Exploring Stockholm: our best things to do

Like several major cities in Northern Europe, Stockholm is an incredibly underrated destination. In fact, the capital of Sweden is neither sleepy not boring – this beautiful city offers a well-balanced mix of tradition and modernity, nature and urban life.

One of Stockholm’s distinctive features is the fact that it’s there is water pretty much everywhere. This “floating city”, which is also called the “Venice of the North”, stretches over 14 islands, right between the Baltic Sea (to the east) and lake Mälaren (to the west).

In addition to seemingly having been gently placed on the water’s surface, the city is surrounded by nature – with many green spaces such as Djurgården, the first urban park in the world. This proximity to nature is probably one of the factors encouraging the capital’s population of nearly 1 million to make environmentally responsible choices, making Stockholm one of the most eco-friendly cities in Europe.

Stockholm is the perfect example of why differences are not necessarily contradictory, but a strength. These contrasts are part of the city’s identity and create a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere.

Stockholm’s focus on innovation and new technology does stand in the way of recognizing the value of its cultural heritage and age-old traditions.

The cobbled streets and colorful houses of the Old Town (where time seems to have stopped), stand in both contrast and harmony with a rich cultural scene, bold designers, and a booming food scene.

The Swedish capital is clearly worth taking the time to explore, in order to fully appreciate its unique charm. It’s particularly well-suited as destination for a long weekend. From Strasbourg, Stockholm can be reached by airplane via Frankfurt or Paris.

Here is a selection of our favorite spots and neighborhoods in the city, as well as our best tips to explore Stockholm.

Our favorite spots and neighborhoods

Gamla Stan, the Old Town

Wandering the cobbled streets and alleys of Stockholm’s Old Town, all incredibly well maintained, is like walking into a city from another time. 

This historic part of town is ideal for a few hours of exploring.

Our recommendations:

• Enjoy the atmosphere in the narrow side streets, admiring the colorful 17th- and 18th-century houses, and little hidden squares. 

• Take a peek in the shop windows of the many antiques dealers, galleries, cobblers, woodworkers, or jewelers: trades and skills that are carried on in Gamla Stan to this day. 

• Don’t miss: Österlånggatan, Vesterlånggatan, Prästgatan, and Stortorget.

The Royal Palace

With more than 600 rooms, Stockholm’s Royal Palace, where the king and queen of Sweden still reside, is one of the largest palaces in Europe.

You can watch the Changing of the guards in the palace courtyard every day at 12:15 in the summer, and at 13:15 on Sundays. As it can get quite crowded, we recommend you show up early. The times can vary in autumn and winter. 

Kungsholmen: City Hall

The outline of the tower of Stockholm City Hall, with its spire topped with Sweden’s Three Crowns, is one of the most famous sights in the city. 

We spent a long time enjoying the courtyard and archways, as well as the large terrace, which leads almost directly out onto the water. A little reminiscent of the Doge’s Palace in Venice. 

During our visit, a couple of newlyweds had chosen this iconic setting for their wedding photos. 

For a more panoramic perspective and better view of the tower, we recommend heading to Evert Taubes Terrass on Riddarholmen.

Skeppsholmen

• Skeppsholmen bridge 

One of the most distinctive bridges in Stockholm, with its two golden crowns. It offers a beautiful view of the Old Town. 

• Skeppsholmen islet

After crossing the Skeppsholmen bridge, the tour Skeppsholmen (the ship islet) is a lovely walk that takes around half an hour.

– First, head past the impressive three-mast ship Af Chapman, which has been made into a youth hostel (temporarily closed for renovations).

– Continue on to Kastellholmen (the castle islet) and then to the lookout point offering a beautiful view across the water. 

– Norra Brobänken, a dock where you’ll find dozens of old boats and ships that are all pampered by their owner, will lead you back to the bridge where you started (Skeppsholmen bridge).

Djurgården

Having once been the king’s hunting grounds, Djurgården is the world’s first urban park. This vast green lung (almost 700 acres) offers miles worth of peaceful walkways along the water. The full hike around the peninsula is about 10 km long. 

