We have spent the past year falling in love with Stockholm! Here are some of our favorite spots and things to do in and around the city.
Sightseeing in Stockholm
Stockholm’s well-preserved Old Town is its own little island right in the center of the city. Narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, cozy cafés, and charming squares make it perfect for wandering. You’ll also find the Nobel Prize Museum here!
Known for its relaxed, creative, and trendy vibe, this island has an abundance of restaurants, bars, vintage stores, thrift shops, galleries, and secondhand shops. We’re a bit biased… this is our neighborhood! We recommend a stroll along Monteliusvägen for the best viewpoints of the city.
There is no shortage of royal palaces in Sweden! In Stockholm, you can visit The Royal Palace and official residence of the King and Queen of Sweden. Don’t miss the changing of the guards!
Or you can venture further out to Drottningholm Palace (their other home) by ferry, on a boat tour through scenic Lake Mälaren.
Peeking through the arch at Drottningholm Palace
Djurgården
An island packed with museums, parks, and trails, easily accessible from the city center. You can circle the island on a long walk or wander through the wooded paths crisscrossing it. On Djurgården you’ll also find:
An open-air museum and zoo dedicated to Swedish culture, architecture, and wildlife. It’s got historic buildings brought in from all over Sweden (and old Norway), live demonstrations, farm animals, and Nordic wildlife like bears and lynx. Super family-friendly, but adults love it too!
Situated in the heart of Djurgården, this collection of orchards and greenhouses is a cozy place to stop in for lunch or a fika.
Fika is the Swedish coffee and cake break. It can happen any time of day, and it usually involves coffee and something sweet (kanelbullar, or Swedish cinnamon buns, being the most popular choice!). It’s a social ritual and a moment to pause and recharge.
What is fika?
How can you set foot in Sweden and not pay homage to its most legendary pop exports? This fun, interactive museum lets you dive into ABBA’s world with original costumes, recreated recording studios, and plenty of chances to sing and dance.
Home to the world’s only preserved 17th-century ship—and it’s enormous, ornate, and honestly kind of unbelievable that it still exists. One of Stockholm’s most famous museums for a reason.
A beautiful museum dedicated to Swedish cultural history and ethnography. Think: fashion, traditions, interiors, and a deep dive into how Swedes… became Swedes!
There’s nothing like summer at Skansen!
Exploring near & outside of Stockholm
There are over 30,000 islands in the archipelago! Waxholmsbolaget ferries leave from the city center and make it easy to hop around without spending much. There’s also a long-distance hiking route, the Stockholm Archipelago Trail, that stretches 270 km across 20 islands. Our favorite two islands are Grinda and Gällnö.
Take a scenic Strömma boat tour to Artipelag, a stunning contemporary art museum tucked into the pine forests of Värmdö, just outside of Stockholm. You can also arrive by car or bus.
Camping on Gällnö
By the water at Artipelag
For other travel sights & information, VisitSweden.com is a great resource.
Food
We’re eating our way through Jackie’s (somewhat overwhelming) list of saved food and restaurant recommendations:
Take a look—and let us know if you need a recommendation!
Salmon and shrimp on pizza(!)
A proper fika—while out on a hike!