruise around the outskirts of the city. There are dozens of islands scattered around the waterways. You absolutely must get out on the water to see it all.

You may not have guessed it, but Stockholm also has fantastic food options, and many unique foods and drinks you should try while you’re there. It’s a great idea to go on a food tour at the beginning of your time there to get acquainted with the local food and find all the great spots to go back to during your stay.

Another favorite thing to do is ride the subway to see the incredible subway street art . You won’t believe how creative they were in building those stations. You can spend a whole day riding around seeing them all.

While in the city, be sure to see the Vasa Museum, Abba Museum and the Royal Palace.

If you want to plan ahead and get tickets for some of the top things to do in Stockholm, here are some of the tours we enjoyed in Stockholm. You can pre-book the tours through our affiliate links on Viator :

• Welcome to Sweden Culinary Tour in Stockholm
• Stockholm Old Town & Vasa Museum Private Walking Tour
• Best of Stockholm Photography and Sightseeing Tour
• The Original Stockholm Ghost Walk and Historical Tour – Gamla Stan

And don’t forget your Stockholm Pass ! It gets you free entrance to many sights, as well as free transportation around the city.

What & Where to Eat in Stockholm

There are some really great Scandinavian foods you have to try while in Stockholm. You can find plenty of Swedish restaurants in Stockholm, so I encourage you to eat a those restaurants and skip the international food that you can find everywhere.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Swedish meatballs – The Swedish meatballs are a must try for sure. They come with mashed potatoes and lingonberries on the side, with a thick and tasty gravy poured over the meatballs. Yum!
• Salmon (Gravlax) – This cured salmon is a major treat that is common in Sweden. Smoked salmon is also easy to find in the city and something you must try.
• Knäckebröd – This crunchy rye bread is a specialty in Stockholm. Eat it with gravlax or with fish soup.
• Surströmming – Fermented herring isn’t for everyone, but you have to try it at least once.
• Fika – this is actually more like a verb – to fika. It means to take a short break in the afternoon for a coffee and bite to eat with a friend.

There are a lot of high-end restaurants serving new Nordic cuisine in Stockholm. You won’t have any trouble finding a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Here are four that we really enjoyed.

• Gastrologik
• Mathias Dahlgren

Where to Stay in Stockholm

Stockholm has many different neighborhoods you can stay in, all that have a unique charm and offerings. Many tourists choose to stay near the Gamla Stan, because many of the top attractions are within walking distance. Other good areas for tourists include Sodermalm and Norrmalm.

Public transportation is really easy to use in Stockholm and can get your just about anywhere you want to go, so don’t worry too much about which neighborhood is best. They’re all fun and accessible. Here are our top recommendations for places to stay for affordable luxury in Stockholm.

You can use any of the links below to book, see prices or read reviews (these are affiliate links, so we will receive a small commission if you use them at no cost to you! )

• Radisson Blu Waterfront: Walking distance to many top sights, located on the waterfront, near the train station. Nice, basic rooms and a great breakfast.   Read reviews   | Book on Booking.com
• Haymarket by Scandic: Beautiful art-deco style hotel in the Hötorge t  market area, great location   Read reviews  |  Book on Booking.com
• Hotel Diplomat: Lovely upscale hotel located on the waterfront in the Ostermalm area of town   Read reviews  |  Book on Booking.com

Need more choices? See Booking.com’s best hotels in Stockholm.

Essential Travel Guide to Stockholm, Sweden

Read more about Stockholm

13 Delicious Foods to Try in Sweden

Exciting Self-Guided Stockholm Subway Art Tour

Discover Swedish Food on a Stockholm Food Tour

You might also like these articles:

• 55 Unique Things to Do in Sweden (by Swedish Nomad)

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home

• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

8 thoughts on “ Essential Travel Guide to Stockholm, Sweden [Updated for 2024] ”

Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. Love these 🙂

Thanks Julie. They’re fun to put together 🙂

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A local’s guide to Stockholm: 10 top tips

Sweden’s capital comes alive in summer, with its archipelago of stunning islands perfect for boat trips and swimming, not to mention a buzzing food scene

City swimming

The Stockholm archipelago is surrounded by clean waters, so the wild bathing opportunities are numerous. A good spot in the actual city is Långholmsbadet , a small beach on the north shore of Långholmen Island, where you can swim, relax on the sand or lawns, and there are plenty of places for a coffee or a meal. There used to be a prison here, which has now been converted into a hotel and hostel (doubles from £48 room-only). A few hundred metres to the west of the beach you can dive from the rocks at Klippbadet . On the way to the island, check out the hipster area around Hornstull , with its tattoo studios, cosy bars, restaurants and trendy barbers. Subway Hornstull

Steamboat rides

Stockholm’s archipelago is made up of around 24,000 islands, so a boat trip is definitely a good idea. Several companies offer short guided tours and longer trips. A steamboat ride is a good choice: the SS Blidösund , built in 1910 navigates the outer archipelago, while the slightly older Mariefred travels on Lake Mälaren, in the north-east of the city. Blidösund is also used for special tours to the more distant islands. SS Blidösund from £15 return, blidosundsbolaget.se ; Mariefred from £7.20 return, mariefred.info

Newer Nordic cuisine

At Ekstedt , a fine-dining restaurant in the city centre, all the cooking is done with fire: in a fire pit, a wood-fired oven, wood stove and smokers. The chef/owner, Niklas Ekstedt, uses these 19th-century cooking techniques to create his version of new Nordic cuisine, with dishes such as hay-infused sweetbreads and salsify, birch-fired lamb with ramson capers, and flamed rhubarb. The wine selection is exciting and the service splendid. It’s not cheap, of course (the four-course tasting menu is £78), but it’s worth it for the changing aromas and the interplay of flavours and textures. Humlegårdsgatan 17, Subway Östermalmstorg, ekstedt.nu

Street food

There’s a crucial difference between Atlantic and Baltic herrings. The latter is smaller and leaner, but also more complex in flavour. It is also the one used to make famously stinky surströmming – maybe the world’s foulest smelling fermented fish, mostly eaten by people in the north of the country. A better introduction to the world of Baltic herring is the kiosk at Kornhamnstorg in the old town, where it’s eaten fried on crisp bread – traditional poor man’s food that has become fast food (£3.50-£7.50). Another Swedish street delicacy is tunnbrödsrulle : sausages wrapped in a soft flatbread with mashed potatoes and – ta-da! – shrimp salad. Unforgettable, whether you like it or not. Kornhamnstorg 4, Subway Gamla

Food market

Stockholm has three major indoor food markets, and Hötorgshallen is the most down to earth, inexpensive and varied: as well as traditional Swedish sellers, there are foods from Latin America, North Africa, Finland, Central Europe and the Middle East. The queues are sometimes long but the quality is very good, whether you’re buying matured Swedish cheese, Finnish liquorice, merguez, duck fat, veal kidneys or the special fermented Swedish sausage isterband . The sellers outside on Hötorget Square have good mushrooms and berries, too. Sergelgatan 29, Subway Hötorget, hotorgshallen.se

Cultural hub

The centre of Stockholm doesn’t have the canals and green parks that are abundant elsewhere in the capital, but it has its own late-modernist charm. Kulturhuset is a friendly five-storey fusion of library, theatre, cinema, art gallery, cafe, tourist information and culture centre. Here, chess geeks, cinephiles, children, pensioners and sightseers all gather under the same roof – a good starting point for a visit. On the top floor is the Panorama cafe, with views of the city and decent sandwiches and salads. kulturhusetstadsteatern.se

Swedish sauna

In Sweden, the sauna is a big thing. People mostly take saunas at home, but there are quite a few public bathing houses, known as bastu (Swedish for “sweat bathing”). One of the best is Centralbadet , which dates back to 1904 and retains its elegant Jugend (art nouveau) style. It is quiet, clean and spacious, decorated in shades of blue and purple, and you can relax in various pools, in dry and wet saunas, a steam bath or Jacuzzi, and also enjoy a beer or light meal. Session £24, including gym and spa, Drottninggatan 88, Subway Hötorget, centralbadet.se

Old-school dining

For traditional Swedish food in an old-fashioned setting, Tennstopet has it all: atmosphere, white linen, veteran waitresses and classic Swedish cuisine, including pickled herring, toast with shrimps and whitefish roe, pork and onion, and home-baked Swedish småkakor (small cookies).The daily-changing set lunch is £11. It’s famous as a haunt for spies, diplomats, actors, journalists and writers. The menu varies according to season, with special theme weeks like crayfish and surströmming in August, a goose supper in late autumn, hare in winter and a crow dinner (yes, really) in spring. On the walls hang paintings by the many artists who have dined here over the past century and more. Dalagatan 50, Subway Odenplan, tennstopet.se

Grave matters

Swedes love nature and tranquility and there’s nowhere better to get a sense of this than walking among the trees, graves, chapels and woodlands of the Skogskyrkogården cemetery. The construction of this “graveyard in the woods”, a Unesco world heritage site, began in 1917 and the task of transforming the boggy terrain overgrown by pines into a burial place for over 100,000 people was led by cult architect Gunnar Asplund, who also designed Stockholm City library. From the nearby meditation hill, there’s a lovely panorama of the cemetery. Subway Skogskyrkogården, skogskyrkogarden.stockholm.se

Bag a bargain

Högdalen , an unpretentious area in south Stockholm, is home to Andra Varvet , one of the city’s best secondhand stores. It’s a social enterprise that rescues porcelain, books, gadgets of all sorts, clothing, textiles, kitchen utensils, furniture and much more from going to the tip. Everything is carefully selected, cleaned and sorted. After shopping, head to the small, low-key cafe and refuel on cheap shrimp sandwiches and strong Swedish coffee. Högdalsgången 17, Subway Högdalen, andravarvethogdalen.se

Getting there As an alternative to flying to Stockholm, see The Man in Seat 61’s website for train and ferry options.

Where to stay

The AF Chapman & Skeppsholmen is a famous hostel on an old sailing vessel moored in the centre of the city, with beds from about £22 a night.

When to go May to September, when the city is green, the streets alive, boats to the islands more frequent and the weather warm.

Prices £1 = 11.82 krona. A bottle of beer in a bar costs about £6.50; a coffee in a cafe about £3.50.

Jens Linder is a chef and food writer

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Hej! Welcome to Stockholm Travel Guide

Stockholm Travel Guide is packed with travel tips and inspiration. If you are planning a trip to Stockholm, Swedens beautiful capital, you'll find almost everything you need to know before you go. Welcome! [Updated 07-06-2023]

Ok! First thing you need to know is that the cheerful Swedish “hej!” means “hi!” or “hello!”. Remember that and then just use English for the rest of the conversations when you are in Sweden. Not to brag, but we Swedes are really good at it 🙂

Second thing. Below you'll find quick links to the most important pages for planning a trip to Stockholm. More information is to be found in the menu ↑

Arriving in Stockholm

Welcome to Sweden! You'll probably touch down at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. But then what? Taxi, bus, train or pre-booked transfer? Read this guide to ground transportation .

What to see in and around town

Plan ahead! Stockholm has a lot of spectacular sights and some of them should be booked in advance. Let us show you the way from Vasa Warship and Vikings to more modern attractions in Stockholm .

Where to stay

Skip the international chains! Soft sheets, smart designs, sumptuous and healthy breakfasts – always in Scandinavian style. These locally owned hotels are where to stay in Stockholm .

Getting around town

Standard advice: If you're have the ability to walk for a while, just put on your walking shoes and go! But sometimes the subway, buses and trains come in handy. Here's more to read on public transport in Stockholm .

Shopping in Stockholm

International fashion and local designers. Luxury shopping, Swedish craft, H&M and moose souvenirs. Gigantic shopping malls & small shops. Stockholm's got it all. Here's our take on shopping in Stockholm .

Weather and temperature

Is it cold? It may very well be. Is it wet? Yup, more often than we approve of. Is it warm and sunny? On occasion. And those long summer days and nights are absolutely magical. Dive into our facts on the weather in Stockholm .

About Stockholm Travel Guide

The site is managed by a guy named Göran , with some help from other local experts. We are dedicated to helping you get most out of your trip to Stockholm. If you can't find what you are looking for in the menu above, please get in touch and I'll try to help you out. Send an e-mail to [email protected] or chat with us on the Facebook Page for Stockholm Travel Guide.

We live in Stockholm!

Everyone who contributes to Stockholm Travel Guide lives in this wonderful city. We work, eat, party and sleep here every single day. Except for when we go to London or NYC on vacation 😉

Stockholm Travel Guide knows Stockholm!

The streets, the alleys, the old and beautiful buildings. The best place to get a fika! Forget Tripadvisor, we've got the expert advice you've been looking for.

We love Stockholm!

In case that's not clear yet: We are completely and utterly in love with this charming old fellow that goes by the name Stockholm. Our mission is to make you feel the same way ♥

Tours and attractions at Stockholm Travel Guide

Our most important advice for planning a trip to Stockholm is this: Do your research, find out what you would like to see and do, and make the reservations online before you jet away to Sweden.

Why? Because you'll get a better price booking online than when booking directly with the attractions. And you have your tickets ready for the day that suits you best. Our partners Get Your Guide and Viator, both well known and trusted providers of tours & attractions, guarantees safe and smooth reservations.

» See all tours, attractions, discount cards & more

Choose a Scandinavian hotel for the right feeling

Finally. This is sort if a big deal to us. You've probably stayed at Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott and other international chain hotels before. That's fine.

But when in Stockholm, make sure to relax, sleep and dine like a Scandinavian.

This town offers excellent hotels by local brands you probably never heard of, until now. Strawberry (formerly Nordic Choice) and Scandic has some really cool and spectacular properties, with great restaurants as well. And there are quite a lot of smaller and more personal hotels and B&B:s to be found. Or, just let us guide you:

» Read our guide to hotels in Stockholm

Local expert, travel writer (visited 50+ countries), and I've been living in Stockholm for more than 20 years. My mission with this travel guide is to give you the best possible advice for your visit to Stockholm and to share tips on my own personal favorites in this beautiful city.

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Welcome to our guide to the artistic heartbeat of Stockholm, a city that harmoniously blends historical charm with a modern flair. Spread across 14 interconnected islands, each offering unique narratives through art and design, Stockholm promises an immersive journey for the senses. From the historic cobblestones of Gamla Stan to the trendy boutiques of Södermalm, you’re in for an artistic exploration that transcends a mere commute. This guide provides a comprehensive pathway into the city’s rich creative landscape, featuring top museums, innovative galleries, and design spaces. Whether you’re interested in contemporary art, photography, or architecture, you’ll find a variety of experiences sure to inspire. Join us as we uncover Stockholm’s iconic and hidden art and design venues, where past and present creatively converge.

Art Museums:

The Moderna Museet , located on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, is a state museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Established in 1958, it houses a significant collection of Swedish and international art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Marcel Duchamp, Louise Bourgeois, Henri Matisse, and Robert Rauschenberg, among others. The museum also features a sculpture park and has been a venue for significant contemporary art exhibitions and events. 

Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art , renowned for its emphasis on contemporary art, plays a pivotal role in showcasing works from both Swedish and international artists. Established in 1987 by David Neuman and Robert Weil, the museum actively supports the arts through exhibitions, art production, and collection acquisitions. As an independent cultural institution under the privately owned Proventus AB and the Robert Weil Family Foundation, Magasin III is deeply committed to the visual arts, performative disciplines, film, education, sustainability, democracy, and fostering dialogue across political divides. It is celebrated for its vibrant exhibitions and significant contributions to the discourse on contemporary art.

Fotografiska , located in the Södermalm district of Stockholm, is a prominent center for contemporary photography, founded by brothers Jan and Per Broman in 2010. The museum is situated in a historic Art Nouveau style building at Stadsgården, originally serving as a customs house and dating back to 1906. Designed by Ferdinand Boberg, the building is now a cultural landmark that houses Fotografiska’s extensive exhibit spaces, a bistro, café, bar, conference rooms, museum shop, gallery, and event spaces. It has hosted exhibitions featuring renowned photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Gus Van Sant, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Artipelag , an art museum located on the archipelago in Stockholm, Sweden, opened its doors in June 2012. The museum’s building, designed by the late architect Johan Nyrén, harmoniously integrates into the surrounding landscape. Covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, Artipelag includes 3,000 square meters of art galleries and is set amidst 22 acres of natural scenery. Artipelag has hosted notable exhibitions featuring artists such as William Wegman and Candida Höfer, under the artistic direction of Bo Nilsson. The museum’s name is a play on “arkipelag,” the Swedish word for “archipelago,” reflecting its unique location and focus on blending art with nature.

Carl Eldh’s Ateljémuseum is a museum dedicated to showcasing the works of Carl Eldh (1873–1954), one of Sweden’s most prominent sculptors during the early 20th century. The museum, which was Eldh’s former studio, now houses nearly five hundred of the artist’s works, including plaster casts and other creations. It also hosts newly produced exhibitions, guiding walks, and programs. The museum’s collection mainly consists of sculptures made by Eldh, featuring over 500 plaster sketches and original models, as well as sculptures in bronze, stone, and clay. A significant part of the collection includes portraits and original models of well-known statues and monuments, alongside Eldh’s tools, various memorabilia, furniture, and his private art collection. 

Contemporary art galleries:

Stockholm is home to a vibrant contemporary art scene, with a variety of galleries showcasing exciting and innovative works. Andréhn-Schiptjenko represents internationally acclaimed artists working across various mediums, pushing artistic boundaries, and exploring new concepts. Galleri Magnus Karlsson focuses on exceptional contemporary painting and drawing, representing both established and emerging artists. CFHILL in Norrmalm showcases diverse exhibitions by established and emerging artists. Färgfabriken , a multidisciplinary art space in Lövholmen, challenges conventional notions with socially engaging exhibitions and performances.  Wetterling Gallery was established over forty years ago, Wetterling Gallery is a leading venue for contemporary Scandinavian art. Located near Kungsträdgården, it provides a platform for both Swedish and Scandinavian artists, as well as introducing international artists to the local scene. The Artist House (Konstnärshuset) , a Neo-Gothic architectural gem located near Norrmalmstorg square in Stockholm, serves as a vibrant cultural space for the Swedish Artists’ Association, showcasing contemporary exhibitions.

Architecture :

Filmhuset , located in Stockholm, is the hub of the Swedish Film Institute, known for its brutalist architecture that encapsulates the essence of film through its design. Built in the late 1960s, the building features windows resembling film perforations and elevator doors that mimic makeup mirrors, with the entire structure shaped like a camera. Serving as the center of the Swedish film industry, Filmhuset also houses Sweden’s largest library of film books and magazines and is the main venue for Cinemateket, showcasing a wide range of cinematic masterpieces.

