free tourist attractions in stockholm

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Free Things to Do in Stockholm

As local tour guides who live on a budget here in Stockholm, we take advantage of the free things there are to do in our city.

In this post, we share 21 of our favorite free (or very cheap) things to do including free museums and attractions, free things to do at night and family-friendly activities that don't cost a thing.

1. View the Changing of the Royal Guard

This popular 40-minute ceremony takes place daily in front of the royal palace. 

Swedish Armed Forces guard march in time with a military band as they hand over protection of the royal family to the next squad. 

There is no cost Ceremony times can be found here .

2. Visit the Nobelmuseet

The Nobel Prize museum can be found in the Gamla stan in one of Stockholm’s 18th-century buildings. 

The exhibits cover Alfred Nobel, an inventor and the founder of the prize, as well as other Nobel Laureates, celebrating the fact that  “ideas can change the world”.

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It's always free for children and youth, aged 18 and under. Check out the website to see any special dates it may be free for adults as well. 

TIP: It's always free for holders of a money-saving Stockholm Tourist Attraction Pass .

3. Discover Medieval Stockholm at the Medeltidsmuseet 

Here you will find a medieval graveyard loaded with skeletons, a warship, a city wall, life-sized replicas of medieval buildings, and a display of Stockholm's beginnings centuries ago.

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There is something of interest to both adults and children, and entrance is free.  Find more information here.

4. Stroll through Gamla Stan

Old town Stockholm is pedestrian-friendly and packed with charming buildings edging cobblestone streets.

In addition to cafes and restaurants, there are 11 museums, the Royal Palace, three medieval churches, the stock exchange building where the Nobel Prize is announced, and many tourist shops.

5. Take a Free Walking Tour

If you're on a budget, a free walking tour is one of the best ways to see Stockholm.

With these tours, you tip only what you think the tour was worth and you aren't required to pay anything. 

Read our post on a few different companies that offer free walking tours.

6. People-Watch in Kungsträdgården

One of the city's oldest parks, Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden), is one of the city's most popular meeting spots.

Here you’ll find Cherry Blossom trees, flowers, festivals, concerts, restaurants and cafes, fountains, and more. It’s the perfect spot to relax, have a cup of tea and people-watch.

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The park is located  here  in the Normalm district of Stockholm, on the water. 

If you have  the Stockholm Pass  the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus makes a stop at the end of the park.

7. Free Museums

Several museums in Stockholm, like the Medieval Museum mentioned above, are free to visit.

Below is a list of museums that offer free admission on specific days or times.

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• Moderna Museet (Modern Art) Free entrance on Fridays from 18:00 to 20:00
• Bonniers Konsthall (Contemporary Art) Free entrance all day on Fridays
• The Jewish Museum Free entrance on Saturdays from11:00 to 12:00
• Museum of Ethnography Free admission on Tuesdays from 14:00 to 17:00
• Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities Free admission on Wednesdays from 14:00 to 17:00
• Museum of Mediterranean Antiquities Free admission on Wednesdays from 14:00 to 17:00

8 . Go ice skating in the center of Stockholm

Speaking of things to do in Kungsträdgården, during some months there's ice skating in the park, even at night.

Entry to this fairy-light-draped-rink is free to enter, and skates can be cheaply rented if you don’t have your own.

Visit  here  for their schedule.

9. View the World’s Longest Art Gallery While Riding the T-bana

90 of Stockholm’s 100 t-bana (subway) stations are decorated with themes reflecting an important time in Swedish history or a subject relating to Stockholm.

Décor has been created using tiles, paintings, drawings, sculptures, lighting, and more.

Information on tickets and travel cards can be found  here .

10. Walk Amongst the Graves of Skogskyrkogården

This world heritage site is home to an early 20th-century graveyard, one whose design of the natural and architectural have become the model for cemeteries around the world. 

Visit the Mediation Hill, chapels and buildings, and even the simple gravestone of one of Sweden’s most famous exports, Greta Garbo.

A visitor and audio tour can be found here .

11. Window Shop in Stockholm's Hippest Neighborhood  

Sofo (South of Folkungagatan) sits in the Sodermalm district.

The neighborhood was named by those who wanted to mimic the coolness of the Sohos of London and New York.

Here you'll find places that are kitschy, colorful, or just plain creative.

In addition to boutiques, design showrooms, music shops, and vintage stores, you'll find it a better spot for rubbing shoulders with locals than some of the more touristy areas of the city. 

12. Follow a Self-Guided Tour

If you want the freedom to explore Stockholm at your own pace, consider downloading an audio tour.  All you need is your cell phone. 

Click here  to find one short and one much longer self-guided audio tour.  

13. Visit An Old Church

Katarina Kyrka , named after the mother of one of Sweden’s Kings, is over 325 years old and one of Stockholm’s most important churches.

The church has been rebuilt more than once due to damage from fires.

It's a stunning yellow beauty with gold decor, a front-facing clock, and a dark-tiled octagonal dome. 

There are free 20-minute pipe organ concerts a few times a week, in addition to other cultural events For information on activities at the church, visit  here .

14. Eat at Östermalms Saluhall

One of the largest food halls in the world, Östermalms, opened in 1888. You can find all sorts of Swedish delicacies such as reindeer and moose meats.

Of course, it also includes regular daily fare such as fish, bread, vegetables, potatoes, fruits, and cheeses.

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Casual, and within a 10-minute walk from the city center, it is soon to move back from across the street after a three-year renovation.

Entry is free. The address and hours of operation can be found here .

15. Take pictures from Monteliusvägen or Fjällgatan

Monteliusvägen is considered to have one of the best views in the city.

Follow this footpath along the cliffs of Södermalm, catching sight of Stockholm City Hall across the water in one direction and Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, across the other. 

Another stunning view can be had from Fjällgatan, also in Södermalm, along the edge of a cliff. This is a great spot for a panoramic view of the city.

Fjällgatan is a popular stop on the city bus tours, so that provides another way of getting there: 

16. Let Your Kids Run in Mulle Meck Park

Mulle Meck Park was built to be interactive. It's located in Järvastaden, the children's district of Stockholm. 

Kids have access to airplanes, boats, houses, rocket ships, a garage, a zip line, a water pump and more. It's the perfect place to let their imaginations fly!

Access to the park is free and parking is close by.

More information about the park .

17. Visit  Stockholm's Parliament Building  

On the little island between Gamla stan and Stockholm’s city center, is Sweden’s Parliament, one of the city’s most recognizable buildings.

As Swedes say, “Openness and transparency are central to Swedish democracy” – therefore guests are welcome at hearings, debates, and votes.

Tours go out five times a day though they are limited to only 28 people in each.

Read more about theses tours .

18. Take a picture of Stockholm's Narrowest Alley

Not for the claustrophobic, the Mårten Trötzigs Gränd is a high-walled narrow alley in Galma stan, one with a width that tapers down to just 35 inches. 

If you have  the Stockholm Pass  the hop on hop off tour visits Galma Stan. 

19. Take You Own Millenium Series Tour through Södermalm

If you're a fan of the best-selling, Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, you might enjoy visiting the neighborhood where the characters and the author frequented!

Follow the map at the bottom of the page  here .

20. View Stockholm From the Top of One of Stockholm's Most Well Known Buildings

The world's largest spherical building is known to Swedes as "the Globe" (pronounced gloo-ben).

Its exterior round glass elevator, Skyview, takes you to the very top of the building where you can look out over the city at 400 feet above sea level. 

Entry to Skyview is free with both  the Stockholm Pass and the IVenture Card .

21. Visit a Documentary Photography Gallery

Galleri Kontrast is owned by the Swedish Press Photographers Club, has a fantastic reputation for its display of photojournalism photography.

As Sweden's newspapers fund the gallery, entrance is free. Opening times can be found  here . 

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11 Top Things to Do for Free in Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden is known to be an expensive city, but many travelers don't know that there are numerous free things to do in Stockholm as well.

Consider a Swedish City Card, a travel discount card which offers travelers in Sweden cheap or free transportation in Swedish cities, along with many other discounts.

You can visit beautiful churches and museums, see the changing of the guard at the King's residence and even laze on the beach—all without spending a Krona. As you travel, you'll want to speak a little Swedish with  phrases will help you connect with the locals.

Take a look at this travel season's 10 best activities and sights in Stockholm that are ideal for a traveler on a budget. A map of the area can help to get you started.

See the Changing of the Royal Guard

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

The guard of the Swedish royal family consists of 30,000 individual guards. Watching this free 40-minute event in front of the residence of the King of Sweden is a very popular attraction in Stockholm.

The Royal Guard ceremony is scheduled differently in the summer than in the winter. From April 23 to August 31, the ceremonial march through central Stockholm is accompanied by a full military band from the Swedish Armed Forces Music Center. On the King's birthday, April 30, the guards parade to the royal palace on horseback.

No matter what the season, the changing of the guard is a ceremony worth seeing.

