Stockholm With Teens: Unforgettable Experiences for Every Interest

teens having fun in stockholm

Planning a Stockholm trip with teens in tow? We've got you covered. Forget endless museum halls and forced marches—Stockholm is bursting with hands-on experiences, high-adrenaline activities, and plenty of chances for your crew to update their feeds. From swinging through indoor golf bars with arcade vibes to chilling out with a “fika” in true local fashion, there’s something here to make every teen say “that was awesome.” Read on for our picks of Stockholm’s absolute best stops for families with teenagers. 

Our fave things to do with teens in Stockholm include: 

Swing Adventure Golf Bar 

The Vasa Museum 

ICEBAR Stockholm 

Fotografiska 

Tom Tits Experiment 

Gröna Lund Amusement Park 

The Viking Museum 

Skansen 

Traditional Swedish Fika at Systrarna Andersson 

The Royal Armoury 

Swing Adventure Golf Bar: Competitive Family Fun 

If you’re looking for an activity where everyone gets to show off their skills and sense of humor, Swing Adventure Golf Bar is your ultimate stop. Imagine putting your way through creatively themed courses—think neon volcanoes, wild animal zones, and tricky obstacle holes—while a playlist of classic and current hits keeps the energy high. It’s part golf, part arcade, and 100% quality bonding time. 

You don’t need to be a golf pro to enjoy Swing. The atmosphere is laid-back and playful, with friendly staff ready to offer tips or light-hearted banter. Teens especially love the competitive edge: keep personal scorecards and up the stakes with fun mini-challenges along the way. Between games, post up at the retro bar area where you can grab burgers, shakes, or Swedish street food classics. The menu features sliders, loaded fries, and even vegan options, so everyone’s happy. 

What sets Swing apart is the mix of physical play and social hangout—it’s less about perfecting your swing and more about celebrating (or hilariously failing at) each putt as a team. The vibrant décor and upbeat soundtracks make for perfect TikTok or Instagram moments, too. Rain or shine, this spot delivers laughter and lighter spirits all round. 

The Vasa Museum: History With a WOW Factor

For a museum experience that fascinates even hard-to-impress teens, set sail for the Vasa Museum. This jaw-dropping space is home to a massive, fully intact 17th-century warship that was rescued from the sea and painstakingly restored. The atmosphere inside is dramatic and immersive—dim lighting highlights the ship’s towering masts, intricate carvings, and echoes of a real-life shipwreck adventure. 

What teens love most? The true story behind the Vasa is every bit as gripping as any blockbuster. The ship infamously sank on its very first voyage (a lesson in engineering gone sideways), and the museum unpacks all the human drama with interactive displays, treasure finds, and hands-on activities. Augmented reality features and guided VR experiences bring the era to vivid life. 

It’s not just about the ship: the museum has cool exhibits on all kinds of side-topics like salvage technology, sailor life, and even contemporary pop-culture references. Chill in the sleek, glass-walled café—which offers Swedish pastries and hot chocolate—while enjoying prime views of the Vasa from different angles. Teens come away feeling like they’ve lived a real-life adventure, not just ticked off another museum. 

ICEBAR Stockholm: Chill with a Twist 

Ever sipped a drink in a glass made of pure ice? At ICEBAR Stockholm, you can. This sub-zero hangout is Stockholm’s original all-ice bar—walls, tables, even glasses are crystal clear and ice-cold. It’s a brief but unforgettable experience; after suiting up in snazzy thermal capes and gloves, you get to step inside what is basically a mini Arctic world—no plane ticket required. 

Inside, teens love the novelty and photo ops galore: glowy blue ice sculptures, frosty backdrops and themed carvings make every visit unique. Challenge your group to see who can outlast the chill without shivering, and snap a family selfie with the world’s coolest backdrop. Drinks come in non-alcoholic versions, too—think fizzy apple or berry blends—so teens get the full “mocktail” experience. 

