Seven days in Stockholm? Lucky you! Check out our guide to make sure you don't miss any famous landmarks or local favorites.

Our guide to spending a week in Stockholm

1 week in Stockholm Itinerary

Stockholm is the jewel in the Swedish crown. It&rsquo;s packed full of lavishly decorated castles, glittering streets and sparkling waterways, all connected by a system of canals and bridges as intricate and perfectly engineered as a goldsmith&rsquo;s watch. It may be small but it&rsquo;s compact, and there&rsquo;s plenty to do &ndash; from museums and palaces to cruises and island escapes. With a whole week you can take your time and really get to know this city &ndash; so grab some sturdy walking shoes and a good waterproof jacket and let&rsquo;s explore:

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Djurgarden</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Drottningholm</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Katerina-Sofia and Sodermalm</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">The archipelago and islands</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Gripsholm</li>
</ul>

Since you&rsquo;ve got a whole week, start with a <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-hop-bus" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour</a> to get your bearings. Ride the whole circuit and get off at Gamla Stan for a morning exploring the old town. Wander down narrow lanes, window shop for traditional gifts like Dala horses or Viking Chess sets and stop somewhere for a strong Swedish coffee. Be sure to look inside the magnificent <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/storkyrkan-cathedral" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Storkyrkan Church</a>, which is the city&rsquo;s oldest and full of historical artifacts, then head to the Royal Palace in time to see the changing of the guard just after midday. Spend the afternoon exploring the inside of this rather imposing structure, which includes four museums and a Royal Armory. Finish the day exploring the bars and cafes of the old town, or retrace your steps and admire all the same buildings that will now be lit up.

Day #1 – Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace

Spend your second day exploring the Royal Island of Stockholm. Lush, green and stuffed with museums, this inner-city oasis is owned by the king of Sweden but is open to the public, who make very good use of it. Get there by bus, tram, ferry, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-on-hop-off-bus-boat-tours" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Hop-On Hop-off boat</a> or with a leisurely stroll down the leafy avenue of Strandv&auml;gen. Once there, meander around the expertly tended gardens and have a picnic in one of the park&rsquo;s shady spots, or choose one or two of the museums to immerse yourself in. There&rsquo;s the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vasa-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Vasa Museum</a>, which houses the remarkably well-preserved wreck of a 17th century warship, the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vikingaliv" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Viking Museum</a> if you&rsquo;re interested in Nordic maritime history or the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Skansen</a> open air museum. If you need warming up (or even if you don&rsquo;t), there&rsquo;s the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-spirits" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Museum of Spirits</a> &ndash; no ghosts, just some interesting exhibits featuring the Swedes&rsquo; favorite tipples, and the chance to try a nip or two yourself if you want to.

Day #2 – Djurgarden

Time to give those legs a rest and escape the city for a day. Sit back on a historic ship and let the breeze wake you up with a cruise out to<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/boat-tour-drottningholm-palace-return-ticket" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Drottningholm</a> via Lake Malaren, Sweden&rsquo;s third largest lake. Take a guided tour of the Palace, which is a beautifully preserved royal residence modeled on 17th and 18th century French architecture. Be sure to explore the Palace Park, where you might stumble upon an informal, English-style garden, the ornate Chinese Pavilion, or formal planting beds reminiscent of the gardens of Versailles. Spend the afternoon at the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/drottningholm-court-theatre" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Drottningholm Theater</a> with its fully operational 18th century wooden stage, and perhaps stay for a performance. Then you can enjoy another rest &ndash; and perhaps a refreshing beverage &ndash; as you cruise for another hour across the lake and back to the city.

Day #3 – Drottningholm Palace and Theater

We&rsquo;re exploring the southern side of Stockholm today, starting with a bird&rsquo;s eye view over the city courtesy of <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/sky-view" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">SkyView</a>. Ride in a glass pod to the top of the world&rsquo;s largest spherical building, where you&rsquo;ll have spectacular 360-degree views over the city and the archipelago. Next, go for a wander around the charming suburbs of Katerina-Sofia. Have a peek inside the Katerina Church &ndash; you&rsquo;ll recognise it from its cheerful yellow fa&ccedil;ade and impressive dome &ndash; and perhaps try the<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-photography" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Museum of Photography</a>, which also has a very well-regarded restaurant. Finish the day with a climb up to Skinnarviksberget, Stockholm&rsquo;s highest natural peak. You&rsquo;ll be rewarded with panoramic views &ndash; this time from solid ground &ndash; and if you time it right, you might get to watch the sunset.

Day #4 – Katerina-Sofia and Sodermalm

If you haven&rsquo;t had a chance yet, make sure you check out some of the art in Stockholm&rsquo;s metro stations. A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes, which is plenty of time to take a tour of some of the most famous ones, including T-Centralen, Odenplan and Stadion. Try and finish with Kungstradgarden, as you&rsquo;ll find many of the local cruise departure points nearby. Get a new perspective of the city on the<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/under-the-bridges-of-stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Under the Bridges of Stockholm Tour</a>, or take a little longer on an<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/archipelago-tour-with-guide" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Archipelago Tour</a>, riding out to Vaxholm and back on a vintage ship with on-board restaurants. If you want to head a little further out try a day trip to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/daytrip-birka-by-boat" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Birka</a>, where you can get lost in Sweden&rsquo;s first viking city, or<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/fj%C3%A4derholmarna-islands-boat-trip" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Fjaderholmarna</a>, where you can easily spend a day exploring its rugged scenery and sampling locally-made drafts. If you&rsquo;re feeling rejuvenated, finish the day with a bit of fun at <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/moyagi-karaoke" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Moyagi Karaoke</a> and a late night dinner somewhere nearby.

Day #5 – Cruising and island hopping

Another day trip, this time to Gripsholm Castle. This fairy-tale-like construction &ndash; part fortress and part royal residence &ndash; was built for the 14th century ruler Gustav Vasa. It&rsquo;s worth a look inside for the large portrait gallery, the sumptuous wooden interior of the Hall of State and King Gustav III&rsquo;s pleasingly light Round Salon. The large park is also open to visitors, and guests can wander through the royal apple orchard, kitchen and herb gardens and the tiny Lover&rsquo;s Island. You might even spot the royal deer herd! From the city, Gripsholm is roughly 40 minutes west by train or boat. If you&rsquo;re traveling by car it&rsquo;s about an hour, but the Kungens Kurva Ikea store is on the way back if you&rsquo;re in the mood for meatballs or some flatpack furniture!

Day #6 – Gripsholm Castle

For your last day in Stockholm, it&rsquo;s time to see what&rsquo;s left on your to-do list. Perhaps head back to Gamla Stan, especially if you didn&rsquo;t have time for the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/nobel-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Nobel</a> or <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/the-jewish-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Jewish</a> Museums on day one. There&rsquo;s also the Riddarholmen Church, with its characteristic red-brick exterior and latticework cast iron tower. Nearby is City Hall, which you can see as part of a guided tour or climb the 350-foot tower for views over the city. There are plenty of restaurants along the waterfront here, and if you haven&rsquo;t used your Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket yet there&rsquo;s a stop nearby if you want to take a final tour around the city. Finish off your week in Stockholm with dinner in one of the classy restaurants in Ostermalm, and perhaps try your luck with roulette or cards at the glamorous<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/casino-cosmopol" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> Casino Cosmopol</a>.

Day #7 – Tick off what’s left

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There's so much to see in Stockholm! With a whole week, be sure to use Go City attraction pass and don't miss a thing!

This three-day itinerary for Stockholm takes in Gamla Stan old town, City Hall, Djurgarden, Drottningholm and the nightlife around Ostermalm and Sodermalm.

Our top things to do for a 3-day trip to Stockholm

3 days in Stockholm itinerary

If Scandinavia isn&rsquo;t on your bucket list &ndash; it should be! The fairy tale-like architecture of its cities, jaw-droppingly beautiful fjords and the spectacle of the northern lights are wonders no visitor will ever forget. And of course, no tour of Scandinavia would be complete without a visit to Stockholm, a picturesque archipelago with dazzling palaces and a super-charming old town. Three days is a perfect amount of time to visit the Swedish capital, because it gives you a chance to explore the center and its closest islands as well as taking a day trip somewhere further out. Our 3-day Stockholm itinerary takes in:

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Gamla Stan</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">The Royal Palace</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">City Hall</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Djurgarden</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Katarina-Sofia</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Skinnarviksberget</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Drottningholm Castle</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Nightlife</li>
</ul>

Start your visit in Stockholm&rsquo;s medieval center, Gamla Stan. Most of the buildings here date from the 18th and 19th centuries, although if you spend some time wandering the maze of cobbled streets and narrow lanes you&rsquo;ll find some that go back to the 1300s, including the imposing <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/storkyrkan-cathedral" style="text-decoration:none">Storkyrkan Cathedral</a>. Keep exploring the old town and you&rsquo;ll find shops, museums and plenty of cafes if you need to stop for a coffee and some people watching.

Day 1: Morning – Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Make your way to the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive" style="text-decoration:none">Royal Palace</a> in the northern quarter of the district by noon and you&rsquo;ll be in time to watch the Changing of the Guard which happens every day at 12:15 (or 1:15 on Sundays). The royal guards, resplendent in their blue uniforms, parade through the palace grounds in various formations, sometimes on horseback and sometimes with a marching band. Soak it all in, then spend a couple of hours wandering through the palace&rsquo;s numerous museums and banqueting halls and getting a glimpse into Swedish royal life.

Day 1: Afternoon: – Royal Palace

Finish the day with a romantic moment at the city&rsquo;s highest point in Skinnarviksparken, a public park across the archipelago from City Hall. Walk from the old town or rest your legs by taking a <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-hop-bus" style="text-decoration:none">Hop-On Hop-Off bus</a> to Slussen and then heading west along the waterfront. Or if you prefer, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/stockholm-transport" style="text-decoration:none">Stockholm public transportation</a> is quite good. Depending on the time of year, you may want to eat at one of the caf&eacute;s or restaurants around the park then head up to watch the sunset &ndash; or hike up to watch the sunset and then back down again for dinner. Either way you&rsquo;ll be treated to stunning 360 views over the city, as the sun goes down and the lights of City Hall cast a shimmery reflection on the water.

Day 1: Evening – Sunset views from Skinnarviksberget

Spend the day soaking up the gentle ambiance of the royal island of Stockholm. To get there, walk, grab a tram or use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus or boat. Once there, visit one of the island&rsquo;s many museums: depending on your interests there&rsquo;s the ABBA museum, the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vasa-museum" style="text-decoration:none">Vasa Museum</a> (featuring a 17th century warship that sunk in 1628 and was pulled up in 1961) or the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" style="text-decoration:none">Skansen</a> museum, which is the world&rsquo;s oldest open-air museum and showcases life in Sweden before the industrial revolution. If you like a tipple try the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-spirits" style="text-decoration:none">Museum of Spirits</a>, where you can learn about the history of gin and other delicacies. For lunch, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants on the island, or you could take a picnic to enjoy in one of the many relaxing and picturesque gardens.

Day 2: Morning - Djurgarden

From Djurgarden, take the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-on-hop-off-bus-boat-tours" style="text-decoration:none">Hop-On Hop-Off boat</a> over to H. Fotografiska and enjoy an afternoon or early evening stroll around the neighborhood of Katarina-Sofia. Here you&rsquo;ll find charming houses and quiet lanes, and the beautiful yellow exterior and towering dome of Katarina Church, which is well worth a look inside if it&rsquo;s open. Nearby is the Sofia Church, which is less impressive but sits on a hilltop overlooking the city and is worth the short climb for the views over the district.

Whilst you&#39;re in the area, head to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-photography" style="text-decoration:none">Fotografiska </a>&ndash; one of the best summer hangouts in Stockholm. The contemporary photography museum is home to a collection of vibrant exhibitions, showcasing some of the world&#39;s best photography and visual art. And what&#39;s more, the former customs house positioned right on the water&#39;s edge, is quickly becoming one of Stockholm&#39;s best-kept summer secrets. With a stunning veranda that&#39;s open all summer long, why not take a seat for the afternoon to enjoy some of the best views of the city? Treat your tastebuds to a pizza from the wood-fired oven and sip on sumptuous summer-inspired cocktails.