79 & Park , a residential project in Stockholm by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), blends urban living with nature. Completed in 2018 near Gärdet national park, its cascading design offers private gardens and panoramic views. The building’s pixelated structure creates an organic expression, reflecting the landscape while utilizing prefabricated, cost-effective units. This innovative approach respects the urban and natural surroundings, showcasing BIG’s commitment to integrating contemporary homes into their environment.

The Ericsson Globe , now known as Avicii Arena, is a distinctive landmark in Stockholm, Sweden, celebrated as the world’s largest spherical building. Since its inauguration in 1989, it has served as a versatile venue for ice hockey, concerts, and other major events, boasting a seating capacity of up to 16,000. The arena’s unique design and functionality symbolize Sweden’s innovative approach to architecture and entertainment spaces. Renamed in 2021 to honor the late Swedish DJ Avicii, the arena also embodies a commitment to initiatives focused on young people’s mental health, marking it as a cultural and architectural icon in Stockholm’s skyline.

The Stockholm Public Library , designed by the renowned Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund and opened in 1928, is a landmark of modernist architecture in Stockholm, Sweden. Known for its cylindrical main hall and the innovative concept of open shelves, allowing direct access to books, it was Sweden’s first library to implement this approach. The library’s design, characterized by its simplicity and functionalism, marks a significant shift from classicism to modern architecture. Asplund’s work on the library, including its furnishings and the surrounding parkland, is considered one of his most important contributions to Swedish architecture. The library system, which includes the main building and 40 branches, holds over 2 million volumes, making it a central hub for literature and culture in the city.

Östermalm in Stockholm is known as the design district, where you’ll find a concentration of design stores, boutiques, and showrooms. This stylish neighborhood is a hub for interior design, furniture, home accessories, and fashion. From renowned design stores to independent boutiques, Östermalm offers a rich selection of design experiences and opportunities to discover the latest trends and innovations in the world of design. Svenskt Tenn , a design institution and flagship store on Strandvägen, offers a wide range of iconic Swedish interior design items, including furniture, textiles, lighting, and home accessories. Known for its timeless elegance and collaboration with renowned designers, Svenskt Tenn is a must-visit destination for Scandinavian design enthusiasts. Located on Birger Jarlsgatan, Design House Stockholm showcases a curated collection of contemporary furniture, lighting, and home accessories, collaborating with international designers to create innovative and functional pieces that embody Scandinavian design principles. Asplund , situated on Sibyllegatan, is a design house and store that embraces minimalism and Scandinavian elegance, featuring furniture, carpets, lighting, and home accessories characterized by clean lines and exceptional craftsmanship. Malmstenbutiken , located on Nybrogatan, is the retail store of Carl Malmsten Furniture Studies, offering classic and contemporary Swedish furniture designs that showcase the rich heritage of Swedish craftsmanship. Posh Living , found on Karlavägen, specializes in luxury interior design, providing a carefully curated selection of furniture, lighting, and home decor with a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and elegant designs.

In other parts of Stockholm, you will find more design institutions that are worth exploring. ArkDes , situated on the island of Djurgården, is Sweden’s national center for architecture and design. ArkDes explores the interplay between design, architecture, and society through thoughtfully curated exhibitions, providing valuable insights into the innovative design ethos that defines Swedish culture. Acne Archive , founded by the renowned Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios, combines fashion and design in a distinctive way, offering an eclectic mix of clothing, accessories, and design objects. It serves as a platform for emerging designers and artists, making it an ideal destination for those seeking one-of-a-kind fashion pieces and inspiring design discoveries. Svensk Form , the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design, dedicates itself to promoting Swedish design excellence. Their store showcases a wide range of products created by established and up-and-coming designers, including home decor items, jewelry, fashion, and accessories embodying Swedish design values.

Stockholm’s metro art is a captivating feature of the city’s cultural landscape, transforming subway stations into immersive galleries. Each station features a distinct artistic identity, with murals, sculptures, and installations that make commuting a visually striking experience. T-Centralen , the primary hub, hosts an engaging combination of mosaics, sculptures, and paintings that enchant commuters. Artists like Ulrik Samuelson, Siri Derkert, and Lennart Mörk have notably contributed to the station’s exceptional artwork. The Solna Centrum metro station is a mesmerizing red cavern adorned with expansive wall illustrations and peep-show apertures that reveal a vibrant tapestry of political narratives from the 1970s. These compelling scenes, as envisioned by artists Anders Åberg and Karl-Olov Björk, truly bring history to life. The Tekniska Högskolan metro station is celebrated for its unique fusion of science and art, serving the Royal Institute of Technology. Artworks throughout the station represent the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth—alongside depictions of technological advances and the universe. The Universitetet metro station features art that pays homage to Carl von Linné and the UN Declaration of Universal Human Rights. Created by Belgian and Parisian artist Françoise Schein, the station showcases 12 large tile panels dedicated to Linné’s travels around the Baltic. Schein used these travels as a foundation to explore themes of nature and contemporary ecological issues. The artwork, crafted on Azulejos in Lisbon before being brought to Stockholm, adds a significant cultural and educational layer to the station.

Events and beyond:

Don’t miss Stockholm Design Week in February, a premier event showcasing the latest trends in Scandinavian design through exhibitions, seminars, and installations. It offers a comprehensive immersion into the cutting-edge world of design. Stockholm Art Week coincides with Design Week and offers a diverse art experience featuring art fairs, gallery exhibitions, artist talks, performances, and special openings. Explore the vibrant art scene and discover new artistic voices.

For architecture and design enthusiasts, the Stockholm Architecture & Design Festival in spring is a must-attend event. It celebrates architecture, urban planning, and design through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and guided tours, providing insights into the evolving design landscape of the city. Supermarket , an international art fair held in April, showcases independent artists and artist-run initiatives, offering a unique opportunity to discover new talents and explore contemporary art outside the mainstream market. Stockholm Craft Week in September highlights the art of craftsmanship and traditional skills, featuring exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations that emphasize the value of handmade objects and traditional craft techniques.

Vintage Delight:

Stockholm offers a vibrant vintage shopping scene with a variety of unique and stylish options. Beyond Retro, located in the Södermalm district, is a popular choice with an extensive clothing, shoes, and accessories collection. Judits Second Hand in Östermalm offers carefully curated vintage pieces from luxury brands, while Myrorna , a chain of second-hand stores, provides a mix of vintage and contemporary items at affordable prices. For women’s clothing, accessories, and jewelry, Lisa Larsson Second Hand in Vasastan is highly recommended. Exploring neighborhoods like Södermalm, Östermalm, Vasastan, and Gamla Stan will lead to even more vintage treasures to discover.

In addition to vintage clothing, Stockholm is home to a variety of vintage design stores specializing in unique and retro-inspired home decor, furniture, and design items. Modernity in Östermalm offers a curated collection of Scandinavian design from the 20th century, including furniture, lighting, ceramics, and glassware. Jacksons in Södermalm focuses on mid-century modern furniture and interior design pieces. Nordlings Antik in Vasastan features vintage design furniture, lighting, art, and decorative objects with a Scandinavian touch. Dusty Deco in Hornstull specializes in industrial and rustic vintage items, including furniture, lighting, and home decor. Svenska Armaturer in Södermalm is a vintage lighting store with a wide selection of restored vintage lamps and fixtures. These vintage design stores provide an opportunity to add a touch of history, uniqueness, and character to your living space or office.

Shachaf Dekel

Boutique Hotels, Nomad Sanctuaries, and Chic Hostels:

When planning your stay in Stockholm, it's crucial to select the right hotel to meet your needs and ensure it's situated in your desired location in the city. To help you make an informed decision, we've carefully selected some of the best hotels in Stockholm for our readers. Please note that some of our recommendations include an affiliate link, which supports the magazine's continued activities by providing a percentage of the sale without extra cost to you. We encourage you to use these links and support our magazine.

Hotel Rival

Owned by Benny Andersson, one of the members of the world-renowned band ABBA, Hotel Rival is a boutique gem located in the vibrant district of Södermalm. This cinema-turned-hotel offers a distinctive experience, with each room individually decorated and featuring cinematic photographs. The bistro, cafe, and bar on-site offer excellent dining options, and the lively neighborhood surrounding the hotel is packed with boutiques, cafes, and galleries.

Hotel Skeppsholmen

Nestled in one of Stockholm's picturesque islands, Hotel Skeppsholmen combines historical charm with modern elegance. The hotel is set within a 17th-century building, offering stunning views of the surrounding water and city skyline. Their eco-friendly approach, along with the delicate balance of heritage and contemporary design, makes for a unique stay. The tranquility here is unmatched, making it a perfect retreat from the bustling city.

'A Home' in English, Ett Hem truly lives up to its name by providing a homey and intimate atmosphere. This boutique hotel, located in a peaceful residential area of Stockholm, is housed in a century-old townhouse, but don't be fooled. The interiors offer a contemporary blend of Scandinavian design and warmth. The garden, library, and open-kitchen concept give a feeling of being a house guest rather than a hotel patron, perfect for those seeking a personal touch.

Nobis Hotel

Located in Norrmalm, at the heart of Stockholm, Nobis Hotel is a luxurious accommodation choice featuring modern Scandinavian design. It's housed in two 19th-century buildings, which give it a distinctive charm. The rooms offer top-notch comfort with their aesthetic minimalist design, and the on-site restaurants serve mouthwatering cuisine. Being just a stone's throw away from key attractions and shopping districts, it's a great option for both leisure and business travelers.

Miss Clara by Nobis

Positioned within a stunning Art Nouveau building in the city's center, Miss Clara by Nobis effortlessly marries history with contemporary style. Named after a former headmistress of the girls' school that once occupied the building, the hotel exudes an inviting ambiance with its soft lighting, hardwood floors, and modern Swedish design. With top-notch service, great food, and a location near many of Stockholm’s main attractions, Miss Clara is ideal for travelers seeking a stylish, centrally-located stay.

Hotel At Six

Overlooking one of the city's bustling squares, Brunkebergstorg, Hotel At Six is a place where contemporary art, culture, and extraordinary design meet. Its sleek interior style and attention to detail place it as one of the design highlights of Stockholm's hotel scene. The rooms are spacious, featuring a unique blend of luxury and minimalistic design. With a state-of-the-art gym, chic dining spaces, and a fabulous rooftop bar, Hotel At Six offers a unique and sophisticated experience.

Downtown Camper by Scandic

Embracing the essence of Scandinavian design, Downtown Camper by Scandic offers a refreshing take on urban hospitality. Situated in the heart of Stockholm, this hotel caters to the modern traveler seeking a blend of comfort, style, and adventure. The interiors are inspired by nature, showcasing a minimalist design aesthetic that's both warm and inviting. Offering cozy rooms, communal creative spaces, and a rooftop bar with impressive city views, Downtown Camper encourages social interaction and city exploration. Their 'Lifestyle Concierge' can arrange a range of activities from yoga classes to skateboarding, making it an ideal choice for those looking to experience a vibrant, active stay in Stockholm.

Generator Stockholm

A part of the popular Generator chain, this trendy hostel offers a mix of dorms and private rooms. It's known for its stylish interior, communal spaces, and the on-site bar, which hosts regular events. Its location near the central station makes exploring the city convenient.

Castanea Old Town Hostel

Located in the heart of Stockholm's charming old town, Gamla Stan, this small, cozy hostel is close to several tourist attractions. It offers a communal kitchen, comfortable dorms, and private rooms.

Långholmen Hotell

Located on Långholmen Island, this unique hotel is set in a former prison. It offers comfortable rooms, a co-working space, and a peaceful environment surrounded by nature.c

More Destinations All Destinations  >

• 1 Districts
• 2.1 Sustainable technology
• 2.2 Climate
• 2.3 Tourist information
• 3.1.1 Arlanda Airport
• 3.1.2 Bromma Airport
• 3.1.3 Skavsta Airport
• 3.1.4 Västerås Airport
• 3.2 By train
• 3.4 By boat
• 4.1.1 Tickets
• 4.1.2 Stockholm Metro
• 4.1.3 Commuter rail
• 4.1.4 Light rail/tram
• 4.1.5 Buses
• 4.1.6 Passenger ferries
• 4.2.1 Bike rentals
• 4.3 By electric kick scooter
• 4.4 By taxi
• 4.6 By boat
• 4.7 By foot
• 5.1 Buildings and structures
• 5.2 Viewpoints
• 5.3 Museums
• 5.5 Fiction
• 6.1.1 By boat
• 6.1.2 By bus
• 6.1.3 By taxi
• 6.1.4 By bicycle
• 6.2 Swimming
• 6.3 Spectator sports
• 6.4 Doing sport
• 6.6 Amusement park and children's activities
• 6.7 Gambling
• 6.8 LGBT events
• 6.9 Outdoor life
• 8.1 Fashion
• 8.2 Glassware
• 8.3 Furniture and design
• 8.4.1 Norrmalm
• 8.4.2 Östermalm
• 8.4.3 Suburban malls
• 10.1 Retail drinks
• 10.2 Bars and nightclubs
• 13 Stay safe
• 15.2 Getting cash
• 15.3 Toilets
• 15.4 Laundry
• 15.5.1 Pharmacies
• 15.6 Embassies
• 16.1 Stockholm County
• 16.2 Uppsala County
• 16.3 Farther away

Stockholm is Sweden 's capital and largest city, with nearly a million inhabitants in the city, and 2.4 million within Stockholm County (as of 2021). The inner city is made up of 14 islands across Lake Mälaren and three streams into the brackish Baltic Sea , with the Stockholm archipelago with some 24,000 islands, islets and skerries. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways, and another 30% is made up of green areas. Air and water are said to be the freshest of any European capital. Stockholm hosts the Nobel Prize ceremony and has around 70 museums.

Stockholm is the hub of most Swedish rail and bus traffic and has two of the country's busiest airports nearby, so it is a good starting point for visiting other parts of Sweden.

Districts [ edit ]

Stockholm's suburbs sprawl out across most of Stockholm County . Stockholm's administrative division may be perplexing - municipal borders might cut right through neighbourhoods.

This article describes areas that are geographically close and easy to visit together as districts; the administrative borders of districts and municipalities may differ. The outer parts of the county consist of Norrtälje , Sigtuna , Norrort , Stockholm Archipelago , Södertörn and Södertälje .

Understand [ edit ]

Due to the post-glacial rebound , Stockholm is slowly rising from the sea. Mälaren was a bay of the Baltic Sea throughout the Viking Age of the 9th and 10th centuries; today's Stockholm was the waterway for the first Swedish cities; Birka , Uppsala , and Sigtuna . As Sigtuna was sacked by pirates in AD 1187, the Swedes needed to fortify the strait.

As the rising land cut off Mälaren from the sea in the 13th century, Stockholm became an important trading post. The city is said to be founded by Birger jarl ( jarl is a title corresponding to British earl ), who had a fortress built on an island later known as Gamla Stan . The first known written records that mention Stockholm date from 1252; this is the considered year of foundation. In the 15th century Stockholm replaced Uppsala as the effective capital. Stockholm was an associate of the Hanseatic League , and since its liberation from Denmark by King Gustavus Vasa in 1523, Stockholm has remained Sweden's most important center of commerce, although Gothenburg later became the largest international port. During the 17th century, Stockholm was the base of the Swedish Empire, with a land area twice the country's current size, nearly encircling the Baltic Sea.

Much of the inner city plan was laid out in the 19th century, and the inner city still contains buildings from all ages since the 15th century. Like the rest of Sweden, Stockholm was largely untouched by the World Wars, but, particularly between 1955 and 1975, hundreds of old buildings in Norrmalm were demolished in a large-scale modernization process, emulating similar projects in other European cities.

Since 1901, Stockholm has hosted the annual Nobel Prize ceremony for all categories except the peace prize, which is handed out in Oslo . In the 20th century, metropolitan Stockholm sprawled out across most of Stockholm County , with the development of the Stockholm Metro, famous for its contemporary art . 1950s suburbs such as Vällingby became a model for suburban development in other cities. While most of the attractions are in the inner city, a majority of the citizens live in the suburbs.

Otherwise a safe and calm city, Stockholm is also known for the term Stockholm Syndrome, which was coined to describe a hostage's sympathy for a captor during a bank robbery in Norrmalm in 1973.

Sustainable technology [ edit ]

As of 2023, Stockholm is striving to become a world-leading city in sustainable engineering, including waste management, clean air and water, carbon-free public transportation, and energy efficiency. Lake water is safe for bathing, and in practice for drinking (though not recommended).

Some new neighborhoods with state-of-the-art technology in this field are Hammarby Sjöstad, Norra Djurgårdsstaden and Hagastaden. See Stockholm environmentalist tour .

Climate [ edit ]

Despite its northern location, Stockholm has fairly mild temperatures throughout the year. The city sees a dramatic seasonal variation in sunlight, from more than 18 hours of daylight around Midsummer (03:30 to 22:00), to around 6 hours of daylight around Christmas (08:45 to 14:45). Stockholm has an average of nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. Average yearly precipitation is 539 mm (21.2"), with July and August slightly the wettest months. Snowfall can occur from late November to early April, but the amount of snowfall and snow on the ground varies greatly from year to year, and through the winter. No date is a safe bet for snow in Stockholm; for real Scandinavian winter , visit Dalarna or Norrland .

In other words, May to September tend to have the most comfortable weather. From Midsummer to the end of July, most inhabitants leave the city, and some venues close for summer, making the city more dominated by tourists.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• 59.332035 18.064911 1 Stockholm Tourist Center , Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg 3-5 103 27 Stockholm , ☏ +46 8-508 28 508 , [email protected] . Open M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 10:00-16:00 . The official tourist center has a lot of information in several languages and helpful staff. They also sell local transport cards and tickets to museums and sightseeing tours.  

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Stockholm ( STO  IATA ) is served by several international airports; Stockholm-Arlanda airport (near Sigtuna ) being the dominant one. Stockholm-Bromma is the only airport within the city. The airports in Skavsta (near Nyköping ) and Västerås also receive some international flights.

Arlanda Airport [ edit ]

59.6488 17.9361 1 Arlanda Airport ( ARN  IATA ) 40 km north of the city is Sweden's largest airport, and the destination for most flights to Sweden. It consists of four terminals under the same roof. There are several means of travelling between Stockholm and Arlanda:

By rail The dedicated Arlanda Express Train leaves from the basement level of each terminal (Arlanda South/Södra and Arlanda North/Norra) and runs non-stop to Stockholm Central Station in 20 minutes, departing every 15 minutes during daytime. Tickets are sold at kiosks at the platform, via app, or online (100 kr surcharge for ticket purchase on board). One-way tickets cost 300 kr for adults, 380 kr for two adults, 480 for three and 580 for four. 150 kr for youths <26. Youths and children travel for free with adults, and children for free with youths. The trains have free Wi-Fi.