The vibe here is upbeat and friendly, with staff encouraging you to have fun and try out all the photo spots. Visits last around 30 minutes, making it the perfect way to start an evening or break up a museum-heavy day with something totally different. When else can you say you “hung out” at minus 7 degrees? 

Fotografiska: Where Art and Selfies Mix

Forget stuffy galleries—Fotografiska is Stockholm’s coolest photo museum, and it’s tailor-made for creative teens. The exhibits change regularly, so there’s always something new to explore: cutting-edge fashion shoots, street photography, and mind-bending digital art. The vibe? Bold, thought-provoking, sometimes cheeky, always inspiring. 

Teens connect instantly with the interactive installations and the freedom to wander at their own pace. There’s no “please be quiet” vibe here—visitors are encouraged to engage, snap photos, and even join hands-on workshops or talks on everything from social justice to the latest TikTok trends. It’s all about visual storytelling, and the museum’s dramatic lighting and open spaces make even amateur phone photography look pro. 

You’ll want to finish with a trip to the top-floor café and restaurant, repeatedly called out for its panoramic city views and inventive food. The casual menu has fresh salads, loaded sandwiches, and dreamy desserts—pair it with a hot chocolate or elderflower soda for a memorable meal with scenery to match. It’s a great place for teens to swap favorite photos before heading back out to explore Stockholm’s waterfront. 

Tom Tits Experiment: Science Playground for All Ages 

If your crew loves hands-on, science-meets-fun activities, a trip to Tom Tits Experiment is a must. Located in Södertälje, just outside Stockholm, this interactive science center sprawls across four floors (plus an outdoor park), each packed with experiments and sensory experiences. Nothing here is off-limits: touch, pull, hop, climb, and experiment to your heart’s content. 

Teens gravitate towards the gravity bikes, giant soap bubble stations, and brain-teasing puzzles that make physics, chemistry, and even biology wildly entertaining. Human gyroscopes, wind tunnels, and mirror mazes turn everyday science into total excitement. And for adrenaline seekers, the outdoor adventure area ups the ante with water cannons, ziplines, and team challenges. 

What keeps families lingering here is the freedom to learn through play—no two visits ever feel the same, and everyone from little siblings to fun-loving adults stays absorbed for hours. There’s a casual café for snacks or an energy break, but chances are, your teens will be plotting which experiment to tackle next. Rain or shine, this is a place to unleash curiosity and a few giggles. 

Gröna Lund Amusement Park: Pure Adrenaline on Djurgården 

No list of Stockholm teen thrills is complete without Gröna Lund. This classic amusement park, right by the water, is a whirlwind of roller coasters, haunted houses, and game stalls. Think vintage fairground meets modern thrill rides—with a Scandinavian twist. 

Teens make a beeline for the hair-raising “Insane” coaster and the 80-meter-drop tower, but there’s also plenty for slightly less adventurous family members: bumper cars, a wild funhouse, and carnival snacks everywhere you look. Summer brings live concerts—everything from local pop bands to international chart-toppers—which are absolute hits with music-loving teens. 

The best part? Gröna Lund’s location on Djurgården means you’re surrounded by pretty views and can hop between the park and other attractions nearby, like Skansen or the Vasa Museum. Grab churros, Swedish tacos, or grab-and-go waffles, then spend the evening with twinkling lights reflecting off the bay. Entry lines move quickly and the energy here is infectious—everyone ends up cheering for one more ride. 

The Viking Museum: Step Into a Real Saga 

History has never felt as cool as it does at the Viking Museum. This waterfront space invites families to walk straight into a Viking story, complete with lifelike dioramas, dramatic lighting, and interactive displays that transport you from legend to reality. Whether your teens are fans of history, fantasy epics, or just want a truly unique selfie, they’ll find plenty to love. 