And if relaxing in the Swedish sunshine simply isn&#39;t your thing, there&#39;s plenty to enjoy inside the museum. Peter Lindbergh&#39;s artistic legacy is on display in the &#39;Lightness of Being&#39; exhibition from June 16 to October 15 2023. Photographs from the entire lifespan of his career can be seen for the first time in Sweden. Most famously, he photographed Naomi, Linda, Cindy, Tatjana and Christy for Vogue in the 90s, beginning an era of fashion photography that still resonates today.

&nbsp;

Day 2: Afternoon - Katarina-Sofia and Fotografiska

If you&rsquo;ve got a bit of energy left, day two is a good time to check out Stockholm&rsquo;s lively night scene. Hang around the southern districts of Stockholm and the suburbs of Sodermalm, where you&rsquo;ll find buzzing cafes and cool bars with a casual, laid back atmosphere. Or you could head back to Gamla Stan for a pub crawl or nighttime walk via the Royal Palace and Storkyrkan Church, which look equally attractive at night. If you&rsquo;re in the mood for a flutter stop by the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/casino-cosmopol" style="text-decoration:none">Casino Cosmopol</a>, a stylish art deco building where you can try your hand at blackjack, poker, roulette and slot machines.

Day 2: Evening - Stockholm nightlife

If you&rsquo;re feeling the need for a refreshing wake up this morning, Stockholm has numerous boat-tour offerings for the cross-eyed traveler. If you want to stay local, jump on the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-on-hop-off-bus-boat-tours" style="text-decoration:none">Hop-On Hop-Off boat</a> and ride the whole circuit until you feel revived, or choose from a <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/royal-canal-tour" style="text-decoration:none">Royal Canal tour</a>, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/under-the-bridges-of-stockholm" style="text-decoration:none">Under the Bridges of Stockholm tour</a>, an <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/archipelago-tour-with-guide" style="text-decoration:none">archipelago tour</a> or boat trips to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/fj%C3%A4derholmarna-islands-boat-trip" style="text-decoration:none">Fjaderholmarna</a>, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/artipelag-boat-trip" style="text-decoration:none">Artipelag</a> or <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/gustavsberg-boat-tour" style="text-decoration:none">Gustavsberg</a>. Or if you want to explore further, take a whole day trip to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/boat-tour-drottningholm-palace-single-ticket" style="text-decoration:none">Drottningholm Palace</a>, traveling on a historic vessel via Lake Malaren. Once there, you can explore some of the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family, as well as the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/drottningholm-court-theatre" style="text-decoration:none">Drotttningholm Theater</a> and Royal Gardens.

Day 3: Morning - boat tour

Unless you&rsquo;re spending the day at Drottningholm or out in the islands of the archipelago somewhere, head back into the center of town for the afternoon for whatever you might have missed on day one. There&#39;s the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/nobel-museum" style="text-decoration:none">Nobel</a> and <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/the-jewish-museum" style="text-decoration:none">Jewish</a> Museums in Gamla Stan, or have a peek in the Riddarholm Church, burial place of Swedish monarchs for 600 years. Then head to City Hall on the northern waterfront, where you can take a guided tour or, at certain times of year, climb the 106-meter tower for stunning 360 degree views over the city.

Day 3: Afternoon - City Hall

Head east for an evening stroll along the waterfront. You&rsquo;ll find loads of bars and cafes here if you&rsquo;re looking for a traditional meal or pre-dinner aperitif. If you pass the Kungstradgarden Metro station, be sure to pop down to check out the cool wall art and sculptures. Take a stroll down Strandvagen, a magnificent tree-lined boulevard dotted with elegant villas, and head towards the trendy suburb of Ostermalm Fiinish your time in Stockholm dancing the night away in one of the neighborhood&rsquo;s classy bars or clubs.

Day 3: Evening - Ostermalm

<h3>Make the most of your time with Go City.</h3>

See it all in three days with <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us" style="text-decoration:none">Go City</a>. An All-Inclusive or Explorer Pass will save you time and money on dozens of Stockholm attractions, so you won&rsquo;t have to miss a thing! So grab a <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" target="_blank">Stockholm pass</a> and save while you sightsee!

3 days in Stockholm Itinerary Inspiration

From old town lanes and medieval churches to grand palaces and sweeping city views, use our 2-day Stockholm itinerary to make sure you don't miss a thing.

Our must-sees for a 2-day trip to Stockholm.

2 Days in Stockholm Itinerary

Stockholm is a marvel of engineering and architectural delights. Renaissance-style buildings sit alongside art deco, narrow lanes morph into wide promenades and more than 50 bridges connect the 14 islands of the archipelago that make up this unique and captivating capital of Sweden. There&rsquo;s plenty for the art and history lover too, with churches, royal residences and around 100 museums to choose from. There&rsquo;s so much to do, in fact, that the hard part is narrowing it down to the best choices for your first visit. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;ve put together this 2-day itinerary which takes in old and new, art and architecture, land and water. It covers:

<ul>
	<li>Gamla Stan</li>
	<li>Storkyrkan Church</li>
	<li>The Royal Palace</li>
	<li>Nobel Prize Museum</li>
	<li>Ostermalm &amp; nightlife</li>
	<li>Boat tours</li>
	<li>Djurgarden and museums</li>
	<li>Sodermalm</li>
</ul>

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<a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/attractions">Explore attractions&nbsp;</a>➡

<h3>Day 1: Morning &ndash; Bus tour and Gamla Stan</h3>

Since you&rsquo;ve got two days, spend the first morning getting your bearings and learning a bit about the city on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. Start at Kungstr&auml;dg&aring;rden, where it&rsquo;s worth checking out the underground art and sculptures in the Metro station, then jump on the bus and ride the whole circuit. Take in City Hall, Djurgarden and the neighborhoods of Ostermalm and Sodermalm before getting off at Gamla Stan, where you can spend the rest of the morning exploring the old town.

Gamla Stan is the oldest district in the city, with some parts dating back to the 1300s. Wander through the cobbled lanes and squeeze through tiny medieval streets, marvel at artisan and craft shop windows and stop for a coffee somewhere just to soak up the old town ambiance. Be sure to have a look inside the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/storkyrkan-cathedral" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Storkyrkan</a> Church, site of many Swedish royal weddings, and see if you can spot the wooden statue of St George and the Dragon or the 17th-century French baroque-style pulpit. Find a caf&eacute; for some traditional meatballs for lunch or grab a pastry to go, then head for the Royal Palace for an afternoon of glitz and grandeur.

<h3>Day 2: Afternoon &ndash; Djurgarden</h3>

Spend your second afternoon exploring the royal island of Djurgarden. It&rsquo;s owned by the King of Sweden but members of the public can access it any time for its gardens, restaurants, museums and theme parks. We recommend choosing one or two to explore: if you&rsquo;re into Nordic history then the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vikingaliv" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Viking Museum</a> is bound to pique your interest, or if you&rsquo;re interested in naval history in general you may prefer the unique and impressive <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vasa-museum">Vasa Museum</a>, which contains the surprisingly complete wreck of a 17th-century warship that was recovered in 1961, along with a remarkable collection of artifacts and objects.

If you prefer the fresh air you can explore the open-air <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Skansen</a> museum, which charts the history of Swedish life before the Industrial Revolution, or warm up in the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-spirits" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Museum of Spirits</a>,&nbsp;one of Stockholm&rsquo;s best hidden gems, embracing and illustrating Swedish drinking culture. You&#39;ll learn everything about Sweden&acute;s drinking traditions and enjoy their exhibition True Crime which explores the country&#39;s prohibition era. And what&#39;s more, whilst you&#39;re there you can get your hands on exciting tasting trays or enjoy food and views at the museum&#39;s restaurant. <a href="https://spritmuseum.se/en/">Spritmuseum</a> is also the home to the Absolut Art collection, which is regularly updated with fresh, new content!

<h3>Day 2: Evening &ndash; Sodermalm and Skinnarviksberget</h3>

From Djurgarden grab a boat over to H. Fotografiska and wander around the suburbs of Katarina-Sofia for a charm recharge. Be sure to go past the Katarina Church, recognizable from its yellow and white exterior and imposing dome, and the Sofia Church atop a nearby hill. From here, you can hang around the district of Sodermalm, where you&rsquo;ll find plenty of restaurants and buzzing nightlife, or walk over to Skinnarviksparken, a public park on the waterfront across from City Hall. There are restaurants here too, and you can finish your time in Stockholm with a walk up the hill of Skinnarviksberget for sunset or night-time views over the whole city.

<h3>Save on your Stockholm trip with Go City</h3>

With a pass from Go City, you could save yourself up to 50% on attractions. For one price, access dozens of must-sees. So grab your <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" target="_blank">Stockholm pass</a> and see it all!

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<h3>Day 1: Afternoon &ndash; Royal Palace and museums</h3>

If you&rsquo;re outside the palace at 12:15 (or 1:15 on Sundays) you&rsquo;ll see the changing of the guard, a 40-minute ceremony of soldiers parading in formation, sometimes on horseback or with marching bands. Afterwards, head inside to explore the staterooms and apartments of the King&rsquo;s official residence, which was constructed between 1697 and 1754 after the previous castle was destroyed in a fire. The palace now contains over 600 rooms and visitors can see banqueting halls where state ceremonies are held, four separate museums and an impressive collection of artworks and artifacts. With two days in Stockholm, it&rsquo;s worth spending a couple of hours getting a glimpse into Swedish royal life.

An afternoon at the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/nobel-museum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nobel Prize Museum</a> is an afternoon well spent. Meet scientists, writers and freedom fighters who&rsquo;ve all contributed to the benefit of humankind. With awards given out since 1901, there&rsquo;s plenty of history to explore; see how the stories of the Nobel Prize laureates come to life through videos, unique artifacts and guided tours. Bistro Nobel serves up all sorts of delicious lunches and afternoon snacks, so it&rsquo;s the perfect place for an afternoon pit stop. Spend some time in the museum shop where you can purchase postcards, books, the Museum&#39;s own tea blend and even your very own Nobel Prize medal!

Alternatively, you can head over the Riddarholm Bridge to the church of the same name, which is the burial place of the Swedish monarchy. It sits on the site of an old abbey and has sections dating to the 12th century, making it one of the oldest churches in the city. From there you can walk over to City Hall and climb the tower for 360 views over the city, or wander along the waterfront and find a nice spot for a late-afternoon aperitif.

<h3>Day 1: Evening &ndash; Nightlife</h3>

Head east towards the suburb of Ostermalm to find elegant streets lined with classy restaurants serving traditional and international food. This suburb also has a lively nightlife scene with many clubs, although keep note that you will probably have to meet certain dress standards to get in. If you&rsquo;re after a more casual evening, head back into Gamla Stan where you&rsquo;ll find bars and pubs offering live music and Swedish ales, or join a pub crawl if you&rsquo;re in the mood for a bit of variety. If you&rsquo;re feeling lucky, you could spend the evening at the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/casino-cosmopol" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Casino Cosmopol</a> near the central station, a stylish art deco building with glittering chandeliers, wall murals and a grand vaulted ceiling.

<h3>Day 2: Morning &ndash; Boat tour</h3>

Blow off the cobwebs from last night by taking to the sea in the morning. Enjoy views of the city from the water on the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/under-the-bridges-of-stockholm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bridges of Stockholm</a> tour, or take your time on a longer tour of the archipelago, where you&rsquo;ll ride a historic ship around the islands and lagoons and perhaps take advantage of the on board restaurant. Or you could simply use your <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/hop-on-hop-off-bus-boat-tours" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hop-On Hop-Off boat</a> ticket and ride the entire circuit around the inner waters of the city. When you&rsquo;re done, head to (or hop off at) Djurgarden and grab some lunch &ndash; or a picnic in the park &ndash; before hitting the museums in the afternoon.

If you've only got two days in Stockholm, use this itinerary to make sure you see everything from old town lanes and medieval churches to grand palaces and sweeping city views.

Our guide to the best transport options in Stockholm and all you need to know about the Stockholm Travelcard. 

Getting around Stockholm – our top tips for tourists

Transport in and around Stockholm - Stockholm Travel Card

<h2>Pair a travelcard with your pass to get around Stockholm with ease</h2>

A Stockholm Travelcard takes the stress out of getting from A to B. The Travelcard includes unlimited travel for 24 hours or 72 hours on Stockholm&rsquo;s public transport system and&nbsp;is activated at&nbsp;first use. When used with a Stockholm Pass, is the perfect all-round accompaniment to your trip.