Take a Walking Tour of Djurgården

Stockholm's Djurgården, a nature park, is an island right in the middle of Stockholm, known for its beautiful green spaces and many sights. Two significant attractions do have entry fees. The park is known for the Vasa Museum, which houses the 17th-century warship that is a must-see. At the Skansen open-air museum, you can see Swedish craftspeople and a living history village.

However, it costs nothing to walk on the island and savor the views. From any point in Stockholm, this free walking tour takes about 2 to 2.5 hours and will show you the best of Djurgården island.

Visit Stockholm's Beautiful Churches

 Taylor McIntyre/TripSavvy

Enter the churches of Stockholm and enjoy the beautiful artwork inside. The following churches in Stockholm are worth visiting and, of course, offer free entry:

• The Royal Cathedral ("Storkyrkan") in Stockholm in Gamla Stan, was built in 1279.
• The Katarina Church at Högbergsgatan 15 is one of the major churches of central Stockholm.
• St. Maria Magdalena at St. Paulsgatan 10 on Sodermalm is constructed in the Baroque style of architecture.
• Riddarholmen Church is close to the royal palace and serves as the final resting place of most Swedish monarchs. 
• The Gustav Vasa Church along Karlbergsvägen is the biggest church in Stockholm and was named after 16th century King Gustav Vasa.

Visit the Museums

Even visiting a museum can be free in Stockholm. There's free admission at both the Moderna Museet (modern art and sculptures) and the Arkitekturmuseet (architecture and design). You'll find both of them next to the National Museum (which unfortunately isn't free) on the island of Skeppsholmen.

Ride Stockholm's Free and Low-Cost Public Transportation

With the Swedish city card, you get free public transportation and free admission to countless attractions in Stockholm. The card pays for itself immediately.The Stockholm Card ( Stockholmskortet in Swedish) includes free admission to over 75 museums and attractions, free boat tours, and discounts at hotels and restaurants. There are city cards for other Swedish cities such as Goteborg and Malmo.

With the SL Tourist Card you will get free public transportation through Greater Stockholm and free admission to the  Grona Lund amusement park . You can purchase these cards online.

Your other option for "almost-free" transportation would be using Stockholm's CityBikes , the popular bicycle rental service ideal in good weather .

Relax at Two Free Beaches

Långholmsbadet and Smedsuddsbadet are two swimming beaches right in Stockholm, so you don't even have to go anywhere. In the summer these are very popular beaches for sunbathers, especially on weekends. Go in the morning to get a good spot.

Go Ice Skating

Kungstradgarden (known as Kungsan) is a popular destination for both summer and winter travelers. In winter, Stockholm offers a popular free activity—ice skating. From mid-November until March, with live music and warming refreshments, you can take your turn on the ice. In summer, Kungstradgarden is an outdoor venue offering free events such as concerts.

Enjoy Free Annual Events

There are festivals and events happening year around. The best part about the many of these fun events is that they're completely free:

• Midsummers Eve celebrations (June)
• The "Taste of Stockholm" Festival (June)
• The Stockholm Pride Festival (July/August)
• Nobel Prize Award lectures (December)

Peruse Modern Art

Moderna Museet  (modern art museum) has a world-class collection of 20th and 21st-century art and photography. They offer free entry on Fridays after 6 p.m. The museum is located on the central island of Skeppsholmen.

You can see works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Henri Matisse among many others. After enjoying the art, you can relax at the museum cafe.

Stroll the Södermalm District

Tobias Ackeborn / Getty Images

Södermalm  (often shortened to Söder) is a trendy neighborhood, located both on the island of Södermalm and the surrounding areas. It's a hip place with vintage clothing boutiques, art galleries, bistros, and bars. There are also parks to stroll where you can relax and take in the views. The City Museum of Stockholm (re-opening in 2019) is also there.

Wander Through Medieval Old Town

Stockholm's Old Town ( Gamla Stan ) is fun to explore on foot. It's the largest and best preserved medieval city center in Europe and is the site where Stockholm was established in 1252. The main streets like Västerlånggatan and Stora Nygatan are good to explore but don't miss walking the cobblestone streets of Mårten Trotzigs Gränd which is the narrowest alley in Stockholm. It's a great place to go shopping for souvenirs and handicrafts.

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THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Stockholm

Best free things to do in stockholm.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen
• Sodermalm Borough
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Stockholm Old Town

2. Kungliga Djurgården

3. Östermalm Saluhall

4. Monteliusvagen

5. Historiska Museet

6. Sodermalm

7. Stortorget

8. Medeltidsmuseet

9. Army Museum

10. Skogskyrkogården

11. Nationalmuseum

12. Rosendals Garden

13. Skeppsholmen

14. Fjallgatan

15. Stockholms Stadsbibliotek

16. Lake Malaren

17. Parliament Building (Riksdagshuset)

18. Kungstradgarden Park

19. Strandvagen

20. Ostermalm

21. The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet)

22. Järnpojken

23. Fjaderholmarna

24. Skinnarviksberget

25. Iglesia Alemana

26. Stockholm City Museum

27. Nordiska Kompaniet - Stockholm

28. Langholmen

29. Norrmalm

30. Kulturhuset Stadsteatern

What travelers are saying.

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Top 10 Free Attractions in Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is without doubt a beautiful city. Everywhere you go you are close to water as the city is spread out across 14 unique islands. Just outside, the spectacular archipelago awaits with more than 1000 islands. Our Stockholm specialist Lisa is happy to share her top 10 list of free attractions in Stockholm.

Lisa J Cooke

Lisa is part of our travel consultant team and our Stockholm expert. Today she lives in Göteborg, but has been living 3 years in Stockholm.

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Add to favourites, would you like to visit stockholm, have a look at our recommended tours.

Stockholm is the largest city in Scandinavia and in this vibrant city you'll always find something to do between the museums, the green spaces, historic streets and buildings. Here are my top ten tips for a free day out in this amazing capital. Oh, and don’t forget the traditional “fika” typically made up by a nice coffee break with a cinnamon bun!

1. Djurgården

Djurgården is one of the city islands of Stockholm. Here you can find many of Stockholm’s most interesting museums, but Djurgården is also a great place for long walks in lush nature. Start your walk from Strandvägen or take the one and only tram in Stockholm to Djurgården and get off at “Djurgårdsbron” at the end of Strandvägen. From here you continue your walk along the water, please see the recommended 2-hour walk on Djurgården . If you get hungry, visit the restaurant Djurgårdsbrunn and enjoy lunch by the water.  

2. Rosendal’s Garden

Rosendal’s Garden is located on Djurgården and is open to the public. On a nice warm day, you can easily spend a few hours here marvelling at the orchards, flowerbeds and beautiful apple trees. You can also see and learn about the biodynamic cultivation of vegetables, flowers and fruit. Visit the exhibitions or simply relax on a rug under an apple tree. The café serves lunch, sandwiches and cakes, using only ecological ingredients of the season.

3. Gamla Stan (Old town)

You cannot visit Stockholm without strolling up and down the narrow medieval cobbled streets of Gamla Stan – the Old town of Stockholm, which is also its own separate island. Here is where the history of Stockholm started about one thousand years ago. You can find the Cathedral, Nobel museum and the Royal Palace here, but also many small shops, cosy cafés and restaurants.

4. Östermalmshallen food hall

One of Stockholm’s most significant food halls is “ Östermalmshallen ”. Östermalms Saluhall has been named "The world's 7th best food hall" by the prestigious and award-winning magazine Bon Appétit in 2007. The market hall is from the 1880s, and you will find numerous restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy traditional Swedish delicacies. I can especially recommend the restaurant Lisa Elmquist for fresh fish and shellfish. Östermalms Saluhall is located at Östermalmstorg in the heart of Stockholm. The market hall is currently being renovated and the food stalls and restaurants are moved to a temporary covered market situated on the square. The renovation will finish winter 2020.

5. City beaches

In central Stockholm you can go swimming! Popular beaches include Långsholmsbadet, Smedsundsbadet and Oxhålsbadet , take your pick!

Enjoy art, architecture, history, and culture for free! Many museums in Stockholm offer free admission! For instance, visit the Nordic Museum, Nobel Prize Museum and the Modern Art museum on Skeppsholmen. The opening times for free admissions vary, you can find further information here.  

7. The King’s Garden

A perfect spot for people-watching and ice cream in the sun! This is one of Stockholm’s oldest public parks and in the spring time many people come to enjoy the pink cherry blossoms lighting up the park. You may also find free performances, concerts and entertainment on a nice day. In winter time many Stockholmers come here to ice skate.

8. The Katarina Elevator

This elevator was constructed in 1881, and even though it is now out of service, it is well worth the climb up the stairs to enjoy one of the best views of Stockholm! Come in the evening and admire the sunset. Located just by Slussen on the Söderström river connecting Södermalm and Gamla stan.

