Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe! We fell in love with the colorful buildings and cobblestoned streets. There are restaurants and cafes surrounding the square, where you can enjoy a drink or meal. If you want to learn more about the history of Stockholm’s Old Town, you can join a walking tour*.
- Cost: Free (Walking Tour ~$20)
- Book Tickets: Gamla Stan Secrets Tour*
- Time Needed: 2 hours
Vasa Museum
One of the top Stockholm sights is the Vasa Museum. It’s home to a restored 17th century Swedish warship that sank in the Baltic Sea in 1628. After 333 years at the bottom of Stockholm harbor, the ship was recovered. You can now see 98% of the original ship thanks to restoration efforts. If you’re interested in learning more about the unique history & preservation of this ship, check out our previous blog post: Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
- Cost: 170-190 SEK (~$15-$18)
- Book Tickets: Vasa Museum
- Time Needed: 2 hours
Stockholm Royal Palace
Stockholm Royal Palace is located right outside of Gamla Stan. If you’re looking for a free activity, you can catch the changing of the gaurds outside the palace daily at 12:15pm on weekdays & 1:15pm on Sundays (it lasts roughly 40 minutes). In order to enter the palace, you need to purchase tickets (which can be done online in advance or at the door). You can see the Royal apartments, staterooms and the treasury. This palace is the working place for the Swedish Royal Family and home to many royal receptions.
- Cost: 170 SEK (~$17)
- Book Tickets: Stockholm Royal Palace
- Time Needed: 1-2 hours
ABBA Museum
The ABBA Museum is one of the most fun museums we have ever visited! Their motto is “Walk in, Dance Out” and it’s true! In this museum you learn the history behind the famous band, see tons of memorabilia and participate in some interactive exhibits. To learn more about our personal experience there, check out our previous post: ABBA Museum.
- Cost: 290 SEK (~$28)
- Book Tickets: ABBA Museum
- Time Needed: 2 hours
Drottingholm Palace
One of the top Stockholm sights is actually 30 minutes outside the city center! Drottingholm Palace is home to historic staterooms and expansive gardens. While exploring the gardens behind the palace are free, you will need to pay an entrance fee to tour the rooms inside. Fun Fact: Drottingholm Palace is home to the Swedish Royal Family so this palace is actively in use! For more information on how to take this day trip from Stockholm, visit our post: Drottingholm Palace.
- Cost: 150 SEK (~$13.50)
- Book Tickets: Drottingholm Palace
- Time Needed: 1/2 day
Fika
Fika is often translated as a coffee break (taken by Swedes habitually around 10:00am & 3:00pm daily), but it’s much more than that! It is a moment to slow down and enjoy time with friends, family members or coworkers over a hot drink & snack. It’s important to immerse yourself in local culture while traveling so we’ve added fika to our Stockholm guide as it’s a must-do! For information on where we enjoyed fika and the best meals we ate during our trip, check out our previous post: The Best Restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Cost: 30-100 SEK (~$3-$9)
- Time Needed: 15-30 minutes
Stockholm City Hall
One of the best tours you can take in Stockholm is located inside their famous city hall! Offered multiple times throughout the day, you can purchase your tickets in the gift shop and for 45 minutes be escorted around the many beautiful rooms inside Stockholm’s working city hall. One of the most famous rooms inside is the Blue Room, home to the Nobel Peace Prize banquet each year. More information about the rooms you’ll see on this tour can be found in our previous post: Stockholm City Hall.
- Cost: 140 SEK (~$14)
- More Information: Stockholm City Hall
- Time Needed: 1 hour
Riddarholmen Church
Right next to Gamla Stan, you’ll find the small island of Riddarholmen. Here you can find Riddarholmen Church, the burial place for Swedish monarchs, and one of the top Stockholm sights. Its steeple is iconic in Stockholms sky line and can be seen from many parts of the city! While you can get tickets to enter the church, we didn’t have time so admired it only from the outside. The island of Riddarholmen offers great views of Stockholm City Hall from across the water as well!
- Cost: 65 SEK (~$7)
- Book Tickets: Riddarholmen Church
- Time Needed: 1 hour
Ice Bar
If you’re looking for a fun evening activity, we recommend checking out Ice Bar Stockholm. It’s located near the train station and your ticket includes entrance for 1 hour, the proper gear (jacket & gloves) as well as one drink, served in a glass made of ice! We had a lot of laughs checking out the ice bar and sipping our drinks while bundled up. It’s definitely one of the top Stockholm sights for those seeking something unique & fun!
- Cost: 240 SEK (~$24)
- Book Tickets: Ice Bar Stockholm
- Time Needed: 1 hour
Food Tour
One thing that surprised us about our trip to Scandinavia, was how much we enjoyed the food! If you’re not familiar with Swedish cuisine, we recommend taking a Food Tour to learn more. While we didn’t personally take this tour, the Nordic Food Walk* takes you to local markets to sample traditional food along the way! If a tour isn’t your style, we recommend checking out our blog post for the best restaurants in Stockholm!
- Cost: $96
- Book Tickets: Nordic Food Walk*
- Time Needed: 4 hours
Stockholm Accommodation
We stayed 4 nights at Residence Perseus, which offers apartments for rent in Gamla Stan. The location was truly a dream for visiting top Stockholm sights – central enough that we could walk everywhere, but on a quiet road so we didn’t have to worry about loud noise at night! We rented the apartment called “Glory 1”, which comes with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room space (that could also be used as another bedroom thanks to the pull out couch)!
Stockholm Travel Tips
Transportation
- Public transportation is very accessible in Stockholm, so you can ride a ferry, bus or metro to get around.
- We recommend downloading the SL-Journey Planner Mobile app and purchase a pass based on the number of days you’ll be in Stockholm.
- Taxis and Ubers are also available in the city.
Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Sweden, as it is in the US, because most servers are not dependent on tips. If your server was exceptionally friendly, you may want to leave 5-10%.
- Many places include a service charge on their bill, so take a look before adding any additional tip.
Weather
- Stockholm is far North which means it has colder winters and moderate Summers.
- Temperatures range from 18-35 F in the Winter to 50-65 F in the Summer.
General
- Saying hello in Swedish is easy: Hej (Pronounced “Hey”)