Regular trains serve the airport through a third station, Arlanda Central, beneath Sky City between terminal 4 and 5. Commuter trains (pendeltåg) in Stockholm County are run by the public transport company SL (see also the #Get around ) section. Line J38 of the commuter train from Uppsala C via Stockholm Central Station to Älvsjö (with Stockholm International Fairs) calling at all stations between, with peak hour services continuing to Huddinge and Tumba . The train runs twice an hour and takes 38 minutes to Stockholm Central Station. Tickets can be used and bought at the entrance to the station, though everyone over the age of 18 has to pay the Arlanda passage supplement fee of 75 kr for passing between the trains and the airport terminal at Arlanda. A one-way ticket including the Arlanda passage supplement fee to Stockholm city costs 125 kr (110 kr for people under 20 or over 65). For 210 kr (or 90 kr for youth) you get a 24-hour travel card (this is reduced to 190 kr for adults and 70 kr for youth if you already have an SL Access card). These prices all include the Arlanda passage supplement fee. See SL's web page for local transport tickets.

There are faster regional trains on the Linköping - Stockholm - Gävle route, which cost 278 kr (2nd class) to central Stockholm if bought on the spot, though if booked approximately 45 days in advance, they can be as cheap as 95 kr. They take 20 minutes, like the Arlanda Express, but only operate hourly (with several strange gaps). Also, many inter-city trains bound for cities such as Umeå, Mora or Östersund, call at Arlanda. It is not, however, permitted to use these trains to travel from the airport to central Stockholm. See SJ's web page [dead link] for regional/intercity rail tickets.

By local bus and rail The cheapest ride between the airport and the central bus station is FlixBus . They are going 2-4 times per hour in either direction between roughly 05:00 and 23:00, travel time about 50 minutes, and prices starting at €3.90. Schedule and tickets via their app, using the free airport wifi if needed.

The second cheapest and usually slowest ride between Arlanda and Stockholm is by SL bus to Märsta, and changing to commuter train. Local bus 583 (from outside the terminals) connects the airport to Märsta railway station, connecting with frequent commuter trains (line J36 which arrives on platforms 15/16) to central Stockholm in 65 minutes, for a regular public transport fare, which is 60 kr for a one-way trip. Several kinds of discounted tickets can be purchased at the airport, making this route the cheapest, but the slowest, way to get to and from Arlanda; the pre-paid SL Access cards are valid for the whole journey. See Stockholm County#Public transit for more details on the SL services and ticketing system.

By airport coach Flygbussarna company run frequent bus service between airport terminals 5, 4 and 2 (terminal 3 via terminal 2) and City Terminal (Cityterminalen), just next to the Central Station in 45 minutes. Adult single ticket cost 119 kr (99 kr for people under 25), and adult return ticket cost 215 kr (179 kr for people under 25) if purchased on-the-spot. There is a discount if you purchase your ticket online or with your smartphone (some devices have a smartphone-friendly ticket). Tickets can be bought from ticket machines at the stops at T5, T4 and T2, and in the arrivals halls at T5 and T4 and from some 7-Eleven shops. You can't buy tickets with cash on board, but credit cards are accepted and during normal hours agents sell tickets at the airport stop. They stop elsewhere in Solna (Ulriksdal/Järva Krog, Frösunda, Haga Norra, Haga Södra), and Vasastan (Norra Stationsgatan and Sankt Eriksplan) before arriving at Cityterminalen. Flixbus follows the same route, but is considerably cheaper.

By taxi Major taxi companies operate on a fixed price basis between Arlanda and central Stockholm. Prices at the taxi stands range from 450 kr (Transfer Taxi) to 520 kr. Generally, you can freely choose among the waiting taxis, or ask the operator for a specific company. Beware of the smaller, expensive, taxi companies. Each taxi has a yellow and white price tag (per 10 km and 15 minutes) on the right rear window; prefer cabs where the price is no more than 350 kr. A taxi ride to central Stockholm takes approximately 40 minutes. With some companies, you can get a lower price if you pre-book your ride. See the Taxi section below for some general advice on taxi travel in Stockholm.

By car See the airport's webpage [dead link] for information on car rental at Arlanda Airport.

Bromma Airport [ edit ]

59.3554 17.9458 2 Bromma Airport , ( BMA  IATA ) in Västerort is a smaller airport 8 km west of central Stockholm, mainly used for domestic flights, but also Aarhus , Helsinki and Brussels .

From Bromma, it's easiest to take tram 31 from Bromma flygplats    31   to Alvik strand    30     31   . At Alvik    12     17     18     19     30     31   , you can change onto the green line of Stockholm's metro, which will connect you to T-Centralen, the central hub of Stockholm's public transit . Alternatively, to get to Sundbyberg and Solna, you can change trams at Norra Ulvsunda    30     31   heading towards Solna station with line 30. Getting to T-Centralen takes just shy of 30 minutes, with tramline 31 departing from Bromma every 20 minutes.

Skavsta Airport [ edit ]

58.785 16.9214 3 Skavsta Airport ( NYO  IATA ) is 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Stockholm, at the outskirts of Nyköping , making this airport's branded name "Stockholm-Skavsta" rather far-fetched. As of 2023, the airport is only used by Wizzair and Norwegian, with flights to Tirana, Sofia, Budapest, Skopje, Gdansk, Kraków, Warsaw, Bucharest, Belgrade, Alicante and Malaga. Budget air travellers landing here might find the transfer costing more time and money than the flight.

The most practical option is Airport coaches [dead link] to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. Adults 199 kr online. The trip takes about 80 minutes. A sometimes cheaper option is to take take local bus 515 or 715 to Nyköping rail station ( alight at Nyköping Centralstation ), from where SJ regional trains ( timetable , direct services run to stations marked in white) on the Norrköping - Nyköping - Stockholm route connect to Stockholm. The fare starts 26 + 49 kr (16 + 49 kr for youth under 20) and tickets can be bought the following two ways:

• 1. Buy a combined ticket from Skavsta to Stockholm at SJ:s website [dead link] which is both valid on the local bus and the regional train.
• 2. Pay for the local bus on board with your VISA or MasterCard (cash is not accepted) and buy the train ticket at Nyköping station.

Schedules for public transportation is available at the Resrobot webpage.

Västerås Airport [ edit ]

59.60181 16.6282 4 Västerås Airport ( VST  IATA ) is 100 km west of Stockholm in Västerås , and serves Ryanair flights to/from London (Stansted). Like Skavsta, Västerås can be reached in two ways: Airport coaches [dead link] go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. 139 kr one way, 249 kr round trip, takes about 80 minutes. Alternatively you can take the public taxi shuttle (order can be made online , but the site is as of 2016 in Swedish only) that runs between the airport and Västerås rail station in 6–7 minutes, departing from outside the terminal 20 minutes after each flight arrival and costing 50 kr one way. From there regional trains on the Stockholm - Västerås - Örebro - Hallsberg - Göteborg route ( timetable , M-F = Monday-Friday, L = Saturday, SoH = Sunday and holidays) connect to Stockholm in 53 min at a price of 59 kr, resulting in a total fare of 10 kr. Total travel time Västerås Airport - Stockholm is 65 minutes, but this option is as much as 25 minutes faster, since the airport coach departs 10 minutes later from the airport and arrives there 10 minutes earlier.

By train [ edit ]

The main station, 59.3301 18.0579 5 Stockholm Central ( Norrmalm ), serves both commuter and long-distance routes. It is in lower Norrmalm, connected to T-Centralen , the central hub for the Stockholm Metro, and Cityterminalen , the long-distance bus station. The national rail company SJ , has a store inside the station and a travel planner with ticket booking service on its web page. Flixtrain serves the city.

Internationally, there are services from Copenhagen (Denmark) (5 hr) and Oslo (Norway) (4½-5 hr) with several direct connections daily. A daily sleeper train is available from Narvik (14 hr). From Trondheim , a quick change in Storlien and Sundsvall is needed (10 hr). An overnight train runs from Hamburg Altona taking 12 hours.

There are numerous direct domestic services to Stockholm from most major cities. There's high-speed SJ 2000 and SJ 3000 services from Gothenburg (3 hr), Malmö (4½ hr), Sundsvall (3½ hr) and Östersund (5 hr). Conventional trains mostly follow the same routes, and run slightly slower, but can slash prices considerably. Most other mid-sized cities in Sweden have a train connection with Stockholm. Malmö has an overnight service as do the northern cities of Luleå , Kiruna and Umeå . In fact, this service originates in the far northern Norwegian town of Narvik and offers spectacular views of Lapland along its journey to Stockholm.

By bus [ edit ]

The 59.3317 18.0563 6 City Terminal is the main bus terminal, wall to wall with Stockholms Central, and the T Centralen metro station. There are multiple daily departures to most other cities in Sweden, as well as a few international routes. FlixBus operates routes to Copenhagen and Oslo with several daily departures, and a twice-weekly service to Berlin . FlixBus also offers connections with Hamburg , Hannover , Cologne , Wuppertal and Berlin among other cities. NetBuss has a route to Oslo. Tapanis Buss has a route between Tornio , Finland and Stockholm running through road E4.

By boat [ edit ]

Stockholm is served by international luxury cruise ships (see cruising the Baltic Sea ), and the local Baltic Sea ferries ("ferry" is quite a misnomer, most are giant ships). The Baltic Sea ferries link Stockholm to Helsinki , Mariehamn and Turku (these ships are locally known as finlandsbåtar , "Finland boat"), Riga and Tallinn every day. They are by far the cheapest way to travel between these cities. Even if you intend to use the boats to travel to or from Stockholm, it is almost always cheaper to book a round-trip cruise ( kryssning ), which can be as cheap as 80 kr (!) for a full 4-person cabin and rarely (even for a weekend cruise in high season) exceeds 400 kr for the cheapest 4-bed cabin. A one-way ticket for a cabin, in comparison, usually exceeds 1000 kr.

There are three cruise ship terminals:

In northern Östermalm there are 59.3509 18.1092 7 Värtahamnen and 59.3436 18.1196 8 Frihamnen , one kilometre to the east from the former. These two are used by Tallink ; Frihamnen for ships from Riga , Värtahamnen for ships from all other destinations ( Turku , Helsinki , Tallinn , Mariehamn )

Värtahamnen is 400 metres from the Gärdet metro station; the route is signposted. You can also use bus 76 from Kungsträdgården. For Frihamnen, go to T-Karlaplan, take bus 72 from the avenue to Filmhuset, and then bus 76 to Magasin 3, which is outside that terminal. If you have a lot of luggage, or if your cruise ship is docked at Magasin 9, you may want to consider other means of transport.

59.3163 18.0965 9 Stadsgårdshamnen , Stadsgården , is in Södermalm , with an astounding view of the inner port area. Most importantly, it's used by Viking Line for ferries to Mariehamn , Helsinki and Turku and their 22-hour cruises to Mariehamn. If you travel on a "real" cruise ship , such as Holland America Cruises you will probably also dock here.

There are direct bus lines from Stockholm center to Stadsgården, lines 53 from nearby T-Centralen and line 2 from Kungsträdgården. To get there from the city center by subway, go to T-Slussen and go for the bus terminal. Take the 401–422, 442–449 or 471 bus one single stop to Londonviadukten and the port will be on your left. Alternatively normal town buses 53 and 71 link Slussen and the Viking Line terminal, albeit via the backstreets. Public transport tickets are not sold on board buses, but the tourist office in the terminal sells them (at least day passes). Alternatively, you can walk to Slussen (it's little more than a kilometre) and buy the tickets you need there.

Yet another convenient but more expensive alternative is the shuttle buses operated by Flygbussarna that go directly from the terminal to the central bus station (Cityterminalen) in the city center. The price for a ticket on these are 55 kr (single) and 90 kr (return) and tickets are sold on board, at Flygbussarna's and Viking Line's booths in the bus station, and if you want to buy the ticket on the bus you can do it but only pay with a credit card. There are multiple departures from the port 15–60 minutes after the ferry arrives and from the station 1–3 hours before the ferry departs. If you are driving to the boat, follow the signs to Slussen , then Stadsgårdsterminalen (Slussen is confusing even for locals, so don't feel embarrassed if you end up spinning in the intersection a few times) and then Finland/Viking Line .

Some cruise ships call at Nynäshamn 50 km south of Stockholm. The ferry terminal is served by SL commuter train line 43. There are also buses which are slightly faster, costing 109 kr for adults.

By car [ edit ]

European routes E4 , E18 and E20 converge in Stockholm. The few north-south bridges across lake Mälaren tend to be congested around rush hour. Roads in and around Stockholm are a toll zone (more exactly, "congestion tax"), and also foreign-registered vehicles are required to pay it – see more in the Get around section below.

Get around [ edit ]

Stockholm is easy to access by public transport, and on bicycle during the warm season. Travelling by car is suitable outside built-up areas.

By public transport [ edit ]

SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) runs an extensive metro, commuter train and bus system, as well as some light rail and ferry services. They serve Stockholm County, with Sigtuna and Norrtälje in the north, and Södertälje and Nynäshamn in the south, with extensions to Uppsala , Gnesta and Bålsta for an extra fee (see below).

The SL website has detailed ticket and price information in English, and a journey planner. It is always updated.

Tickets [ edit ]

The simplest way to pay for tickets is to simply use your credit card to pay for tickets, by tapping at entry gates and electronic readers.

All SL services use an integrated ticket system with an RFID card called SL Access which triggers entry gates and other electronic readers. The card costs 20 kr to purchase and can load all SL tickets, but is being replaced with a new green card

There are two forms of ticketing, passes and coupons. Passes and coupons are bought at SL Center (in different stations, including central station and t-central), at all Pressbyrån stores, most supermarkets and some smaller kiosks. Tickets can not be bought on buses .

Passes are available for 24 hours, 72 hours and 30 days, and allow unrestricted rides on all buses, trams, T-bana, and commuter trains, as well as the Djurgården ferry. The 72-hour pass also confers free admission to Gröna Lund ( Djurgården ). A coupon ticket allows unlimited travel for 75 minutes including changes.

There is an SL app which can be used to buy single tickets and passes, which must be validated before use in the app (once validated the ticket appears as a large QR code). Alternatively coupons can be downloaded to the SL Access card, reskassa . , as well as paper tickets from vending machines, ticket booths and rail conductors.

It is possible also to use a contactless payment card (Mastercard, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron) to buy a single ticket (75 min). As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular validators in the front of the vehicle. If you hear a beep and see a green light, your trip has been validated.

Children under 12 travelling with adults travel free from mid-day Friday to midnight Sunday. Children under 7 ride for free with a paying adult.

SL tickets are not valid on airport coaches, Arlanda Express and regional trains.

Stockholm Metro [ edit ]

Stockholm has a rapid transit system called the Tunnelbana [ˌtɵnəlˈbɑːna] (sometimes abbreviated T-Bana or just T on signs). With 100 stations, it serves most of the inner city, as well as many inner suburbs. Trains run from 05:00 to 01:00 on weekdays, and around the clock on weekends. Night buses replace the trains on weeknights. It is in most cases the fastest mode of transportation.

Stockholm's metro system is known for its art installations, with nearly all stations offering some form of artwork on display. The art on the blue line in particular is of note.

Directions in Stockholm are often accompanied by the name of the closest metro stop, using T as an abbreviation for "Tunnelbana", e.g. " T Gamla Stan ". This practice is followed below when appropriate.

Commuter rail [ edit ]

Stockholm has a commuter rail network , pendeltåg , reaching 53 stations, including Uppsala , Knivsta and Bålsta in Uppsala County , plus Gnesta in Södermanland County . Stations are marked by a J sign. All city centre-bound trains now pass through the Stockholm City station which is across the street from the main Central Station.

SL tickets are valid on commuter trains, with the exception of Knivsta and Uppsala on line 38, which employ Uppsala's local transport fares, and Arlanda Airport (see #By plane above).

Light rail/tram [ edit ]

Stockholm has several light rail lines:

• Tvärbanan connecting Västerort to Söderort.
• Lidingöbanan connects Ropsten in Östermalm to Lidingö . Several archipelago ferries call at Gåshaga brygga at the east terminus.
• Nockebybanan in Västerort connects the district of Nockeby to Alvik on the green line of the Tunnelbana.
• Spårväg City is a city tram connecting the Central Station to Waldemarsudde ( Djurgården ).

Buses [ edit ]

Buses serve most populated areas where metro, rail or tram does not reach. Four inner city main lines numbered from 1 to 4 are operated by large blue buses (weekdays every 3–10 minutes), the other, generally less frequent lines (weekdays 7–20 minutes), by red buses.

The blue bus lines are:

• line 1 - from Frihamnen in Östermalm via Hötorget in Norrmalm and through Kungsholmen to the island of Stora Essingen in the latter district.
• line 2 - from Vasastan through western Norrmalm and the Gamla Stan to Sofia in eastern Södermalm
• line 3 - from Karolinska Institutet through eastern Vasastan , Kungsholmen , eastern Norrmalm and the Gamla Stan to western Södermalm
• line 4 - from Vasastan through Kungsholmen directly to Södermalm

Apart from those four, several lines running through outer districts and suburbs of Stockholm are designated as blue buses - apart from the colour, they are distinguished by the middle 7 in their three-digit line number.

Passenger ferries [ edit ]

There are also ferries to Djurgården and Skeppsholmen. Travel with the Djurgården ferry is included with any 24- or 72-hour pass, 7-day pass as well as the monthly pass.

SL passes are good on these passenger ferries:

• Sjövägen (80) [formerly dead link] : Nybroplan–Allmänna gränd (Djurgården)–Saltsjöqvarn–Finnboda hamn–Kvarnholmen–Nacka Strand–Blockhushudden (Djurgården)–Dalénum–Frihamnen – hourly rides from Nybrokajen ( Norrmalm ), calling at several docks in Nacka , and Lidingö , ending in Ropsten ( Östermalm ). Some tours carry on to the small suburban islands Tranholmen and Storholmen. Standard SL fare. The ferry has a cafeteria with tea, coffee, snacks, beer and wine, and gives a great view of the inlet of Stockholm.
• Djurgårdsfärjan (82): Slussen (dock at southeast Gamla Stan)–Skeppsholmen–Allmäna gränd (Djurgården) – short ride between the old town and the garden island.
• Pendelbåt (83 and 83X): Strömkajen–Slussen–Nacka strand–Vaxholm–Grenadjärbryggan: long route (1.5 to 2 hours, 83X is faster) to Stockholm archipelago . Wi-Fi and café, possible to carry cycles if there is enough space.
• Pendelbåt (89): Klara Mälarstrand–Lilla Essingen–Ekensberg–Kungshättan–Tappström ( Ekerö ): long ride, return by bus 176 or 177 and metro 17, 18 or 19, stopping over at Drottningholm Palace.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Cycling is an attractive option during warm seasons, and there are many bike lanes. A bike ride across the inner city takes no longer than 30 minutes, and can be faster than travelling by metro or car. There are cycle paths along most major streets and drivers are generally considerate towards cyclists. In winter, when paths can be covered by ice, extra care should be taken. Bike paths have a bicycle painted on the ground and/or round blue signs with a white bike. Make sure you bike on the right hand side of the street, just as the cars.

