Stockholm, Sweden, is for every walk of life! While no two people travel alike, there’s truly no right or wrong way to explore the Venice of the North!
Maybe you’re a history aficionado or a devout admirer of the Crown. Or perhaps you’re a Viking at heart or just have a Viking-sized appetite! Nonetheless, we’re laying out four unique ways to take in all of the best of Stockholm!
Our time in Sweden was made possible thanks to our friends at Visit Stockholm and StockholmLGBT who generously hosted us during our time in the Open City. Tack så mycket (thank you so much) to them for organizing all of our activities, meals, and accommodations! Make sure to also check out their resources and local partners on their websites as they are the premiere resource for Stockholm!
But first, Stockholm is for everyone!
The Swedish capitol truly has something for everyone! What we loved most about Stockholm is that anyone can look like a Stockholmer. 20% of the population originates from outside of Sweden, so every Swede truly comes from a different walk of life.
With those differences comes celebration. Individualism is an important concept for Stockholmers as they’re an open-minded and welcoming city. In fact, Sweden consistently ranks first or second in the LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index.
Like other Scandinavian countries, Sweden does not use the Euro. Instead, they use the Swedish krona. We found that Stockholm was mostly a cashless society, so there’s really no need to convert money beforehand or at the airport.
The main language spoken in Stockholm, obviously, is Swedish. However, there’s no reason to be intimidated! Nearly every single person we interacted with spoke perfect English. That is to say, we encourage you to learn a few words of the ol’ Svenska that will make any Swede appreciate your enthusiasm for learning about their culture!
| Swedish | English |
| “Hej hej” | Hello |
| “Tack” | Thank you |
| “tack så mycket” | Thank you so much |
| “Ja” | Yes |
| “Nej” | No |
| “Skål” | Cheers |
Getting Around Stockholm
Regardless of how you “do” Stockholm, Sweden, the best means of seeing any city is to walk it, if you are able. 14 islands and 57 bridges compose the city of Stockholm along the Söderström river and Baltic Sea, which make for a picturesque commute around the city. Just be sure to bring sturdy shoes because there are a lot of cobblestones that don’t take kindly to heels!
If you’re in a crunch for time, we recommend using Stockholm Public Transport, or the SL. Using the transportation network is extremely efficient and expansive – even if you don’t speak Swedish. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to explore the world’s longest public underground art exhibit – Stockholm’s Tunnelbana or T-bana! Of course, using public transportation is also the most environmentally friendly way of making your way around the city in the fastest amount of time.
Stockholm for the History Buff
There’s no nerd shaming ‘round these parts! Learning about the past is a great means of understanding the culture of a destination, and Stockholm is truly a city of history. The Open City is a center of culture, art, design, and once, it was the center of the once-great Swedish Empire, the major power of the Baltic Sea. And now, it’s yours to discover!
National Museum
You, history buff? You’re a work of art! Best head to Sweden’s national gallery to take in the other masterpieces, too.
Nationalmuseum is Sweden’s museum of art and design and has one of the most impressive collections of artwork in Northern Europe. With an estimated 700,000 pieces, the gallery displays both domestic and international works from the turn of the 20th century from all the way to the medieval era. As two self-proclaimed art geeks ourselves, we were as delighted as two kids in an ornate candy store, especially in the Sculpture Garden.
You’ll find works from the likes of Dutch icon Rembrandt, the ever-cheeky works of Joseph Ducreux, and even Claude Monet on loan. Finally, after working up an appetite, conclude your visit with a masterpiece of the culinary variety, down at the cafe’s restaurant and bar. And rejoice, young art aficionados! Admission is free for any visitor under the age of 20.
Stockholm City Hall
Perhaps the most iconic building to any Stockholmer, City Hall was officially a century old in 2023. A work of art in its own right, Ragnar Östberg designed the building and built it from eight million bricks.
Östberg’s show stopping achievement is the massive Golden Hall, a banquet hall completely covered in golden mosaic. At its center is The Queen of Lake Mälar with the city Stockholm in her lap. Also at city hall is the Blue Hall, the site of the esteemed Nobel Prize Banquet. We might not ever be among the highest echelon of folks in attendance, but if you’re really keen, with enough notice and a group large enough, Stadshuskällaren, the restaurant at city hall, can prepare you any past Nobel menu! If that’s out of your grasp, head on to see where you can try the official pastry of the banquet for yourself!
Arguably, our favorite fact about City Hall is that they hold weddings there every week. It’s actually a popular means of Swedes tying the knot – around 70 couples every single Saturday! For a modest 1000 SEK, you can commemorate your time in Stockholm in an unforgettable way!
