There's so much to love about Stockholm (besides the price tag, maybe), which is lucky, since I travel there often as part of my job as a trip leader and tour guide. I run a tour of the three Scandinavian capital cities – Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen: Throughout the trip, my guests always ask me which city is my favorite. It is hard not to say Stockholm, because it is so beautiful. Introducing first-timers to this city is one of my favorite things to do!
Built across a series of islands with numerous parks and endless waterfront, Stockholm is one of those places that is easy to fall in love with.
In my opinion, Stockholm has the design-savvy cool of Copenhagen, the fascinating history of Berlin, and a setting that's entirely its own. In this ultimate Stockholm guide, you'll find everything you need to plan the perfect trip to Stockholm. From must-visit neighborhoods and museums to the best times to visit, and how to get around, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned over the years about traveling in Stockholm. If you're a first-timer visiting Stockholm, I've got you covered.
Ultimate Guide for Planning the Perfect Stockholm Trip
Stockholm Travel Logistics
Arrival & Departure
Traveling to Stockholm is straightforward with several convenient options depending on your origin point, schedule, budget and travel style.
- Flight: The major airport in Stockholm is Arlanda (code ARN). This super modern & nice airport has plenty of daily international and domestic flights. You can take the dedicated airport train from Arlanda to Central Station. It departs every 15 minutes and takes 18 minutes.
- Train: there is high-speed rail service connecting Stockholm to Oslo, Copenhagen and other cities in Sweden.
Best Time to Visit Stockholm
The best time to visit Stockholm is from late May through mid September, when the days are long, the weather is mild, and the city moves outdoors.
- June is a highlight because of Swedish Midsummer. One of the most beloved local celebrations, Midsummer is celebrated on the Friday between June 19 and June 25 every year.
- July and August are the warmest months, with temperatures typically in the low to mid 20s °C (70s °F), perfect for swimming, kayaking, and exploring the archipelago, though you'll share the city with more crowds.
- If you'd rather skip the peak-season buzz, May and September are lovely shoulder months, with fewer visitors, softer light, and (in September) the first hints of autumn color.
How to Get Around in Stockholm
The public transportation in Stockholm is fantastic. It is really clean, timely and easy to navigate. There are three main subway lines – green, blue, and red – as well as all sorts of different buses. I strongly recommend that you make use of the transit to get around, because the city is SO spread out. You’ll be exhausted from walking if you don’t. There is tap-to-pay or you can buy a multi-day pass (24 hour, 72 hour, or 1 week options) to cover your stay. It can be used for buses, trains, street cars and even ferries!
Plus, you might even stumble across one of Stockhom's vintage line 7 trains. Just look at how cute these vintage trains are with my TikTok about it! A series of restored vintage trams are used for daily commuting. The oldest tram is from 1910 while the most recent is from 1954. A ride on the 1900s tram costs the same as a normal fare, but the route is slightly shorter.
Additionally, Stockholm has a number of famous art subway stations. In an effort to brighten up often overlooked spaces, the city commissioned artists to build massive works of art inside various stations around Stockholm. You can find a complete guide for the art stations here. From a rainbow cave to marvelous murals, many of the public art pieces are painted directly onto the granite bedrock the subway was built in. It’s such a nice surprise when you transfer through one of these pretty stations!
Where to Stay in Stockholm
Because Stockholm is so sprawling, it is important to choose the location of your hotel wisely. You want to be near a major train station stop, so that you can easily get around. But you also want to choose an area that is nice for walking around. A couple hotels I have stayed at before:
- Haymarket by Scandic: just off of Stockholm’s main shopping street, I quite enjoyed staying here.
- Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel: If you’re looking for a central location, this is an easy choice. Plus, it is directly next to the main train station.
- Clarion Hotel: For a more neighborhood vibe, consider this hotel in Sodermalm. It is modern with a nice spa, and located directly next to a large park for morning walks or runs.