Please Note:&nbsp;We no longer offer a travelcard with the Stockholm Pass. You must purchase a travelcard separately.

<ul>
	<li>One ticket to cover all networks&nbsp;including subway, buses, trams, commuter train, ferry</li>
	<li>Flexibility to travel at leisure around Stockholm</li>
	<li>Unlimited use for the duration of your pass</li>
	<li>No need to carry spare change for daily tickets</li>
</ul>

Benefits of using a travelcard

The travelcard allows you unlimited travel across all public&nbsp;transport networks in&nbsp;Stockholm

✔&nbsp;Subway

✔&nbsp;Trams

✔&nbsp;Buses

✔&nbsp;Boats

✔&nbsp;Commuter Train

Where can you use the Stockholm travelcard?

The Travelcard is not date stamped and is activated upon first use.&nbsp;The travelcards come in 24 hour and 72 hours.

Children under 7 years old travel for free with the public transportation system (SL) when accompanied by an adult with a valid Travelcard (SL-card). During the weekends (Fri 12pm - Sun 12am) children between 7-12 yrs travel free on the public transportation system with an adult with a valid Travelcard.

How do you activate the Stockholm travelcard?

There is a transit fee for passing to and from Arlanda Airport with the commuter train. If you have a valid travelcard (SL ticket) you just pay the passage supplement fee, SEK 120. The passage ticket can be bought at SkyCity, between terminal 4 and 5 before entering the commuter train platform. If you are under the age of 18 you don&#39;t have to pay the passage fee at all for this travel from the airport to the city.&nbsp;

Please note:&nbsp;The travel card does not include Arlanda Express, Flygbussarna or any airport coaches.

And, while you&#39;re at it, why not grab a <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" target="_blank">Stockholm attraction pass</a> so you can see all the city&#39;s best bits while out on your travels?

Can you travel from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm city with the travelcard?

Read about the best transport options in Stockholm and information about the Stockholm Travelcard here. 

Transport in and around Stockholm

Our guide to activities for teens in Stockholm, including world-class art and science museums, nature reserves and escape rooms.

Keep everyone happy with our teen-approved guide to Stockholm.

Things to do in Stockholm for Teens

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that teenagers are notoriously tricky to please. And even more difficult to surgically detach from their many electronic devices. Thankfully there are stacks of things to keep teens entertained in Stockholm, from high-octane thrills to world-class museums. Enough, at least, to keep the dramatic yawns and theatrical eye rolls at bay for a few hours each day. Dive in to discover some of our favorite teen-pleasing Stockholm activities, including: <ul><li>Gröna Lund amusement park</li> <li>Sweden’s National Museum</li> <li>SkyView Stockholm </li> <li>Skansen open-air museum</li> <li>Hellasgården nature reserve</li> <li>Stockholm library</li> <li>Photographing the old town</li> </ul><h3>Scratch Their Social Media Itch </h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Stockholm%20Gamla%20Stan%20snapper-2.jpg" alt="Image of Photography, Face, Head, Person, Selfie, " loading="lazy">Let’s face it, the only time today’s teenagers feel truly alive is when racking up likes on their Instagram and TikTok feeds. Prime location for Insta-perfect pics of course include the old town, particularly cobbled Stortorget square, where the colorful gabled townhouses make for great selfie backdrops. Then there are the fine skyline views from the cliff walkway at Monteliusvägen, and the tiny painted wooden cottages in Tantolunden park on Södermalm island. While the kids are occupied, why not take the chance to explore these oh-so-photogenic places yourself, and perhaps even treat yourself to a coffee and cinnamon bun while nobody's looking. <h3>Gröna Lund amusement park</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Grona%20Lund-2.jpg" alt="Image of Nature, Outdoors, Sky, Person, Child, Female, Girl, Sunlight, Amusement Park, " loading="lazy">We defy any teen, no matter how cool they think they are, not to be seduced by the thrills, spills and old-fashioned entertainments at <a href="https://www.gronalund.com/en" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Gröna Lund</a>, a Stockholm icon and the oldest amusement park in the country. The heart-stopping white knuckle rides run the gamut from terrifying vertical drops to the latest suspended roller coasters and their rickety old wooden counterparts. Fear not though: there are, of course, also many gentler rides for sensitive teens (and their parents), as well as traditional amusement arcades and more ice cream, fizzy drinks and sweet treats than you can shake a very large stick at. <h3>The National Museum</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/National%20Museum-2.jpg" alt="Image of Water, Waterfront, Harbor, Pier, Housing, Boat, Vehicle, Yacht, House, City, " loading="lazy">Ok ok, we get that museums aren’t going to be to the taste of every self-respecting teen but, if yours have even a passing interest in fine art, <a href="https://www.nationalmuseum.se" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sweden’s National Museum</a> is going to be difficult to top. As well as hundreds of amazing paintings and sculptures, there’s an app with loads of info and audio guides, meaning your kids can maintain their pretense of utter boredom by keeping their earphones in and feigning complete indifference as they secretly thrill to wonderful pieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir, Goya, Gauguin, Degas and Cézanne. <h3>SkyView Stockholm</h3> Further fab photo opps await aboard Stockholm’s <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/sky-view" rel="noopener" target="_blank">SkyView</a>. Enter the glass cabin for a 20-minute ride that scales the dizzying heights of the Avicii Arena, the world’s largest spherical building, known to locals as Globen. You’ll enjoy widescreen views of the city, its waterways and the southern suburbs on the ascent, before returning to terra firma. Don’t forget to wave to the occupants of the other pod on your way past! <h3>Hellasgården Nature Reserve</h3> Around 20 minutes from the city center, Hellasgården is a great place for families to let off a bit of steam. This huge outdoor playground on the shores of Lake Källtorp is surrounded by nature and there are dozens of open-air activities to get involved in. Hike the lakeside paths, play volleyball, pétanque and tennis, or take a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard out onto the lake’s tranquil waters. There’s ice-skating and cross-country skiing in the winter months when those of a stronger constitution can also opt for a swim in the freezing waters, entered via a large hole cut into the ice. Brrrr. <h3>Tom Tits Experiment</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Tom%20Tits%20Museum-2.jpg" alt="Image of Photography, Face, Head, Person, Portrait, Child, Female, Girl, Accessories, Goggles, Glasses, " loading="lazy">Once they’ve stopped snickering at the somewhat unusual name, kids are in for a fab time at <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/tom-tits-experiment" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tom Tits</a>, where interactive experiments abound and there’s more than enough to keep even the most world-weary teen entertained for several hours. Learn all about the human body (and discover in gory detail how it functions), test your memory and balance and see if you can make like Houdini and escape a fiendish rope knot. There are hundreds of experiments to get involved in over four floors, as well as outdoor areas to explore in summer. <h3>Skansen</h3> Located on the green and pleasant island oasis of Djurgården, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Skansen</a> is a living history museum par excellence that’s chock full of interesting old buildings (transplanted from elsewhere in Sweden) and craftspeople in period costume acting out Swedish life in the 1800s. There’s an excellent harvest festival held here every September and a Christmas market in December complete with freshly baked ginger snaps for the kids, glögg (mulled wine) for the grown-ups and carol-singing that’s sure to melt the hearts of even the hardest-to-please teens. <h3>The Stadsbibliotek</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Stockholm%20Public%20Library.jpg" alt="Image of Building, Office Building, City, Urban, Nature, Outdoors, Sky, " loading="lazy">Give young bookworms a treat with a visit to Stockholm’s incredible public library. Inside this vast rotunda, a cylindrical tower soars skywards, with thousands of books crammed into its gently curving shelves. It’s an awesome sight and a great place for kids to enjoy a bit of downtime with some good books, from Harry Potter to Harold Pinter, the Moomins to Miss Havisham. And don’t worry: there are plenty of volumes in English and other languages to explore. <h3>Escape Rooms</h3> If all else fails, lock 'em up and throw away the key! In all seriousness though, Stockholm is no different to any other capital city in terms of entertainment, so you can expect escape rooms aplenty throughout the central areas. All you need do is let the kids choose a theme – bunker, zombie attack, heist and haunted photo laboratory are among the more imaginative – then enjoy some traditional Swedish fika time while the little darlings try to puzzle their way out. Good news: it should take at least an hour, giving you plenty of time for that second (or third) pastry. <h3>Save on things to do in Stockholm for teens</h3> Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Things to do in Stockholm for Teens | Go City®

Our top summer Stockholm reccomendation -  Fotografiska. Read on for our guide to the contemporary museum and what’s on.

What's on at Fotografiska this summer, including exhibitions by Shepard Fairey and Jeff Cowen.

Guide to Summer in Stockholm - Fotografiska

Seasonal treats abound during summer in Stockholm, when the days are long (like really, really long), the crayfish are in season, and city-center beaches fill up with sun-seeking, ice-cream toting tourists. It&rsquo;s also a great time to visit Fotografiska &ndash; Stockholm&rsquo;s premier museum of contemporary photography, art and culture &ndash; when it&rsquo;s eye-catching Veranda restaurant is open and boat rides operate between Strandv&auml;gen and the Fotografiska dock. Read on for our guide to visiting Fotografiska this summer, including what&rsquo;s on and ticket options&hellip;

<h2>What is Fotografiska?</h2>

Set in a striking former customs house on the S&ouml;dermalm waterfront, Fotografiska is *the* destination for contemporary photography, art and culture in Stockholm. First established here in 2010, Fotografiska has since opened sister museums around the world: in New York, Tallinn, Shanghai and Berlin, curating hundreds of exhibitions from the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sebasti&atilde;o Salgado, Ren Hang, and Sally Mann. Fotografiska&rsquo;s mission is to inspire a more conscious world through the power of photography, fostering a safe haven of innovation, inclusivity and self-expression within its walls, and beyond.

Entry to Fotografiska (and dozens more tours, activities and attractions) is included with a Go Stockholm pass. <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Find out how you could save up to 50% and get yours here.</a>

<h2>What&rsquo;s on at Fotografiska this Summer?</h2>

Fotografiska&rsquo;s ever-changing roster of visiting exhibitions has thrown up some absolute summer sizzlers for 2024. Here are some of the highlights&hellip;

<h3>Shepard Fairey: Photo Synthesis</h3>

Perhaps best known for his breakthrough &lsquo;HOPE&rsquo; portrait of Barack Obama, Shepard Fairey has become one of the planet&rsquo;s best-known street artists, with well over 100 murals all around the world and the launch of his popular OBEY Clothing range. This will be Shepard Fairey&rsquo;s first solo exhibition in Sweden, showcasing some 200 pieces, from early works to iconic portraits of David Bowie and Joan Jett, plus a selection of brand-new pieces created specifically for the exhibition.

Daily until October 13

<h3>Jeff Cowen: Berlin Works</h3>

In what is photographer Jeff Cowen&rsquo;s first Swedish exhibition, the New York artist will showcase his unique approach, with more than 100 handmade silver gelatin prints capturing some of the most important work from his transformative Berlin period. Created in his Kreuzberg studio, these pieces explore Cowen&rsquo;s innovative photo-augmentation techniques using brushwork, mark-making and various chemical processes, to walk the line between reality and Surrealism.

Daily until September 8

<h3>Markos Kay: Nature Portals</h3>

Markos Kay&rsquo;s dreamlike digital artworks tread the liminal zones between art and science, philosophy and technology. &lsquo;Nature Portals&rsquo; represents a peaceful and immersive journey through the human imagination, taking in fantastical creatures, mystical plantlife and more. This family-friendly visual feast can be experienced in all its immersive, kaleidoscopic glory inside Fotografiska&rsquo;s largest exhibition hall, with a projection area of some 200 square meters.

Daily until August 11

<h3>Eli Eli: Oceanic Feelings</h3>

Part of Fotografiska&rsquo;s Emerging Artist Initiative, this installation from Swedish choreographer and multi-disciplinary artist Eli Eli uses projections, textiles and a giant pillow to highlight the frightening impact of climate change on the planet&rsquo;s oceans.

Daily until August 18

<h3>Prix Pictet</h3>

The world&rsquo;s leading award for photography and sustainability, Prix Pictet, is spending summer at Fotografiska Stockholm. This exhibition features work by the 12 shortlisted artists from 2022&rsquo;s &lsquo;Human&rsquo;-themed cycle, including that of eventual winner Gauri Gill.