9. Free walking tours

Free Tour Stockholm offers three great tours covering most of central Stockholm (City Tour, Söder Tour and Old Town Tour). The expert guide will show you the sites and talks about the city’s history during the 1,5-2-hour walk. Stroll through the narrow alleyways of the Old Town or visit fashionable Södermalm or select the tour of the modern city area. The tours are free, but if you like the experience you are welcome to leave an optional tip with your guide. You don’t need a booking, just show up at the meeting place in time for the tour to start.

10. Riksdagen (the Swedish parliament)

Yes, you can visit the Swedish parliament. From the middle of September until June, while the Riksdag is in session, guided tours for the public are held on Saturdays and Sundays. During the summer guided tours will be held on weekdays. It is not possible to book the tours in advance.

By Lisa Jörgensen Cooke / Nov 08 2021

Recommended tours.

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THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Stockholm

Best free things to do in stockholm.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen
• Sodermalm Borough
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Stockholm Old Town

2. Kungliga Djurgården

3. Östermalm Saluhall

4. Monteliusvagen

5. Historiska Museet

6. Sodermalm

7. Stortorget

8. Medeltidsmuseet

9. Army Museum

10. Skogskyrkogården

11. Nationalmuseum

12. Rosendals Garden

13. Skeppsholmen

14. Fjallgatan

15. Stockholms Stadsbibliotek

16. Lake Malaren

17. Parliament Building (Riksdagshuset)

18. Kungstradgarden Park

19. Strandvagen

20. Ostermalm

21. The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet)

22. Järnpojken

23. Fjaderholmarna

24. Skinnarviksberget

25. Iglesia Alemana

26. Stockholm City Museum

27. Nordiska Kompaniet - Stockholm

28. Langholmen

29. Norrmalm

30. Kulturhuset Stadsteatern

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50 free ways to enjoy Stockholm

Posted By Lola A. Åkerström on Jul 21, 2015

We’ve compiled a resource of 50 free things to do in Stockholm – from museums and tours to concerts and other activities – to help you plan your travel budget while exploring and immersing in Stockholm.

All photos by author.

As much as we try to convince travelers to Stockholm to stay longer and travel slower , and that our city isn’t as expensive as they assume, it’s still on the higher end by European city standards.

That said, there are many ways you can enjoy lots of free things to do in Stockholm and I’ve compiled activities, local experiences, and events that appeal to a variety of tastes. Some of these experiences are seasonal and I’ve denoted them if so.

And as always, please check individual websites for full schedules and opening hours where applicable.

• Take a free walking tour around Stockholm through Stockholm Free Tours ,  Free Tours Stockholm or Free Walking Tour Stockholm .
• Learn all about Swedish design and architecture for free at the Architecture & Design Center . Free admission every Friday from 4-6pm.
• The Maritime Museum – Sjöhistorika museet – provides free daily admission to explore Sweden’s nautical past and present as well as its history in shipbuilding and maritime archaeology.
• Wander around the eclectic neighborhood of Södermalm  for vintage stores, ethnic restaurants, offbeat nightlife, and cozy cafes.
• Photographers – head up high for the best panoramic views of Stockholm .
• Learn Swedish for free at a Språkcafé . These are free language meetups usually held at libraries, bookshops, and cafés around town where you can meet with locals to learn and practice your Swedish for free.
• Catch the changing of the guards at the Royal Place. During the summer, it takes place daily at 12:15pm except Sundays and holidays which is at 1:15pm.
• Go swimming in Stockholm’s canals and beaches . Popular beaches are Långholmsbadet and Smedsuddsbadet alongside Brunnsviksbadet, Fredhällsbadet, Fjäderholmarnas bad, and Oxhålsbadet.
• Explore lush Djurgården with its flower gardens, green spaces, parks, and forests – all backdrops to some of the best museums in town.
• If you have kids, Rum för Barn (Room for kids)  is a children’s library which allows you to read (free) and borrow (if you have a Stockholm library card) books in many languages as well as let your kid try their hands at painting and sculpting, listen to stories and fairy tales, participate in sing-alongs, and other daily activities organized by staff.

• Explore the world’s longest art museum – Stockholm’s subway system – with a free guided art tour.
• Take in modern contemporary art for free at Moderna Museet (The Museum of Modern art) on Fridays between 6-8pm.
• Catch a free summer theatre in the park. Called Parkteatern , from May through September, there’s a schedule of live performances, concerts, entertainment, and plays going on in various parks across the city (Summer) .
• Get lost in Stockholm’s old town Gamla stan’s labyrinth of photogenic cobblestone alleys.
• An insider tip for you – If you’re pushing a child in a stroller, you can actually ride the public buses for free. Check out 20 more insider tips for Stockholm .
• If you enjoy Medieval and Viking history, then learn all about the middle ages and the Viking era for free at the Medeltidsmusee t (Medieval Museum).
• Explore Stockholm’s historic food halls – Östermalms Saluhall, Hötorgshallen, and Söderhallarna. They are perfect places for vibrant photography and will definitely induce hunger.
• There are usually free displays and exhibitions going on at iconic Kulturhuset located right in the heart of town at Sergels torg.
• There are 38 free outdoor gyms all across Stockholm you can use to get your workouts in. You can learn more over at our friends, Stockholm on a Shoestring .
• Check out some free summer culture and arts festivals such as Stockholm Kulturfestival, Stockholm Pride, and Stockholm Street Festival (Summer) .

• There are a handful of free winter festivals for you to enjoy as well such as the Stockholm Winter Show (Winter) .
• Explore Stockholm’s public libraries particularly the visually stunning Stadsbibliotek with its circular interior architecture and Kungliga Biblioteket – Sweden’s National Library.
• Check out Stockholm’s Christmas markets (Winter) .
• If you’re an avid runner, check out these free curated running trails all over Stockholm.
• While you would have to pay for your cocktails, you can actually get into many lounge bars and some nightclubs to enjoy their DJs and live music for no cover charge if you come early enough. For example, popular music club Debaser lets you in for free before 10pm and Södra Teatern has a calender of free musical and club acts as well. Lydmar Hotel also hosts its Lydmar Summer Sessions with DJs spinning every day during the summer with free entry.
• If you enjoy the performing arts, Dansmuseet – The Museum for Perfoming and Visual Arts – is free to enter and you can explore dance and theatre from various cultures including live performances.
• Mill around Kungsträdgården . There are always free performances, events, concerts, and entertainment going on. It’s also the best place in town to catch cherry blossoms in bloom in the spring.
• Galleri Kontrast provides free admission to come view its documentary photography displays and photojournalism exhibitions.
• One of Stockholm’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Skogskyrkogården – The Woodland Cemetery – is one of those rare heritage sites which bears witness to mankind and the fragility of life while celebrating nature, innovation, and all that makes life beautiful.
• Want to try your hands at Frisbee golf? Here are some free Frisbee golf courses in Stockholm where you can play.

• Tour the Riksdag – Swedish Parliament – for free. On offer are hour-long tours that take place every weekend at 1:30pm during the winter and, additionally, four times daily every weekday during the summer. Spaces are limited and usually fill up fast so plan accordingly.
• Go for a relaxing hike around Hellasgården which is a protected nature reserve about 15 minutes from Slussen.
• Sweden’s public radio service, SR, offers  free live concerts  called “Music Place Stockholm” at Radiohuset every Friday at 12.30.  These are very popular and fill up fast so plan an hour ahead to guarantee a spot.
• Explore one of Stockholm’s three major hiking trails – Sörmlandsleden , Upplandsleden , and  Roslagsleden .
• Pack your own lunch and go splay out under the apple orchards at Rosendals Trädgård .
• There are free improv comedy shows you can catch around town. In English too.
• If you love cathedrals and their intricate décor, there are several beautiful churches to explore in Stockholm such as Stockholm Cathedral, Riddarholmen Church, Katarina Church, and Maria Magdalena Church. Most of them offer free concerts and choir performances too.
• The Nobel Museum which chronicles the history of Alfred Nobel, the prestigious award as well as the Nobel Laureates offers free admission on Tuesdays from 5-8pm.
• Browse Meetup.com for free gatherings going on in Stockholm based on your personal interests and hobbies. A solid way to connect with locals and expats.
• The Stockholm City Museum is also free to visit and you can learn about the city’s birth, growth, and modern day lifestyles through various permanent exhibits.

