Royal Palace in Stockholm

2 Days in Stockholm Itinerary

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.
By Karleen Stevens

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

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’s plenty for the art and history lover too, with churches, royal residences and around 100 museums to choose from. There’s so much to do, in fact, that the hard part is narrowing it down to the best choices for your first visit. That’s why we’ve put together this 2-day itinerary which takes in old and new, art and architecture, land and water. It covers:

  • Gamla Stan
  • Storkyrkan Church
  • The Royal Palace
  • Nobel Prize Museum
  • Ostermalm & nightlife
  • Boat tours
  • Djurgarden and museums
  • Sodermalm

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2 days in Stockholm

Day 1: Morning – Bus tour and Gamla Stan

Since you’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 Kungsträdgården, where it’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 Storkyrkan 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 café 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.

2 days in Stockholm

Day 1: Afternoon – Royal Palace and museums

If you’re outside the palace at 12:15 (or 1:15 on Sundays) you’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’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’s worth spending a couple of hours getting a glimpse into Swedish royal life.

2 days in Stockholm

An afternoon at the Nobel Prize Museum is an afternoon well spent. Meet scientists, writers and freedom fighters who’ve all contributed to the benefit of humankind. With awards given out since 1901, there’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’s the perfect place for an afternoon pit stop. Spend some time in the museum shop where you can purchase postcards, books, the Museum'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.

2 days in Stockholm

Day 1: Evening – Nightlife

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’re after a more casual evening, head back into Gamla Stan where you’ll find bars and pubs offering live music and Swedish ales, or join a pub crawl if you’re in the mood for a bit of variety. If you’re feeling lucky, you could spend the evening at the Casino Cosmopol near the central station, a stylish art deco building with glittering chandeliers, wall murals and a grand vaulted ceiling.

2 days in Stockholm

Day 2: Morning – Boat tour

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 Bridges of Stockholm tour, or take your time on a longer tour of the archipelago, where you’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 Hop-On Hop-Off boat ticket and ride the entire circuit around the inner waters of the city. When you’re done, head to (or hop off at) Djurgarden and grab some lunch – or a picnic in the park – before hitting the museums in the afternoon.

2 days in Stockholm

Day 2: Afternoon – Djurgarden

Spend your second afternoon exploring the royal island of Djurgarden. It’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’re into Nordic history then the Viking Museum is bound to pique your interest, or if you’re interested in naval history in general you may prefer the unique and impressive Vasa Museum, 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 Skansen museum, which charts the history of Swedish life before the Industrial Revolution, or warm up in the Museum of Spirits, one of Stockholm’s best hidden gems, embracing and illustrating Swedish drinking culture. You'll learn everything about Sweden´s drinking traditions and enjoy their exhibition True Crime which explores the country's prohibition era. And what's more, whilst you're there you can get your hands on exciting tasting trays or enjoy food and views at the museum's restaurant. Spritmuseum is also the home to the Absolut Art collection, which is regularly updated with fresh, new content!

2 days in Stockholm

Day 2: Evening – Sodermalm and Skinnarviksberget

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’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.

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Woman sitting on a rock overlooking the water and Stockholm's old town
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Things to do in Stockholm in Summer

Saint-Tropez, Santorini or St Lucia it ain’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’s little surprise then that the months of June, July and August are among the city’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: Stockholm Old Town Skansen open-air museum Rosendal Garden Party Stockholm Pride Djurgården island Crayfish parties Visiting Stockholm in Summer Now, don’t get us wrong… Sweden’s capital is a fine place to visit at any time of year – 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’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 – 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’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. Things to do in Stockholm in Summer Stockholm is an adventurer’s paradise, a compact cluster of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges – 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’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’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’s center for panoramic views across the water to Liljeholmen. Or hit up Djurgården, Stockholm’s great green playground, and home to perhaps the greatest concentration of top Stockholm attractions on the archipelago! We’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.  Djurgården is a fine location for long walks through fairytale woods and picnics by glassy lakes. It’s also where you’ll find attractions including (deep breath) Rosendal Garden, museums dedicated to everything from viking ships to ABBA, and the legendary Gröna Lund, Sweden’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 Långholmen, Södermalm and Kungsholmen. Or you can dodge the summer crowds and strike out for fabulous Flatenbadet beach in the south of the city, or Ängbybadet 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! Find out more about the Go Stockholm pass and bag yours here. What’s on: Stockholm Summer Events There’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’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 – 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 Rosendal Garden Party is another major early highlight of the summer calendar. Taking place on ever-popular Djurgården every June, this three-day music festival has attracted big names including Florence and the Machine, Grace Jones and The Cardigans down the years. Pride 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+  culture. Most of the action takes place in and around the Östermalms 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’s festivities to a suitably celebratory close. Meanwhile July’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’s most perfect season. Dive in! Save on Things to do in Stockholm in Summer Save on admission to Stockholm attractions, tours and activities with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

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