Daily until August 18

<a href="https://www.fotografiska.com/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Find out more about summer exhibitions and events at the official Fotografiska website here.</a>

<h2>Summer Dining at Fotografiska</h2>

Blink and you might miss it: Fotografiska&rsquo;s visual feast of an al fresco restaurant &ndash; The Veranda &ndash; opens for just a few short weeks each summer, promising fine food, delicious drinks and sunny views of the Royal Palace, Djurg&aring;rden and Gr&ouml;na Lund. Tuck into fresh, seasonal dishes and cool off with a refreshing frozen strawberry daiquiri or limoncello spritz &ndash;&nbsp;the true taste of summer. The Veranda is open daily between 11AM and 11PM from June to August.

<h2>Getting to Fotografiska</h2>

Getting to Fotografiska is a doddle at any time of year &ndash;&nbsp;just hop on the red or green metro line to Slussen, rent a bike, or take a bus to S&ouml;dermalmstorg. But it&rsquo;s never more fun between June and August, when the Fotografiska boat comes back into service to make the best of the summer weather. Every day from 11AM-6PM, the city&rsquo;s only fully electric passenger boat (powered by old Tesla batteries, fact fans) shuttles between Strandv&auml;gen and the museum, taking a leisurely 15 minutes each way. You can buy your tickets on board.

<h2>Getting In</h2>

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">The museum is open daily from 10AM to 11PM in summer, so plenty of time to catch all those ace exhibitions!</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">The Stockholm pass from Go City includes entry to Fotografiska plus dozens more top attractions, tours and activities, like Gr&ouml;na Lund, the Royal Palace, Skansen, Stockholm Cathedral and many more, all for one money-saving price. <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Find out how you could save up to 50% and get your Go Stockholm pass here.</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Your Stockholm pass also entitles you to 10% off a single purchase at Fotografiska&#39;s shop OR 50% off a poster. Shop for cool goodies bearing images and motifs from current and past exhibitions, plus books, homeware and more.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/blog/things-to-do-in-stockholm-in-summer" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Check out our guide to Stockholm&rsquo;s other summer attractions here.</a>

Guide to Summer in Stockholm - Fotografiska | Go City®

Get up early for Stockholm highlights that include leafy Djurgården island, traditional Swedish fika and the atmospheric medieval old town.

There are stacks of reasons to wake up early in the Swedish capital, from still-warm cinnamon buns on Gamla Stan, the city’s colorful old town square, to visiting Skansen, the Nationalmuseum and other popular Stockholm attractions before the crowds arrive. Read on for our guide to all the best things to do in Stockholm in the morning…

Things to do in Stockholm in the Morning

Stockholm&rsquo;s medieval old town &ndash;&nbsp;aka Gamla Stan &ndash; is one of the city&rsquo;s most charming and picturesque spots. We realize that&rsquo;s quite a claim in this photographer&rsquo;s dreamland of idyllic islands, bonnie bridges and swoonsome skylines, but trust us when we say there really is no better place to while away your morning in Stockholm. Start in Stortorget, a fairytale cobbled square that&rsquo;s home to some of the city&rsquo;s most Instagrammable eye candy. We&rsquo;re talking gabled townhouses that look good enough to eat &ndash; all luscious yellows, gorgeous greens and ravishing reds, with tiny lose-yourself lanes that lead off to the likes of Stockholm Cathedral. This medieval gothic confection boasts magnificent vaulted interiors and a must-see copper-green bell tower.

The nearby Royal Palace&nbsp;(pictured) &ndash; baroque official residence of the Swedish monarch &ndash; is no shrinking violet either. Then there&rsquo;s M&aring;rten Trotzigs Gr&auml;nd, a comically narrow alley that tapers to a mere 90 centimeters across and is best squeezed through before rather than after that massive plate of meatballs you were eyeing for lunch. Eyes peeled too for Gamla Stan&rsquo;s many other extraordinary sculptures, gargoyles and carvings, not least the one over the entrance to Skeppsbron 44. This unusual decoration depicts the contorted features of a cuckolded husband weeping over the, um, lady parts of his errant wife.

Gamla Stan in the Morning

Now you&rsquo;ve scratched that selfie itch all over Gamla Stan, it&rsquo;s time to reward yourself with a traditional Swedish breakfast. Stockholm&rsquo;s cardamom and cinnamon buns are the stuff of legend and you&rsquo;ll see stacks of these sticky, still-warm treats in bakery windows all over the old town. These are best served with a hot coffee and eaten out on the cobbles. But if you&rsquo;d prefer a sit-down feast, there are also plenty of caf&eacute;s in and around the square, serving up irresistible Swedish specialties like pancakes and waffles topped with fresh fruit, lingonberry jam and buttermilk syrup. Yum.

Many major <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/attractions" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm attractions</a> are already open by 9AM. But here&rsquo;s the thing: most vacationers will still be filling their faces with pancakes and cinnamon buns at this hour. You don&rsquo;t have to be a math whiz to work out that this makes morning prime time for dodging lines and crowds at some of the city&rsquo;s most popular attractions. The pretty island of Djurg&aring;rden is a treat at any time of day, but it&rsquo;s perhaps especially magical in the morning when it&rsquo;s still relatively quiet. Chief among its many attractions is Skansen. This absolutely extraordinary open-air living history museum contains dozens of authentic&nbsp;historic buildings painstakingly imported from all over Sweden. Explore its full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town and stop to say hej (hello) to traditional tanners, glass-blowers and cobblers in full period costume. Wander the picture-perfect gardens and visit Skansen&rsquo;s mini zoo where you can encounter ferociously cute Nordic critters including otters, brown bears and moose.

Visit Top Stockholm Attractions

And if you think that sounds Swedish, wait until you hear about Djurg&aring;rden&rsquo;s other attractions. There&rsquo;s the quiet excellent Vasa Museum, home of the best-preserved 17th-century warship in the world; a museum dedicated to the story of the Vikings; and the fairytale kids&rsquo; amusement park that is Junibacken, where attractions are based on classic characters from Swedish literature, including Pippi Longstocking and the Moomins. Heck, there&rsquo;s even an ABBA Museum, where dancing queens (and kings) can bust their best moves alongside holographic avatars of Agnetha, Bj&ouml;rn, Benny and Anna-Frid. &nbsp;

Elsewhere, top picks include the (free!) Nationalmuseum, with its collection of treasures from artists including Dal&iacute;, Duchamp, Degas, Rembrandt, Rubens and Renoir, and the fine&nbsp;Fotografiska, a thoroughly modern center of contemporary photography, art and culture set on the S&ouml;dermalm waterfront.

Did you know you can save up to 50% on admission to Fotografiska, Skansen, the Vasa Museum and dozens more bucket-list Stockholm attractions with a <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm pass</a>? Hit the buttons below to find out how and choose yours&hellip;

At the risk of being labeled as food-obsessed, it would be remiss of us not to recommend indulging in the Swedish tradition of fika. A bit like hygge elsewhere in Scandinavia, fika is practically a way of life in Sweden and, loosely speaking, involves taking time out for coffee, cake and a chat with friends. Perfect the art in a cozy caf&eacute; overlooking Stortorget&rsquo;s cobbles and candy-colored houses, or go it alone with an espresso as you contemplate life, the universe, and a second cardamom bun. Swedes often make time for fika in both the morning *and* the afternoon, so there&rsquo;s really no reason not to let your calorie intake run wild.

More Fun Things to do in Stockholm in the Morning

Perhaps the only thing that beats fika for pure Swedish indulgence is a morning sauna, and Stockholm of course has loads of them. Join perspiring locals at the nearest bathhouse for your fix. The art nouveau kitsch of Centralbadet in the Norrmalm district is one of the city&#39;s most popular. Or go full Scandinavia mode at Hellasg&aring;rden&rsquo;s lakeside retreat with its as-Swedish-as-meatballs traditional wooden saunas, lush green landscapes and open-air swimming lake. You can even go swimming during the freezing Swedish winter, when hardy souls are invited to take the plunge via a hole in the ice. A very cool experience, in every sense of the word.

One of the best ways to explore Stockholm in the morning is via a cruise along the archipelago, which gives a fresh perspective on its various islands, as well as photo opps near waterside attractions like Grona Lund, Drottningholm Palace and the impressive City Hall. Longer cruises strike out for the pretty port town of Sigtuna and the formidable fortifications on Vaxholm.

There are a number of boat tours and day trips included with the Stockholm pass. Want to discover more things to do in Stockholm in the morning, and save up to 50% on admission to top tours, activities and attractions? <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Click here to find out more and choose the Stockholm pass that&rsquo;s right for you!</a>

Our pick of the best things to do in Stockholm in the morning includes Gamla Stan, the Vasa Museum, traditional Swedish fika, and a boat cruise along the archipelago.

Things to do in Stockholm in the Morning | Go City®

Spring flowers, summer festivals, autumn foliage and spiced winter glögg all feature in our guide to Stockholm’s best seasons.

There’s plenty to love about Stockholm all year round, from balmy summer days spent slurping ice cream on the city beaches to winter’s lower prices, atmospheric Christmas markets and snow-covered rooftops. Read on for our guide to all that’s great about the Venice of the North come spring, summer, winter or fall, and discover what we think is the best time to visit Stockholm.

Best Time to Visit Stockholm

First things first. Stockholm in winter &ndash;&nbsp;i.e. December to February &ndash; is cold. Sometimes very cold. It&rsquo;s dark, too. The sun puts in a brief, grudging appearance between around 9AM and 2.30PM, generating a bit of light but very little warmth.

On the other hand, Stockholm can be utterly magical in winter, with snow-dusted rooftops, fairy lights all a-twinkle in medieval Gamla Stan (aka the old town), and traditional Christmas markets filling the air with heady scents of cinnamon, mulled wine and roasting chestnuts in November and December. It&rsquo;s low season, too, and that means lower accommodation prices &ndash;&nbsp;heck, even the city&rsquo;s most lavish hotels ain&rsquo;t completely averse to a little winter discount. It&rsquo;s also highly unlikely you&rsquo;ll have to queue for attractions or restaurants. Just don&rsquo;t forget to layer up in thermal underwear and accessorize with the thickest woolens you can lay your (gloved) hands on!&nbsp;

Winter in Stockholm

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Christmas markets. Hit up Gamla Stan and Skansen (Djurg&aring;rden&rsquo;s amazing open-air Swedish living-history museum) for all your festive trinket, gingerbread cookie and mulled wine requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Kungstr&auml;dg&aring;rden ice-skating. Get your skates on and make for the (free) ice rink in this beautiful city-center park. There are caf&eacute;s for a warming post-skate coffee and cardamom bun and you can rent skates here if you forgot to pack your own.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Julbord. A Christmas variation of the traditional Swedish sm&ouml;rg&aring;sbord, the julbord comes stacked with winter favorites including meatballs, pickled herring, cured salmon and, quite probably, a sizeable mug of gl&ouml;gg (mulled wine).</li>
</ul>

Three Stockholm Winter Highlights

Though technically March to May, Stockholm&rsquo;s spring doesn&rsquo;t really get going until May, when days are brighter, the long winter begins to thaw, and parks and gardens come tentatively into bloom. It&rsquo;s shoulder season, meaning accommodation prices will be higher than winter, but still a fair bit lower than peak summer. You&rsquo;ll still want to layer up, but spring&rsquo;s gently warming temperatures make it a fine time to walk (and sail) the city, ticking off all those bucket-list <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/attractions" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm attractions</a> &ndash; Skansen, the Viking Museum, the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral &ndash; before they begin to get busier in summer.

Spring in Stockholm

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Kungstr&auml;dg&aring;rden cherry blossoms. Yep, it&rsquo;s that park again! Sometime around mid-to-late April, the Kungstr&auml;dg&aring;rden&rsquo;s cherry trees bloom, drawing thousands of locals and tourists, here to fika beneath the pink foliage and grab rose-tinted #humblebrag selfies galore.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Walpurgis Night. The uniquely Swedish holiday of Valborgsm&auml;ssoafton dates from the Middle Ages and sees celebrations break out across the archipelago. Expect traditional folk music, street food and mahoosive bonfires in public parks everywhere on April 30.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Gr&ouml;na Lund. Sweden&rsquo;s oldest (and most charming) amusement park opens for the season in late April. Come for the heart-stopping white-knuckle rides and stay for the music: the park kicks off its popular summer concert series in May.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Top tip: entry to many of Stockholm&rsquo;s hottest tours, activities and attractions is included with <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">a Stockholm pass from Go City</a>. Click the buttons below to find out more and to bag yours.