Bike rentals [ edit ]

• RideMovi , [email protected] . Open all year . Rent e-bikes for 2 kr per minute or multi-minute packs from 69 kr to 198 kr . ( updated Sep 2023 )
• BikeSweden AB , Narvavägen 13-17 , ☏ +46 8-403 07 520 , [email protected] . Open 10:00-18:00 April–October. Call to rent bikes off season . BikeSweden offers a variety of high quality bikes in the center of the city. From mountain bikes to children's bikes and city bikes. Child carriers and child seats are available. Helmets are included in the rental price. The bikes have at least 7 gears and are maximum of two seasons old. 3 hours from 150 kr. Full day from 190 kr . ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Cykel- & Mopeduthyrningen , Strandvägen, Kajplats 24 ( T Östermalmtorg or T Karlaplan ). Only open in the summer months . ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Djurgårdsbrons Sjöcafé , Galärvarvsvägen 2 ( on Djurgården, just to the right as you cross Djurgårdsbron ). Only open in the summer months . Also rents roller blades and kayaks. Rents bikes for 250 kr per day . ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Gamla Stans Cykel , Stora Nygatan 20 ( T Gamla Stan ). Open all year . Rents three-speed city bikes for 190 kr per day or 500 kr for 3 days . ( updated Sep 2015 )
• Servicedepån - Cykelstallet , Scheelegatan 15 ( T Rådhuset ). Open all year . Rents 3-speed city bikes, 21-speed mountain/hybrids (200 kr/day), and racers. They have metal-stud snow tyres for winter ice use, but you will have to ask in advance. Helmets are free with the bike, other accessories like panniers can also be rented. Rental period is from 10:00-18:00, full 24 hours, or several days. ( updated Sep 2015 )

By electric kick scooter [ edit ]

It is possible to rent Swedish Voi , German Tier , American Lime and American Bird electric kick scooters for use in the centre. Install the smartphone app, check where the nearest scooter is, check price, unlock with the app, drive, park it in some sensible location in the allowed area (mind the vision impaired) and release it with the app. The scooters have a top speed of 20 km/h (12 mph), which is plenty; acquaint yourself with the scooter and its controls somewhere safe. Rules are the same as for bikes, but minimum age (imposed by the companies) is 18. In some areas the scooters enforce a lower speed (5–6 km/h). The companies aim to keep the scooters available also in winter, conditions permitting, but the vehicles are not ideal in snowy or slippery conditions.

In 2023 Italian RideMovi offers rental of electric kick scooters and e-bikes.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are rather expensive. Even worse is the fact that some small dodgy operators charge high prices. The antidote is to always check the black and yellow price sticker on the rear window. The price shown in large digits is the maximum (for instance during night hours) fare for a 10 km, 15-minute journey and reputable companies charge around 300 kr for this. The price can legally be up to 499 kr; if the sticker shows a much higher price, stay away or be ripped off. The taxi market is deregulated, making it considerably easier to find a taxi, but the downside is that the rip-offs aren't even illegal, just "supply and demand"!

As long as you check the sticker you'll be fine, but if you're still nervous choose the major companies TopCab , +46 8 33 33 33; Taxijakt , +46 8 35 00 00; Taxi Kurir , +46 8 30 00 00; Taxi 020 , 020 20 20 20 (free calls from Swedish phones); and Taxi Stockholm , +46 8 15 00 00. Many minor companies use "Stockholm" in their names to mimic their competitor, so look for the phone number 15 00 00 which appears below the logo on all Taxi Stockholm cars.

Most taxi firms operate a fixed price regime between central Stockholm and Arlanda airport, mirroring the rates for the journey into town of around 450-500 kr. It is a good idea to check with the driver that you will get the fixed price before you set off - the meter price for the same ride may cost twice as much. The taxis often have big stickers advertising their airport price: do not confuse them with the black and yellow price sticker pictured in this article.

Authorized taxis have yellow license plates. Late at night in the city center, you may be offered a ride with an illegal taxi, svarttaxi (literally "black taxi"), usually by discreet whispering of "taxi". Illegal cabs are associated with other crime, and don't save you a lot of money, and legal cabs are usually available.

• Uber Stockholm . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• Bolt Stockholm . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• Cabonline . Offers TaxiKurir, Taxi 020, Sverigetaxi and TOPCAB taxis. Fixed price on all trips. ( updated Aug 2020 )

As central Stockholm has good public transit, a car is only needed for freight, or for visiting outer suburbs, or the countryside.

Cars driving into or out of central Stockholm between 06:30 and 18:29 are charged a congestion tax of 11 to 35 kr. Some car rental companies charge their customers separately for the cost of toll passages, while others do not. Taxis pass the tax onto the passengers. Foreign-registered vehicles are not exempt from tax (you'll receive an invoice). Taxes are not charged in most of July, on holidays (such as Sundays) or on the day before a holiday (such as Saturdays).

Parking is restricted and expensive in the inner city, and free parking is scarce even in the suburbs, except at external shopping centres.

The congestion tax, parking fees and fuel prices make driving costly around Stockholm.

While traffic congestion is not as bad as in other cities of similar size, the north-south divide is a chokepoint at rush hour; especially the Slussen area between Gamla Stan and Södermalm. In general, commuting south to north is slowest in the morning, while north to south is slowest in the afternoon.

As of 2019, many streets (especially in Norrmalm) are under reconstruction, with rerouting and limited capacity.

Remember to yield for pedestrians, who often cross smaller streets in front of cars even when they have red light.

The Stockholm archipelago is served by two major shipping companies.

Waxholmsbolaget [dead link] runs inexpensive public transit ferries, slowed down by stops at several different docks. Waxholmsbolaget also runs two steamboats, that offer even slower, but genuine, round-trips with classical Swedish cuisine.

Strömma [dead link] is a private company, aimed at international tourists, with fast boats and audioguides.

For the city area, there are two hop-on/hop-off boat tours that run loops between various sites in Stockholm. Each costs approximately 100 kr for a day long pass and has approximately 8 stops, including the cruise terminal, Gamla Stan, the Vasa Museum, Skansen, and Skeppsholmen.

By foot [ edit ]

Stockholm is a walking-friendly city if snow is not present and getting from one place to another by foot is safe and otherwise hassle-free, at least in the inner city. Stockholm's suburbs, on the other hand, are rather spread out.

• Drottninggatan, Västerlånggatan and Götgatan is a shopping and dining walk through the city.
• Stockholm history tour tells the history of Stockholm from Vikings to tech startups.
• Södermalm hill tour provides the greatest panorama photo views, as well as the arts and crafts scene.

See [ edit ]

Buildings and structures [ edit ].

Untouched by wars for a long time, Stockholm has some great old architecture to see. The exception would be Norrmalm , where much was demolished in the 1950s and 1960s to give place to what was then more modern buildings. Looking at it the other way around, if interested in this kind of architecture this is the place to go.

Stockholm's Old Town ( Gamla Stan ) , is the beautifully preserved historical center, best covered on foot, dominated by the Stockholm Palace (Stockholms slott). Other highlights include Storkyrkan , the cathedral of Stockholm, which has been used for many royal coronations, weddings and funerals, and Riddarholmskyrkan , a beautifully preserved medieval church, which hosts the tombs of many Swedish kings and royals, surrounded by former mansions.

Stockholm has several interesting churches , from medieval times to the 20th century. Most of them are in active use by the Church of Sweden. There is also a synagogue in Östermalm and a mosque on Södermalm . The Woodland cemetery, Skogskyrkogården , in Söderort is one of few UNESCO World Heritage sites from the 20th century. Also in southern Stockholm is Avicii Arena , also known as Globen ("Globe", in Söderort ), a white spherical building used for hockey games and as a concert venue. Occasionally, at least at game nights, it is lit by coloured light. The Globe is the heart of the Sweden Solar System , the world's largest scale model of any kind. With the Globe as the Sun, models of the planets are displayed at Slussen (Mercury), the Royal Institute of Technology (Venus), the Natural History Museum (Earth & Moon), Mörby Centrum (Mars), Arlanda Airport (Jupiter) and Uppsala (Saturn).

Viewpoints [ edit ]

The heights of northern Södermalm give a great view of central Stockholm, especially from the street Fjällgatan, the Fåfängan mountain just east of to Stadsgårdshamnen, and bars and restaurants such as Gondolen , Herman's , Himlen , and the penthouse lounge of Sjöfartshotellet . Further south in Söderort there's Hammarbybacken , a semi-artificial ski slope, walkable around the year, great during summer and Skyview [dead link] on the top of the Ericsson Globe (130 kr).

On Skansen there's the 19th century tower of Bredablick offering views. The Stockholm City Hall ( Stockholms stadshus ) on Kungsholmen is famous for its observatory tower, and for the Nobel Prize dining hall.

Drones are prohibited above Gamla stan, Norrmalm, and parts of Östermalm and Kungsholmen [dead link] . Södermalm and Djurgården are recommended for drone flight.

Museums [ edit ]

Stockholm has more than 70 museums , ranging from those large in size and scope to the very specialized, including the Butterfly Museum, the Spirits Museum, and the Dance Museum, to name but a few. As of 2016, many of them have free entrance. A brief selection:

• Östermalm : The Natural History Museum at T-Universitetet has extensive exhibits for all ages, and an Omnimax cinema. The Army Museum [dead link] displays Sweden's military history, with frequent wars from the Middle Ages until 1814, then followed by two centuries of peace. The Swedish History Museum features an exhibition on Vikings.
• The Museum of Modern Art ( Skeppsholmen ).
• Djurgården : The Vasa Museum displays the Vasa , a 17th-century warship that sunk in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage, and authentic objects from the height of the Swedish Empire. Skansen is an open-air museum in Djurgården, containing a zoo featuring Swedish fauna, as well as displays of Sweden's cultural heritage in reconstructed buildings. Nordiska Museet [dead link] displays Swedish history and cultural heritage. The Swedish Music Hall of Fame features ABBA The Museum .
• Millesgården , Lidingö an open-air sculpture museum.
• Fotografiska [dead link] Södermalm a photo gallery opened in 2010.
• Birka ( Ekerö )— For the real Viking buff, there's Birka [dead link] , the site of a former Viking city on Björkö. A replica of the old city has been built up. Boats to Björkö are operated by Strömma Kanalbolaget . Birka can also be reached by public transport to Rastaholm, and boarding a boat.

Art [ edit ]

Beyond the art museums mentioned above, Stockholm has a vivid art scene with many art galleries, exhibition halls and public art installation. Some of the galleries are Galleri Magnus Karlsson , Fredsgatan 12 ( Norrmalm ), Lars Bohman Gallery , Karlavägen 9 ( Östermalm ), Galerie Nordenhake , Hudiksvallsgatan 8 ( Vasastan ) and Magasin 3 [dead link] , Frihamnen ( Östermalm ).

The Royal Institute of Art ( Skeppsholmen ) and the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design ( Söderort ) hold regular exhibitions.

The Stockholm Metro has plenty of artistic decoration in its stations, and promotes itself as "the world’s longest art exhibition". Some stations worth to mention are the moody dark blue cave of Kungsträdgården ( Norrmalm ), the giant black and white "drawings" by Siri Derkert at Östermalmstorg ( Östermalm ) and the celebration of science and technology at Tekniska Högskolan ( Östermalm ). Rissne ( Solna ) has a fascinating timeline of human history on its walls. A written description in English to the art in the Stockholm Metro can be downloaded for free from the SL website [dead link] . See public transportation in Stockholm County for more information.

Fiction [ edit ]

Stockholm has been the setting of many books and films, including some of Astrid Lindgren's works and Nordic Noir works such as Millennium and Beck .

Do [ edit ]

Tours [ edit ]

There is a wide selection of guided tours available, by boat, by bus and on foot.

• Hop On - Hop Off Boat . daily 10:00-16:00 . Audio track in 11 languages. Two of the most frequented stops are at the Palace, and at the Gamla Stan, right across the canal from T Slussen . The recordings on this loop service are reasonably informative. 24-hr ticket from 180 kr . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• Under the bridges of Stockholm . Departing from Strömkajen by Grand Hôtel and opposite the Royal Castle ( T Kungsträdgården ), this tour on both the sea and on lake Mälaren passes under 15 bridges and through two locks. Several departures every day, depending on the time of year. 1 hour 50 min. From 260 kr . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• Royal Canal Tour . Departs from Strömkajen and takes you around the eastern parts of the city, passing through the lush Djurgården canal. 50 min. From 200 kr . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• Historical Canal Tour . Departs from Stadshusbron next to the City Hall ( T T-Centralen ), and passes Kungsholmen and other western islands of the city. 50 min. From 275 kr . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• Stockholm Grand Tour . Combines a boat and a bus tour. 3 hours 30 min, 450 kr. From 432 kr . ( updated Sep 2017 )

City Tours and Open Top Tours (also divisions of the Strömma group) offers bus tours:

• Stockholm Panorama . A tour of some major sights that departs from Gustaf Adolf Torg ( T T-Centralen ). 1 hour 30 min, 300 kr.  
• The Hop-on Hop-off Bus [dead link] is a tour with open top double decker buses that allows you to get on and off the bus as often as you want at bus stops along the route. The tour passes some major sights, but only in the central and eastern part of the city. 24-hour travel pass from 270 kr.

Stockholm Excursions also has a few specialized bus tours.

Taxi Stockholm , +46 8 15 00 00, offers a multimedia guided tours , allowing up to 3 people for a flat fare of 950 kr to explore sites and experiences in Stockholm linked to some poignant historic moments of its past, usually the dark ones, like the assassination of Olof Palme.

Talk of the town offers self-guided bike tours in six languages.

• Talk of the town . Memory card for your mobile phone can be rented at several bike rentals in Stockholm. Load your mobile phone with audioguides at 56 of the best sights in Stockholm. Rent by hour, 30 kr or day 125 kr.  
• BikeSweden , Narvavägen 13-17 , ☏ +46 8-667 57 02 . 10–18 April–October . BikeSweden offers several guided cycling tours and a variety of high quality bikes in the center of the city. Daily guided drop-in biketours form may-september). BikeSweden offers mountainbikes, children's bikes, racing bikes, trailers, child seats and city bikes.  

Swimming [ edit ]

There are several beaches in inner Stockholm, as well as the suburbs. The water in central Stockholm is mostly clean, even though it looks dark. The quality of the water is monitored by local authorities, and the reports for all the beaches in the city is available online. If there is a problem with the water, signs will be posted at the beach. During summer, the inner town beaches are rather crowded.

The Stockholm archipelago has enough beaches and rocks for everyone, and the right to access allows bathing nearly everywhere, if no notice of the opposite. As in the rest of Sweden, public adult skinny-dipping is not explicitly illegal, but frowned upon. The only sanctioned nudist beach is in Ågesta ( Söderort )

If the open water is too cold for your tastes, Stockholm has several outdoor and indoor swimming pools and spas . Besides the public baths, the more luxurious ones are Centralbadet ( Norrmalm ), Sturebadet ( Östermalm ), Eriksdalsbadet ( Södermalm ) and Yasuragi spa ( Nacka ).

Spectator sports [ edit ]

The most popular spectator sports are football (soccer) and ice hockey . Also, bandy has a cult following. Tickets for all games can be bought online from Ticnet [dead link] . Speedway is another big spectator sport in Sweden, performed on a race track in Gubbängen ( Söderort ).

The Swedish National Men's football (soccer) team plays international games on Friends Arena in Solna . The Swedish top football league, Allsvenskan , is weaker than most of its Western European sister leagues, but the fans are very faithful. The season runs from April until October. AIK plays on Friends Arena. Tele2 Arena ( Söderort ) hosts Djurgårdens IF and Hammarby . These three clubs are in constant rivalry, and the decision to share one stadium was not easy.

The Swedish top ice hockey league is the Svenska Hockeyligan (SHL; "Swedish Hockey League"), and the season goes from September to April. Stockholm has had no team in the SHL since the 2021–22 season; the city's two main clubs, AIK and Djurgårdens, play in the second level, HockeyAllsvenskan , as of 2023. Both clubs play home games at Hovet ( Söderort ).

Bandy is played from November to February. Dress warm, as the game is played outdoors in two 45-minute halves. Stockholm has only one team in the top men's bandy league: Hammarby . The final of the Swedish League takes place on Friends Arena ( Solna ) or Tele2 Arena ( Södermalm ).

These stadiums also host frequent concerts and stage shows; see Stockholm Live for calendar and tickets.

Doing sport [ edit ]

There are many opportunities to do sport in Stockholm.

Stockholm has many short slopes for downhill snowsports : Hammarbybacken ( Söderort ), Ekebyhovsbacken ( Ekerö ), Ekholmsnäsbacken ( Lidingö ), Flottsbrobacken ( Södertörn ), etc. with lifts and equipment rental when weather allows. The height is modest, but most hills have a great view, well worth a hike any season. Tracks for cross-country skiing are available throughout Stockholm; the ground is usually, but not always, covered by snow in January–February.

There are many open fields in Stockholm. Gärdet ( T Karlaplan or T Gärdet ) is good for outdoor sport. There are also horse riding venues and many golf courses open for visitors in the inner region.

If you would rather compete in an event, one of the most visible sporting events is the Stockholm [dead link] Marathon , held annually on a Saturday in late May or early June, when some 18,000 participants run two laps around the inner city. Another one is the Lidingöloppet , a 30 km cross-country race branded as the world's most attended, and a part of the Swedish Classic Circuit, on Lidingö in early September. For hardcore swimmers, Ötillö (literally island to island ) is an all-day swim-run race where teams of two swim between and run across many islands in the Stockholm archipelago .

Arts [ edit ]

Stockholm's national stages, the Royal Dramatic Theatre and the Royal Opera stage classic and modern plays, operas and ballets. There are many other playhouses, such as the Stockholm City Theatre . The theatre season generally runs from late August until the beginning of June. In the summer the Parkteatern stages free-entrance plays and monologues in the parks of Stockholm. During September–May, a range of international and local musicals, as well as other shows, are provided at the many theatres.