• If you’re traveling with kids, Stockholm is littered with free outdoor playgrounds. Humlegården is a wonderful central park with a popular playground and a skate park as well.
• Listen to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for free during the summer. A long standing tradition in which the royal orchestra plays a free concert at Gärdet at the Maritime Museum (Summer) .
• Spend your Christmas Eve at the world’s oldest open air museum, Skansen . Founded in 1891, it is a visual manifestation of Swedish tradition, culture, history, and folklore. Admission is free on December 24 (Winter) .
• Go ice-skating on frozen Lake Mälaren as well as many ice-rinks around town. You’ll have to bring your own skates of course (Winter) .
• Love collecting coins? You might find The Royal Coin Cabinet  fascinating. It is the national museum of economy with over 2,500 years’ worth of history on coinage. Check it out for free.
• Visit Stockholm’s iconic City Hall (Stadshuset) . While you have to pay to go up its tower for stunning views of the city, you can still explore its grounds and impressive archways for free. Very photogenic building from all angles.
• Go to court…literally. Stockholm’s District Court House (Rådhuset) is an impressive 20 th century Romanesque building. You can visit the building for free to take a look around its architecture, art, and sculptures but you’ll have to go through security check first.
• Take a free Zumba class .The docked Thaiboat Restaurant & Club organizes a free Zumba Caribevibe class at the quay from 4-5pm during the summer months of June-August (Summer) . Other gyms like Zumba Sol offer free test classes as well.
• Another kid-friendly place to explore in town, Rikidrottsmuseet – The National Sports Museum of Sweden – which has exhibitions covering Swedish sports history, its hosting of the 1912 Olympic Games, and its current athletic stars. You can try various sports, activities, and physical challenges as well.
• Enjoy free concerts at Stockholms Konserthus featuring teenage maestros in the making. 16-19 year old classical and jazz musicians take the stage for 20 minutes four times daily during the summer months of June-August (Summer) .

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Check out our What’s On page where you can see a ton more cool (and free) offbeat events happening around Stockholm that get you off the tourist track and deeper into the culture. Gratis i Stockholm is also a wonderful resource for up-to-the-minute free events and experiences in Stockholm (in Swedish only).

For overall value, if you’ll be spending three days or more in Stockholm (which we highly recommend of course), you can look into getting a My Stockholm Pass city card which gives you free admission to 75 attractions, 14 free tours, and tons of discounts.

Here are also some of the best and some free Stockholm apps to download – with everything from the public transport schedules and street food truck locators to discovering the city’s best parks and exploring Stockholm’s history in real-time ( cool app here! ).

Now that you’ve saved all that money through free activities and experiences, be sure to splurge on some of Stockholm’s best seafood restaurants and steakhouses .

Do you know of more free things to do in Stockholm? Please share below and we can compile 50 more tips.

Author: Lola A. Åkerström

Lola Akinmade Åkerström is an award-winning writer, photographer, and travel blogger , and is also the Founder/Editor-in-chief of Slow Travel Stockholm. Her photography is represented by National Geographic Creative. She tweets at @LolaAkinmade .

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110 cheap and free things to do in Stockholm

The Swedish capital is famously expensive but we’ve still managed to create this epic guide showing 110 cheap and free things to do in Stockholm.

Whether you want to go gallery hopping, get behind the wheel of the nation’s newest cars, or simply dress up like the Swedish king, we’ll show you how it’s done.

As this guide is pretty long (and you probably won’t have time to squeeze in all of our recommendations), we’ve divided it up into handy categories.

Click below to hop straight to the section you’re interested in.

• Historic sights and attractions • Fun and entertainment • Museums and galleries • Just chilling • Parks and nature • Excursions and day trips • Tours • Viewpoints and lookouts • Health and fitness • Window shopping • Eating and drinking • Kids

Quick take: the 10  best free things to do

Don’t have time to read the whole list? Here are our 10 very best suggestions.

• Wander through the beautiful Old Town (Gamla Stan)
• Go swimming at one of the city’s unspoilt lakes
• Enjoy the amazing murals on Stockholm’s metro system
• Check out the Swedish delicacies on offer at Östermalms Saluhall
• Soak up epic views of the city from Skinnarviksberget
• Walk across Västerbron and grab some incredible photos
• Get a free tour of the Swedish parliament building
• Ice skate across a frozen lake in winter
• Visit the Stockholm Archipelago for total peace and quiet
• Picnic and play in the city’s many parks

Historic sights and attractions

1) Get lost in the old town, Gamla Stan , and find Stockholm’s narrowest street among the tangle of cobbled lanes.

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd is just 90 cm (three feet) wide. This cheap, guided tour is a good option if you’d like to learn more. Buy tickets here .

2) Find your way to Stortorget, the old town’s main square. In 1520, following the Danish invasion of Stockholm, the square was the scene of a bloodbath – these days it’s a wonderful (if touristy) spot for a coffee.

Try Kaffekoppen  on the western edge of the square, which attracts locals as well as tourists.

3) Go to church. Storkyrkan , Stockholm’s de facto cathedral, charges tourists an admission fee (100 SEK) but it’s included on the Stockholm pass , so if you’ve got one of these entrance is free.

Dating back to 1571,  Tyska Kyrkan (the German Church) charges a nominal entrance fee of around 30 SEK and has a stunning baroque interior.

Alternatively, there are some other beautiful churches in Stockholm that are free to look around, such as the Katarina church in Södermalm.

4) Watch the changing of the guard ceremony. The parade takes place daily in Gamla Stan during summer and at least three times a week during the winter.

The timings of the parade change depending on the season , so check before setting off.

Fun and entertainment

5) Try parkour. Stockholm is home to Sweden’s first purpose-built training ground for parkour.

Located in Nydalsparken, Tensta,   the park is completely free   to use and has a whole bunch of different obstacles to hop over and around.

6) Watch a film in the park. For a few nights each August, free films  are screened under open skies in Rålambhovsparken, on the island of  Kungsholmen .

Go early to get a good space on the grass (and to stock up on popcorn).

7) Play laser tag. This one isn’t strictly free, but it is pretty cheap – head to Laserdome   at St Eriksgatan 56  (on Kungsholmen ) and you’ll get 15 minutes of childish fun for around 85 SEK.

There are ramps, mazes and bridges set across the 600 sq m arena.

8) Go geocaching. Geocaching isn’t just the modern answer to a good old-fashioned treasure hunt; it gives you a good excuse to get off the beaten track and explore areas that tourists don’t usually bother with.

There are hundreds of caches hidden all over the Stockholm area .

9) Rent a bike. Stockholm is great city for cycling with 114 km of cycle paths.

There are plenty of bike rental places around the city, while some hostels also rent out bargain bikes, making it cheap and easy to get around without relying on buses and subway trains.

Another fun way to see Stockholm’s best bits on two wheels is to   join this organised bike tour .

Buy tickets here .

10) Go longboarding through Stockholm’s parks.  City Backpackers has some great boards for rent. Alternatively, you could buy your own board from a shop like Junkyard.

For ramps, pools and street skating, try Kristinebergs Skatepark  on the island of Kungsholmen.

11) Try dancing on ice. During winter, the octagonal ice rink at Kungsträdgården  opens for business.

It’s free to use if you have your own skates – otherwise you can rent a set for around 100 SEK per hour. There are also disco-skating sessions on selected Saturday nights.

12) Play pub games. There are a couple of mega pubs in Stockholm that offer more than the usual dartboards and fruit machines.

At O’Learys Tolv you can go bowling, play ping-pong or mess around on whacky golf simulators for a small fee.

BallBreaker has slot-car racing, billiards and simulators that let you hunt virtual bears and elk (it doesn’t get much more Swedish than that).

13) Watch free stand-up comedy. The Big Ben Pub in Södermalm has free stand-up shows every Monday at 8pm.

Thursdays are international nights, with acts performing in both English and Swedish (80–100 SEK).

14) Listen to free organ music. Escape the noise of the city with a little musical interlude – every Tuesday at 11.15pm, Adolfs Frediks kyrka in Norrmalm has free recitals.

15) Head to the  Lida Nature Reserve to do some winter sports. Tobogganing, cross-country skiing and ice-skating are all free (though you can rent skis and skates if you don’t have your own).

16) Go bouldering. There are some good, purpose-built bouldering walls near the play park in  Rålambshovsparken . Just turn up and start climbing.

17) Watch a free performance. Check out the many free gigs, plays and cultural activities that take place across Stockholm in summer.

Parkteatern  puts on free outdoor shows from theatre to opera to jazz and dance performances from June–August.

18) Play a round of frisbee golf. There are a full 18 holes to try out at   Visättra Discgolf  in Huddinge, which has free entry.

19) Grab a beer at Pub Anchor and watch some real-life head-banging karaoke unfold before your eyes every Tuesday and Sunday, or listen to live cover bands on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Museums and galleries

20) Visit Stockholm’s Sports Museum to find out all about sports in Sweden, including the city’s 1912 Olympic Games. You can also try out various sports activities, such as using running blocks, and it’s all completely free.

21) See how Sweden conquered the seas at the maritime museum, Sjöhistoriska , which costs just 120 SEK to visit.

22) Go to court (without committing a crime). You’ll have to pass security to get inside Stockholm’s courthouse, Rådhuset , but there’s no admission fee – and it’s one of the best examples of the  national romantic architectural style in Sweden.

23) See some of the world’s biggest coins (which weigh in at almost 20kg!) and explore Sweden’s Viking history at Stockholm’s  history museum .

It’s always free for under 19s, and admission on Wednesdays from 5–8pm is 75 SEK. At other times all over 19s pay 150 SEK.