Three Stockholm Spring Highlights

June to August is peak tourist season in Stockholm, with long (very, very long) sunny days and pleasantly warm weather that frequently ticks up into the 70s. Conditions are perfect for outdoor pursuits: think cycling around Djurg&aring;rden, kayaking the archipelago, indulging in the Swedish art of fika on caf&eacute; terraces, and sunning yourself on sandy beaches from Flatenbadet to &Auml;ngbybadet. Inevitably then, summer is also when Stockholm accommodation prices are at their most eye-watering, especially during wildly popular festivals like Pride and Midsummer. Savvy travelers may be able to bag an Airbnb bargain, particularly in August when locals head off to the islands in their droves for their own summer hols.

Summer in Stockholm

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Midsummer Festival. This nationwide party takes place on the summer solstice, celebrating the longest day of the year which, in Stockholm, means around 18 hours of daylight.&nbsp;Locals drape themselves in flower garlands and crowns and frolic around maypoles in traditional folk costume. Expect plenty of pickled herring and schnapps and maybe even a little midnight skinny-dipping!</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Pride Festival. The biggest Pride celebration in Scandinavia, Stockholm&rsquo;s LGBTQ+ party promises oodles of live entertainment and a suitably flamboyant parade to cap it all off. It takes place in the first week of August.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Crayfish parties. If summer in Stockholm sounds like one long party that&rsquo;s because, well, it pretty much is! And we&#39;re fully on board with any party that involves gorging on freshwater crayfish, drinking schnapps and singing Swedish folk songs around the bonfire. Crayfish parties start in early August and continue well into the&nbsp;dying embers of summer.</li>
</ul>

Three Stockholm Summer Highlights

Endless skies of azure blue, parks ablaze with burnished autumn leaves, and crisp, clear October mornings: fall is a magical time of year in Stockholm. This is also the season of &lsquo;mys&rsquo;, the Swedish equivalent of Danish &lsquo;hygge&rsquo; &ndash;&nbsp;think cozy caf&eacute;s with log fires, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and still-warm cinnamon buns. Accommodation prices have begun dropping back to spring levels and, by November, will be about as low as they get all year. The downside, of course, is a little more rain in October and November. Thankfully, Stockholm offers plenty of indoor attractions, perfect for dodging those fall showers. <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/blog/things-to-do-in-stockholm-when-it-rains" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Check out our guide to things to do in Stockholm when it rains.</a>

Autumn in Stockholm

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Gamla Stan. The beautiful fall light makes this a great time of year to get your Insta fix in Stockholm&rsquo;s old town, a fairytale cluster of candy-colored townhouses, medieval turrets, cobbled squares and rust-red rooftops.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Djurg&aring;rden. This all-weather island is one of Stockholm&rsquo;s loveliest. Stroll magical woodlands and lakeside paths in the sunshine or experience Skansen, the city&rsquo;s extraordinary al fresco living-history museum. If and when it rains, duck into any number of fine attractions, including the mighty Viking Museum and the ABBA Museum.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Stockholm International Film Festival. Movie buffs, rejoice! This November fest showcases the freshest forthcoming films with exclusive screenings, Q&amp;As, and awards ceremonies.</li>
</ul>

Three Stockholm Autumn Highlights

The best time to visit Stockholm really comes down to your own preferences and budget. If it&rsquo;s cozy afternoon fikas you seek, you&rsquo;re quids in, with some of the most affordable prices in early spring and late autumn. Meanwhile, the magical winter season promises snow-dusted streets and some of Scandinavia&rsquo;s most atmospheric Christmas markets. For our money though, the celebratory summer season, with its long sunny days, lush landscapes and endless festivals, is tough to beat. And hey, you can always offset those higher hotel prices with Go City&rsquo;s money-saving <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm attractions pass</a>.

<a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/blog/things-to-do-in-stockholm-in-summer" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Read our guide to things to do in Stockholm in summer here.</a>

When Is the Best Time to Visit Stockholm?

Our guide to Stockholm’s most popular seasons, starring summer festivals, Christmas markets, and attractions including the Gröna Lund amusement park, Viking Museum and Old Town.

Best Time to Visit Stockholm | Go City®

Fairytale castles, windswept beaches, picture-postcard fishing villages and ancient Viking sites are just some of the treasures that await on a day trip from Stockholm.

There’s more than enough to keep the casual visitor occupied in and around central Stockholm, from vast medieval squares to living-history museums and, of course, meatballs. But if you’re in town for a few days and want to expand your horizons beyond Gamla Stan and Grona Lund, this vast archipelago promises unforgettable day trips galore. Read on for five of the best...

Best Day Trips from Stockholm

<h2>Uppsala Day Trip from Stockholm</h2>

The train journey north from Stockholm through scenic Swedish countryside to the ancient city of Uppsala is worth the entry price alone. It takes just 40-60 minutes to reach this, one of the country&rsquo;s oldest cities. Established in the 3rd Century, Uppsala sits on the river Fyris, its cobbled streets winding uphill to 16th-century Uppsala Castle and the twin-spired medieval confection that is gothic Uppsala Cathedral. The latter, at a whopping 389 feet, holds the remarkable accolade of being the tallest church in Scandinavia.

These two ticked off, spend some time soaking up the youthful atmosphere &ndash; Uppsala is a university city with a population of some 40,000 students, and this is reflected in the many cute (and affordable!) bars and caf&eacute;s that line Uppsala&rsquo;s cobbled lanes. Be sure to take time out from your hectic sightseeing itinerary to indulge in the Swedish art of fika (basically a coffee break with cake and sociable chatter).

Suitably fortified, it&rsquo;s well worth renting a bike for the short ride north out to Gamla (old) Uppsala, an ancient Viking site with over 300 burial mounds. It&rsquo;s about a 20-minute ride from the center of town &ndash; or significantly longer for incurable Instagrammers who&rsquo;ll be forced to stop for a selfie every few feet along this achingly beautiful route.

<h2>Sigtuna Day Trip from Stockholm</h2>

Located slap-bang between Stockholm and Uppsala, Sigtuna &ndash; a pretty port town on the banks of Lake M&auml;laren &ndash; was established way back in the 70s. The 970s, that is. This makes it by some margin the oldest town in Sweden. As you&rsquo;d expect then, it&rsquo;s something of an open-air museum, its cobbled lanes crammed full of colorful low-rise wooden houses, ruined churches and Viking runestones.

Take a stroll through the medieval old town and to discover the ancient runes (complete with English translations), 12 of which are in close proximity in the medieval old town, then bone up on your Swedish history at Sigtuna Museum, where dozens more runic inscriptions are preserved on stones, cattle ribs and, well, whatever else came to hand at the time. Scratch your selfie itch in the picturesque harbor and don&rsquo;t forget to pick up souvenir handicrafts from the local village stores.

One of the best ways to experience Sigtuna is on a day cruise from Stockholm, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the royal waterways, with a few hours ashore to explore Sigtuna at your leisure. You can take the Lake M&auml;laren day cruise to Sigtuna with the All-Inclusive Go Stockholm pass, which can save you up to 50% on access to more than 60 Stockholm tours, activities and attractions!

<h2>Drottningholm Day Trip from Stockholm</h2>

The <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Go Stockholm pass</a> also includes entry to a number of attractions in and around lovely Lov&ouml;n island, better known as home of dreamy Drottningholm Palace and its meticulously manicured public gardens.

Take the hour-long boat trip from just outside the old town, with cameras at the ready as you pass several Lake M&auml;laren islands along the way. The palace &ndash; a favorite summer residence of the Swedish royal family for over four centuries &ndash; dominates the diminutive island, its pristine baroque facade overlooking hundreds of acres of gardens and a glassy mirrored lake. It&rsquo;s very much worth taking a tour of the palace interior, all opulent state rooms, bedchambers and banquet halls.

But it&rsquo;s the gardens (modeled on the gardens at the Palace of Versailles, no less) that are the main attraction here. You could lose yourself for hours in these stunning grounds, with their Baroque and English gardens &ndash;&nbsp;chock full of fountains, sculptures, statues and box hedges &ndash; and the magnificent Chinese Pavilion, a fairytale confection of the finest chinoiserie, entry to which is also included with the Go Stockholm pass, natch.

<h2>Vaxholm Day Trip from Stockholm</h2>

Ferries serve more than 100 islands on the archipelago, so it&#39;s no wonder that many of the best day trips from Stockholm involve getting your sea legs on. A visit to Vaxholm &ndash;&nbsp;gateway to the islands &ndash; is no exception, with boats departing the Str&ouml;mkajen terminal north of the old town for its historic ramparts several times daily. Within those imposing ramparts lies a charming old town and harbor that are perfect for aimless wandering. Several strategically placed caf&eacute;s offer further opportunities for fika and gazing dreamily out across the water. Try the highly popular Hembygdsg&aring;rds Caf&eacute; for some of the finest views (and cakes) in town.

Just opposite the harbor lies the imposing edifice that is Vaxholm Fortress, a remarkably well-preserved 16th-century fortification with a museum. Admire it over a gelato from the island&rsquo;s sun-trap ramparts, or take the two-minute boat ride across the water for a closer look. Boats depart frequently when the fortress is open in spring and summer season.

<h2>Dalsland Day Trip from Stockholm</h2>

This one&rsquo;s a bit of an outlier (quite literally&hellip;&nbsp;it&#39;s over 250 miles from Stockholm). But if you&rsquo;re looking to explore beyond the islands, you could do far worse than this epic Scandinavian wilderness in the southwest of the country.

Outdoors types will be in clover (and indeed pine) down here, where the wild moose roam, the dramatic lakes, mountains and pine forests make for some of Sweden&rsquo;s best hiking opportunities, and there are about a million-and-one ways to get wet: think kayaking, waterfalls and wild swimming.

Hit up Tresticklan National Park &ndash;&nbsp;a vast forested wilderness that&rsquo;s great for peaceful hikes, and don&rsquo;t miss the aqueduct at H&aring;verud &ndash;&nbsp;a truly mind-boggling feat of 19th-century Swedish engineering. Dalslan&rsquo;s a 10-hour round-trip from Stockholm, so it&rsquo;s definitely worth considering an overnight stay &ndash; or even longer! Fun accommodation option abound in this great outdoors: lake cabins, tipis and converted lock-keepers&#39; cottages for the win!

Five of the best Stockholm away days, starring dreamy royal palaces, medieval fortresses, soaring cathedrals, wild moose and more. 

Best Day Trips from Stockholm | Go City®

Things to do in Stockholm for a Birthday

So, today&rsquo;s your birthday. Happy birthday! Another year younger. Better still, you&rsquo;re in Stockholm, you lucky thing. But how to spend your day in this city of tranquil canals, romantic bridges, world-class museums, beautiful parks and swoonsome medieval squares? There are so many things to do in Stockholm for a birthday treat that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. But fear not: we&rsquo;re here to help with a fun Stockholm itinerary that&rsquo;s all-but guaranteed to make your day extra-special.

<h3>Morning</h3>

Did you know it&rsquo;s traditional for Swedish families to sing the birthday boy or girl awake with a rousing rendition of the celebratory song Ja, m&aring; han leva? Knock this custom on the head by promising a slow and painful death to anyone who might attempt it, thus ensuring your special day begins right, i.e. with a lovely long lie-in. Suitably refreshed, take your sweet time to get ready before venturing out for a lazy breakfast.

Known as Gamla Stan, Stockholm&rsquo;s old town is a fairytale jumble of medieval squares linked by cobbled alleyways and chock full of characterful old buildings. Stroll to Stortorget, the city&rsquo;s main square, where regal 17th-century townhouses in a rainbow of fruity colors &ndash; lemon yellow, lime green, tomato red &ndash; overlook a broad cobbled piazza, the oldest (and highest) in town.