- Nofo Hotel: This boutique hotel is so lovely! Each wing of the hotel has a different theme, like New York, London, or Scandi, so the design changes between the different floors. It has a great wine bar on the ground floor and the included breakfast is great.
Best Activities to Do in Stockholm
Visit Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is a maritime treasure that showcases the magnificence of a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. It remained undisturbed for over 300 years at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, until the 1960s when the Swedish government endeavored to exhume the ship. With painstaking effort, historians rebuilt, reassembled and restored the ship over 30 years. The museum itself was custom built to hold the reassembled Vasa, which is the central exhibit.
To be honest, I was skeptical about whether I'd like this museum – I’m not particularly into maritime history or anything. But, it’s actually really incredible. You can go behind-the-scenes of my experience on Instagram. As the only preserved 17th century ship in the world, the sheer size of Vasa's wooden hull is reason enough to visit. I have a new appreciation for how massive these ships were! You'll wander around the looming ship through various exhibits, learning about the history of the Vasa & its modern conservation along with seeing artifacts found aboard the ship.
Archipelago Tour
Comprising over 30,000 islands, Stockholm is nestled in a massive archipelago in the Baltic Sea. It’s actually one of the largest archipelagos in the world! With forests, islets, and rocky shorelines, the archipelago is incredibly picturesque. Each island possesses its own distinct character, and you’ll sail past a number of them. Plus you’ll see the summer homes of Stockholm residents.
The standard Archipelago tour lasts 2-3 hours and departs in the morning (around 10am) or in the afternoon (around 2pm) from Nybroviken harbor along Strandvagen. There are a number of different operators, and I've tried many. This 2 hour archipelago tour is a great choice. Get to the dock about 20-30 minutes early to guarantee yourself a good seat.
During the tour, a knowledgeable guide will narrate the journey (in English & Swedish), giving you fun facts and stories about the various things you’re looking at. It is such a relaxing activity that shows you one of the beloved aspects of life for locals in Stockholm.
Centralbadet
This is one of Stockholm’s most celebrated spas. Opened in 1904, Centralbadet is an Art Nouveau oasis that provides a perfect retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle. The spa’s beautifully preserved interiors, with intricate tile work and elegant design, offer a glimpse into early 20th-century luxury. It reminds me a lot of the thermal baths & spas I visited in Budapest.
You can buy a day pass to Centralbadet, which includes a locker, towels, robe and slippers. All you need to bring is your swimsuit! There are a number of different pools, jacuzzis, saunas, thermal baths, and therapeutic massage treatments available.
ABBA Museum
The pride of Sweden gets its own museum! The museum is sort of like ABBA personified in a place – energetic, lively, colorful. I find it endearing how proud the Swedes are of their most famous band. As you enter the ABBA Museum, you are greeted with the unmistakable sounds of the band's greatest hits, setting the stage for an engaging and nostalgic experience.
You'll wander through the band's history, highlights of their tours and music videos. The group's iconic outfits, such as the glitzy, sequined costumes from their Eurovision-winning performance, are on full display, allowing fans to see them up close and appreciate the dazzling creativity of their wardrobe. You'll even get a chance to sing with ABBA (or at least the digital version of the band). It's a silly and light-hearted museum that only takes about an hour to explore. Plus the bar in front offers decent cocktails at the end of your visit!
Interesting Things to See in Stockholm
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace, or Kungliga Slottet, is an exquisite architectural marvel that serves as the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Built in the mid-18th century on the site of a former medieval castle, the Royal Palace is an impressive blend of Baroque and Rococo styles. Visitors to the Royal Palace can explore a variety of opulent rooms and halls that have been impeccably preserved, each showcasing the splendor and elegance befitting the residence of royalty. If you happen to be around at 12:30, you’ll have the chance to see the daily changing of the guards ceremony with a full military parade and music.
Stockholm City Hall
From far away, the Stockholm City Hall looks like an imposing brick building with a somewhat austere style. But as you get closer, the intricate details, ivy-covered walls, and beautiful corners come alive. Completed in 1923, this stunning red-brick building serves as the seat of the Stockholm City Council and is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. The building's most prominent feature is the massive 106-meter tall tower topped with three golden crowns, symbolizing Sweden's historical royal crowns.