24) Learn what it takes to win a Nobel Prize at  Nobelmuseet , which tells the stories of past recipients. It’s normally 140 SEK to get inside, but admission is free if you have a Stockholm Pass.

25) Head to Nordiska Museet for the inside track on Swedish traditions.

Look out for the quirky part of the museum dedicated to Swedish table settings, which shows how attitudes to entertaining have changed throughout the ages.

It’s 170 SEK to enter, or you can get free admission with the  Stockholm Pass .

26) Check out the contemporary art exhibitions on display at the Bonniers Konsthall . Admission is 130 SEK, but it’s completely free on Fridays and all week if you’ve got a Stockholm Pass .

27)  Wander among the trippy sculptures in the grounds around Moderna Museet , which are always free to visit. The museum’s main collection is free on Fridays from 6–8pm; at other times it costs 150 SEK.

28) One of Sweden’s oldest museums, the Royal Armoury Museum displays costumes and arms belonging to the Swedish royal family.

Entrance is half-price (75 SEK) on Thursday evenings from 5–8pm: at other times admission is 150 SEK.

29)  Admire the art in the metro. Stockholm’s metro is like one giant gallery, with 94 of its 100 stations boasting artworks, sculptures and exhibitions by some 250 artists.

All you need is a metro ticket and you can ride round and enjoy the artworks for free.

30) Visit a commercial gallery. There are lots of small ones worth visiting around Stockholm, including the Lars Bohman Gallery  at Karlavägen 9, which shows off works by Swedish greats like Lars Lerin.

31)  Visit Scandinavia’s only Japanese teahouse.

Browse round the Ethnografiska on Djurgården and admire some of the 8000 cultural and ethnic artefacts that were collected during round-the-world sailing trips and expeditions from the 17 th to 20 th centuries.

It’s free to enter on Tuesdays from 2–5pm. At other times, tickets cost 150 SEK, or you can buy an annual pass that gives you unlimited entry to the museum plus three others for a year for a bargain 250 SEK.

Just chilling

32) Marvel at the vast curved bookshelves in Stockholm’s distinctive City Library , which was built in 1928 and holds more than 400,000 books. There’s no charge to get in.

33) If you’re hungry for more book-based sightseeing, head to Kungliga Biblioteket in Humlegården – the main reading room is packed with beautifully bound books.

34) Enjoy a stroll along the waterfront on Skeppsholmen, admiring what might just be the world’s most beautiful floating hostel .

35) Pray for sunny weather and go for a picnic in one of Stockholm’s best parks. Need a recommendation? Try Humlegården, Hagaparken or anywhere green on Djurgården .

This tour of the Old Town , Djurgården and the Vasa Museum is a good option if you’d rather have a guide. Buy tickets here .

36) Practice your Swedish (or Spanish, or Arabic, or German…) at one of Stockholm’s language cafés.  This site  has details of upcoming events at libraries across the city.

37) Kick back while listening to free music at Lilla Hotellbaren, part of the Scandic Malmen hotel , where DJs and live music play six evenings a week.

Some live concerts are ticketed, other music evenings are free: all you need is the price of a drink.

38) If you’re in Stockholm on a cloud-free summer’s day, grab a pedal boat from Restaurant Djurgårdsbron  (300 SEK an hour) and  soak up the sun as you splosh about, snapping pictures of the ridiculously pretty skyline.

39) Grab a perfect photo of  Stockholm City Hall while listening to the buskers on the Riksbron bridge, at the southern end of Drottninggatan.

Parks and nature

40) Get a taste for Swedish design by admiring the 500-or-so functionalist villas in Södra Ängby, a leafy residential area that’s now protected by Swedish law.   This map shows where it is .

41) Discover the weird and wonderful buildings dotted around Hagaparken , including a Chinese pagoda and a copper ‘tent’ that looks like it’s fallen straight from a book of fairytales.

There’s also a butterfly park and an aquarium.

42) See (and smell) some of the world’s most dazzling plants at Bergianska Trädgården , a botanical garden with two impressive glasshouses.

You can visit the outdoor grounds and gardens for free, while entry to the Edvard Anderson Conservatory is 100 SEK and admission to the Victoria House costs just 20 SEK.

43) Get lost on Djurgården . Most tourists only come for the museums , but there’s enough pretty parkland on the island for a thousand free walks.

44) See the cherry trees burst into life in  Kungsträdgården . They usually start blossoming in early April , and the show lasts just a couple of weeks at most.

45) Explore the orchards and other fruit and veg gardens at  Rosendals Trädgård , where all the produce is biodynamic, organic and sustainable.

You can either bring a picnic and eat it in the gardens or try the tasty home-grown dishes at the on-site café.

46) Find the final resting place of Swedish actress Greta Garbo among the countless tombstones at Skogskyrkogården , one of three World Heritage Sites in Stockholm, and the only one that’s free to visit.

47)  Go skating in Tantolunden Park. OK, so you’ll have to wait til a cold snap, when the shores of the lake freeze over, but this large inner-city park is a great place for some outdoor activity.

If you haven’t got your own skates, you can watch the locals take to ice or join them in sledging down the park’s hills.

Excursions and day trips

48) Go on the hunt for berries. If the season is right (late summer) you’ll find tasty berries growing wild all over the place in Sweden. Tyresta Nationalpark , around 25km south of Stockholm, is a great place to start.

You can pick as many as you want for personal consumption – just make sure you know what you’re eating.

49) Swedes love picking and eating mushrooms and you can join them towards the tail end of the summer, when yummy chanterelles start popping up in the forests near Stockholm.

Try a day trip to the forests in the eastern part of Djurgården . And again, make sure the mushrooms you’re collecting are safe to eat (or you definitely won’t be a fungi to be with).

50) Get a taste for archipelago life by visiting  Vaxholm , a pretty island with a fortress just offshore. As there’s a bridge to the island, you can get there and back using Stockholm’s affordable public transport network .

Alternatively, you can explore the island from the water on this fun  half-day kayak tour . And if you want to visit the island’s fortress, it’s included in the Stockholm pass.

Buy one here .

51) Take the tram. Stockholm has plenty of bus and subway lines, but trams only operate in one part of the city.

The old-fashioned carriages that loop past Djurgården’s most popular museums make a fun alternative to walking, and they’re the same price as the snazzy modern trams which cover the same route.

Single tickets are around 42 SEK.

52) See Stockholm from the water by riding  Djurgårdsfärjan , the ferry service that runs year-round between Slussen and Djurgården, taking about ten minutes. Public transport passes are valid on the boats.

53) Go exploring on an electric bike. Cycling is very popular in Stockholm, but if you’re not feeling energetic there are plenty of places that rent out e-bikes by the hour, day or week.

Electric bikes with Rentbike start at around 480 SEK a day.

But if you’d rather explore with a local guide, this fun guided e-bike tour take you round the trendy district of Sodermalm. You can buy tickets here .

54)  Escape to an island. Using the ferries run by  Waxholmsbolaget you can get to beautifully sleepy islands in the Stockholm Archipelago with fares starting from as low as 61 SEK.

Car-free Finnhamn takes around five hours to reach from central Stockholm and has just one laid-back hostel, along with a few cottages. There are tips on the best islands to visit in this guide .

If you’d rather explore the archipelago at a slower pace, try this  full-day guided tour of the archipelago by kayak .

And if you’ve got a Stockholm pass, you get a boat trip round some of the archipelago’s islands included for free. Buy one here .

55) Gawp at the grand old oak trees in  The Royal National City Park .

56) Take a north-south walk through the heart of Stockholm. Start at Sergels Torg, the huge pedestrianised square in Norrmalm and head all the way south to the bottom of Södermalm , passing through Gamla Stan along the way.

This hop-on, hop-off bus tour  is a good alternative if you’d rather not walk too far. You’ll get a good feel for Stockholm’s old and new sides and see a lot of sights along the way.

And it’s free if you’ve got a Stockholm pass .

57) A good alternative is to pick a central island and walk the whole way around it.  Långholmen is a very pretty one to begin with, offering good views and clean air.

58) Seek out Söderbysjön. Just a short bus ride from Stockholm, this beautiful lake is surrounded by woods and has a small sandy beach for swimming. Better still, leap off the rocks into the refreshing water.

59) Camp wild. Thanks to Sweden’s right to roam, which is enshrined in law, your options for free camping near Stockholm are practically limitless. Follow the advice in our camping guide and you won’t go far wrong.

60) Try some circus skills. Head out to the suburb of Botkyrka, where the  Cirkus Normal  school runs free training and workshops of acrobatics, dance and circus skills for under 18s (you just pay the annual membership fee of 50 SEK).

Over 18s pay the membership the fee, plus 100 SEK per class or session.

61) Be wowed by Stockholm’s art-filled subway system. The public transport operator SL has developed a free app that includes maps, pictures and information about the artworks.

The tour begins at the T-Centralen station and takes you round five of Stockholm’s most beautiful metro stations in about 90 minutes.

You can download the app here .

62)  Take a free walking tour of Stockholm. Free Tour Stockholm and Stockholm Free Tour both run trips.