Djurgården is also home to a wide array of restaurants, hotels, a theme park (Gröna Lund), and some of Stockholm’s major museums, such as the Vasa Museum, the Nordic Museum, and Skansen.

• The Vasa Museum

The Vasa is the best preserved 17-century ship in the world. Adorned with a host of carved wooden sculptures, it is still made up of 98% of its original pieces.

• Skansen

Stretching over nearly 75 acres, Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum, displaying houses and farms from all over Sweden, as well as an old schoolhouse. The aim is to preserve and showcase trades, crafts and traditions from the 19th century (glassblower, potter, baker, folk dancing and folk songs). In addition to the open-air museum, there is a zoo with animals from all over Scandinavia.

• Rosendals Trädgård

Greenhouses, an orchard, vegetable patches and a café in the heart of Djurgården. See further down: Where to eat

Södermalm

Stockholm’s southern borough still boasts a large number of wooden houses, built in the 18th and 19th centuries as housing for industrial workers. Södermalm is also known for its independent shops and trendy restaurants. This island is steeper and rockier than the rest of the city, which also means it offers spectacular viewpoints, such as Monteliusvägen.

• Monteliusvägen

A panoramic walk surrounded by lush vegetation. The view of City Hall, the island of Riddarholmen with Riddarholmskyrkan church and its openwork steeple, is stunning. 

To us, Mariaberget at the beginning of Monteliusvägen offers what has to be the most beautiful view of Stockholm.When the weather is nice, it takes some patience to snag a spot on one of the benches along the cliffside walk. 

The shaded lawn in Ivar Lo’s Park is the perfect place to enjoy the view beneath the tall trees. The entrance to the park can be found in Bastugatan.

• Fjällgatan

Along the cliffs on the north side of Södermalm, this street offers a grand outlook over the Djurgården peninsula, Skeppsholmen island and Gamla Stan.

Wander around the surrounding streets to admire the charming wooden houses, and travel back in time to the working-class neighborhood of 18th- and 19th-century Stockholm.

• Katarinakyrkan and Mäster Mikaels Gata

Designed in the 17th century by French architect Jean de la Vallée and built in the shape of a Greek cross topped with an octagonal tower, this church burned down twice – once in the 18th century and once in 1990. It was rebuilt after the second fire, in the original style.

Mäster Mikaels Gata runs from Fjällgatanto Katarinakyrkan and was named after an executioner who lived in the neighborhood in the 17th century.

The street is lined with colorful wooden houses from the 18th century, most of which were built after the first fire that destroyed the church and neighboring houses in 1723. These houses are now listed and are some of the oldest wooden buildings in Stockholm.

• Mosebacke Torg

Ever since the 19th century, Mosebacke Torg has been both a verdant, tree-lined square and a hub for culture and entertainment. It is surrounded by restaurants, terrace cafés, concert venues, and the capital’s oldest private theater – Södra Teatern.

• Sofo

With its numerous parks, squares and shopping streets, the trendy area south of Folkungagatan(SÖder om FOlkungagatan) is the perfect neighborhood to wander around and browse the many vintage and design shops. The colorful wooden houses around Nytorget square also add to the charm of Sofo.

• Sofiakyrkan and Mäster Pers Gränd

Sofia Church sits at the very top of the hill in Vita Bergen park. The church is dedicated to Queen Sofia, wife to King Oscar II, great-grandparents to the currents king of Sweden. Combining the Gothic and Roman styles, the church was inaugurated in 1906.

The red wooden houses of Mäster Pers Gränd and Bergsprängargränd are nestled at the foot of Sofia Church. The buildings, all dating back to the 18th century, are particularly well maintained. 

Metro stations 

The metro stations on the blue, green and red lines are as far from being soulless points of passage.  Some of them stand out thanks to their unique artistic concept and are worth going out of your way to see. This is especially the case for T-Centralen, Rådhuset, Kungsträdgården, Thorildsplan, Tekniska Högskolan and Stadion. Some say that Stockholm’s metro stations make up the world’s largest art gallery. Check out our ultimate guide and itinerary.