ABBA
“Thank You For The Music!” is what you’ll be exclaiming after your time at the museum dedicated to one of Sweden’s most beloved exports – ABBA!
The ABBA Museum lovingly chronicles the band’s decades-long history, from their historic Eurovision win in 1974 with “Waterloo”, to Mamma Mia, to their current ongoings of the VR variety in Abba Voyage in London. They have original costumes and replica sets of some of their most important performances and appearances of all time. There is a lot to appreciate and do whether you are a superfan or not! We really loved all of the interactive elements.
Not only is the ABBA Museum an opportunity to behold some of their most intimate personal collections, every visit is a potential opportunity to speak with the band themselves! Every so often, a designated red phone in the museum will “Ring Ring”. You best pick it up because it’s a member of ABBA calling! If the band doesn’t drop you a line during your visit, fret not – you’ll have an opportunity to be the fifth member of the group at one of the interactive exhibits.
Skansen
Step back in time and explore the world’s oldest open-air museum! Skansen is no mere “recreation”. All of the buildings are authentic, pre-industrial era farmsteads and houses transported from their place of origin, piece by piece, and imported directly to Stockholm by way of train. That’s no small feat, especially during the late 19th century!
Spread over 75 acres, Skansen encourages its visitors to explore the structures on site and learn a thing or two from their knowledgeable staff. Artisans and craft folks honor tradition while musicians perform all the bangers of centuries prior. Plus, the exhibits of Skansen are not only of the human variety – the grounds are home to wildlife at the zoo, including native fauna that can only be found in Scandinavia. You’ll be happy to find many traditional Swedish treats here as well!
Stay at Hotel Kung Carl
Want to go to sleep and get up with a little more of that Stockholm history? Then stay at the oldest-operating hotel in all of Stockholm – Hotel Kung Carl! This family-owned hotel is situated in the lively Stureplan Square and is just a stone’s throw from some of the most iconic places in all of Stockholm.
Co-owner Therese Hammar added quite the personal touches to many of the rooms, personally designing them herself. You’ll be staying where famous icons such as Greta Garbo rested their heads. Therese also designed the hotel lobby, which was one of the most gorgeous we’ve ever seen. It was truly one of the most beautiful and enchanting properties we’ve had the pleasure of seeing! Moreover, if you’re also coinciding your stay during Stockholm Pride, the hotel is right on the parade route. Undoubtedly, it’s the most scenic place to witness the celebration!
Each room has its own unique touches and is really a work of art. One of there rooms is in special collaboration with 3 Vänner Ice cream meaning your stay includes a fridge full of ice cream for you to delight in!
Stockholm for the Seafarer
The heritage of the Stockholmer is that of the seafarer! The very first settlers of Stockholm were the Vikings, the famed seafarers of the Middle Ages. While Stockholm is a city of islands itself, much more of the mariner experience lies within the 30,000 islands of Stockholm’s Archipelago.
Without a doubt, the best way to get around the Skärgård (Archipelago) is by ferry, hired charter, or boat rental. For a private charter, we highly recommend Hahn Charter. This husband and wife duo are a wealth of knowledge who will help tailor a voyage to your desires! Definitely far more lavish than any viking cruise!
Artipelag
Created by Björn Jakobson of BabyBjörn fame, Artipelag is an island on Stockholm’s archipelago where art meets nature. There are nature trails, art exhibitions, a sculpture park, a cafe, and a restaurant. Whether you’re an art aficionado, a nature lover, or a foodie, the island holds a lot of possibilities and beauty!
Here, you can sample the noble pastry made for the 2022 Nobel Banquet by head pastry chef Annie Hesselstad. The pastry consists of cream cheese mousse with plum compote flavored with star anise, sable base, quinoa puffs, browned butter and chocolate from Malmo Chokladfabrik, mirabelle ginger glaze and Mirabelle puree. Maybe you haven’t earned a Nobel Prize, but at least you can try the pastry!
Finally, we also recommend visiting THE bathroom as it is also a work of art. If you’re not wow-ed by the potty, you’re in the wrong one!
Crayfish Party/Rökeriet Fjäderholmarna
If you are visiting Stockholm between August and September, you will have the distinct pleasure of being able to participate in the age-old tradition of a kraftskiva. A kraftskiva, or crayfish party, is a Swedish tradition in which friends and families gather around tables adorned with paper tablecloths and paper lanterns. Moreover, everyone wears bibs and party hats all adorned with crayfish motifs.