63) Explore the Swedish parliament building on a free guided tour.  Our guide to exploring the parliament building  has more info on when tours take place in English .

64) Guided tours based on Stieg Larsson’s Millennium books have been running for a while now.

If you want to keep things cheap, just buy the official Millennium Map (40 SEK) from the Stockholm City Museum, at Ryssgården, Södermalm and guide yourself to the key sights.

Prefer to take an organised tour?

If you’d like to join a group tour or explore with help from a local expert, rather than guiding yourself, Stockholm has some great organised tours to choose from.

You can go sailing in the Stockholm archipelago , go kayaking with a guide, take a tour of local Viking sites , or simply explore the Old Town with a knowledgable history buff. You can see all of our recommended tours here .

Viewpoints and lookouts

65) Get a free, postcard-quality view of the Royal Palace from the island of Skeppsholmen. Climb up towards Eric Ericsonhallen and Östasiatiska museet for the best panoramas.

66) Head to Evert Taubes Terrass, on the western edge of Riddarholmen, for waterfront views of the City Hall , where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year.

67) From May to September, you can get great views by climbing up to the top of City Hall’s 106-metre-high tower (70 SEK). There are 365 steps, but it’s worth the effort for the amazing panorama over the whole city.

68) Get a sense of how low-rise Stockholm really is by taking a walk across Västerbron, the big bridge that links Kungsholmen with Långholmen .

69) The Fjällgatan viewpoint on  Södermalm is also a great place for views back over Gamla Stan, Skeppsholmen, Djurgården and the waterfront .

70) Drink in the amazing views from Skinnarviksberget, the highest point on Södermalm . This rocky lookout is a popular hang-out during summer, with plenty of space to have a picnic.

71)  For great views over the roof-tops, head up to the ninth-floor

Urban Deli Sveavägen  on one of Stockholm’s largest roof terraces.

For the price of a coffee or cocktail, you can chill out and admire the views from this large park-like open-air space with wooded walkways and greenery.

72)  Take a selfie. Yes, we know you don’t have to be told this one, but as one of Europe’s most picturesque capital cities, Stockholm has plenty of opportunities for you to get your phone out and snap away.

Health and fitness

73) Go running. There are some great suggestions for running routes in Stockholm on Great Runs . 

74) If you fancy some company on your run, hook up with the folks at Ssideline City , who arrange regular sessions with post-run meals and drinks.

75) Do the Stockholm park run. Like park runs the world over, this one’s completely free. Join fellow Stockholmers at 9.30am on Saturday for a 5km run round the Hagaparken in Solna.

76) Swim wild. Locals all have their own favourite spots for summer dips – for something central, we’d suggest trying one of the beaches on the northern edge of Långholmen .

For more ideas for free and cheap swimming spots in the city, see Where to go swimming in Stockholm .

77) Take a Swedish sauna.  Hellasgården , located on the edge of the lake called Källtorpssjön, has two single-sex saunas with direct access to the lake (entry costs just 110 SEK for daytime weekday sessions, up to 180 SEK for a peak time visit).

There are mixed-sex sauna sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Nervous about stripping off? Read our guide to Swedish sauna etiquette first.

78) Have a workout. There are free, outdoor gyms located across the city, offering a mix of chin-up bars, balance beams and resistance-training machines.

This website (in Swedish) has a list of all the free outdoor gyms in Stockholm, organised by area.

79)  Non-profit Swedish gym group  Friskis&Svettis  has free training sessions and classes on its website, that you can do at home or outside in parks in Stockholm.

80) If it’s a little too chilly for free wild swimming, never fear! Sweden’s national swimming centre, Eriksdalbadet has three outdoor pools and five indoor pools, including an Olympic-sized one, a diving pool and a slide pool.

Entry to this watery wonderland costs around 80 SEK (or 40 SEK for kids).

Window shopping

81) Visit NK, Stockholm’s grandest department store , to browse through the swanky products – this place stocks everything from books and clothes to ornaments. There’s also a splendid food court.

82) Rummage through the bargains on offer at a classic Swedish loppis (flea market).There are a few different ones dotted around the city.

Check out the Hötorget flea market , which t akes place every Sunday, when t he regular food and vegetable stalls are replaced by tables of old vinyl records, books, kitchenware and other bric a brac .

83) Browse the pre-loved and vintage stores in Södermalm , which sell everything from old records to kids’ toys.

Prices vary from pretty cheap to ultra-expensive, depending on what’s deemed ‘in’ at any given moment. There are some recommendations in this guide .

84) If second-hand is not your thing, there are upscale design shops all over the place in Södermalm. Start searching in SoFo, the area south of Folkungagatan.

85) Hit up the Swedish fashion stores that are tricky to find abroad. Acne , Weekday and Cos all have outlets in the Swedish capital.

86) The world’s biggest H&M isn’t in Sweden at all (it’s in New York). But if it’s cheap Swedish fashion you want, there’s still a sufficiently massive H&M at the Westfield Mall of Scandinavia , just north of Stockholm.

87) Get behind the wheel of the latest cars at the flashy Volvo Car Studio at Kungsträdgården . There’s also an exhibition about the brand’s road-safety ambitions.

88) Play with the whacky gadgets and cool kitchen accessories at the Nordic design shop Designtorget , which has three stores in Stockholm including one at the main train station .

89) Learn what snus is (and stuff some under your lip) at the   Swedish Match snuff shop  on Kungsgatan.

90 ) Try on a few crazy wigs (or wear a mask with Swedish king’s face on it) at Buttericks fancy dress shop , which has been open at Drottninggatan 57 for more than a century.

91) Browse the stalls at  Hornstulls Marknad , a waterside market that sells a good mix of vintage items and some modern street food. It’s open on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October only.

Eating and drinking

92)  Check out Stockholm’s food trucks . You can eat just about any cuisine from Vietnamese bao buns to Greek pittas, Sri Lankan sandwiches to West African domoda – and all at bargain prices.

Our guide to cheap eats in Stockholm has other recommendations.

93) Look out for free samples at Hötorgshallen , one of the most popular lunchtime hangouts for local office workers.

94) Drool over the sweets at one of Stockholm’s colourful candy shops. There are still independent places selling hundreds of different sugary treats, but otherwise you can always try a branch of Hemmakväll .

95)  Hear your tastebuds scream ‘WTF’ when you sample Swedish salt liquorice. Lakritsroten , which has six branches in Stockholm, sells dozens of different types.

96)  Search out Stockholm’s cheap bars. Yes, alcohol is notoriously expensive in Sweden and, of course, even more so in the capital city.

But, don’t despair, there are plenty of places where you can get a beer for under 50 SEK, if you’re in the know. Check out our guide and join the locals for a super cheap beer.

97)  Wander into a branch of Systembolaget , the nation’s alcohol monopoly, for a true taste of Swedish culture.

The shop at Drottninggatan 32 is nice and central, but be sure to avoid Friday evenings, when the queues are ridiculous.

98) Browse the city’s food markets. Stockholm’s grandest,   Östermalms Saluhall sells gourmet food from around the globe, as well as Swedish products, including fish, shellfish, cheeses, vegetables – and even reindeer meat.

If you’d like company and an expert guide to tell you all about the produce,  this Nordic food walk  is worth a look.

99) That eye-wateringly stinky Swedish fish you’ve heard about – surströmming – is available to buy in cans. Your mission: find one in Stockholm’s supermarkets.

Don’t try to fly home with it though (some airlines have banned it due to the risk of the smell leaking out during transit). For more on this smelly speciality, see our guide to Sweden’s stinkiest food .

100)   Have a hot dog. There are hot dog stands all over Stockholm and they make a tasty filling lunch that won’t break the bank.

Bruno’s Korvbar  has three sausage bars in the city serving a variety of different sausages in a bun, from chorizo to lamb and veggie options. Prices start at 75 SEK including sauces, mustard and sauerkraut.

101) Try the gooey, homemade, organic gelato at StikkiNikki, which has several branches around the city. Unusual flavours include vegan cashew and sea salt, lingonberry yoghurt and peanut butter – and if you ask nicely, you can try before you buy.

102) Buy a picnic to eat in the park. Who needs a restaurant when Stockholm has so many lovely parks and waterside areas where you can picnic in the summer?

Lidl is probably the cheapest supermarket for supplies, but Willys, ICA and Coop are all worth trying too.

103) Head to the playground at Hammarbygläntan , out near the Hammarbyhöjden subway station. There are swings, a rope course, obstacle courses and sculptures for kids to play on.

104) Get a feel for how Södermalm looked in the 1800s at  Bryggartäppan , another themed children’s play area with swings, wooden houses and a maze.

105) Feed the ducks at Långbro Park (see  here  for a map of where it’s located).

106) Play ping-pong. There’s a regular table tennis meet-up for kids aged 9–12 at the Timmermansgården youth centre in Södermalm.

Games take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5–9pm and Thursdays from 4–9pm (it’s free to join in).