Östermalm

The posh area of downtown Stockholm. Östermalm is where you’ll find grand historical residential buildings, luxury boutiques, high-end bars and restaurants, many embassies, and several museums (such as the Swedish History Museum), as well as the Royal Dramatic Theatre – Dramaten.

• Strandvägen

This exclusive, 1.2 km long avenue lined with lavish homes and townhouses along the waterfront, runs from Nybroplan to Djurgården.

• Östermalms Saluhall

We happened upon this covered food market while exploring Östermalm (the Eastern borough). What first drew our attention was the building’s impressive red brick architecture. 

Inside, the monumental wrought-iron structure has retained its 19th-century spirit. The elegantly sculpted wooden stalls and restaurants have generous displays of fresh and appetizing food.

Norrmalm

Also known as “Stockholm city”, Norrmalm is the capital’s modern neighborhood, the center for business and shopping. Norrmalm is home to the Opera, the National Museum, Stockholm Central Station, and the city’s main shopping streets and plazas.

• The Brunkeberg Tunnel

A 230-meter-long tunnel built in the 19th century that allows cyclists and pedestrians to take a shortcut under Brunkebergsåsen hill. Stay tuned, more about this soon…

Getting around

Stockholm’s main sights are located relatively close to each other, and most can easily be reached on foot. Walking along the water from one island to the next offers incredible views of the city.

For a change of perspective, a boat ride will only cost you a bus ticket. 

Our recommendation: take SL ferry nº80 from Nybrokajen (in the city center) to Almänna Gränd (right next to the Gröna Lund theme park) or further on to Nacka Strand.

Public transportation

Stockholm’s public transport network is both extensive and efficient.

There are several means of transport available: boat/ferry, bus, metro, commuter train and tram. They are all managed by Greater Stockholm’s transport organization, SL. 

This multimodal approach is very well designed for layout of the city. The fare for a single ticket is the same whether you’re traveling by boat, but metro and tram (as long as it’s operated by SL). 

Our recommendations if you want to use public transportation to get around:

• Estimate the number of journeys you are likely to makeduring your stay and pick the most fitting solution among the following.

4 options:

1. The single journey ticket: valid for 75 minutes
2. The 24h-ticket: cost-efficient from the 5th journey (including the price of the rechargeable travel card, at 20 SEK)
3. The 72h-ticket: cost-efficient from the 9th journey (including the price of the card)
4. The 7-day ticket: cost-efficient from the 12th journey (including the price of the card)

[Information updated summer 2024]

The 24h, 72h and 7-day tickets are available at the information desk at the airport, metro and train stations, convenience stores, or on the SL app.

• Download the SL-Journey planner. The app comes in handy to plan your journeys, select the best means of transport and buy individual fares or a f24h/72h/7-day ticket. 

From the airport

Arlanda airport is located 40 km from the center of Stockholm.

• The Arlanda Express

The airport express train will take you from the Arlanda to Stockholm Central Station in 18 minutes. Departures every 10 to 15 minutes. 

• Train: SJ

The train takes about 40 minutes to get to the city center from the airport. 2 trains per hour on average.

• Airport bus: Flygbussarna

The journey between Arlanda and Stockholm Central bus station takes between 45 and 50 minutes. 

• Taxi

Our recommendation: go for the black cabs from Taxi Stockholm (15 00 00), which we’ve tried. Ask your driver to apply the flat rate (fastpris) to the city center or your destination. You can use the app to estimate the price of your fare.

Where to stay

Located by the waterside at Nacka Strand, east of Stockholm, Hotel J is the perfect place to connect with both the archipelago and the city. Available in 6 different categories, the rooms are bright, spacious and comfortable. 

Hotel J was named after the J class sailing yachts of the America’s Cup.

Jérôme doesn’t believe this explanation. Since he feels so at home here, he’s convinced the name “Hotel J” is taken from the initial of his first name. 