You can grab still-warm cinnamon and cardamom buns from the traditional Swedish bakeries on and around the square, and enjoy with a coffee perched on the square&rsquo;s huge iron benches. Or, for something a bit more special, head for a caf&eacute; (there are even some on the ground floors of those spectacular townhouses), find a window seat and watch the world go by as you work your way slowly through rivers of yogurt and mountains of fluffy pancakes smothered in tangy lingonberry jam and life-changingly delicious buttermilk syrup.

&nbsp;

Breakfast in Gamla Stan

<h3>Dining with a Difference</h3>

Ok mateys, here&rsquo;s another quirky dining option that might shiver your timbers. Lasse i Gatan is (in case you hadn&rsquo;t worked it out from our labored pirate references) a pirate-themed restaurant in the old town, complete with staff in full seafaring costume and hearty sharing platters served in huge stone vaults. Dine at Norra Brunn for a giggle-tastic side serving of live stand-up (usually in Swedish, sometimes in English), or wrap up warm for cocktails in a traditional ice bar. Yes, that&rsquo;s a bar made entirely of ice.

<h3>Save on things to do in Stockholm for a birthday</h3>

Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us" style="text-decoration:none">Go City</a>. Check out @GoCity on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gocity/" style="text-decoration:none">Instagram</a> and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info. Grab a <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" target="_blank">Stockholm pass</a> and save while you sightsee!

Assuming you can still move after that enormous birthday breakfast, why not do as the Swedes do and mosey on over to the nearest bathhouse to revive yourself in a steamy sauna? Just across the bridge in the bustling Norrmalm district, <a href="https://centralbadet.se/" style="text-decoration:none">Centralbadet</a> is one of the city&rsquo;s most popular, its kitschy art nouveau building housing several tiled saunas and a large swimming pool. Or get closer to nature at Hellasg&aring;rden, where traditional wooden saunas afford lovely views of the green landscape. Hardy souls can also take a dip in the lake outside. Yes, even in winter, when a large hole is cut in the ice for this very purpose.

Sauna and Swim

Thaw your frozen bones in trendy S&ouml;dermalm, where the area south of Folkungagatan is so achingly cool it even has its own truncated nickname: SoFo. Here&rsquo;s where to shop independent boutiques for one-off fashions, artisan jewelry, vintage goodies, homeware, vinyl records, second-hand books and more. There are also dozens of laid back caf&eacute;s here, in case you&rsquo;re ready for another cinnamon bun already.

Shopping in Södermalm

Before leaving SoFo, make sure to visit Urban Deli, a favorite hipster hangout on Nytorget square, to pick up armfuls of freshly baked sourdough, Swedish cheeses and cured meats for lunch on the go. Picnic right there on the square&rsquo;s central lawn or hoof it over to pretty Tantolunden park and find a spot on its grassy slopes or on the small sandy beach where, if weather permits, you can even have a quick dip.

Afternoon

As you&rsquo;re already here, it would make perfect sense to stroll the verdant hills of Tantolunden, snapping the tiny, brightly painted wooden cottages in and around its cute allotments, and admiring the views across the bay. But if you&rsquo;re looking for something a little more lively, head over to Djurg&aring;rden, Stockholm&rsquo;s great green playground, where there are any number of fun birthday activities to choose from. Chief amongst these is <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Skansen</a>, a huge living history park that contains a zoo and a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town, complete with craftspeople in period dress. Arrive in style by taking the old-fashioned funicular railway up the hill.

Park Life

Further thrills and spills are on offer at nearby <a href="https://www.gronalund.com/en" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Gr&ouml;na Lund</a>, Sweden&rsquo;s oldest amusement park. Brave the rickety old wooden rollercoaster or scare yourself silly on the latest hi-tech vertical drop rides. This verdant island is also home to several more museums, including the immersive <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vikingaliv" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Viking Museum</a> and another that&#39;s dedicated to all things Benny, Bj&ouml;rn, Frida and Agnetha, where you can bust your best dancing queen moves alongside holographic ABBA avatars and belt out your best Super Trouper in the karaoke booth.

Perhaps one of Sweden&rsquo;s greatest contributions to the world (and yes, we&rsquo;re aware of ABBA, meatballs and flat-pack furniture), fika is the simple Scandinavian art of enjoying coffee and a sweet treat with friends. As it&rsquo;s your birthday, that sweet treat should certainly be the most enormous and elaborate slab of gateau you can lay your hands on. And now (not at 7am) is the time to demand your traveling companions serenade you with a rendition of Happy Birthday.

Fika

<h3>Evening</h3>

Stockholm has no shortage of great dining options from upscale Michelin-starred restaurants (Gastrologik; Operakalleren) to down and dirty meatball joints (Meatballs for the People; Bakfickan), all of which are exceptional in their own ways. But if you&rsquo;re looking for something truly memorable for your birthday, there are a few more quirky options out there...

&nbsp;

Ok sure, a city center boat trip is unlikely to yield the finest food you&rsquo;ve ever tasted. But even if the food is forgettable, those swoonsome views of the illuminated city skyline, with lights reflected in the rippling water, are not. Sip a glass of champagne and enjoy three courses of tasty Swedish fare as you cruise past Stockholm icons including Gamla Stan, the soaring City Hall and majestic Drottningholm Palace.

Dinner Cruise

What to do on your birthday in Stockholm, from breakfast in the old town to pirate-themed dining, via saunas and ABBA museums.

Things to do in Stockholm for a Birthday | Go City®

Where To Stay In Stockholm: The Top 6 Areas

You have made the decision to go, but haven&rsquo;t quite yet decided where to stay in Stockholm. It&rsquo;s a common dilemma - but a fun one to have, because there are so many great locations to choose from. Each, with unique features and <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">attractions</a>. Although we recommend visiting them all, the team at <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm Pass</a> has put together a short description of the top six best areas to stay in Stockholm, to help make your choice a little easier.

Right in the heart of the Stockholm waterways, Gamla Stan is nestled between Norrmalm and S&ouml;dermalm. With beautiful views of the harbour, you&rsquo;ll be in one of Europe&rsquo;s oldest preserved medieval cities. You can walk to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/the-royal-palace" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Kungliga Slot (Royal Palace)</a>, the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/nobel-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Nobel Museum</a> and <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/storkyrkan-cathedral" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Stockholm Cathedral</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;(National cathedral of Sweden). And because you are so central, you&rsquo;ll have easy access to other parts of the city, by ferry or by <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-transport/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">metro (Tunnelbana)</a>. The area is extremely well catered for tourists, with plenty of restaurants and shops.

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Norrmalm is right in the centre of the Stockholm mainland, just north of Gamla Stan. In easy distance are the Royal Opera House, the National Museum of Sweden, Oceanbus and the Centre of culture. From nearby Stockholm C Station, you can get easily to and from Arlanda Airport, and hop on all metro lines. This central location makes getting in and out of the city very convenient, and therefore one of the top places to stay in Stockholm. But be aware that the<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-transport/" style="text-decoration:none"> great transport links</a> tend to make this area a little more pricey than Gamla Stan.

Norrmalm

As its name suggests, S&ouml;dermalm is south of the centre and Gamla Stan. From here, you can easily get to the City Museum, Tantolunden Park and L&aring;ngholmen Island. This area is very hip and trendy, and popular with young Stockholmers and weekend visitors. There are lots of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from couches and apartments, to luxury and boutique hotels. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well as cool shops, bars and art galleries. If you don&rsquo;t fancy staying in this area, we recommend a visit nonetheless to soak up some modern Stockholm culture.

Södermalm

Where to stay in Stockholm is an easier decision to make, if you&rsquo;re travelling with your family. Djurg&aring;rde is east of the city centre and one of the quieter places to stay in Stockholm. It&rsquo;s perfect if you want to visit the ABBA Museum, Skansen, <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/vasa-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Vasa Warship</a> or the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm-attractions/nordic-museum" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Nordic Museum</a>, as they are all a short distance away. A lot of families choose this area, not only because of the fabulous and fun museums, but because of its open spaces and opportunities to walk, relax, play games and picnic in the summer. There are relatively good ferry and tram connections, but please note that there is no metro station.

Djurgårde

North East of Gamla Stan, therefore slightly east of centre, &Ouml;stermalm is the most elegant and exclusive part of Stockholm. As well as many parks and museums (including The Army Museum, Royal Mews and The Swedish History Museum) it is known for shopping, eating and entertainment, with a range of shops (from high street to luxury), restaurants (seafood and Swedish delicacies) and entertainment (Stureplan Nightclub district). You will also find the &Ouml;stermalmshallen food market here, that is often likened to the food hall at Harrods.

Östermalm

North-west of the centre, Vasastan is another top area to stay in Stockholm. It has a lively bar and restaurant scene, but also opportunities to escape from it all in beautiful open spaces like Vasaparken. You can stroll around antique shops, bargain hunt in second-hand stores, or (if you fancy some art, history and culture visit the City library, Bonniers Konsthall-Contemporary Art Gallery, the Observatory, Jewish museum or Carl Eldh studio.

Vasastan

Now that we have briefly described where to stay in Stockholm, we hope your decision is a little easier! But don&rsquo;t forget, one of the best things about this city is that you can explore all of it very easily - on foot, by boat, on the bus or by bicycle. Each area has something for everyone, and we recommend you visit them all to truly sample the best places in Stockholm. Grab a <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" target="_blank">Stockholm pass</a> and save while you sightsee!

Where to stay in Stockholm. It’s a common dilemma - but a fun one to have, because there are so many great locations to choose from. Read on for more info.

Stockholm Airport to City Travel Options

Stockholm is the kind of magical place from which dreams are woven. This fairytale archipelago of 14 islands packs in a mind-boggling variety of attractions and activities, making it ideal for a city break in just about any season. We&rsquo;re talking one of Europe&rsquo;s most colorfully picturesque old towns, medieval cobbled lanes perfect for getting lost in, great swathes of picnic-perfect parkland, plus baroque palaces, great gothic cathedrals, world-class museums (ABBA, anyone?) and traditional Swedish spas galore. With so many <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/blog/things-to-do-in-stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">great things to do here</a>, you&rsquo;ll naturally want to get to the heart of the action fast.&nbsp;

Most visitors arrive here by plane via Stockholm&rsquo;s international Arlanda Airport, so we&rsquo;ve put together a guide to the travel options that will get you into town as quickly, cheaply and efficiently as possible. Read on for everything you need to know about Stockholm&rsquo;s airport to city travel options&hellip;

<h2>Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Brief</h2>

There are four airports serving Stockholm, of which Arlanda is the biggest and most used, serving as a major hub for flights operated by Scandinavian Airlines and processing around 3.5 million passengers every year. In fact, Arlanda is the largest airport in Sweden and third-largest in the Nordic countries (after Copenhagen and Oslo, fact fans).

Stockholm&rsquo;s other airports are Bromma (closer to the center, but mostly for domestic flights), and Skavsta and V&auml;ster&aring;s, both of which are geared more towards low-cost airlines and are located around 60 miles from Stockholm proper.

Back to Arlanda, then, which lies around 23 miles (40 kilometers) north of Stockholm and is well-connected to the city center by bus, train and taxi. Just clear passport control, grab your luggage, and you can be indulging in <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm/blog/things-to-do-in-stockholm-for-couples" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">the Swedish art of fika</a> in Gamla Stan (Stockholm&rsquo;s old town) in less than 20 minutes. How? Here&rsquo;s how.

<h2>Stockholm Airport to City by Public Transport</h2>

<h3>By Train</h3>

Want to get into Stockholm from the airport fast? The Arlanda Express is your friend. Hands down the quickest and most comfortable way of traveling into town, it takes just 18 minutes to reach Stockholm Central. It&rsquo;s also very convenient: the service runs every 15 minutes throughout the day, breaking for a few hours between around 1AM and 4AM, meaning you&rsquo;ll rarely have to wait long for a train to come along. It&rsquo;s certainly not the cheapest travel option though. An adult ticket costs 340 SEK (around $30) one way, and it&rsquo;s 640 SEK for a return. In short, this may well be the best option for solo travelers, but for groups of two or more, a cab is likely to be more cost-effective.

Top tip: <a href="https://www.arlandaexpress.com/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">buy online in advance</a> or from airport ticket machines for the best prices; you&rsquo;ll pay a premium for purchasing on board.