Cinema films are not dubbed, but subtitled. Except the multiplexes (most of them THX certified), a few classic cinema theaters remain: Rigoletto , Grand Sveavägen , Saga , and Skandia ( Norrmalm ) Park ( Östermalm ) and Victoria ( Södermalm ). While SF has a de facto monopoly for mainstream film, there are some independent cinemas.

A couple of large cultural events are arranged every year. Culture Night Stockholm takes place annually in springtime, with free admission to several museums, special performances around the city, from 18:00 until midnight. In August the Stockholm Culture Festival takes place, in tandem with the Ung 08 [formerly dead link] youth festival in Kungsträdgården. During this time of the year, the Stockholm International Film Festival also hosts an open-air cinema in the Tantolunden park during one week in August. The major Stockholm International Film Festival takes place in November, and draws large international crowds.

Stockholm has a growing scene for standup comedy in Swedish and English. The Big Ben Bar ( Södermalm ), Folkungagatan 97, has a free-entrance comedy club in English each Thursday at 20:00. Skrattstock is an annual comedy festival organized every summer.

The live music stage in Stockholm is something else. There are never any signs of anyone playing but a few posters in specific areas. Although a lot of the cities bars have live music, the most common place to find it is around Södermalm. There you will find places like Debaser , Hornhuset and Trädgården . Besides Södermalm both Norrmalm [dead link] and Vasastan [dead link] have a few interesting venues.

On Sunday evenings from September to May at Skeppsholmen there is live Swedish folk music at Folkmusikhuset . Go to listen or to dance Swedish folk dances. Free entrance.

Stockholm hosts many expos and conventions. The two largest facilities are Stockholm International Fairs ( Söderort ) and Kistamässan ( Västerort ).

Amusement park and children's activities [ edit ]

Stockholm's main amusement park, Gröna Lund is on Djurgården (accessible by Spårväg City , by the ferry to Djurgården or by bus 44). There are all sorts of rides including rollercoasters and during the summer the park hosts a large number of concerts by famous artists and groups, as well as popular dancing evenings. Opening times for the amusement park vary across the year. Check the website before visiting. The park generally is very crowded during weekends and concert days.

On Djurgården you can also find Junibacken , a theme park centered on children's books, especially Astrid Lindgren's stories . Skansen , Stockholm's zoo, is also on the island.

Gambling [ edit ]

Casino Cosmopol on Kungsgatan 65 ( Norrmalm ) has 37 gaming tables and almost 400 slot machines. In addition, several major nightclubs have blackjack tables and slot machines.

There are regular horse races at Solvalla ( Västerort ) and Täby Galopp ( Norrort ).

LGBT events [ edit ]

Attitudes towards homosexuality and transgender expressions are generally tolerant. In the summer (generally late July/early August), there is an annual LGBT pride festival, Stockholm Pride , which is the largest in Scandinavia. The national LGBT organization, RFSL , can provide information on other events and venues.

Outdoor life [ edit ]

There are many forests and lakes within commuting distance of Stockholm, with good chances to see wild animals such as moose, deer and boars. Much of outer Östermalm consists of forest and farmland within a walk from the metro.

In Södertörn , one can find Nackareservatet, Tyresta National Park and Bornsjön.

Learn [ edit ]

With about 80,000 university students at more than 20 universities and university colleges, Stockholm is the largest Nordic university city. The largest institutions of higher education are Stockholm University (Stockholms universitet), the Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga tekniska högskolan), and Södertörn University College (Södertörns högskola). Karolinska institutet is a world-class medical university. There are also several fine arts university colleges. Study in Stockholm has information about university studies in Stockholm.

Buy [ edit ]

As in the rest of Sweden, VISA and MasterCard are accepted by nearly all stores, and ATMs are readily available. There are ATMs inside some nightclubs, where the bar might accept cash only. Very few venues accept foreign currencies, such as euros or US dollars.

In contrast to many other European cities, most shops in Stockholm (except the small independent ones) are open all week, including Sundays; only closed down for a few major holidays a year. Closing time tends to be rigid, though.

Fashion [ edit ]

Popular Swedish clothing brands that you can find in several major stores include Acne Jeans , WESC , Cheap Monday , J Lindeberg , Whyred , Tiger and Filippa K . There has been an explosion of young designers starting their own small labels. Many of these can be found in the small shops in the SoFo area on Södermalm (see below). Examples are Nakkna , Jenny Hellström , Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair and The Stray Boys .

Glassware [ edit ]

• The large department stores Åhléns and NK in Norrmalm all have a wide selection of glassware.
• Duka , several locations: Västerlånggatan 78 ( Gamla stan ), Sveavägen 24-26 and Kungsgatan 41, ( Norrmalm ). Duka is a Swedish chain selling both cheaper household items and a limited selection of glassware in several stores in central Stockholm.
• Nordiska Kristall , several locations: Kungsgatan 9 ( Norrmalm ), Österlånggatan 1 ( Gamla stan ), also in Strand Hotel, Grand Hotel and City Hotel. Nordiska Kristall is a high-end shop for crystal design glass. The Kungsgatan store has an art-glass gallery.

Furniture and design [ edit ]

Sweden is internationally known for its design, and Stockholm has many stores where you can find Swedish-designed clothes, textiles and interior decoration items. Hand-made and hand-painted glassware is also a famous Swedish speciality.

• DesignTorget at Sergels Torg ( Stockholm/Norrmalm ) and Götgatan 31 ( Stockholm/Södermalm ), a design store specializing in smaller items, ranging from the beautiful to the useful to the downright eccentric.
• Asplund furniture store, is an upscale store with world-class design. T Östermalmstorg .
• Room is another great furniture and design store locaded in the Pub mall, T Hötorget .
• Illums Bolighus is a high-end furniture, home decoration and glassware store specializing in Danish design. ( T Centralen , Hamngatan 27)
• Many antiquities shops are close to T Odenplan . Good place to stroll around.
• If second-hand is an option many Stadsmissionen and Myrorna (The Salvation Army) have fun vintage products, and contribute to a good cause. Especially Stadsmissionen Stortorget ( T Gamla stan ) has hand-picked design and classical furniture.

Major places for shopping [ edit ]

Norrmalm [ edit ].

Drottninggatan is dominated by major brands down at the Sergels Torg end before giving way to smaller and more specialised shops further north. Tourist shops occupy the southern end.

Also connected to Drottninggatan is the square of Hötorget ( T-Hötorget ). Here is a daily fresh food market outside as well as Hötorgshallen , an indoor food market.

Mood Stockholm on Norrlandsgatan opened in 2012. This mall contains a lot of interesting boutiques not represented elsewhere in the city. Hamngatan , Biblioteksgatan and Birger Jarlsgatan have a collection of high end shops including Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton among others. NK [dead link] , is a classical department store on Hamngatan ( Norrmalm ).

Östermalm [ edit ]

Östermalmstorg has a well-reputed grocery hall, Östermalmshallen . Sturegallerian is an upmarket shopping mall at Stureplan, with some eateries. Fältöversten is a shopping mall at Karlaplan.

Suburban malls [ edit ]

There are a number of shopping centers and malls in the major suburban centers – see the district articles for details. While different in size, they all have a similar profile, with cheap restaurants, supermarkets and major fashion, electronics and interior design chain stores, as well as some smaller shops. Kista Galleria in Västerort has generous opening hours; from 10:00 to 21:00 all week. It is reached by the blue metro line with destination Akalla, get off the train at Kista .

Eat [ edit ]

Stockholm features a large variety of restaurants. However, dining in Stockholm can be expensive, if you aim for something else than the fast food bars, the run-of-the-mill British-style pubs or the ethnic restaurants that dominate the budget bracket. Be prepared to pay around 175-250 kr or more for most main courses at quality restaurants. If you are on a tight budget, self-catering is a good option.

Most hotels and hostels have a good breakfast buffet, in many cases included with the room.

Most restaurants have "dagens rätt" - a lunch offer, normally including a lower- or non-alcoholic drink, bread, butter, salad and coffee Monday - Friday, usually 11:00-14:00. Expect to pay between 65-100 kr. Generally more expensive downtown and cheaper in the suburbs. Many Asian, Indian, Mexican and fast food restaurants offer rather cheap "all you can eat" lunch buffets. Office workers usually go for lunch at noon, so try to show up well before, or past 13:00.

Most restaurants' kitchens close at 22:00 even on weekends, so don't get out too late. A glass of house wine costs in the range between 60 and 120 kr, or 400 to 700 kr for a bottle. Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs, restaurants and enclosed areas.

Many Stockholm restaurants are closed for vacation for a few weeks in July and/or early August. In December, many restaurants offer a " julbord " ("Christmas buffet"), a variation of the classic Swedish smörgåsbord with traditional Christmas dishes including Christmas ham, pickled herring and "lutfisk" (stockfish from cod or ling, prepared with lye), which might require advance booking, costing around 300-600 kr, beverages not included.

In this cosmopolitan city, traditional Swedish cuisine , known as husmanskost ("every mans food"), can be hard to get by. Many fine diners have a not-too-expensive husmanskost course: some other places to eat Swedish are the Nystekt strömming wagon at Slussen ( Södermalm ), Ät gott (S:t Göransgatan 74, ( Kungsholmen )) and Tennstopet (Dalagatan 50, ( Vasastan )).

Guide Michelin recognizes ten Stockholm restaurants: Three-star Frantzén , two-star Oaxen Krog and one-star Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren , Ekstedt , Gastrologik [dead link] , Operakällaren [dead link] , Sushi Sho , Restaurang Volt [dead link] , Aloë and Agrikultur .

Since 2016 Stockholm has a fish auction for seafood, and local catch can be found at many supermarkets and restaurants.

While the traditional Nordic cuisine is heavy on meat and fish, Stockholm has a strong vegetarian community . Most restaurants have at least one lacto-vegetarian option. For vegan food, look for the café chain Blueberry or Asian spots such as Ki-Mama and EatNam. The convenience chains Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven dotted around the city centre stock vegan sandwiches.

Stockholm has a fleet of food trucks , with high-end meals around 70 to 90 kr. See Hittatrucken for schedules.

• Sandys . Several locations throughout the city: Sergelarkaden 6 ( T T-Centralen ), Klarabergsgatan 31 ( T T-Centralen ), Stureplan 2 ( T Östermalmstorg ) and Götgatan 28 ( T Slussen ). A large Stockholm-based fast food chain focusing on submarine sandwiches, wraps and salads, Sandys offer a wide selection, reliable quality and acceptable prices, although not by any means a bargain. Sandwiches 49 kr (excluding drinks), XL sandwiches 59 kr, salads 65 kr.  

Cafés [ edit ]

Taking a break for coffee and a biscuit is a Swedish tradition, commonly called fika in Swedish, and there are many coffee-bars around the city. You also have a great number of the more traditional pasttiseries.

Traditional Swedish filter coffee is relatively strong when compared to American, but a far cry from the Italian espresso. Espresso, caffe latte, cappuccino and other varieties of Italian coffee are generally available. If you prefer tea, many cafés only offer a few flavours, but generally some black, red and green teas.

Don't miss the traditional Swedish "cinnamon bun" with your coffea. If you visit in January-March you also will have the possibility to try a "Semla", a popular local pastry with wheat bread, almond paste and cream. In November-December you can try one of the saffron buns, known as "lussebulle".

Starbucks competes with Swedish coffee shops: Wayne's Coffee , Robert's Coffee and Espresso House are the most common names here - that are strikingly similar in design. The small local cafés offer a more personal experience, and often better coffee. Expect to pay 25 kr and upwards for a cup of regular black coffee.

Don't hesitate to ask for a refill ( påtår in Swedish) at self-service cafeterias, as it is often free.

Drink [ edit ]

Retail drinks [ edit ].

Drinking retail alcohol is allowed in most public areas. Among the exceptions are schools, playgrounds, indoor malls, some city squares, and public transport areas. In some parks, drinking is prohibited from 22:00 or midnight. Map of dry areas

• [formerly dead link] Drottninggatan ( T T-Centralen ), Drottninggatan 22 . M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-15:00, Su closed .  
• Klarabergsgatan ( T T-Centralen ), Klarabergsgatan 62 . Extra late hours: Closes 20:00 all weekdays .  
• Regeringsgatan ( T T-Centralen ), Regeringsgatan 44 . The largest Systembolaget store in Stockholm, with a special selection of exclusive wines  
• Vasagatan ( T T-Centralen ), Vasagatan 25 .  
• Nybrogatan ( T Östermalmstorg ), Nybrogatan 47 .  
• Folkungagatan ( T Medborgarplatsen ), Folkungagatan 56 .  

Bars and nightclubs [ edit ]

The cost for drinking out in Stockholm varies a lot. Expect to pay around 30 kr in the cheapest pub (55-75 kr in a trendier club or pub) for a beer or cider, and at least 95-150 kr for a long-drink or cocktail in a club. Bars usually have no cover charge, but may have an arbitrarily set (and arbitrarily enforced) minimum age limit (usually 21 or 23, sometimes as low as 18, other times as high as 27), while clubs usually charge 50-200 kr at the door (or more at special performances). Long, and very slow moving lines tend to form outside most popular clubs - expect having to wait as much as 1 hour or more if going to a trendy place after midnight, even if raining or snowing. Don't forget to bring an ID , as bouncers will (almost) always ask for identification at the door in both pubs and clubs.

Stureplan is a district dominated by dancefloor nightclubs, at the crossing of Birger Jarlsgatan , Kungsgatan and Sturegatan , ( T Östermalmstorg ). The mushroom-shaped rain shelter is a common meeting point. High entrance fees (200 kr or more) and long lines.

Södermalm is a district with many smaller bars and nightclubs focusing on art and electronic music. Look in nightlife magazines for places around Hornstull (such as Strand), Mariatorget (such as Sidetrack , Marie Laveau ), Slussen (such as Debaser , Kolingsborg ), Skanstull (such as Trädgården , Under Bron ).

Major bar streets are Götgatan (where most places are rather cheap pubs) and Bondegatan (with a younger and more trendy crowd), both on Södermalm, Rörstrandsgatan in western Vasastan (also rather trendy, but drawing a slightly older crowd) and the area around the Rådhuset and Fridhemsplan metro stations on Kungsholmen (with many small and relaxed places). Beer is usually really cheap in suburban pubs.

Most restaurants and bars close at 01:00, larger clubs usually at 03:00, and a handful at 05:00. More trendy clubs might have a long queue from midnight till closing time. Get out early (at least before midnight). Most late-night clubs (especially at Stureplan) have an informal or outspoken dress code, vårdad klädsel . Loudness and drunkenness are other common reasons to reject waiting guests. Drinking in the queue is a no-no, bribes are even worse.

If you can read Swedish, you can get more information about Stockholm's nightlife in the free monthly magazine Nöjesguiden , the newspaper Dagens Nyheter on Thursdays, the free QX gay magazine for LGBT events and the free Metro on Fridays.

Sleep [ edit ]

Stockholm is primarily a business city, so beside the Grand Hôtel ( Norrmalm ) and a few other luxury venues, Stockholm has several business (typically 4-star) hotels, which charge 900-1200 kr for a single room. They usually have vacancies during weekends and summers, and might give special offers for tourists.

Many hotels have basement rooms without windows, often smaller and more austere than the regular rooms, and significantly cheaper, especially the singles. The hotels make no secret of the fact that this room category has no window, but do make sure to read the description of your room carefully before you book to avoid unpleasant surprises.

The cheap bunks are in short supply. Look for hostels at Svenska Turistföreningen and SVIF [dead link] . Advance booking is usually needed, especially in summer, and for those in the inner city. Stockholm has some spectacular hostels, such as af Chapman ( Skeppsholmen ), Långholmen ( Södermalm ) and Jumbostay at Arlanda .

The lowest cost per bed can be found on the Baltic Sea ferries .

Hospitality exchange and home exchange options can be useful for Stockholm. The apartment rental market is strictly regulated, with waiting times over a decade.

When it comes to long-time accommodation, Stockholm has a harsh housing situation, with several years' waiting time for a rental apartment. Newcomers are dependent on the unreliable second-hand rental market. For consultants and other business visitors, a long-time hotel stay might be the most practical option.

Connect [ edit ]

As of Sept 2021, central Stockholm has 5G from all Swedish carriers, but this hasn't rolled out across the city, which mostly gets 4G. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe [ edit ]

For its size, Stockholm is a safe city by international standards. Still, travellers should use common sense to avoid crime .

While police officers can be spread thin, Stockholm has patrolling security guards ( ordningsvakt ) in central neighbourhoods. These are usually helpful to visitors. Security staff at nightclubs might be more harsh, especially at intoxicated patrons. Drunkenness is less accepted in bars and clubs than in smaller towns, and could lead to the security staff forcibly ejecting the trouble-maker. Bouncers in Stockholm are stricter than in other European cities, and you may be kicked out for no reason.

Most crimes against travellers are crimes of opportunity, such as pickpockets , bicycle theft, auto theft, and auto vandalism. As always, do not leave valuable items in your car, and watch your bag in crowded places. Most shops and all major taxi companies accept credit and debit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash.

Stockholm's road traffic is not too dangerous. Use common sense, and beware of slippery roads when temperature is around zero (which can happen from November to March). Animal collisions are a risk factor even in the inner suburbs; watch out for deer in particular.

Taxis are required to post pricing information in the rear side window. The comparison price is for a 15 km ride and not the maximum price, which could be a lot more when venturing outside the inner city. While some independent driver charge the maximum allowed (499 kr), major cab companies ( Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir , Taxi 020 / Sverigetaxi and Topcab ) are around 300 kr. With these cabs, you also have a better chance of having belongings lost in the car returned to you.

During summer, groups of street gamblers try to scam their audience in other touristed areas, by planting a few of their own in the crowd. Don't play, you will lose.

Though Sweden has an extensive welfare system, and Stockholm has far fewer homeless and impoverished people than other cities of similar size, homeless people can be seen begging around the city; several of them from other parts of the European Union. A responsible way to address their situation is to buy the street paper, Situation Sthlm , for 50 kr. Buying food or water for someone begging is also a good way of helping. While organized crime does exist, lawful visitors are unlikely to be affected.

Stockholm is friendly to sexual minorities. Homophobic and transphobic attitudes will be met with outright hostility from many Swedes. Same-sex couples will have no trouble living openly in Stockholm, which includes holding hands or kissing in public around the city.

Respect [ edit ]

When using escalators , stand on the right and reserve the left side for walking. Standing still on the left side might annoy people. On train and metro platforms, passengers should be allow to leave the car before passengers who want to board. When waiting in lines , be patient and polite. Swedes never jump queues - but make sure you actually stand in the line. If unsure, ask.

Avoid walking in the cycle lane. Dedicated cycle paths are clearly marked, but sometimes run directly next to the sidewalk. Stockholm cyclists are subject to a comparatively hilly landscape and are unwilling to slow down and lose momentum. Usually, however, they are careful, signal clearly and use their bells, meaning that straying tourists most often are just sworn at.