Where to eat

• Giro Pizzeria (Sveavägen 46)

Authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza. Both the ingredients and the pizza chefs are brought in straight from Italy. Giro does a modern take on traditional Italian recipes. The pizzas are very tasty and served with a generous amount of toppings. The crust is both soft and crunchy, making you want to immediately sink your teeth into it. There are also gluten-free and kid’s size pizzas available. The interior is classic and understated. 

• Restaurang J (Augustendalsvägen 52, Nacka Strand)

Hotel J’s restaurant is located by the pier at Nacka Strand and offers a flavorful cuisine with a focus on Swedish ingredients, particularly fish and seafood. A special mention for the perfectly cooked cod loin with a side of mashed potatoes and a selection of vegetables. The nautical interior is a mix of the Newport and Scandinavian styles. On fine summer days, we recommend dining out on the terrace on the pontoon, which is very popular among locals. 

• Woodstockholm (Mosebacke Torg 9)

The unusual name of this tiny, laid-back, contemporary and affordable fine-dining restaurant sets the scene for a novel experience. The themed menu changes regularly, with the seasons or the inspiration of the chef. The set menu takes us on a four-course culinary journey, with creative dishes that are well put together and focus on local ingredients. The staff are friendly and attentive, and reservations are required.

• Rosendals Trädgårdskafé (Rosendalsterrassen 12)

Nestled between orchards and vegetable patches in Djurgården, Rosendals Trädgård’s (Rosendal’s garden) own café offers a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries made with produce that are grown at the farm.

Enjoy your lunch in the greenhouse seating area, or under pear and apple trees that are over a century old. This is the ideal spot to have a fika (Swedish-style coffee break with a sweet treat)..

We definitely recommend taking a walk in the garden around the café after your meal! 

• Pascal (Skånegatan 76)

In Södermalm, this bakery café has an inviting Scandinavian interior with lots of plants. In the summer, the outside seating in the pedestrian street is perfect for some people-watching.

Go for a pastry, a salad or a light lunch dish with a cold or hot drink. The croque-monsieur and the panzanella salad are particularly good.

• Café Stories, on the ground floor of Kulturhuset (Sergels torg 3)

This café in Kulturhuset is known for their meatballs (some of the best in town), salads, pasta, soups, fish and meat dishes. Their Swedish meatballs are far better than those available at a certain furniture store. All dishes include access to the salad bar, a dessert of the day, and coffee or tea. Thank you to Maria et Pedro for their recommendation!

• Stora Bageriet (Sankt Eriksgatan 88)

Grab a seat inside or on the cobbled terrace of this artisanal bakery in Östermalm to sink your teeth into a soft and fragrant kanelbulle (traditional Scandinavian cinnamon roll).

• Under Kastanjen (Kindstugatan 1)

This café in Gamla Stan (the old town) offers an array of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, burgers, meatballs, stews, pastries, and hot and cold drinks that you can enjoy on the shaded terrace under a massive chestnut tree, or the lovely inside seating area.

Where to shop

• Oh so Sofo (Östgötagatan 55)

This little shop showcases artisanal products and local creative businesses. It’s full of great gift ideas: home decor, body care, accessories, and a small delicatessen (jams, sauces…). The staff are welcoming and enthusiastic. 

• The English Bookshop (Södermannagatan 22)

An independent bookshop selling all manner of English-language books: novels, literary classics, children’s literature, young adult, cookbooks, science, biographies… An absolute goldmine for English-speaking book lovers. 

• Pärlans Konfektyr (Nytorgsgatan 38)

An artisanal candy shop specializing in caramel: chewy caramel candies, chocolates, and sauces. Our favorites: passion fruit caramel for Stéphanie, and the classic vanilla salted caramel for Jérôme. Pärlans Konfektyr also offers soft-serve ice cream topped with your choice of their house-made caramel sauce. 

• Designtorget (Götgatan 31)

If you’re like us and enjoy affordable Nordic design, this shop is the place for you. The shop is full of things that are both fun, original and functional: tableware, home decor, gift items, small furniture, jewelry, games, and toys.