Slower commuter trains also depart Arlanda Airport twice hourly, taking 38 minutes to reach the city center. These are of course cheaper than the Arlanda Express and tickets can be bought at the station desk, via ticket machines or, perhaps most conveniently, using <a href="https://sl.se/en/in-english/fares--tickets/smart-phone-ticket-app" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">the SL smart phone ticket app.</a>&nbsp;

<h3>By Bus</h3>

Arlanda is well served by bus services. Both <a href="https://www.flixbus.co.uk/coach/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Flixbus</a> and <a href="https://www.flygbussarna.se/en/arlanda" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Flygbussarna</a>&nbsp;run services to central Stockholm every 15-20 minutes during peak hours, with a journey time of just under 50 minutes. Prices start from 75 SEK ($7) one way, with discounts for return trips and group bookings.

<h3>Top Tip: SL Travelcards&nbsp;</h3>

Commuter train travel from Arlanda Airport is covered by an <a href="https://sl.se/en/in-english/fares--tickets/visitor-tickets/travelcards" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">SL travelcard</a>, which also includes travel on underground trains, trams, buses and some ferry routes within the Greater Stockholm area. Passes are available in 24-hour, 72-hour and 7-day increments and will save you money (and time) if you plan to use public transport a lot while in town. Note that while you can also use the Arlanda Express with the SL travelcard, it carries a fairly hefty supplement of around 130 SEK ($12).

<h2>Stockholm Airport to City by Private Transfer</h2>

If, like many, all you want to do after your flight is flop into the back of a cab and be chauffeured through the unfamiliar city to the door of your vacation digs, you&rsquo;re in luck. There are two cab ranks &ndash; one at terminal 2 and another at terminal 5 &ndash; where you can easily pick up a ride. Cab firms that operate here are contracted to Swedavia, the state-owned company that owns most of Sweden&rsquo;s airports. That means peace of mind for you, thanks to regulations that include fare-capping <a href="https://www.swedavia.com/arlanda/taxi/price-zon-for-taxi-trips/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">within a designated zone</a>. You should pay no more than 800 SEK ($75) for journeys with up to four people within the zone, and a maximum of 1,275 SEK ($120) for larger vehicles.

That said, it always pays to agree a fare with your driver before you depart, especially if you&rsquo;re going to be traveling beyond the designated zone.

You can of course also use ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber, both of which operate in Stockholm, though these are unregulated and, as such, may end up costing you more, especially during &lsquo;surge&rsquo; periods.

Either way, the journey will generally take around 45 minutes in normal traffic, heading south into town straight down the E4 highway from Arlanda Airport.

<h2>Stockholm Airport to City by Rental Car</h2>

You&rsquo;ll find several reliable car rental companies operating out of Stockholm Airport, including Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Budget and Thrifty. Driving into and around Stockholm is relatively undaunting, with wide roads, straightforward signage and a populace that (largely) obeys the rules of the road. Some hotels will offer parking and there are plenty of parking garages around town if yours does not, though the cost of daily parking &ndash; around 300 SEK ($28) per 24 hours &ndash; can be high. It&rsquo;s also worth noting that the city operates a congestion charge on weekdays, so the cost of having your own set of wheels will soon mount up, especially for stays of more than a couple of days.

Our recommendation? Unless you have plans to take a scenic road trip to Sundsvall, Dalsland or even Oslo, you&rsquo;ll likely find the city&rsquo;s public transportation system more than sufficient for your needs.

<h2>Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Stockholm</h2>

Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Go City</a>. Check out @GoCity on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gocity/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Our comprehensive guide to getting into Stockholm city center from Arlanda Airport.

Stockholm Airport to City Travel Options (Arlanda) | Go City®

Things to do in Stockholm in Summer

Saint-Tropez, Santorini or St Lucia it ain&rsquo;t, but Stockholm offers a pleasant summer alternative to all those traditional sunshine vacations, with blue skies, balmy breezes, fun festivals, parks, gardens and, yes, even beaches to keep sun-worshippers happy. It&rsquo;s little surprise then that the months of June, July and August are among the city&rsquo;s most popular. Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Stockholm in summer, including theme parks, island hopping and ice cream! Plus all of these:

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Stockholm Old Town</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Skansen open-air museum</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Rosendal Garden Party</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Stockholm Pride</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Djurg&aring;rden island</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Crayfish parties</li>
</ul>

<h2>Visiting Stockholm in Summer</h2>

Now, don&rsquo;t get us wrong&hellip; Sweden&rsquo;s capital is a fine place to visit at any time of year &ndash; think spring cherry blossoms, burnished autumn leaves (and warm cinnamon buns), and those epic Old Town Christmas markets. But summer, when skies are an azure blue and the sun shines on those fairytale Old Town rooftops, is difficult to beat.

Stockholm&rsquo;s summers are pleasantly balmy, with average highs topping out in the mid-70s in July, and in the low 70s during the months either side. Rainfall is a little higher than in spring, but lower than autumn and winter &ndash; a small umbrella or pocket poncho should suffice for protection against the occasional summer shower. In short, this is a time for outdoor activities, but you may want to pack layers for the long (sometimes very long!) and slightly cooler evenings.

June-August is peak tourist season here, and that&rsquo;s true for Stockholmers, too! So you may also find that a few shops and restaurants are closed, especially in August, because this is traditionally when Swedes take their own summer vacations.

<h2>Things to do in Stockholm in Summer</h2>

<a href="https://www.stockholmpride.org/en/" target="_blank">Pride</a> has been a flamboyant fixture of the Stockholm summer events calendar since 1998, usually taking place across the first week of August and bringing with it a colorful cavalcade of events in celebration of LGBTQ+&nbsp; culture. Most of the action takes place in and around the &Ouml;stermalms IP sports ground, but there will be events taking place across town, culminating in the epic Pride parade, which sees hundreds of thousands of revelers marching through the city streets to bring the week&rsquo;s festivities to a suitably celebratory close. Meanwhile July&rsquo;s Stockholm Street Food Festival is set up to satisfy appetites for all kinds of things, from international gourmet snacks to craft beer and live music.

Last but by absolutely no means least, August sees Swedes everywhere celebrate the end of summer the only way they know how: by donning bibs and party hats and consuming copious amounts of local crayfish and Swedish snaps, accompanied by great big bonfires and much boisterous singing. In fact, in many way crayfish parties are the perfect end to Stockholm&rsquo;s most perfect season. Dive in!

<h2>Save on Things to do in Stockholm in Summer</h2>

Save on admission to Stockholm attractions, tours and activities with <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Go City</a>. Check out @GoCity on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gocity/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for the latest tips and attraction info.

Stockholm is an adventurer&rsquo;s paradise, a compact cluster of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges &ndash; perfect, in other words, for exploring on warm, sunny days. And where better to start your adventure than Gamla Stan, the picturesque Old Town? This fairytale jumble of cobbled squares, candy-colored townhouses and medieval towers is even more beautiful in the sunshine, when bright blue skies (and a giant gelato from the legendary Skeppsbro ice-cream parlor, natch) make for those Insta-perfect selfie moments. Don&rsquo;t miss Stockholm Cathedral, a 15th-century gothic confection complete with copper-green bell tower, and the eye-popping carving over the entrance to Skeppsbron 44. Commissioned by a cuckolded husband it depicts his distraught face sobbing over his cheating wife&rsquo;s, um, lady bits.

Summer is also a great time to rent a bike and explore the islands at your own pace. Pedal your way to bucket-list isles like Tantolunden, with its colorfully painted wooden cottages and plentiful picture-perfect picnic spots. Hike up the mound in the park&rsquo;s center for panoramic views across the water to Liljeholmen. Or hit up Djurg&aring;rden, Stockholm&rsquo;s great green playground, and home to perhaps the greatest concentration of top Stockholm attractions on the archipelago! We&rsquo;re talking Skansen, a huge open-air living history park that features a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town, and a zoo.&nbsp;

Djurg&aring;rden is a fine location for long walks through fairytale woods and picnics by glassy lakes. It&rsquo;s also where you&rsquo;ll find attractions including (deep breath) Rosendal Garden, museums dedicated to everything from viking ships to ABBA, and the legendary Gr&ouml;na Lund, Sweden&rsquo;s oldest amusement park, which comes complete with a rickety old-school wooden roller coaster.

Believe it or not, Stockholm also boasts some ace city-center beaches, with fine sandy stretches to be found on the islands of L&aring;ngholmen, S&ouml;dermalm and Kungsholmen. Or you can dodge the summer crowds and strike out for fabulous Flatenbadet beach in the south of the city, or &Auml;ngbybadet in the north, with its stunning views of opulent Drottningholm Palace.

Entry to many of the above attractions is included with a Stockholm pass from Go City, which can save you up to 50% if you plan to visit multiple sights. The pass also comes packed with other fun summer tours and activities, including cruises of the canals and archipelago, Swedish fika experiences, kayak rental and more! <a href="https://gocity.com/en/stockholm" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Find out more about the Go Stockholm pass and bag yours here.</a>

<h2>What&rsquo;s on: Stockholm Summer Events</h2>

There&rsquo;s plenty going on in Stockholm during summer, with festivities kicking off in earnest on National Sweden Day, June 6. This public holiday is marked by celebrations of the country&rsquo;s rich heritage and culture, most notably at Skansen which (usually) features an appearance from the King and Queen themselves, with satellite events taking place at Drottningholm Palace Park, Haga Park and elsewhere across the city. Midsummer is celebrated around June 20 with traditional folk costumes, music, dancing, and plenty of pickled herring. Festivities continue late into the night &ndash; this is the longest day of the year after all, with a little over 18 hours of daylight, so you might as well go ahead and make the most of it.

The <a href="https://rosendal.com/en/" target="_blank">Rosendal Garden Party</a> is another major early highlight of the summer calendar. Taking place on ever-popular Djurg&aring;rden every June, this three-day music festival has attracted big names including Florence and the Machine, Grace Jones and The Cardigans down the years.

Our favorite ways to spend Stockholm in summer, including National Sweden Day, Pride, and crayfish parties!