107) Get creative at Lava at the Kulturhuset, where there’s a library and meeting space for young adults aged 14–25.

You can borrow books and musical instruments (you’ll need a Stockholm library card ), or try your hand at textiles, painting graphic design, 3D printing and music production . Some activities are free: other charge a nominal fee of 30–70 SEK.

108) Read a comic. Check out Comics Heaven book shop in Gamla Stan. It’s a treasure house of comic books, in both English and Swedish, where kids will happily browse the sci-fi, Manga and adventure stories .

109) Take the kids to a dance class.  Stockholms Barnidrottsförening  runs free taster sessions for little ones throughout the year.

110)   Head to the beach. The Smedsuddsbadet on Kungsholmen is a sandy family-friendly beach, with a large lawn behind – perfect for kids. There are toilets and an electric barbecue if you want to make a day of it.

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Very good post, thanks for this! Saw that you are mentioning SL’s free guided art walks. Love art and have done that one myself. It was very intressting. If case you don’t like joining public group tours, there is this self-guiding tour app as well http://stockholmartwalk.se/?lang=en

Hey Thank you so much, it is a great article and it will be helpful a lot for the next time I have been to Stockholm last year with my girlfriend and it was amazing! We visited most of the places you mentioned above thanks to our local guide. We booked 3-4 local tours ( old town/Gamla stan walking tour + hiking tour +  Viking Tour + a private boat tour to Archipelago) and we think we saw a lot more than we expected from Stockholm

Thanks for sharing this interesting post. Stockholm was not in my bucket list but after reading your post I would love to explore it as there is so much to visit and things to do there. Keep sharing such informative posts.

Thanks Kanika, it should definitely be on your list!

I`m planning my trip to Stockholm with my Mom. And I would like to thank you for such wide and structural describing of useful places. Your information really makes my trip preparation more easy. Thank you for your help!

You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment and have a great trip 🙂

I’ve just spent hours and hours reading everything I can (and I’m not even finished yet) I too was putting together a family trip, and had no idea where to start but now…I suddenly feel very relieved.

Seriously, thank you very much for this amazingly thorough and insightful guide!

Thank you so much! Have an amazing time in Stockholm! 🙂

Putting together a trip for my dad and I. This purely fantastic, and I’m amazed at the amount of work that went into this. A job well done, you truly represent Stockholm well!

Wow, thank you for taking the time to let us know that you liked it! It means a lot! Have a great trip 🙂

Thank you for your guide!! It will be super useful for my travel!

You’re welcome! Have a great trip! 🙂

absolutely loved this guide, thank you very much!

Hej Anna! You’re welcome – glad you found it useful 🙂

The Top 12 Free Things To Do In Stockholm

There’s no denying that visiting Stockholm is quite pricey compared to other European cities, and it’s for good reasons. But a visit to the Swedish capital doesn’t have to break your bank account. Instead of a taxi, you can take public transportation, which is efficient, safe, and relatively cheap. There are also a number of free walking tours that allow you to see the major sights, learn about Swedish history, and get your questions answered by local experts.

Additionally, you’ll find numerous free things to do in Stockholm that require nothing but your time and undivided attention. From free museums and art galleries to free events, concerts, and festivals in and around the city, the sky is the only limit to what you can do here. Once you’ve dropped your bags off with Bounce luggage storage , you can see the main attractions and family-friendly activities in Stockholm that are completely free. And hands-free too!

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Tour around Gamla Stan, the Old Town Stockholm

Start your journey with a free walking tour of the historic Old Town. The original city center of Stockholm, Gamla Stan, is surrounded by the islets of Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Stromsburg. Here, you will witness how Europe’s largest medieval city center is preserved from as back as 1252 and explore the historical buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Besides discovering this town’s fascinating history, you can use the colorful structures or the Swedish Royal Palace as a fantastic backdrop for a souvenir photo. There are also free guided tours of the Parliament you can join.

The city of Stockholm used to refer only to the old town of Gamla Stan. But as the city expanded, the surrounding suburban areas were eventually included. If you really want to see the heart of Stockholm, then taking a stroll down Gamla Stan will definitely be worth it. If you are not sure where to stay in Stockholm, this is a recommended neighborhood. Read about other places to stay here .

Get lost in Stockholm’s oldest square

Also located in Gamla Stan, Stortorget is not only the oldest but also the city's main square. Make sure to bring your camera as you’ll like want to capture the vibrant and colorful townhouses on the west side of the square. There’s also an 18th-century fountain that is sure to catch your eyes, surrounded by cobblestones.

Stortorget is undoubtedly the focal point of the Old Town. It’s a great spot to catch up with friends and watch people, as it continues to receive hoards of tourists every day. In the summer, it serves as a host to open-air concerts and festivities. When the cold winter comes, it also comes alive with the Christmas market and lights glowing around the square.

Watch the changing of the guard ceremony

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is an event you don’t want to miss when visiting Stockholm. While it’s usually only the children who get free entry to the Royal Palace, anyone can watch the Royal Guards ceremony for free. It is held every day in summer, from April to August or May to September.

The ceremony lasts for forty minutes, often starting at 12:15 pm on the weekdays in the outer courtyard of the Royal Palace and at 1:15 pm on Sundays. It includes a military parade and marching band or a ceremony with horses. It’s fascinating to see, so make sure you head to the area in the summer and be there early to get a good spot.

Get free entry to the Modern Art Museum

Visiting the Modern Art Museum, a prominent modern and contemporary art museum in Europe, is one of the best free things to do in Stockholm for art lovers. It offers free admission to the Moderna Museet Collection and many of its temporary exhibitions. These include some of the world’s finest contemporary and modern art, international and Swedish collections, as well as masterpieces by the remarkable artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Even if you’re only accompanying your art enthusiast friend, you’ll also fall in love with the magnificent displays and art pieces in the gallery. The building is another excellent sight designed by a notable Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo. It is also close to other free attractions and museums, including the National Museum.

Moderna Museet usually takes admission for its temporary exhibitions, like Björn Lövin. But every Thursday since June 9, the exhibition has been open to everyone for free, allowing guests to enter  Björn Lövin’s world of art.

Explore the Royal National City Park

Established in 1995, the Royal National City Park stretches across the Swedish municipalities of Stockholm, Solna, and Lidingo. This is the green oasis for everyone looking for a quick timeout from the hustle and bustle of the city. Within the Royal National City Park, you’ll be captivated by the ancient forest and open land.

Entry to the national city park is free, making it one of the best free things to do in Stockholm. It’s a perfect destination to relax and feel the beauty of nature. There are also excellent restaurants to check out, like the Lilla Hasselbacken and Vikingaliv’s restaurant. Moreover, world-class hotels such as the Hasselbacken, Villa Kalhagen, and the Pop House are only a few minutes away for those looking for a place to stay.

Bike around the island of Djurgården

Djurgården is a captivating island in central Stockholm. It used to serve as the Game Park of the Swedish Royal Family and is now home to many of the city’s amusement parks, art galleries, and museums. These include the Nobel Prize Museum, the ABBA Museum , Gröna Lund, the Vasa Museum, The Nordic Museum , the open-air museum and zoo, Skansen, and many more.

Apart from featuring Stockholm’s famous tourist attractions, Djurgården also offers ideal grounds for peaceful picnics and exploration by foot or on bikes. While some prefer a free walking tour around its extensive stretches of parkland, a bike ride allows you to see more of the island and cycle even further.

Follow the coast to Blockhusudden and Hundudden and discover lush greens, beautiful forests, meadows full of colorful blooms, and even grazing horses. There are bike routes you can follow and see more of the area.

See the Rosendals Garden

Opening daily from 11 am to 4 pm, the Rosendals Garden is a market garden that has captivated both local and international tourists for almost four decades now. It is one of the popular go-to venues for people all over Sweden, particularly for social gatherings like weddings. Thanks to the garden’s lush setting, Rosendals Garden is a venue for sustainability, growth, and, of course, enjoyment.

Besides viewing the beautiful flowers and various botanical plants on display, Rosendals Garden has its own cafe. Their farm shop is where people can buy and collect their favorite succulents and vegetables. So if you plan to snack while exploring, you won’t be disappointed in spending your day here. Relax here while planning your evening. With much to do at night in Stockholm , you'll be happy you had the rest.

Hang out at Kungsträdgården

No matter what time of the year you visit, Kungsträdgården remains a favorite destination among tourists and locals. Nestled in the center of Stockholm, Sweden, this gorgeous outdoor setting is a multi-use event venue and park in the heart of the city. It features a bronze statue, a fountain, generous staircases, and long wooden benches where you can chill and relax.

Many people often call Kungsträdgården the park for all seasons. During summer, it hosts an array of events, including open-air festivals and free concerts. In the spring, you’ll be amazed at the stunning cherry trees blooming in the northern area of the park.

And if you come in winter, it turns into an ice skating rink where you see residents and tourists of all ages ice skating for hours. It is free and open to everyone, so you’ll see it comes alive even in the freezing season.