As most other Nordic people, Swedes value privacy, and are usually not open to strangers in public, especially in public transport. They may feel uncomfortable and embarrassed if you try to start a conversation. If you are lucky enough to be invited to someone's home, you will discover that Swedes behave very differently and will be very social.

Cope [ edit ]

Pack [ edit ].

Stockholm is best experienced on foot, so bring comfortable shoes. An umbrella or a raincoat for wet weather is also a good idea. Expect the temperature to be well under freezing during the winter months (add to that windchill and humidity), so if you plan to visit then, warm clothes in good materials are certainly recommendable. Long johns/stockings under your pants/skirt will keep you warm without looking like you wear your ski-outfit).

Eating out is generally rather expensive. If on a budget, supermarket food is a good alternative to restaurants.

Getting cash [ edit ]

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted even for small amounts, so you may not need much cash – many places don't take cash at all. Most places accept identification and a signature, but PIN-transactions are preferred.

There are many ATMs in the city, but some foreign card-holders, such as a Canadian, have reported trouble in using them, even when they purport to be connected to international networks their banks are part of, so consider doing some research before you arrive.

The main currency exchange is Forex, but they charge a whopping 50 kr commission on top of their buy-sell spread.

Toilets [ edit ]

Finding a good toilet in Stockholm can be tricky. Many department stores and fast-food restaurants have clean toilets, often for the charge of 5 kr. That is also the cost of public toilet booths found in most city squares (though these might be messy) so be sure to carry some 5 kr coins. Restaurants' toilets are often reserved for customers, and might be messy depending on the establishment. Some good, clean toilets are found in Max at Norrmalmstorg, and in the bar Sturehof (at Stureplan - the establishment is too big for crew to keep track of people borrowing the toilet). Urinating in town is illegal, but urinals are often free even if you have to pay for a WC. The libraries, museums, and government buildings often have free, clean toilets.

Most major hotels have clean lobby toilets. Some of them might be reserved for house guests and require an access code, but travellers can often get access to them on request.

Laundry [ edit ]

Since Swedish apartments either have a washing machine or access to a communal laundry room, there are virtually no self-service laundries to be found in Stockholm, with one exception:

• Tvättomaten ( T Odenplan ), Västmannagatan 61 , ☏ +46 8 34 64 80 . Open M-F 08:30-18:30, Sa 09:30-15:00 (closed Sa from end of June to mid-August, closed one week at the end of July) . Washing machines in Scandinavian countries are connected to cold water only, so the machine actually heats the water, taking up to 3 hours to do a load of laundry. Self-service price: 50 kr without drying, 84 kr with drying (per machine, up to 5 kg). Service price: 200 kr with drying (self-service option not offered). Cash only! (2023-08-17) . ( updated Aug 2023 )

Most youth hostels have washing machines. Some dry cleaners offer to wash shirts and bed linen as well, but this tends to be quite expensive.

Health [ edit ]

Swedish healthcare is generally of high quality, although there may be long waits in emergency rooms. How quickly one sees a doctor will depend on medical priority; money, name or title won't bypass the queue.

EU/EEA citizens with a European Health Insurance card pay the same (rather low) fee for emergency and necessary care as a local citizen. Others must pay the whole health care cost (which can be between 1,700 and 2,200 kr for a doctor’s visit at an emergency care unit at a hospital). More information on hospital fees can be found at 1177 Vårdguiden .

In an emergency , always call 112 for SOS Alarm, for ambulance, police, fire service, air and sea rescue, mountain patrol, or priest on call. English-speaking operators are available.

There are two hospitals with 24-hour emergency care units in the inner city:

• S:t Görans Sjukhus , S:t Göransplan 1 ( T Fridhemsplan or T Stadshagen ), ☏ +46 8 58 70 10 00 .  
• Södersjukhuset , Sjukhusbacken 10 ( Bus 3, 74 or 164 from T Skanstull, bus 74 from T Mariatorget or commuter train to Stockholm Södra ), ☏ +46 8 616 10 00 .  

For less serious illnesses and ailments, getting in touch with a local clinic, vårdcentral , is a much better option than the hospital emergency rooms. The Stockholm County healthcare hotline (+46 8 320 100) can give medical advice and help you find a doctor. While information is officially given in Swedish only, the doctors can often speak some English.

Pharmacies [ edit ]

Certified pharmacies ( apotek ) have a green cross sign. You can buy over-the-counter medicine in most supermarkets and convenience stores. Strong painkillers are only sold at pharmacies, though.

• Apoteket C W Scheele , Klarabergsgatan 64 ( T T-Centralen ), ☏ +46 8 454 81 30 . Open 24 hours, all days of the week, including holidays . This pharmacy is centrally located. Service is limited late at night, and can be slow, but they have a very large inventory of specialized drugs.  
• Apotek Hjärtat , Krukmakargatan 13, Södermalm ( T Mariatorget ), ☏ +46 8 454 81 30 . Extra long operating hours: 08:00-22:00 all days of the week .  

Embassies [ edit ]

Go next [ edit ], stockholm county [ edit ].

Outside the metropolitan area, Stockholm County contains cultural heritage as well as great nature, all within reach of the SL public transport network; most in less than an hour.

• Stockholm archipelago consists of thousands of islands scattered into the Baltic Sea. While many of them can be reached by road, others need a ferry. Many of those ferries call at central Stockholm.
• Ekerö is a less-known freshwater archipelago in Lake Mälaren, with two World Heritage Sites: Drottningholm Palace (the residence of the Royal Family) and Viking Age settlement Birka. Drottningholm is 10 km from central Stockholm, and can be reached by public transportation within 30 minutes, or a 1-hour ferry trip.
• Sigtuna is Sweden's first capital, a quaint town near Arlanda Airport, 40 km north of Stockholm.
• Norrtälje contains the northern part of the archipelago, and vast forests.
• Stockholm's northern suburbs have many opportunities for outdoor life, including three slopes for downhill skiing, and Viking Age heritage.
• Södertörn contains forests and lakes, especially the Tyresta National Park, and the Nynäshamn port city.
• Södertälje is a quaint port city.

Uppsala County [ edit ]

Uppsala , the seat of Uppsala County , was the political, cultural and religious centre of Viking era Sweden. Uppsala also hosts Sweden's first university and Uppsala Cathedral is the largest in the Nordic countries, and the seat of the Church of Sweden. 80 km north of Stockholm, it is a gratifying day trip destination, where many historic sites dating even farther back than some in Stockholm are within walking distance from the central station.

To get there, there are two rail options:

• SJ offers fast hourly service from Stockholm C to Uppsala, with a sporadic service to Gävle also calling at Uppsala. This option takes 30-38 minutes and costs 82 kr for adults (26 or older).
• SL offers a stopping half-hourly service from Stockholm C to Uppsala, taking 55 minutes and costing 110 kr (65 kr for people under 20), possession of an SL travel card (even 24- or 72 hour) will reduce the fare to 60 kr (35 kr for people under 20 or over 65).

Farther away [ edit ]

• Gävle is a town and a county seat with several museums, and the famous straw goat during December.
• Södermanland County has some destinations for day excursions, such as Strängnäs and Mariefred and Trosa .
• Gotland is an exotic island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, reachable by plane from Bromma Airport, or by ferry from Nynäshamn .
• Åland is an autonomous Swedish-speaking island between Sweden and Finland, served by most Baltic Sea ferries .
• Turku is Finland's oldest city, reached by day or overnight ferry.
• Helsinki is Finland's capital, reached by overnight ferry or airplane.

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Stockholm   Travel Guide

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8 Best Things To Do in Stockholm

Updated May 8, 2023

Stockholm is a great escape for the relaxed urban traveler. Here you can take a public ferry to the picturesque Gamla Stan or take a leisurely stroll among the relaxing grounds of the lush Djurgården park island. The capital is also perfect for those

• All Things To Do

Gamla Stan (Old Town) Gamla Stan (Old Town) free

In Stockholm, travelers don't necessarily need to venture to one of the city's museums to learn about its past. Instead, stroll through Gamla Stan, the neighborhood where Stockholm itself was founded in 1252. Cobblestone streets, winding alleyways and colorful, classic architecture abound, creating a medieval atmosphere  visitors can't seem to get enough of. But Gamla Stan's charming ambience isn't all the area has going for it. The neighborhood is home to some of the city's top attractions, including the Stockholm Cathedral, Parliament, the Nobel Museum (which houses exhibits about the Nobel Peace Prize and its laureates) and the Royal Palace . Gamla Stan is also where you'll find Stockholm's oldest street,  Köpmangatan, and Mårten Trotzigs gränd alleyway, the city's narrowest pathway at only 35 inches wide at its smallest point. 

Though travelers said there are plenty of cafes, shops and attractions here, some reviewers found Gamla Stan to be a tourist trap. Visitors said restaurants are often overpriced, and some were put off by the kitschy shops that catered to tourists. However, you don't have to spend money to get the best of Gamla Stan. Many tourists enjoyed simply strolling around the area and recommended everyone do the same, as they felt the scenery was the neighborhood's best asset. Gamla Stan is completely free to stroll through and aside from the various businesses that dot the area, is open for exploration 24 hours a day. For more information, visit the Stockholm Tourism Board's website .

Djurgården Djurgården free

In Stockholm, you don't have to travel far to experience the famous Swedish countryside. At Djurgården, you can get exactly that and so much more. The island of Djurgården is situated right next to the city center, accessible via various forms of public transportation (ferries included), as well as on foot thanks to the numerous bridges that connect to it from Östermalm. The island is one big green oasis, perfect for biking, strolling or picnicking. But there's more to this giant park than meets the eye. What lies within Djurgården is a treasure trove of activities, including some of the city's top attractions. Here, you'll find Rosendals Garden , Skansen , the Vasa Museum and 21 other museums, including one dedicated solely to the Swedish pop group ABBA. There's also an aquarium and amusement park, perfect for traveling families.

But don't worry, there are still plenty of spaces to unwind. Hit up one of the island's many coastal or canal pathways, or rest your legs at Isbladskärret, a small lake area home to numerous different types of birds and small herd of Scottish Highland cattle. In addition, there are plenty of eateries scattered around the island (previous visitors particularly recommend getting a bite at the greenhouse cafe at Rosendals).

Monteliusvagen Monteliusvagen free

If you're the kind of traveler who can't leave a new city without experiencing a vista or two, consider a walk along Monteliusvagen. At less than a half-mile long, this cobblestone-lined pathway may seem modest at first, but the views it offers of the Stockholm skyline pack a punch. The scenic path is perched atop the cliffs of Södermalm and faces Lake Mälaren, Riddarholmen (the small island adjacent to Gamla Stan ) and city hall, where some of the annual Nobel Prize award ceremonies and banquets are held. Sodermalm, the area where the Monteliusvagen is located, is akin to SoHo in New York City. The trendy neighborhood features a variety of shopping options, from designer to vintage stores, art galleries, bars and restaurants. And if you're still itching for more views during your time in Sodermalm, walk about a mile east and you'll hit the Fjällgatan viewpoint, found conveniently above Fotografiska .

Recent visitors said this short stroll is lovely and best experienced at sunrise or sunset. Some suggested taking food for a small picnic at the available benches, while others said those interested in photography would be hard-pressed to find a better place to take a photo of the city. Whichever way you choose to experience Monteliusvagen, you'll be greeted with fantastic views, according to reviewers.

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Vasa Museum Vasa Museum

On its maiden voyage in 1628, the most powerful warship in the Baltic, the Vasa ,  was afloat only minutes before capsizing in front of stunned onlookers in the city's harbor.  Hundreds of years later, the massive, 226-foot-long ship was completely salvaged. The ship was so big that it took more than a year for it to be raised from the surface of the seabed. The Vasa has been put back together and extensively restored since then, with more than 95 percent of the ship originally intact. Thanks to this meticulous restoration, the ship is considered the only preserved 17th-century ship in the world and the  oldest fully preserved warship in the world. Today, the Vasa Museum is the most visited museum in Scandinavia, drawing in more than one million visitors a year.

In addition to the majestic ship, the museum houses a number of interesting exhibits about the vessel's history, including a look into what life was like at sea during that era, stories of the people onboard and a collection of artistic relics found on the ship.  But the pinnacle for travelers is touring the Vasa itself.  Recent visitors were in complete awe of the ship's incredible size and  were amazed at the quality of preservation down to the smallest detail. Even those who admitted the attraction wasn't initially at the top of their must-see list left the Vasa Museum with a better understanding of why this facility is considered one of the city's top attractions. And speaking of the museum's popularity, don't be surprised if you encounter long lines and crowds during Stockholm's peak season (summer).

Skansen Skansen

Founded in 1891, Skansen is not only the world's first open-air museum, but also its oldest.  The attraction illustrates five centuries of Swedish history through its showcase of 150 historical homes and farmsteads sourced from different parts of Sweden. Visitors can stroll through an 18th-century wooden church, a farmstead from northern Sweden and the town quarter, which consists of various 18th- and 19th-century homes and shops as well as period garb-clad historical interpreters who can also showcase traditional activities, such as spinning and knitting, among many others.  Skansen is also home to a zoo, which features 75 different species and breeds of Scandinavian animals, including wolverines, otters and Scandinavian brown bears, to name a few. And if you start to feel peckish during your tour, there are five fine and casual dining options to choose from on-site. 

Recent visitors thoroughly enjoyed their time at Skansen. Travelers said the place is so big, you could easily spend all day there and never get bored. Many in particular loved the zoo animals and said this is a great place to bring kids. What's more, historical interpreters speak English (among other languages), so visitors were happy they didn't miss out on presentations offered. And if you're visiting in the warmer months, some recommend having a picnic among the property's scenic landscape. 

Rosendals Garden (Rosendals Tradgard) Rosendals Garden (Rosendals Tradgard) free

Rosendals Trädgård is a public garden located on the island of Djurgården. When you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, or simply a scenic place to rest your feet, Rosendals is your answer. The attraction is a market garden outfitted with fields, a rose garden, orchard, flower beds, a vineyard and green houses, offering plenty of opportunities to unwind alongside nature. There's also an educational garden specifically for children. In addition to plenty of green spaces, there is an artisanal bakery, farm shop that sells biodynamically grown veggies and a plant shop. In the summer months, visitors can go out and pick flowers for purchase on the property. There is also the regularly lauded Greenhouse Cafe. Located right alongside gardens of its own, the cafe serves casual bites, primarily sourcing from the veggies grown on-site. And recent visitors can taste the freshness. Many travelers found the food served at the cafe and bakery to be delicious, and dining alongside gardens significantly enhanced their experience. Others were happy they brushed elbows more Swedish people than tourists here. 

Unless you plan on eating or purchasing something at the on-site shop, the Rosendal's Garden is free to explore. Hours, however, vary. From May to September the attraction is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (though closed from June 24th to 26th for Midsummer) and from October to December the garden is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Due to weather conditions, the gardens are closed to the public from January to April. To get to Rosendals, take the No. 69 bus to the Djurgården stop, walk over the bridge and follow the canal; signs to the gardens will become present.  For more information, check out the garden's website . 

Fotografiska Fotografiska

Stockholm is full of unique museums. There's one dedicated to the band ABBA, another to a sunken warship (the Vasa Museum ), and of course there's Skansen , the world's first open-air museum. Fotografiska stands out in that it is entirely made up of contemporary photography. The museum  presents four large exhibitions and 15 to 20 smaller exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing a variety of photography styles and subjects. Portraits, landscapes, black and white photos, series about war and even pregnancy have passed through Fotografiska. The museum aims to present a mix of unknown talents as well as big international names, some of which have included Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle and Nick Brandt.

Recent visitors offered mixed reviews of Fotografiska. Many travelers enjoyed the museum, raving about the interesting and thought-provoking photographs, while others felt the attraction was overhyped and overpriced. Some of those, however, admitted they weren't photography buffs to begin with. But what many did agree on was the top-notch dining options, as well as the stunning views of the waterways found within.

Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet)

While Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia actually live at Drottningholm Palace (some 20 minutes west of Stockholm), Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace) serves as their workplace and is the setting for most official receptions. It's also a popular tourist attraction. Visitors are allowed to tour the Royal Apartments, Treasury and the Tre Kronor Museum. The name apartments are given to signify a series of state rooms, and there are about four different sets of apartments within the Royal Apartments including the Orders of the Chivalry, Guest, State and Bernadotte  apartments – the latter of which contains 14 rooms alone. And we haven't even gotten into what's in the Treasury and the Tre Kronor Museum. Safe to say it would be hard to see the palace in one afternoon. But if you are short on time, don't miss royal relics, including crowns and swords, found in the Treasury, or the Hall of State, found in the Royal Apartments. Today, the Hall of State acts as the venue for official functions, but up until 1975 it was the meeting place for parliamentary sessions. It's also the home of a silver throne that was gifted to the former Queen Kristina for her coronation in the 17th century. Whichever room you decide to venture into, expect truly grandiose interiors throughout. 

Visitors were definitely impressed with the magnificent architecture and decor of the palace, and had a few suggestions on how to tackle the massive attraction. Many considered the Armoury a must-visit, as well as the changing of the guards ceremony. Others highly recommended paying extra for a guided tour, which some said greatly enhanced their experience of the palace. However you decide to tour the attraction, don't get discouraged if you don't see it all. With more than 600 rooms, it's one of the biggest palaces in Europe.

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Travel Guide To Stockholm

Stockholm is a stylish and civilised city with great shopping, restaurants and hotels. During the day, you can explore this archipelago city, connected by 57 bridges, by bicycle or foot and at night, you should soak up the atmosphere in one of the many designer bars springing up in the Swedish capital. It's perfect for a weekend break.

Where to stay in Stockholm

Everyone from Robbie Williams to the Dalai Lama has checked in to Berns' boutique bedrooms, which are well-placed near the Opera House, the best shops and great nightlife. Bistro Berns and Berns Asian, the in-house restaurants, serve excellent food. Beware of the cabin-style rooms: their large skylights allow guests from rooms higher up to peer down on you. £ Näckströmsgatan 8, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 566 32200; berns.se ).

HOTEL BIRGER JARL

Built in 1974, the hotel has been revamped to become a showcase for Swedish design. The lobby doubles as an exhibition space for local artists, while 12 local designers have been roped in to create suites and bedrooms. Rates include breakfast, discounts at several local shops and restaurants, and free entrance to Kulturhuset and the National Museum of Fine Arts. ££ Tulegatan 8, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 674 1800; birgerjarl.se ).