Things to do in Stockholm in Summer | Go City®

New Year's Eve in Stockholm

Scandinavian New Year is a cozy affair, all family dinners, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and fireworks and fizz at midnight. And Stockholm is one of the very best places to experience it. Thinking of taking the plunge? To help you make up your mind, we’ve put together our top suggestions for things to do on New Year’s Eve in Stockholm, from munching freshly baked cinnamon buns in the old town to sweating out the festive toxins in a traditional Swedish sauna. Read on for our expert guide... <h2>In the Morning...</h2> <h3>Warm Buns in Gamla Stan</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Cinnamon%20buns-2.jpg" alt="Image of Shop, " loading="lazy">There’s no better way to commence any morning in Stockholm than by greedily scoffing as many still-warm cinnamon and cardamom buns as you can, ideally washed down with a cobweb-blasting strong Swedish coffee or two. Hit up the old town’s perfectly preserved medieval main square (Stortorget) for some of the best buns – and IG photo ops – around. We’re talking rainbows of regal townhouses painted in fruity shades of lime green, lemon yellow and plum purple, with fairytale gabled rooftops that jockey for position with grand palaces, baroque cathedrals and several ornate statues and fountains. Almost, in other words, enough to distract you from your breakfast buns. Want second helpings? Find a traditional café for Swedish pancakes and waffles topped with fresh fruit, yogurt and tart lingonberry jam, or smothered in buttermilk syrup so good you'll swear it's heaven-sent. <h3>A Taste of Swedish Culture </h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Vasa%20Museum%20model%20ship-2.jpg" alt="Image of Person, Boat, Vehicle, " loading="lazy">Stockholm’s veritable smörgåsbord of museums transports you to the very heart of Swedish culture. Take the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/vikingaliv" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Viking Museum</a>, for example, with its immersive, time-traveling journey into the nation's origin story. Fast forward a few hundred years at ABBA the Museum, where the opportunity to belt out Dancing Queen in the karaoke booth or bust your best moves with Benny, Björn, Frida and Agnetha is just too good to miss. Learn about the country’s relationship with vodka at the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/museum-of-spirits" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Museum of Spirits</a>, check out a beautifully preserved 17th-century Swedish warship in the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/vasa-museum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Vasa Museum</a>, and view masterpieces by Swedish artists and other European legends including Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens and more at the exceptional <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/nationalmuseum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nationalmuseum</a>. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Skansen-2.jpg" alt="Image of Hotel, Resort, Cottage, House, Housing, Bench, Interior Design, Person, Outdoors, " loading="lazy">You can experience some of Sweden’s finest contemporary art absolutely gratis, simply by riding the subway! Dubbed ‘the world’s longest art gallery’, the network features show-stopping artworks in of 90+ of its stations. Don’t miss the delicate fluorescent ‘heartbeat’ lights at Odenplan and the extraordinary scorched earth hellscape at Rådhuset. But open-air living history museum <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/skansen" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Skansen</a> may well be the best Swedish cultural experience of the lot, featuring, as it does, a replica 19th-century town that’s complete with craftspeople plying traditional trades like tanning, cobbling and glass-blowing. Keep it highbrow at <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/attractions/museum-of-photography" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fotografiska</a>, where contemporary photo exhibitions may well provide inspiration for your own holiday snaps and the eye-catching restaurant, with its splendid views across the water to the old town, is as good a place to pause for lunch as any. <h2>In the Afternoon...</h2> <h3>Bag a Bargain</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/shutterstock_195290225-2-2.jpg" alt="Image of City, Road, Street, Urban, Person, Walking, Metropolis, Downtown, Neighborhood, Pedestrian, Handbag, Path, People, " loading="lazy">It may be New Year’s Eve, but you’ll still be able to pick up festive trinkets at Stockholm’s atmospheric Christmas markets, which don’t wind down until early January. Alternatively hit up the big-brand stores on Drottninggatan and in the grandly named Westfield Mall of Scandinavia for Boxing Day sale bargains. Over in trendy Södermalm, the area south of Folkungagatan is so achingly cool it’s even earned its own nickname: SoFo. This is where dedicated browsers of hip independent boutiques are rewarded with prizes including one-off vintage fashions, artisan jewelry, rare vinyl records, second-hand books and more. <h3>Do as the Swedes Do</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/sauna-2.jpg" alt="Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Head, Face, Bathing, Smoke, " loading="lazy">Can you really say you’ve been to Stockholm without experiencing a traditional Swedish sauna at least once? No, dear reader, you cannot. The lakeside sauna at Hellasgården is as Swedish as meatballs and flat-pack furniture, all natural oak paneling and forest views. There’s even a lake where, in the depths of winter, a hole is cut in the ice to permit hardier souls a rejuvenating dip. Or hit up the Norrmalm neighborhood’s popular Centralbadet complex, a kitschy art nouveau confection that contains several tiled saunas and a large swimming pool. Not Swedish enough for ya? Fika is the simple Scandinavian art of enjoying coffee and a sweet treat with friends. So: do as the locals do and cap off that epic afternoon of shopping and sweating with a well-earned sit-down and – yep, you guessed it – another face-sized cinnamon bun. <h2>In the Evening...</h2> <h3>Dinner with a Difference</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/Swedish%20meatballs-2.jpg" alt="Image of Food, Meat, Meatball, " loading="lazy">Stockholm has no shortage of superlative dining options, from down and dirty Swedish meatball joints (Bakfickan; Meatballs for the People) to upscale Michelin-star restaurants (Operakalleren; Gastrologik). Sweden’s traditional New Year’s Eve dinner tends to go heavy on the shellfish, so you’ll find langoustines and lobster on the menu in most restaurants worth their salt on the 31st. Try Knut for modern northern Swedish dishes like reindeer filet and Arctic char tartare, or bag some of the best views in town at Himlen, up top of the Skrapan skyscraper. Alternatively, while unlikely to offer the finest gourmet experience you’ve ever had, a dinner cruise around Stockholm’s picturesque waterways can be a fun way to see in the New Year – food, fizz, fireworks and all! <h3>Firework Frenzy</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/shutterstock_477649855-2-2.jpg" alt="Image of Lighting, Urban, Concert, Crowd, Person, Adult, Female, Woman, Male, Man, " loading="lazy">New Year wouldn’t be New Year without a spectacular firework display, and Stockholm is no slouch when it comes to the midnight pyrotechnics. The aforementioned Skansen is one of the best spots. Indeed, this is the place from where the countdown is broadcast to the nation every year, so you’ll be in good company. Expect a busy entertainment program featuring some of Sweden’s biggest stars before, at midnight, witnessing a peculiar Swedish tradition: almost every year since 1896, a well-known public figure or celebrity has stood on this very spot and recited Alfred Lord Tennyson’s 1850 poem Ring Out Wild Bells (in a Swedish translation). The old town’s inner harbor is another great firework-watching location, and is particularly stunning and atmospheric by the Royal Castle or City Hall. Or join the crowds along busy Västerbron bridge for the win. <h3>Save on things to do in Stockholm</h3> Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us">Go City</a>. Check out @GoCity on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gocity/">Instagram</a> for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Cinnamon buns, viking museums, contemporary subway art , shopping, saunas and where to watch the fireworks: check out our guide to the best ways to spend New Year's Eve in Stockholm.

New Years Eve in Stockholm | Go City®

Getting around Stockholm

If you find yourself on a grand tour of northern Europe or Scandinavia, or needing a weekend getaway somewhere that’s pretty as well as convenient, then Stockholm should be at, or at least very near, the top of your list. It’s charming, historic, full of contrast, and with around 100 museums covering everything from Vikings to vodka and architecture to ABBA, there truly is something for everyone. Best of all, it’s easy to get around, whether you’re traveling by air, land or water. The airport is only 20 minutes from Stockholm’s central Station, and once there you can get around by: <ul><li>Walking</li> <li>Hop-On Hop-Off bus or boat</li> <li>Cycling</li> <li>Metro</li> <li>Buses, trains and trams</li> <li>Boats and ferries</li> <li>Car or taxi</li> </ul><h3>Walk</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_walk.jpg" alt="Image of Person, Walking, Water, Waterfront, Photography, Path, Nature, Outdoors, Sky, Adult, Female, Woman, City, Face, Head, Portrait, Backpack, Bag, Scenery, Urban, " loading="lazy"> Stockholm is very compact, and most of the main tourist points in the center are no more than a half hour walk from each other. It’s a very pedestrian-friendly city, with well-maintained sidewalks, plenty of street lighting and good signposting. There are wide, expansive boulevards but also lots of cobbled lanes, particularly in the old town, so do wear sturdy shoes, or perhaps a neat pair of wedges in the evenings. If you’re feeling a bit lazy, you can also now hire e-scooters from several outlets around the city. They’re a great way of getting around while saving your legs – although the locals aren’t that keen on them, so use them courteously and have a care where you park them. <h3>Cycle</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_cycle.jpg" alt="Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, City, Neighborhood, Bicycle, Vehicle, Bell Tower, Tower, Urban, " loading="lazy"> The Swedish capital has more than 60 miles of bike lanes, making it a very accessible city for cyclists. It’s a mode of transport well supported by the city council, which takes care to grit the lanes in cooler weather and offers a <a href="https://cykla.stockholm/cykelnat/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">free map</a> of the lanes that anyone can use. Before you start, familiarize yourself with the road rules – remember you are not allowed to cycle on the sidewalks or in any pedestrian areas, and there are some restrictions on taking bikes on public transport. Always lock your bike when you’re not using it and carry wet weather protection at all times – you never know when it might rain in Stockholm! <h3>Hop-On Hop-Off buses and boats</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_hop%20on%20off%20boat.jpg" alt="Image of Water, Waterfront, Boat, Ferry, Vehicle, Watercraft, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, " loading="lazy"> The Hop-On Hop-Off services are a great way to see Stockholm as a tourist, because your ticket is valid all day and you get audio commentary the whole way around. Travel between <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/storkyrkan-cathedral" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Gamla Stan</a>, City Hall and Sodermalm in climate-controlled comfort on the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-hop-bus" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hop-On Hop-Off bus</a>, hearing about the city’s history and famous characters as you go. Or if you prefer the wind in your hair and sea spray on your face, take to the water and use the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/hop-on-hop-off-bus-boat-tours" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hop-On Hop-Off boat</a> to get to the royal island of Djurgarden and back again. If you have time, you can enjoy the whole circuit in one go while you make a plan of what to come back to, or use them as a handy transport option to save time moving between one attraction and another. <h3>Metro</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_metro.jpg" alt="Image of Art, Painting, Photography, Outdoors, " loading="lazy"> Stockholm’s central metro station Tunnelbana – or t-bana to locals – connects the city’s three metro lines to more than 100 stations around the center and surrounding districts. The system is pretty easy to navigate – especially if you’re traveling within the zone before the lines split (if not, be sure to check the map and final destination of the train you’re boarding). They run regularly between 5am and 1am, and through the night on Friday and Saturdays, but the best thing about Stockholm’s metro system is the fantastically decorated stations, which collectively have been described as the ‘world’s longest art gallery’. Some of the best can be found at T-Centralen, with its whitewashed walls and blue painted vines all over the ceiling, Stadion, which is covered in rainbows, Kungstradgarden, a very retro mix of stripes, sculptures and a checkered floor, and Odenplan, decorated with a pattern of fluorescent lights. <h3>Buses, trains and trams</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_tram.jpg" alt="Image of Road, Tarmac, City, Street, Urban, Neighborhood, " loading="lazy"> Unless you’re staying out of town, or planning some day trips out of the city, you probably won’t use these very much, unless you need to travel very late at night when only the buses are running. The tram is also a handy way to get to Djurgarden, where you’ll find the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/vasa-museum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Vasa</a>,<a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/skansen" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> Skansen</a> and <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/museum-of-spirits" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Spirits</a> museums. The really convenient thing about these transport options is that they are all operated by the same network, SL, and a ticket purchased for one is valid for 75 minutes on all three, plus the metro and ferry system. Keep in mind though that you can’t buy tickets from drivers – you can either get them in advance at subway stations, convenience stores or online, load a pre-paid card or tap your bank card as you board. <h3>Boats and ferries</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_boat%20or%20ferry.jpg" alt="Image of Wood, Plywood, Summer, Tree, House, Housing, Porch, Head, Person, Photography, Portrait, Vegetation, Adult, Male, Man, Boat, Vehicle, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, " loading="lazy"> Stockholm is an archipelago of 14 islands, so getting around by water is both convenient and necessary. If you’re a tourist in the city, traveling by boat is an essential part of the Stockholm experience, and SL ferries operate between all the main islands. There are also many more comfortable options in the form of short cruises, which are a great way to learn about the city and its relationship with the water. Some of these include the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/royal-canal-tour" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Royal Canal</a> tour, the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/under-the-bridges-of-stockholm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Under the Bridges of Stockholm</a> tour or the <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/archipelago-tour-with-guide" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Archipelago</a> tour, or if you want to make a day of it and explore the further reaches of the archipelago, you could make the trip out to <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/drottningholm-court-theatre" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Drottningholm</a> via Lake Malaren or explore the rocky islands and traditional restaurants of <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/fj%C3%A4derholmarna-islands-boat-trip" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fjäderholmarna</a>. <h3>Car or taxi</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dtljonz0f/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/v1/gc-v1/stockholm/around%20stockholm_cars.jpg" alt="Image of Road, Outdoors, Aerial View, Car, Vehicle, Truck, Boat, " loading="lazy"> If you plan to do most of your exploring in the city center it’s unlikely you’ll need a car while you’re in Stockholm. Everything is easily accessible on foot or via public transport, and there are very limited car parking spaces. Taxis are expensive, though they might be a good option for a large group, particularly at night or going to and from the airport. There are hire car options around, as long as you’re over 18, and this is a good option if you’re planning any day or overnight trips and don’t want to go by boat. Some of the most popular day trips include the museum and sculpture garden at <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/products/all-inclusive/attractions/millesgarden" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Millesgarden</a>, the theater at Drottningholm or an expedition to buy furniture from Ikea! <h3>Get around Stockholm with Go City</h3> It’s easy to travel between attractions in Stockholm. Whether you’re going by land, sea or air, skip the entrance fees with <a href="https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Go City</a>, and be sure to see it all!

Land, sea or air, there are plenty of ways to get around Stockholm. Use buses, trains, trams, boats, wheels or your feet and a good pair or shoes!

1 week in Stockholm Itinerary

3 days in Stockholm itinerary

2 Days in Stockholm Itinerary

Things to do in Stockholm

Transport in and around Stockholm - Stockholm Travel Card

Things to do in Stockholm for Teens

Guide to Summer in Stockholm - Fotografiska

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