Highlights include trying on replica helmets and chainmail, decoding mysterious runes, and meeting “Ragnfrid”—the star of the short ride-through experience that animates a family’s life (and adventures) in epic style. You’ll get up close with Viking ships, weapons, and artifacts, all brought to life through smart tech and hands-on demonstrations. Guides, often in Viking garb, are excellent at pulling in even the most skeptical teens—be ready for fun debates about Viking myths versus facts! There’s even a little “challenge zone” where everyone can test their skills at throwing axes or trying out historical games. 

Don’t miss the museum shop: packed with quirky souvenirs, graphic Viking tees, and rune jewelry. The on-site bistro, Valhalla, serves hearty open-faced sandwiches and Swedish pastries in a space that feels straight out of a Norse saga—think long communal tables, faux furs, and wooden beams. The Viking Museum guarantees you’ll learn something wild and memorable while having a laugh together. 

Skansen: Sweden’s Coolest Outdoor Museum 

Want a break from screen time? Take your teens to Skansen—Stockholm’s beloved open-air museum and zoo. Spread across a lush island hillside, Skansen is all about experiencing Swedish history and wildlife in real time. You’ll wander cobbled streets lined with period cottages, spot costumed guides baking bread or making crafts, and listen to live folk music drifting over the lawns. 

For animal lovers, Skansen’s Swedish wildlife park never disappoints. Teens can spot bears, wolves, elks, and super-cute Nordic goats. There are also hands-on aviaries and petting zones, and seasonal extras in both winter and summer—like midsummer maypole dances, or Christmas markets glowing with lanterns and hot cider. 

Skansen is especially fun for teens with a camera or a creative streak. The park’s panoramic city views, colorful houses, and lively animal enclosures make epic backdrops for photos and quick Reels. And if you need a pit stop, Rosendals Trädgård café serves sandwiches, homemade lemonade, and Swedish “kanelbullar” (cinnamon buns) under flowering apple trees. At Skansen, walking through history feels like play. 

Traditional Swedish Fika at Systrarna Andersson: A Sweet Break 

Introducing your teens to fika is a Swedish rite of passage—think coffee break, but way more delicious. Systrarna Andersson in Kungsholmen serves up some of Stockholm’s best fika moments in a cozy, vintage-inspired space. Walls adorned with photos of old Stockholm, mismatched armchairs, and shelves of Swedish cookbooks set the ultimate relaxed tone. 

The menu is a treat for curious taste buds: light-as-air cardamom buns, gooey chokladbollar (chocolate oatmeal truffles), and famously rich cheesecake slices—all made in-house. Teens can swap soda for homemade lingonberry lemonade, or do as the Swedes do and order a frothy hot chocolate. If you’re feeling savory, the classic smorgas sandwiches (try the shrimp and egg) are a hit. 

This isn’t just about the food—Systrarna Andersson is a glimpse of everyday Stockholm life. It’s where locals hang out after school, freelancers tap away on laptops, and families chat over steaming mugs. Teens may roll their eyes at the idea of a “coffee break” but after a visit here, they’ll be craving fika at home. 

The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren): Dress Up and Dive Into Drama 

History in Stockholm isn’t all kings and dusty relics. At the Royal Armoury, it’s about swords, shimmering costumes, and hands-on time travel. Housed under the Royal Palace, this atmospheric museum draws teens into Sweden’s royal past with an epic collection of glittering armor, ceremonial carriages, and actual coronation outfits. 

The museum shines at making history interactive. Teens get to try on replicas of royal cloaks and helmets, snap selfies in virtual photo booths, and solve mini challenges about court life. The highlight for many: seeing the blood-stained clothing from King Gustav III (from a real-life royal drama) and the lavish, horse-drawn coaches that look straight out of a fantasy film. 

Atmospherically lit vaults, dramatic storytelling displays, and costumed guides at special events all create an experience that feels both magical and fun. The Armoury is small enough that no one gets bored, yet packed with fascinating stories that spark the imagination. If your teens love Game of Thrones or history’s juiciest plot twists, Livrustkammaren is tailor-made. 

 

With experiences this cool, teens will be begging to plan the next Stockholm trip before you’ve even packed to go home. 