There are traditional foods – cheese pie, Aquavit snaps, shrimp, and of course, crayfish. Ready your vocals because you’ll be taking part in traditional drinking songs like Helan går. Think of it like throwing a crayfish-themed birthday party, Party City style.
Our group enjoyed a Crayfish party at Rokeriet on the island of Fjaderholmara, used extensively by fishermen since the 17th century. If you don’t find yourself there, fret not as many restaurants across Stockholm uphold the tradition and menu! Or, if you befriend some locals, you might just get invited to their own kraftskiva!
Smådalarö Gård Spa
Robe up and unwind in the way Scandinavians do! The tradition starts by sitting in a wooden cedar sauna for 10 minutes (at temperatures 180°F or around 82°C, in case you were wondering!) and then plunging into the brisk Baltic Sea, before doing it all over again! Supposedly, it will clear you of all toxins weighing you down, or at the very least wake you right up.
Smådalarö Gård Spa has lockers, four pools, a selection of saunas, an area of foot baths, and Archipelago showers inside and outside to indulge in. If you find the opportunity, you must also book yourself a treatment like a Swedish massage. After all, you’re in the country of origin!
Smådalarö Gård Hotel
Lastly, if you want to continue out the evening with the viking thrills with all of the amenities of the 21st century, extend your time to an overnight visit at the Smådalarö Gård Hotel. We had the opportunity of experiencing Smadalaro’s Spa and Brasserie and Bränneri restaurant and got a tour of the rooms. The property was constructed in 1810 by a man who knew the sea well, Swedish sailor Captain Carl Peter Blom. Flower Bar has cocktails inspired by Captain Blom’s escapades and adventures. Now that’s something we can skål to!
Stockholm To Those Loyal to Royals
The British Royal Family isn’t the only royalty of modern times! In fact, the Swedish monarchy has existed for well over a thousand years. So with a millennium’s worth of rulership, the Swedish monarchy has centuries of tales, trials, and tribulations. And thankfully for us, it’s all very much on display!
Tour the Royal Palace
The most obvious place to learn about the Royal Family? Their official residence, of course!
While definitely the most opulent home in all of Stockholm, the Swedish Royal Palace and apartments are as steeped in history as much as it is ornate. Some of the most iconic pieces and adornments of the royalty are on display – most of which are hundreds of years old. And with an enduring monarchy, these rooms witnessed it all: births, deaths, galas, triumphs, and everything in between.
For the fullest experience, we recommend doing a guided tour to learn all the ins and outs of the palace. It’s an extremely popular destination for both Swedes and tourists alike, so go early to get the best, uncongested views before the crowds arrive. And who knows, you might get lucky and pass the royals themselves while traversing the halls!
Vasa Museum
Ever have a home improvement project that went catastrophically wrong? Imagine how Gustav II Adolf felt after his regally adorned war ship sank in Stockholm harbor after less than a mile and twenty minutes into its maiden voyage in 1628. Royals – they’re just like us!
Fortunately for us in the 21st century, not only was the top heavy Vasa ship excavated and restored to nearly its full former glory (98% of it original), it’s on permanent display in the Vasa Museum in Djurgården. It spent 330 years on the seabed of Stockholm harbor preserved by the brackish water of the Baltic. Now the most visited museum in all of Scandinavia, the Vasamuseet is jam packed with exhibits chronicling every detail of the impressive ship and the people associated with it. Find exhibits like the construction process, what life was like aboard a 17th century vessel, and how it was meticulously recovered and restored.
Rosendals Trädgård
Want to relax on a leisurely afternoon like a Swedish royal? We’ve got you covered! Once the hunting grounds of the monarchy, the Royal Djurgården is now an outdoor space for Stockholmers and visitors alike. Its agricultural crown jewel is the Rosendals Trädgård, a gorgeous public oasis and garden. It’s an idyllic place for botanists at heart… or anyone with large eyes and a black thumb.
Get lost while you roam through the greenhouses or the Rose Garden as you look to secure a spot for a picturesque fika. In addition, plants, gifts, coffee, and treats are sold throughout the glasshouses. We might have been in a monetary pickle if it weren’t for customs and border protection – the gardening shop is a dangerous place for those without self-control (like Alex)!
Hotel Skeppsholmen
What the royalty wants, the royalty gets! In this case, it was a tennis court!
Hotel Skeppsholmen was built during the turn of the 18th century and was originally used to house the Royal Marines of King Karl XII. Over the centuries, the building has been used for assorted purposes. One of the most remarkable additions on the grounds was constructed in 1882 by King Oscar II: the very first outdoor tennis court in Sweden.