To go inside, you must sign up for a guided tour, which takes an hour or two. On the tour, you will see iconic rooms like the Blue Hall and the Golden Hall. The highlight, however, is the tower climb. Get ready for over 500 steps up, but after which you'll be rewarded with 360 degree views of central Stockholm. It was from this vantage point where I got a true appreciation for how the city sprawls across all the different islands. It is gorgeous!
Stockholm City Library
The Stockholm City Library is one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings, and a must-visit place for amateur photographers. It is a striking architectural masterpiece located in the Norrmalm district in the northern part of the city. Designed by renowned Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund, the library was completed in 1928.
The light-filled circular rotunda is the highlight of the library, which is still used as a working library today. Three levels of wooden bookshelves wrap around in a near perfect circle beneath a white rotunda with skylights. It’s gorgeous! This library has been listed as one of the world's most beautiful libraries by the magazine Conde Nast Traveler.
Drottningholm Palace
Just outside Stockholm on the island of Lovön, Drottningholm Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the residence of the Swedish Royal family. It's Sweden's answer to Versailles. It's easily one of the best day trips you can take from the capital. Beyond the palace's state apartments, the formal gardens are beautiful to walk through. Don’t miss a visit to the Chinese Pavillion, a second smaller palace located in the gardens. Allow at least half a day to see all of Drottningholm Palace.
The most memorable way to reach the palace is by boat across Lake Mälaren. Regular summer services run to Drottningholm from the City Hall quay, with the dock just a short walk from T-Centralen. I recently did this day trip to the palace via ferry, and loved it! The boat ride takes about an hour, and you can admire lovely scenery & architecture the entire way. It is quite magical when the boat pulls up in front of the palace. On the way back, we ate lunch on the ship!
Best Neighborhoods in Stockholm
Gamla Stan
Nestled on a small island between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, the entire island of Gamla Stan, or “Old Town” in Swedish, is the oldest part of Stockholm. Gamla Stan exudes a timeless ambiance with its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and medieval architecture. It feels like a living museum!
You don't need a particular agenda in Gamla Stan. Simply enjoy wandering around the meandering alleyways, and seeing what you discover. Exploring the labyrinthine streets of Gamla Stan reveals a myriad of delightful surprises. The neighborhood is home to numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops offering traditional Swedish delicacies, handicrafts, and souvenirs. The inviting nooks and crannies beckon visitors to wander and discover hidden gems around every corner.
Södermalm
Sprawling Södermalm island has a relaxed, creative vibe. Commonly referred to as "Söder," it is a trendy area full of artsy shops, eclectic cafes, and secondhand shops. Located to the south of the city center and separated from the rest of Stockholm by a picturesque waterway, Södermalm has evolved from a working-class district to a popular area known for its unique character, artistic flair, and lively atmosphere. It is my favorite part of Stockholm!
Djurgarden
Djurgården, also known as the "Island of the Museums," is an oasis of greenery and cultural delights situated in the heart of Stockholm. Covered in lush parks, Djurgården provides a refreshing escape from the bustling city, offering serene walking paths, tranquil waterfronts, and picturesque picnic spots. This beautiful island is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. I think it has the perfect blend of natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and a diverse range of museums and attractions.
Where to Eat in Stockholm
Swedish cuisine isn’t the most well-known cuisine, but a few traditional Swedish dishes you might want to try in Stockholm include cinnamon buns, smoked salmon, and Swedish meatballs. While not considered as foodie as Copenhagen, Stockholm is not without good food. From Michelin-starred New Nordic restaurants to hole-in-the-wall falafel joints, Stockholm’s culinary scene has a lot more to offer than initially meets the eye. Find all of my Stockholm food and restaurant suggestions at the links below:
Have thoughts or questions about visiting Stockholm? Tell me in the comments below!
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