 

Enjoyed this? Check out our guide to top mornings in Stockholm, and browse our picks of the best day trips out of the city.  

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Stockholm's island archipelago
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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’re talking one of Europe’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 great things to do here, you’ll naturally want to get to the heart of the action fast.  Most visitors arrive here by plane via Stockholm’s international Arlanda Airport, so we’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’s airport to city travel options… Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Brief 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’s other airports are Bromma (closer to the center, but mostly for domestic flights), and Skavsta and Västerås, 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 the Swedish art of fika in Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s old town) in less than 20 minutes. How? Here’s how. Stockholm Airport to City by Public Transport By Train 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’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’ll rarely have to wait long for a train to come along. It’s certainly not the cheapest travel option though. An adult ticket costs 340 SEK (around $30) one way, and it’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: buy online in advance or from airport ticket machines for the best prices; you’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 the SL smart phone ticket app.  By Bus Arlanda is well served by bus services. Both Flixbus and Flygbussarna 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. Top Tip: SL Travelcards  Commuter train travel from Arlanda Airport is covered by an SL travelcard, 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). Stockholm Airport to City by Private Transfer 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’re in luck. There are two cab ranks – one at terminal 2 and another at terminal 5 – 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’s airports. That means peace of mind for you, thanks to regulations that include fare-capping within a designated zone. 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’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 ‘surge’ 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. Stockholm Airport to City by Rental Car You’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 – around 300 SEK ($28) per 24 hours – can be high. It’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’ll likely find the city’s public transportation system more than sufficient for your needs. Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Stockholm Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
New Year's Eve fireworks over Stockholm's old town.
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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... In the Morning... Warm Buns in Gamla Stan 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. A Taste of Swedish Culture Stockholm’s veritable smörgåsbord of museums transports you to the very heart of Swedish culture. Take the Viking Museum, 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 Museum of Spirits, check out a beautifully preserved 17th-century Swedish warship in the Vasa Museum, and view masterpieces by Swedish artists and other European legends including Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens and more at the exceptional Nationalmuseum. 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 Skansen 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 Fotografiska, 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. In the Afternoon... Bag a Bargain 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. Do as the Swedes Do 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. In the Evening... Dinner with a Difference 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! Firework Frenzy 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. Save on things to do in Stockholm Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The skyline in Stockholm's old town, dominated by the towering spire of the German Church.
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Things to do in Stockholm for Adults