HOTEL ESPLANADE

Overlooking the harbour on one of the classiest streets in town, Esplanade is close to all the most fashionable Östermalm shops. This is a wonderfully unfashionable, cosy, family-owned hotel with typically Swedish furniture. Bright Josef Frank fabrics from Svenskt Tenn, Sweden's swankiest design company, adorn the interiors. The hotel attracts a varied crowd, from tourist to business travellers, plus the occasional actor appearing at the nearby Dramaten theatre. Original mid-century modern Scandinavian furniture furnishes many of the hotel's 34 bedrooms. There is no restaurant, but the hotel serves a buffet breakfast and provides sandwiches on request. ££ Strandvägen 7a, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 663 0740; hotelesplanade.se ).

HOTEL J GASHAGA

A simple but stunning waterfront property which is perpetually flooded with light and peopled with friendly staff. The 13 bedrooms have a rustic, Ralph Lauren-on-sea charm, making use of heavy linens and light woods, while the sitting room, called the Yacht Club, has armchairs to sink into and sailing memorabilia on the walls. Best of all is the soaring, glass-walled restaurant, where the fire is kept stacked with birch logs all day. Värdshusvägen 14-16, Lidingö, Stockholm (00 46 8 601 3410; hotelj.com ).

NORDIC LIGHT HOTEL

This cool, pale designer hotel has 175 rooms and friendly, helpful staff. The lobby bar Light Bar & Lounge is a trendy, casual after-work hangout. Each bedroom has images resembling glowing sea-anemones projected onto the walls. £ Vasaplan, Vasastaden, Stockholm (Tel: 00 46 8 505 63000; nordiclighthotel.se ).

RICA HOTEL KUNGSGATAN

A central hotel with pleasant blond-wood furnishings. The hotel is located in department store PUB, and is close to all good shopping. £ Kungsgatan 47, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 723 7220; rica.se ).

RIVAL HOTEL

Benny from ABBA is breathing new life into Stockholm's hotel scene with this hotel-café-bakery-cinema. Originally opened in 1937, the Rival has been reinvented, preserving two Art Deco treasures: a circular bar in the lobby and a sumptuous, red-velvet cinema that cries out for a Garbo retrospective. The 99 bedrooms are decorated in a modern Scandinavian style, with wooden floors, panelled walls and cosy beds. Wall-mounted, flatscreen TVs and DVD players are handy for when you aren't out exploring the nightlife of Södermalm, the trendy southern island. The lobby bar is more architecturally than atmospherically appealing, but thanks to the first-class café and bakery, it is a local hub. £ Mariatorget 3, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 78900; rival.se ).

STALLMASTAREGARDEN

Located next to the huge Haga park with beautiful views over a lake but only 10 minutes' drive from the city centre, Stallmästaregården is a rustic and romantic hotel popular with Stockholmers who want a slap-up meal and an overnight stay. The 49 bedrooms were added to the original inn in 2000; thanks to the Italian owner, many have cappuccino machines. Classic Swedish cuisine is served in the dining room. £ Norrtull, Vasastaden, Stockholm (00 46 8 610 1300; stallmastaregarden.se ).

THE GRAND HOTEL

Across the water from the royal palace stands this mighty old aristocratic hotel, dating back to the last quarter of the 19th century. The hotel lives up to its name, with rich furnishings, rich food and rich guests. There are 376 rooms, some with views of the glorious waterfront, and several excellent restaurants. The new Princess Lilian suite takes up the top floor and has a cinema. Superchef Mathias Dahlgren's two-part restaurant Matsalen (The Dining Room) and Matbaren (The Food Bar) seem set to get at least one Michelin star. The beautiful Cadier Bar serves brunch and afternoon tea. ££ Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 679 3500; grandhotel.se ).

THE VICTORY HOTEL

Slap in the middle of Gamla Stan (the Old Town), the Victory plays up to the Stockholm's nautical obsession: each of the 45 ship-shape rooms are named after a Swedish sea captain. The restaurant is highly regarded and maintains one of the best cellars in Sweden. Lilla Nygatan 5, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 506 40000; thecollectorshotels.se ). You could also try its slightly less expensive sister hotels, the Lady Hamilton (00 46 8 234 680; thecollectorshotels.se ) and the Lord Nelson (00 46 8 232 390; thecollectorshotels.se ). ££

COTTAGES IN THE ARCHIPELAGO DESTINATION STOCKHOLMS SKARGARD

Cottages and chalets can be rented by the week, for 1,500 SEK-15,000 SEK (about £100-£1,000) depending on size and facilities, such as private swimming pools. (00 46 8 5424 8100; dess.se).

Where to eat out in Stockholm

Swedes have a passion for coffee, and spending time in cafés has its own verb: fika. There are good cafés and bars almost everywhere so don't miss the opportunity to relax - alfresco in the summer and inside during winter - in true Stockholm style.

A modern café with slightly macaroon-looking stools, Foam serves great coffee along with breakfast, brunch, lunch and light dinners. Karlavägen 75, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 660 0996; cafefoam.com ).

Swedes like their coffee, but tea here is usually poison. Thankfully colonial-style Chaikana has more than 200 black, green and white teas, plus French pastries and English scones. Perfect for a break after visiting the German church next door. Svartmangatan 24, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 244 500; chaikhana.se ).

ROSENDALS TRADGARDSCAFE

This is a lovely place in the Djurgården park where you munch organic lavender biscuits or cinnamon rolls under the apple trees. The café's recipe book was an instant bestseller when it was published a few years ago, and it is easy to see why. You'd be a fool not to buy a loaf of bread as you leave. Open Tue-Sun, Feb-Dec. Rosendals trädgård, Djurgården, Stockholm (00 46 8 662 2814; rosendalstradgard.se ).

STORTORGETS KAFFESTUGA

The best café in Gamla Stan (the Old Town) if you crave proper hot chocolate. You should also try the chocolate and oatmeal balls (a Swedish classic), delicious blueberry pie with custard, or breakfast on porridge and a stout salami sandwich. For lunch, you'll find potato pancakes with bacon and lingonberries. Open from 7am weekdays; 9am weekends. Stortorget 22, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 205 981).

VETE-KATTEN

Vete-Katten is a sprawling café that occupies an entire block of this shopping district. The draw here are the celebrated hand-made chocolates and the café's speciality - a French mousse cake. Klara Norra Kyrkogata 26, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 208 405; vetekatten.se ).

RESTAURANTS

Bakfickan (The Back Pocket) is adjacent to the Opera Bar and Operakällaren (see below). The restaurant serves Swedish classics such as meatballs in gravy and mashed potatoes, and the staff are lovely. Jakobs Torg 12, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 676 5800; operakallaren.se ).

CARLSHALLS GARD

An opulent dining room awaits in this modest 19th-century mansion house on Långholmen, a small island between Södermalm and Kungsholmen. Långholmen used to house a prison and the mansion house, which was built by the prison governor, is the closest you will come to rural beauty in Stockholm. The food is seasonal and traditionally Swedish. Come during autumn or winter, and you might just find elk on the menu. Långholmen, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 668 0710; carlshallsgard.se ).

DEN GYLDENE FREDEN

The Swedish Academy has been meeting in this inn from 1722 in Gamla Stan once a week for decades. It was perhaps after a candlelit meal of Baltic herrings, fillet of reindeer with juniper and lingonberry ice cream that they decided to award the Nobel Prize for Literature to Pearl S. Buck in 1938. Gyllene Freden is a great place to sample Swedish history. Österlånggatan 51, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 109 046; gyldenefreden.se ).

Djuret (meaning 'The Animal') would be a vegetarian's nightmare. Every week it pairs a different meat with a suitable wine: reindeer & Côtes du Rhône, for instance, or Cow & Chardonnay. In the Victory Hotel, Lilla Nygatan 5, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 506 400 84; djuret.se ).

A modern Asian restaurant, and one of the best of its kind in Sweden, East serves daily specials for lunch, along with Japanese-infused courses for dinner. A sushi and sashimi menu is also available. Stureplan 13, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 611 4959; east.se).

Cal-Ital meets Northern Lite at Fredsgatan 12. The result is peculiar - but brilliant - unlikely combinations of tastes. Owners Danyel Couet and Melker Andersson aspire for Fredsgatan to be Sweden's most modern and coolest luxury restaurant, and have been awarded a Michelin star. 12 Fredsgatan 12, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 248 052; f12.se ).

LASSE I PARKEN

A fantastic summer restaurant, Lasse i Parken has a lovely garden with tables for 180 guests. The listed building hails from 1730 and the menu mixes traditional Swedish and Mediterranean food. Högalidsgatan 56, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 658 3395; lasseiparken.se ).

LISA ELMQVIST

This fish restaurant, named after its owner, is a fantastic place for lunch. Specialising in fresh fish and seafood, lunch is served until 5.30pm and you don't need to book a table. Order Toast Skagen, a beer, coffee and homemade truffles. Östermalms Saluhall, Östermalmstorg, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 533 40 400; lisaelmqvist.se ).

MATTIAS DAHLGREN AT GRAND HOTEL

Renowned Swedish chef Mattias Dahlgren, who was awarded a Michelin star for Bon Lloc in the late 1990s, has created two restaurants for Grand Hôtel - the informal Matbaren (The Food Bar) and the formal Matsalen (The Dining Room). The menus for both are created around regional produce and mixes Swedish and international cuisine. Södra Blasieholmshamnen 6, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 679 35 84; mdghs.com ).

There's no mystery about why people make the hour-long drive south from Stockholm to the island of Oaxen: Oaxen Krog is one of Sweden's finest restaurants. Over the past 15 years, Magnus Ek and Agneta Green have transformed it from rustic to remarkable. The menu takes note of current global trends: the crispy pig's-ear starter; the artful use of foam, gel and jelly; the unexpected ingredients, such as the smudge of seaweed purée beneath the scallop-and-kid tartare. Magnus catches the fish and forages for other ingredients, from wild garlic to lichen. Despite its international reputation, it couldn't be more local. Mörkö, near Stockholm, Sweden (00 46 8 551 53105; oaxen.com ).

OPERAKALLAREN

Once famous for its lunchtime smorgasbord, Operakällaren is now only open in the evening. The change may have offended traditionalists, but the Michelin men approved, awarding chef Stefano Catenacci a star. Superb haute cuisine with a Scandinavian accent (chilled pea soup with crabmeat and bleak roe; fried char with potato and onion gâteau and horseradish cream; warm cloudberry soufflé) is served in fin-de-siècle gilded interiors. Jacket and tie required (and you may have to sell your shirt to pay the bill). Operahuset, Jakobs Torg 2, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 676 5800; operakallaren.se ).

After leaving his well-known Pontus in the Greenhouse restaurant in 2007, chef Pontus Frithiof moved his staff to this Norrmalm gem, where you'll find an oyster bar, a cocktail bar with Asian finger food, and Matsalen, the main restaurant. The menu is split in three parts - Harvest (vegetables), Catch (fish and seafood) and Season (the produce that is best right now). The interiors fuse minimalist Scandinavia with Japan. Open Mon-Sat. Brunnsgatan 1, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 273 00; pontusfrithiof.com ).

RESTAURANG J

This airy and modern restaurant on the waterfront is 25 minutes from central Stockholm by water-taxi. Sit out on the deck to eat stylish brasserie food (saffron risotto with grilled lobster, prawns and scallops) and watch the yachts sail by. Augustendalsvagen 52, Nacka Strand, Stockholm (00 46 8 601 3025; restaurantj.com ).

Sturehof is a classic Stockholm restaurant with more than 100 years in the business. The food is fine and the focus is on seafood. Reservations are essential. Sturegallerian, Stureplan 2, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 440 57 30; sturehof.se ).

VILLA KALLHAGEN

A favourite of Swedish food writers, Villa Källhagen serves Scandinavian specialities on a terrace overlooking former royal hunting grounds. Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 10, Djurgården, Stockholm (00 46 8 665 0310; kallhagen.se ).

WEDHOLMS FISK

One of Scandinavia's finest seafood restaurants, Wedholms' white walls are hung with large modern canvases and the food is equally stylish. Dishes include sweet pickled herring with dill and browned butter; scallops with salmon roe and tarragon; marinated salmon with mustard potatoes and pickled cucumber. Closed at weekends during the summer. Nybrokajen 17, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 611 7874; wedholmsfisk.se ).

The best nightlife in Stockholm

Berns salonger.

A legendary music hall that host concerts as well as club nights. Berzelii Park, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 566 322 22; berns.se ).

A legendary Södermalm restaurant and bar, which hasn't forgotten the borough's working class roots, Kvarnen is housed in a beautiful fin de siecle building and you can choose to take your drink alfresco during the warm summer months. Tjärhovsgatan 4, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 0380; kvarnen.com ).

LE BAR ROUGE

With its banquettes and acres of scarlet velvet, Le Bar Rouge looks like a corner of fin-de-siècle Paris. It is the creation of the team behind several Stockholm hotspots (F12, Kungsholmen, Grill); good for late-night drinks, it also serves one of the city's best burgers. Österlånggatan 17, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 505 244 60; lerouge.se ).

When talking about legendary places, Nalen shouldn't be forgotten - it has played host to several jazz legends over the years. Today, people come here for concerts and club nights. Pay a visit to the restaurant where you'll find some classic Swedish food. Regeringsgatan 74, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 505 292 00; nalen.com ).

A very fashionable bar, Riche is frequented by the rich, famous and very stylish. The restaurant serves traditionally Swedish food, whereas the bar is extremely vibrant and modern. Birger Jarlsgatan 4, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 8 545 035 60; riche.se ).

Also a celebrity favourite, Spy Bar is a genuine nightclub with good and varying music. Popular with partygoers, it should be avoided if you'd prefer talking to dancing. The queue is legendary. Birger Jarlsgatan 20, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 076 55; spybar.se ).

STURECOMPAGNIET

Probably the most famous club in Sweden, Sturecompagniet is made up of four rooms over two floors and is popular with 23-30-year-olds. Sturegatan 4, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 076 00; stureplansgruppen.se ).

A bit further north, Tranan is another Stockholm classic that offers great drinks and fantastic bar food (most of the menu is very Swedish). The bar has rotating DJs and the music ranges from Brazilian jazz to 70s funk and deep house. Karlbergsvägen 14, Vasastaden, Stockholm (00 46 8 527 281 00; tranan.se ).

What to see in Stockholm

Buildings and monuments, kungliga slottet.

Destroyed by a fire in 1697, the Swedish royal palace was redesigned by architect Nicodemus Tessin. The impressive building is influenced by Italian, French and Swedish architecture and, although the palace is no longer the official residence of the king, it is still used as a regular venue for official functions. The exquisite interiors should not be missed; make sure you pay a visit to Karl XI's gallery, which was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The palace also houses the silver coronation throne of Queen Kristina and two museums, which are filled with interesting artefacts and serve to illuminate the palace's history. Tourists gather at midday for the changing of the guard in the Outer Courtyard. Slottsbacken 1, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 402 61 30; royalcourt.se).

RIDDARHOLMSKYRKAN

This 16th-century church houses the burial vaults of all the Swedish monarchs (with two exceptions; Queen Kristina, who abdicated, converted to Catholicism and is buried in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and Gustav VI Adolf, who is buried by Stockholm's Haga castle). Riddarholmen, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 402 61 30; royalcourt.se).

Stadshuset, the city hall, is one of Stockholm's most easily recognised buildings. It opened its doors to the public in 1923, and is a testament to early 20th-century architecture in Sweden. The lavish interiors, to which many famous Swedish artists have contributed, provide the setting for major events in the Stockholm calendar, including the famous Nobel Prize ceremony. The Blue Hall should not be missed. Hantverkargatan, Kungsholmen, Stockholm (00 46 8 508 29 058; stockholm.se).

Storkyrkan has entered history as the church from where Olaus Petri preached the Lutheran doctrine that led to the reformation of the Swedish church in the 16th century. The church's architecture spans 700 years, and Storkyrkan is definitely worth a visit. The cathedral is home to a number of interesting artefacts, including a late-Gothic sculpture of St George and the Dragon. Stortorget 1, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 723 30 00; stockholmsdomkyrkoforsamling.se).

DROTTNINGHOLM

The beautiful Drottningholm palace, located on the island of Lövön, is the residence of the Swedish royal family. The palace has opened a selection of its doors to the public, and among the rooms available for viewing is the beautiful Queen Lovisa Ulrika's library. You should also visit the palace church, the baroque garden and the palace theatre, where a popular opera festival is held every summer. Drottningholm, Stockholm (00 46 8 402 62 royalcourt.se).

MODERNA MUSEET

If modern art is what you crave, then make your way to the Moderna Muséet. The collection dates from 1900 to today, and covers paintings, photography and film. There are a number of must-see exhibits, including The Child's Brain by Giorgio de Chirico, an Italian artist whose work is widely regarded as a precursor to the Surrealists. Skeppsholmen, Stockholm (00 46 8 5195 5200; modernamuseet.se ).

NATIONALMUSEUM

Nationalmuseum, a grand and opulent space designed by German architect August Stuler, is home to over 500,000 paintings dating from the 18th century to the early 20th century. Among the museums gems is a collection of Rembrandt sketches, Alexander Roslin's The Lady with the Veil, and Cupid and Psyche by the great 18th-century sculptor John Tobias Sergel. Södra Blasieholmshamnen, Stockholm (00 46 8 5195 4300; nationalmuseum.se ).

Skansen is a museum with a twist: it opened in 1891 with the aim of providing an insight into how people lived pre-industrialisation and is entirely open-air (the first open-air museum in the world, in fact), with over 100 buildings from all over Scandinavia erected on the plot. Regular festivals and concerts are also held there throughout the year. Visit during summer, and you might just catch a glimpse of Allsång på Skansen - an open-air mass sing-along. Djurgården, Stockholm (00 46 8 442 80 00; skansen.se ).

The Vasamuseet, one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia, is home to all things maritime. Its most popular exhibit is the restored 17th-century royal warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage and is decorated with over 700 ornate figures and ornaments. Galärvarvsvägen 14, Stockholm (00 46 8 519 548 00; vasamuseet.se ).

An English park in Sweden, Haga is located in a Stockholm suburb and was created by King Gustav III in the 1770s. The king was murdered in 1792, before the palace he was building in the park had been completed, and it has since never been finished. A beautiful park in the summer, Haga has a famous house filled with butterflies from all over the world. Hagaparken, Solna, Stockholm.

KUNGSTRADGARDEN

Kungsträdgården, known to many as Stockholm's open-air living room, is the oldest park in the capital. In the summer, it plays host to theatre performances, concerts and food festivals, and transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with skating rink, for the later months of the year. Kungstädgården, Norrmalm, Stockholm.

Things to do in Stockholm

Out of town, lake malaren.