Finally, it was transformed into a hotel in 2009, and today, it’s a gorgeous example of Swedish minimalism. Of course, sparing none of the modern comforts! We can speak firsthand that not only is the food onsite delicious, the location is in an ideal proximity to Gamla Stan, whether by foot or the convenience of the ferry. And of course, hotel guests can use King Oscar II’s tennis court free of charge!
Stockholm for The Foodie
If you, like us, find yourself to be a food motivated individual, Stockholm, Sweden, is the city for you! 2023 marked Stockholm as the European Capital of Gastronomy and it only took us our first meals to understand why. However, be warned – reading this section on an empty stomach is not advised!
Must Try Swedish Foods
Whenever we visit a new country, we make it a mission to try as many of the local and native dishes as possible! Before you head to the dining scene, here’s a beginner’s list to food you’re going to want to try while in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kannelbullar + Kardemummabullar
A Swedish cinnamon bun that looks and tastes a lot different than that of the American style! The bakery at Skansen had one of the best ones we had the pleasure of sampling! If you can, also try a cardamom bun – a little bit more savory than sweet, but equally enjoyable. You’ll find that cardamom is a beloved flavor in many Swedish dishes!
Kottbullar
Also known as Swedish meatballs! Listen, you can’t visit the country that invented a certain dish and not try it there! Though we love the meatballs at IKEA, the ones we tried in Stockholm were out of this world. Traditionally, they are served with pickled cucumber, mashed potatoes, and lingonberries. Chris dined on hers at Hotel Skeppsholmen.
Herring
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it authentically! And no, we’re not talking about the infamous Surströmming! This notorious little fish has gotten a bad rap for its pickling process that feels foreign to the Western diet, but make no mistake – herring is delicious! Some of the best herring we tried was at The Hills in Södermalm. The dish was gorgeously served in a browned butter with egg, potatoes, and smetana.
Kaffi – Coffee
This is, “coffee” in Swedish! The Swede’s affinity for coffee is so serious that it’s earned them second place when it comes to the highest coffee consumers in the world! Their coffee is a lot stronger than that of our Western variety and just as, if not more, delicious.
Fika
Perhaps no leisurely ritual is taken more seriously by Swedes than that of “fika”, also known as a “coffee and cake break”. But there’s definitely chat mixed in there, too! In fact, it’s so sacred that fika breaks are built into many employment contracts as a right and are observed at 11am and 3pm each day. Some of our favorite places to have fika were at Chokladkoppen in the heart of Gamla Stan (The Old City) and Rosendals Trädgård at Djurgården. It’s definitely an activity we’ve adapted into our own work days… and so should you!
Hotel Hasselbacken
How often do you get to dine at a dish’s place of origin?! Hotel Hasselbacken is an institution in its own right and a tradition that has stood long and proud since the mid-1700’s – you do the math, that’s older than the United States itself!
Created in 1953 by one of the restaurant’s trainee chefs, the namesake Hasselback potato dish is a potato cut thinly and fanned out and baked to textural perfection. On the menu, you will find what gastronomy dreams are made of – a potato flight. There are four varieties of adornments: sobrasada, goat cheese, pine nuts & rosemary; cured salmon, dill cream & horseradish; seaweed roe, smetana & red onion; and finally, truffle mayonnaise, truffle & parmesan cheese. We both had a standout favorite, but it’s up to you to give it a try. For scientific purposes, of course!
If poatoes aren’t your thing (which we would find hard to believe) the rest of their menu will be sure to please! Not to mention that the interior of the Hotel Hasselbacken, from the lobby to the dining room, to even the bathroom, is a feast for the eyes!
Miss Clara
With so many different delectables to try in such a short amount of time, you’ll need a hotel that’ll be your launchpad onto the foodie scene. Miss Clara by Nobis is exactly that!
Miss Clara is a boutique hotel located in the Norrmalm neighborhood, a bustling cultural hub. Because the hotel is so centrally located, it’s ideal so that you can use all means of transportation to your next meal! But if you need a quick bite to keep you going, the Miss Clara Restaurant and Cocktail Bar are at your immediate disposal. And really though, is there anything more perfect than a European breakfast buffet? (The answer is no, obviously!)
In Short, Do It All!
The truth is, we think the best way to experience Stockholm, Sweden, is through doing a mix of each four! Without a doubt, Stockholm is such a multi-faceted capital city that it would be remiss not to explore multiple aspects of it. And to do so, we would recommend at least four or five days there.
We were in Stockholm for a total of six days, and we didn’t even get to scratch the surface! It’s such an exciting city that warrants repeated visits that has us already planning our next adventure there. So if you get to Stockholm before we do again, raise a glass on our behalf with a proper skål!
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