Stockholm’s 14 islands serve up a veritable smorgasbord of delicious things for grown-ups to see and do, from snapping Instagram-quality pics around the old town to visiting the city’s dozens of world-class galleries and museums. There’s also a grand palace, a regal city hall, fantastic canal cruises (obvs) and some of the best meatballs and cinnamon buns you’ll find on the entire planet. Dive in to discover our pick of the best things to do in Stockholm for adults. Get Snap-Happy in the Old Town Grab your camera and head straight for the cobbles and spires of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved medieval old town. We recommend picking up a coffee and traditional cinnamon bun from one of the bakeries and pausing a moment to take it all in. Trust us: sinking your teeth into a sweet, sticky, still-warm pastry as you gaze in awe at the fairytale candy-colored buildings that line Stortorget, the main square, is about as good an introduction to Stockholm as you’re likely to find. Suitably fortified, it’s time to get snapping. Tick off those seriously photogenic gabled townhouses – all spicy turmeric yellows, chili reds and cactus greens – before checking out the Nobel Prize Museum, set inside the stately former Stock Exchange Building. Then make for the baroque medieval confection that is Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyran), the city’s oldest church, where the copper bell tower’s gorgeous green patina, the soaring vaulted interiors and artifacts including a 15th-century wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon are an amateur snapper’s dream come true. Take in the almost comically opulent Royal Palace – official residence of the Swedish monarch – then head south to the series of narrow cobblestone lanes that lead down to the waterfront. It’s here you’ll find Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm’s narrowest alley, which tapers to a mere 90 centimeters across. Take a deep breath, be grateful you turned down that second cinnamon bun and pray you don’t meet anyone coming in the opposite direction as you squeeze through. Fairytale snaps well and truly bagged, hop in a cab to see how the experts do it at Fotografiska. This striking art nouveau customs house on the Södermalm waterfront has hosted photographic exhibitions from the likes of Annie Liebowitz and Robert Mapplethorpe and boasts an equally eye-catching restaurant with splendid views across the water to the old town. Take in Stockholm’s Fine Art and Culture There’s plenty more for adults to do on Stockholm’s Djurgården island – and kids, too! Here’s where you’ll find Sweden’s oldest amusement park, Gröna Lund, as well as the world’s best-preserved 17th-century warship at the Vasa Museum, and arguably the jewel in Djurgården’s crown: Skansen. Skansen is an open-air living history museum with over 150 historic buildings imported from all over Sweden and a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town to explore. Say hej (hello) to traditional craftspeople in full period costume as they ply their trades and demonstrate their skills as tanners, glass-blowers, cobblers and more, then take a stroll among the picturesque gardens and visit the small zoo for ferociously cute Nordic critters including otters, brown bears and majestic moose. Take a chance on the interactive ABBA Museum. It doesn’t cost much money money money to get in and you’ll feel like a dancing queen by the time you’re done. Ok ok, we’ll stop with the shoe-horned ABBA references now. Check out the famous costumes, gold discs and other memorabilia on display, then lose your inhibitions and really go for it: dedicated super troupers (sorry!) can even sing along to ABBA’s greatest hits in a karaoke booth and bust out their best dance moves on stage alongside holographic avatars of Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Frida. Mamma mia! Looking for something a little more... highbrow? The Moderna Museet on tiny Skeppsholmen island boasts a fine collection of modern and contemporary art, including pieces by Picasso, Dalí and Magritte as well as close to 5,000 works by artists from the Nordic regions. There’s an extensive sculpture garden and, best of all, entry is free! Also gratis (but for the price of a metro ticket) is the eye-popping art that covers the cavern-like walls at 90 of Stockholm’s 100-or-so subway stations, often dubbed ‘the world’s longest art gallery’. Don’t miss the show-stopping scorched earth hellscape at Rådhuset and the delicate fluorescent lights at Odenplan, modeled on the jagged heart-rate patterns produced by the artist’s son at birth. Sample the Local Delicacies So, you’ve already ticked off the essential cinnamon bun at least once (and probably more). But how about surströmming? This Swedish delicacy is a tinned, fermented Baltic Sea herring that smells very strongly – and let’s not beat about the bush here – of rotten eggs. If that’s a bit much for you (and your fellow diners), how about local lunchtime favorite skagenröra: a great pile of shrimp and mayo stacked high on rye bread, topped with dill and served with salad. And then there's the humble meatball. If your experience of Swedish meatballs is limited to guiltily guzzling a plateful after a stressful Saturday afternoon shopping in IKEA, prepare to be dazzled. You’ll find these more or less everywhere in Stockholm, but there are worse places to start your meatball odyssey than at the aptly named Meatballs for the People near Fotografiska in Södermalm. Expect bear meat, boar meat, reindeer meat and more served in a variety of imaginative sauces. Incurable gourmands should also make a beeline for the beautifully restored covered food market in hip Östermalm. A fortress-like red-brick edifice topped with forbidding spires, Östermalms Saluhall dates back to 1888. Inside, stalls spill over with just-picked fruit and vegetables, farm-fresh meats and the day’s catch, as locals chat over espresso at cute cafés and high-end restaurants serve up a variety of Nordic and international delicacies. All this talk of food making you thirsty? The Museum of Spirits is one of Stockholm’s best attractions for grown-ups, combining as it does excellent exhibitions about Sweden’s boozy heritage and the opportunity to taste some of the nation’s finest tipples. Sample fragrant Swedish craft gins, flavored vodkas and classic schnapps. Skål! Save on things to do in Stockholm for adults Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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