If you fancy venturing further a field, Lake Mälaren is a must. With beautiful islands scattered across an expanse of still waters, Mälaren is the perfect escape for a city break holiday. Visit the town of Mariefred and stop off at the Gripsholms Slott, a beautiful Renaissance period building built for King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. If you want to explore the lake in the summer months, book a trip aboard the Mariefred, an old steamboat that has been travelling the same route for over 100 years.

STOCKHOLM'S ARCHIPELAGO

Stockholm's famous archipelago is made up of over 24,000 islands and it's an excellent place to spend part of your holiday. While some islands aren't inhabited, others have beautiful manor estates (known as "herrgård" in Swedish) where you can sleep and eat well. Try Sandhamn Hotell (00 46 8 574 504 00; sandhamn.com) or the rustic Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden (00 46 8 50 61 70 00; grandsaltsjobaden.se ), and don't miss the opportunity to dine at Oaxen ( oaxenkrog.se ) - one of the best restaurants in Sweden, which offers great food, a panoramic view over the water along with accommodation onboard a 1930s ship. The restaurant is open April-October. If you want to discover the archipelago but don't have a lot of time on your hands, Strömma Kanalbolaget (00 46 8 587 140 00; strommakanalbolaget.com ) offers brunch and dinner cruises by boat. The cruises depart from central Stockholm.

Where to shop in Stockholm

Stockholm is an excellent shopping destination. The stylish inhabitants frequent equally stylish shops and boutiques, and you'll be able to find the latest - and best - Scandinavian design here. For vintage shopping, try to SoFo area (South of Folkungagatan) on Södermalm, where small second-hand boutiques offer unique pieces.

SVENSKA RUM

The name means Swedish Rooms, and owner Leif Jansson is a big fan of Gustaviana from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nybrogatan 40, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 662 17 77; svenskarumantikt.se ).

ANNA HOLTBLAD

Anna Holtblad is known for her wearable yet unique clothes, and her beautiful boutique is well worth a visit. Grev Turegatan 13, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 5450 2220; annaholtblad.com ).

BEYOND RETRO

With over 6,000 items in store, Beyond Retro is definitely worth a visit. For a shopping experience with a twist, visit the shop on a Sunday after 3pm when Stockholm musicians treat shoppers to live music. Åsögatan 144, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 641 3642; beyondretro.com ).

Swedish designer Filippa Knutsson makes high quality basics for men, women and children. Expect sailor-stripe T-shirts, cotton sweaters, cords and chinos in an array of colours. Biblioteksgatan 2-4, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 611 88 03; filippa-k.com ).

LISA LARSSON

For the best in second-hand chic try the Lisa Larsson boutique on Södermalm. An established boutique for over twenty years and a favourite with celebrities, Lisa Larsson's collection is one of Stockholm's best-kept secrets. You will find a wide range of potential purchases - from collectable designer items to inexpensive costume pieces. Bondegatan 48, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 6153; lisalarssonsecondhand.com ).

NATALIE SCHUTERMAN

An exclusive boutique that stocks 3.1 Phillip Lim, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, Marchesa, Christian Louboutin and other internationally renowned designers. Open Mon-Sat. Birger Jarlsgatan 5, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 611 62 01; nathalieschuterman.se ).

NORDISKA KOMPANIET

The Swedish department store, Nordiska Kompaniet (known as "NK") stocks all the must-have Scandinavian fashion labels along with the international masters. With plenty of Swedish and Scandinavian exclusives that you won't find elsewhere, NK is well worth a visit. Hamngatan 18-20, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 762 80 00; nk.se ).

STADSMISSIONEN

Stadsmissionen sells second-hand stuff in aid of the homeless and you might, with luck, score some vintage Swedish design at bargain prices. Failing that, pop into its wonderful bakery next door for traditional cardamom and cinnamon breads. Stortorget 5, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 7878 661; stadsmissionen.se ).

STUREGALLERIAN

One of the most exclusive shopping malls in Sweden, Sturegallerian has over 50 luxury boutiques and an assortment of quality eateries. It's a favourite of Stockholm's elite, and the princesses (especially the fashionable Princess Madeleine) are often spotted shopping here. The mall houses the original Sturebadet public bath, which has been restored to its original Art Nouveau design and reincarnated as Stockholm's most luxurious spa. Grev Turegatan 9a, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 453 50 67; sturegallerian.se ).

OSTERMALMS SALUHALL

This 100-year-old indoor food market has several good spots to dine in along with plenty of shops where you can buy good quality Scandinavian specialities. Open Mon-Sat. Östermalmstorg, Östermalm, Stockholm ( saluhallen.com ).

HOME AND INTERIORS

Carl malmsten.

This designer opened his interiors boutique in the 1920s, and his work is enjoying a renaissance. The Farmor armchair (about £975), and the Hemmakväll sofa (from about £1,935) are design classics. The store also sells fabulous glasses, ceramics and textiles by contemporary Swedish designers. Strandvagen 5b, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 233 380; c.malmsten.se ).

NORDISKA GALLERIET

This is where you'll find the very best contemporary furniture by Scandinavian designers. Limited-edition chairs are produced each year, and rapidly increase in value. Nybrogatan 11, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 442 8360; nordiskagalleriet.se ).

SVENSKT TENN

An established furniture, textile and lighting design company, Svenskt Tenn boasts its own lifestyle philosophy. The pieces are truly unique; embodying the creative culture the company has stuck to since its conception in the Twenties. The shop also regularly holds exhibitions for inspirational Stockholm designers. Strandvägen 5, Stockholm (00 46 8 670 16 00; svenskttenn.se ).

TEN SWEDISH DESIGNERS

The signature of this collective of textile designers (which put a firm mark on fashion in Sweden during the 1960s) is bold, bright graphics that are applied to fabrics by the metre. The collection includes bags, accessories, clothes and bed linen. Götgatan 25, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 2504; tiogruppen.com ).

EFVA ATTLING

Efva Attling is a former Eileen Ford model and singer who turned jewellery designer during the 1990s. Her work is beautifully crafted using simple, clean designs. The range of chunky sterling silver rings start at about £45. Hornsgatan 44, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 642 9949; efvaattlingstockholm.com ).

Skivhögen has the best and the biggest collection of 1950s-1990s easy listening, jazz, rock and pop vinyl; all in immaculate condition. You can spend hours listening to music and inspecting the fantastic album covers. Open Mon-Sat. Högbergsgatan 32a, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 714 9773; skivhogen.com ).

How to get to Stockholm

Arlanda airport is 45km north of Stockholm. High-speed trains leave for Stockholm every 15 minutes and take 20 minutes.

AIRLINES FROM THE UK

SAS (0870 60 727 727; flysas.com ) flies daily from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda up to eight times a day. British Airways (0870 850 9 850; ba.com ) flies up to five times a day from Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda. Norwegian ( norwegian.com ) flies from Edinburgh and Gatwick to Arlanda.

11 Things To Do In Stockholm: Complete Guide To This Vibrant Swedish City

For a scenic, Swedish retreat, embark on a stunning tour of the true Venice of the North: Stockholm.

One of the most visited cities in the Nordic countries, Sweden's capital city is nestled upon 14 islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. To the east, tourists will find the vast Stockholm archipelago, or skärgård in Swedish, a cluster of 30,000 idyllic islands that stretch into the sea.

A beauty on the water, the city is rich with centuries of history. It's dotted with various tourist treasures—from the old downtown area of Gamla Stan and the trendy island of Södermalm to the lively Vasastan district and the museum-laden island of Djurgårde—making it the perfect destination for any wanderlusting globetrotter.

Top Things To Do

Wondering where to visit in Sweden's capital city ? From the best attractions to the most luxurious accommodations, plan the ultimate trip to Stockholm with this complete travel guide.

Stroll Gamla Stan

Tourists can start their Swedish vacation by exploring the narrow, cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan. Dating back to the 13th century, the area is one of the best free activities the city has to offer , from its colorful buildings to its historic churches, including the famous Stockholm Cathedral.

Stop in the town square, called Stortorget, to people-watch or admire the towering Storkyrkan clock tower. There are also a variety of ticketed attractions, including the Royal Palace and the Nobel Prize Museum.

• Address: Stortorget, 111 29 Stockholm, Sweden

See The Nobel Prize Museum

Located in the heart of Gamla Stan, the Nobel Prize Museum is the perfect destination for curious minds. Explore the fascinating ideas and works of Nobel Prize laureates, such as physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, author Selma Lagerlöf, and Albert Einstein.

Inventor Alfred Nobel established the famed awards, which are given to those who "spread knowledge and create interest and discussion around the natural sciences and culture," according to the Nobel Foundation.

• Address: Stortorget 2, 103 16 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 am to 5 pm; Fridays from 11 am to 9 pm; weekends from 10 am to 6 pm
• Cost: SEK 140 (about $14) for adults; children up to age 18 are free

During the summer months, the museum is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Daily tours are included in the ticket price, which can only be purchased via credit card.

Explore The Royal Palace

The official residence of the Swedish monarch, the Royal Palace, which is also located in Old Town, is an extraordinary example of Swedish architecture. Featuring more than 600 rooms and 11 floors, the grounds offer tourists much to see, including the Museum Three Crowns, the Treasury, the Slottsboden shop, and the Representation floors.

Tourists should also make it a point to see the changing of the guard ceremony.

• Address: Kungliga slottet, 107 70 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: April, October, November, and December from 10 am to 4 pm; May, June, July, August, and September from 10 am to 5 pm;
• Cost: Prices vary; check the website for admission fees and calendar events

Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities and the Castle Church are only open during the summer months.

Tour The Nordic Museum

The Nordic Museum, or Nordiska Museet, is situated on the island of Djurgården. Discover Sweden's cultural history by exploring the museum's many exhibits, the archive, and the library, as well as its nearby attractions of Julita farm and Tyresö Castle​​​​​​.

• Address: Djurgårdsvägen 6-16, 115 93 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: The museum is pen September to May daily from 10 am to 5 pm and Wednesdays from 10 am to 8 pm; June to August from 10 am to 5 pm
• Cost: SEK 150 (about $15) for adults; children under the age of 18 are free

Visit The Vasa Museum

For an exploration of Sweden's maritime history, head to the Vasa Museum. Located on Djurgården island, visitors will find a well-preserved 17th-century ship on display.

• Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: Open daily from September to May from 10 am to 5 pm (Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm); June to August from 8:30 am to 6 pm
• Cost: SEk 170 (about $17) from October to April; SEK 190 (about $19) from May to September

Ride The Rollercoasters At Gröna Lund

Located on the shoreline of Djurgården island, this amusement park packs all the thrills, including a giant drop, wooden roller coaster, vertical spinning coaster, giant wave swinger, and family freefall tower.

• Address: Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: Open times vary seasonally; check the website for the full schedule
• Cost: Prices vary between SEK 299 and 499 for adults and between SEK 199 and 399 for children between the ages of three and nine

Pop Into ABBA The Museum

Journey into the interactive exhibition of the famous Swedish pop band ABBA. Located only a three-minute walk away from Gröna Lund, the museum—which encourages visitors to "walk in and dance out"—has it all: the band's legendary costumes, personal belongings, and replicas of places they've lived and worked, among other iconic memorabilia.

• Address: Djurgårdsvägen 68, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: January to April from 10 am to 6 pm (Thursdays from 10 am to 8 pm); May from 10 am to 7 pm; June to August from 10 am to 8 pm; September to December from 10 am to 6 pm
• Cost: Adults from SEK 230 to 290 ($22.40 to $28.25); children between the ages of 7 and 15 from SEK 90 to110 (about $9 to $11)

Holiday hours vary; check the website for more details .

Explore The Skansen Museum

Nestled on Djurgården island, discover the world's first open-air museum. Without a doubt, it's one of Stockholm's essential sights to see . Opened in 1891, this blast from the past museum showcases houses and farmsteads that were around before the industrial era.

• Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: October to March 31 from 10 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends; April from 10 am to 4 pm; May to September from 10 am to 6 pm
• Cost: Prices vary seasonally between SEK 185 and 245 (about $18 to $24) for adults; children between the ages of 4 and 15 are SEK 70 (about $7)

Holiday hours vary; check the website for a full list of holiday open times .

Ride The Glass Gondolas Of The SkyView

See breathtaking views of the Swedish paradise aboard a glass gondola. The ride takes tourists along the outside of the world's largest spherical building, the Avicii Arena (previously known as the Ericsson Globe). At the top, tourists can see spectacular views of the entire city from 130 meters above sea level.

• Address: Avicii Arena, Arenatorget 2, 121 77 Johanneshov, Sweden
• Hours: Open in April from 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends ( check the website for seasonal hour updates )
• Cost: SEK 170 for adults (about $17); SEK 130 (about $13) for children between the ages of 5 and 12

See A Performance At The Royal Swedish Opera

Renowned for its incredible performances and exceptional architecture, the Royal Swedish Opera was built in the late 19th century . Also known as the Kungliga Operan, visitors can enjoy opera and ballet performances throughout the year.

• Address: Gustav Adolfs torg 2, 111 52 Stockholm, Sweden
• Showtimes: Dates and prices vary; check the website for complete show times

Embark On A Boat Tour

Explore the lush archipelago and the waters of Lake Mälaren with the boat tour agency Stromma. The Archipelago Tour with Guide gives those on board the classic ships a chance to experience some of Sweden's most astonishing natural wonders, including the stunning archipelago .

• Address: Strandvägen 8, 114 56 Stockholm, Sweden
• Hours: Check availability online
• Cost: Prices start at SEK 365 (about $36)

Best Time To Go

Stockholm is the perfect travel destination year-round. Although temperatures can drop to below 26 °F during the winter, the Christmas setting still makes the city the perfect place for a festive, winter wonderland.

For a lush, green landscape and the warmest temperatures, visit the city in the summer. However, be prepared for the pricier hotel and attraction costs. But there is rainfall throughout the year, so pack accordingly!

Best Ways To Get Around

The city's subway system is unlike any other. Running for 68 miles , the Stockholm Metro is known as the world's longest art gallery for the extraordinary mosaics, paintings, and sculptures dotting the stations.

In addition to being great to look at, the subway system—as well as public buses, commuter rails, trams, and ferries—is obviously good for tourists to get around town.

Tourists can also walk between attractions, especially in places like Galma Stan. Bicycling is also a popular mode of transportation and numerous rentals and bike paths can be found throughout the city.

Where To Eat

Dining out in Stockholm is a varied experience. Don't miss these local eateries.

• Address: Hantverkargatan 32, 112 21
• Cuisine: Porridge and other breakfast staples (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available)

Greasy Spoon

• Address: Tjärhovsgatan 19, 116 28 (multiple locations)
• Cuisine: Classic British fare with a modern twist

K25 (Kungsgatan 25)

• Address: Kungsgatan 25, 111 56
• Cuisine: Food hall with a variety of cuisines, including American, Italian, and Mexican.

La Piccola Nonna Pizza

• Address: Blekingegatan 36, 118 30
• Cuisine: Neopolitan-style pizza with vegan and vegetarian offerings
• Address: Dalagatan 50, 113 24
• Cuisine: Traditional European fare

Den Gyldene Freden

• Address: Österlånggatan 51, 111 31
• Cuisine: 18th-century restaurant serving gourmet Nordic fare

ICEBAR by IceHotel

• Address: Vasaplan 4, 111 20
• Cuisine: Cocktail bar made of ice
• Address: Stortorget 7, 111 29
• Cuisine: Cozy cocktail lounge

Related: 10 Things To Enjoy In Sweden (While Enjoying Its Views)

Where To Stay

Finding a place to stay in Stockholm might be the toughest decision to make; there are tons of choices at varied price points. Here's a sampling of accommodations in Stockholm.

Budget-Friendly Hotels

2Home Hotel Apartments

• Address: Rasundavaegen 175, 169 36 Solna, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Fitness center and restaurant

Connect Hotel Arlanda

• Address: Lindberghs Gata 10, 195 61 Arlanda, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Fitness center, bar/lounge, free shuttle service, free airport shutter, and restaurant

Mid-Tier Hotels

Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Stockholm

• Address: Nils Ericsons Plan 4, 111 64 Stockholm, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Fitness center, bar/lounge, coffee shop, restaurant, and room service

Sheraton Stockholm Hotel

• Address: Tegelbacken 6, Box 195, 101 23 Stockholm, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Fitness center, bar/lounge, valet parking, restaurant, and room service

Top-Tier Hotels

Grand Hôtel Stockholm

• Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Indoor pool, fitness center, bar/lounge, coffee shop, spa and wellness center, valet parking, restaurant, and room service

Hotel Diplomat

• Address: Strandvagen 7c, Stockholms Lan
• Amenities: Spa and wellness center, restaurant, room service, valet parking, fitness center, and bar/lounge

Related: Unique Things That You Probably Didn’t Know About Sweden

Tips To Know When Visiting

Although its part of the European Union, Sweden's official currency is the Swedish Krona, not the Euro. However, the country is known for being cashless, and growing amounts of shops, restaurants, and other attractions are no longer accepting cash.

Tourists should ensure that they have credit cards on hand.

Related: Visit These Scenic Islands In Sweden For Food, Culture & Art

How To Spend The Perfect Day In Stockholm

For the perfect 24 hours in the Swedish city, start the day in Gamla Stan. After a decadent breakfast, begin a tour of Old Town, stopping in the local town square, Stortorget. See the towering Storkyrkan clock tower before proceeding to the Nobel Prize Museum and the Royal Palace. Bonde Palace and the House of Nobility are two attractions that are also nearby.

Cross the Norrström River to tour the Museum Tre Kronor and the Stockholm Medieval Museum. Continue across the Norrström to see the Royal Swedish Opera and all of its architectural splendor. Next stop: Djurgården island. On the way, visit the Army Museum or the Swedish History Museum.

Related: Top 10 Reasons To Visit Sweden

Once in Djurgården, grab a bite to eat for lunch before seeing all the wondrous attractions the island has to offer, including the Vasa Museum, ABBA the Museum, Viking Museum, Skansen Museum, and Gröna Lund amusement park. From the park, peer across the water to see the historical landmark of Kastellet, a small naval fort situated at the island of Kastellholmen.

Close out a wonderful day with a delectable dinner at a local haunt, such as Tennstopet. And for an icy time, grab drinks at the iconic ICEBAR, which is only a three-minute drive away.

Q: What's Stockholm famous for?

In addition to its many museums, the city is most famous for its stunning archipelago comprised of thousands of islands .

Q: Is 2 days enough for Stockholm?

With countless things to do, tourists can easily spend upwards of a week in the city. However, there are many essential spots that can be seen during a weekend visit to Stockholm .

Q: Is Stockholm expensive?

The city is definitely one of the more expensive vacation destinations. However, there are a number of free activities that visitors can do in Stockholm .