Discover Swedish history at the museum

The Swedish History Museum or Historiska Museet is one of the cultural attractions in Stockholm that offers free admission for all. It is easily accessible, only a short distance from Karlaplan subway station, giving you a glimpse into the country’s lively and lengthy history. Here, you’ll learn about the dramatic life stories, love, celebration, triumph, struggles, and daily life from the past to the present day.

The museum boasts an outstanding collection of ten million historical objects and artifacts that span 10,000 years. These include treasures from the Viking age, armor, Madonnas, relics, and many more. It offers a fascinating journey of discovery told through the exhibitions, guided tours, and inspiring lectures.

If you visit Stockholm with your kids, there are also child-friendly adventures they will enjoy. During weekends and school holidays, the museum organizes workshops for them with accompanying adults. In summer, the courtyard is packed with interactive activities, crafts, and games for everyone of all ages and interests.

Go swimming

With crystal water virtually everywhere in the city, you can’t come here and not bask in the sun and go swimming in the middle of town. One of the beloved beaches in northern Stockholm is Ängbybadet. It became a public beach in 1936 and is now widely known due to its excellent water quality. It has a small coffee and ice cream shop and a changing room.

Another swimming area you can check out is located in the lush mountain park Tantolunden. It has wide walkways and is dominated by a lot of vegetation and trees. It’s one of the popular swimming areas on the island, with close proximity to restaurants and trendy cafes. There is also an outdoor gym, ball fields, and a playground.

Marvel at the book collection at the Stockholm Public Library

Whether you’re an avid reader or not, you’ll be amused at the seemingly endless collection of books at the Stockholm Public Library (Stadsbiblioteket). It is the largest public library in the country, which holds over half a million books in more than a hundred languages. It’s an inspiring place to study and work and no doubt one of the top free things you should go to in Stockholm.

The library was designed by world-renowned architect Gunna Asplund. It is a perfect example of the Swedish Grace style and has been recognized as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Anyone will love the building façade, but once you enter, you’ll realize that it’s an even more spectacular sight inside, with a glorious panorama of literature covering the cylindrical walls.

You probably won’t stick around for long, but it’s still a real masterpiece worth exploring. Who knows, it might inspire you to build your own library at home!

See inside the world’s longest art museum

Who would’ve thought that a subway would be the longest art gallery in the world? Well, this Scandinavian city made it happen, with Stockholm’s Metro featuring works by over 150 artists. Over the years, the city commissioned some of the country’s most heralded artists to create art, making the 110-kilometer underground stations a place of artistic beauty. So if you can’t afford the expensive admission fee of art museums and galleries, take a trip to the station and admire the works of some of the greatest artists in Sweden.

In the summer, Stockholm Public Transport regularly schedules free guided art tours in the subway. You can start at Stockholm Central Station , where you’ll see beautiful artworks as you pass through. You’ll hear from knowledgeable art guides who will explain the impressive collection of artwork, architecture, sculpture, and artists behind the masterpiece of the subway system.

The best fun, completely free

Along with proper planning and preparing yourself mentally and physically, traveling can require a lot of money, especially if you’re flying out of the country. Even if you’re only going out of town, you need to ensure you have enough means to cover your accommodation, food, transportation (read our guide How to Get Around Stockholm for stress-free travel), and other expenses. But with tons of free things to do in Stockholm, budget-friendly travelers can still visit and explore the city comfortably.

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The most unmissable experiences in stunning Stockholm

Aug 27, 2021 • 6 min read

tockholm Stadshuset at morning

Stockholm’s attractions are legion, from abundant waterways and green space to varied neighborhoods brimming with character and enough fascinating museums to keep you busy for a lifetime.

But even if you’ve only got a few days, you can see and do plenty. Whether you’re looking for history, culture or nature, here are our suggestions for places and activities that should be at the top of your list.

Every visitor to Stockholm heads to the Old Town , and for good reason. The cobblestoned streets lined with narrow buildings in warm ochre hues are a delight to wander around, especially once you get away from the touristy main drag, Västerlånggatan.

There are major attractions here, from medieval and Renaissance churches to the huge baroque Royal Palace . Yet much of Gamla Stan’s charm comes from simpler pleasures: a quiet square, a tiny alley, a hidden courtyard, or quirky delights such as Stockholm’s smallest statue, an iron boy just 5.9in (15cm) high, looking at the moon.

Stockholm’s red-brick City Hall topped with three golden crowns has been a symbol of the city since its completion in 1923. Visits are by guided tour only, with highlights including the Blue Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year, and the opulent Golden Hall, covered in mosaics depicting key events and people in Swedish history.

Across the courtyard, the 348ft (106m) tower has spectacular 360-degree views of central Stockholm. An elevator takes you halfway up, after which there are stairs and sloping walkways to the cupola.

Strandvägen

Stretching along the Östermalm waterfront from Nybroplan to the Djurgården bridge, Strandvägen is Stockholm’s grandest boulevard. The north side of the street is lined with turreted Art Nouveau buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Along the south side, a waterfront promenade follows a quay dotted with cafés and restaurants.

Passenger ferries and sightseeing boats bound for the archipelago load at the western end. In summer Strandvägen is Stockholm at its liveliest and most beautiful, but it’s well worth a stroll in any season.

Known for its many museums, Djurgården is also a fine destination for nature and outdoor recreation. Once a royal deer park, the island has extensive woodlands and meadows crisscrossed by walking and cycling paths. Bicycles can be rented next to the bridge at the Djurgården Visitor Center and at Sjöcaféet, which also rents kayaks, canoes and pedal boats.

For a beautiful walk or ride, follow the path along the bay and canal on Djurgården’s north side from the blue gate (Blå Porten) near the bridge. It’s a little over 2.5mi (4km) to the island’s easternmost tip. About 20 minutes from the bridge, Rosendals Trädgård makes a delightful stop, with biodynamic gardens, a farm-to-table café, and a stone-oven bakery.

This custom-built museum tells the story of one of Sweden’s greatest failures: the sinking of the warship Vasa , just 20 minutes after setting sail under great fanfare from central Stockholm in 1628. Although built as an expression of Swedish military power, Vasa was fatally unbalanced, and a strong gust of wind was enough to cause her to list. Water flowed in through the open gunports, and down she went, only 0.8mi (1.3km) into her journey and just less than 394 feet (120m) from shore.

For over three centuries Vasa lay beneath the waves before being raised from the seabed in a dramatic salvage operation in 1961. The impressively preserved ship is the museum’s star attraction, but other exhibits provide background and context to this compelling tale of epic failure and amazing recovery.

The world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen is Sweden in miniature. Since it opened in 1891, more than 150 buildings of cultural significance have been moved here from all over the country. In many of them, you can watch people in period dress making handicrafts or performing other traditional tasks. There are also various gardens representing different regions, as well as a zoo where you can see a variety of Swedish wildlife.

If you happen to be in town for any major holidays such as Walpurgis Night, National Day, Midsummer, St. Lucia Day, or Christmas, head to Skansen to experience traditional Swedish celebrations.

ABBA: The Museum

Four decades after splitting up, ABBA remains a pop music phenomenon and Sweden’s biggest musical export of all time. If you’re a fan, don’t miss this museum packed with memorabilia, from photos and letters to the group’s elaborate stage costumes and a replica of the Polar recording studio with original instruments and equipment.

Most entertaining are the many interactive stations where you can sing with the band on a hologram stage, try your hand at mixing music, dance like your favorite ABBA-avatar, or “try on” costumes in a virtual photo shoot.

Historiska Museet

For anyone interested in Scandinavia’s past, Historiska Museet is a must. Its Viking exhibit, opened in June 2021, showcases more than 2500 artifacts, with interactive stations exploring every aspect of Viking life. Another permanent exhibit picks up where the Viking exhibit leaves off, tracing Swedish history from the year 1000 to the present day, with a timeline on the floor to guide your steps.

Below ground, the glittering Gold Room displays more than 3000 gold and silver treasures, including three 5th-century heavy gold collars and a jewel-studded gold reliquary from the 13th century.

Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen

A tranquil green oasis in the heart of the city, Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen are a perfect break from Stockholm’s urban bustle. As you walk around these small islands, beautiful views unfold in all directions, with Strandvägen and Djurgården to the north and east, and Södermalm and Gamla Stan to the south and west. There are also interesting boats to admire, from the full-rigged sailing ship af Chapman (now a hostel) to 19th-century wooden boats and a lightship docked along Östra Brobänken.

For more than 300 years, Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen were the domain of the Swedish Navy. Though military operations have moved elsewhere, the triple-tailed Swedish naval flag is still flown daily from the roof of the small citadel on Kastellholmen as a symbol that the country is at peace.

The view from Södermalm

With steep cliffs rising straight from the waterfront, Södermalm is the place to go for panoramic views of central Stockholm. One justly popular spot is Monteliusvägen, a clifftop walking path just west of Slussen, opposite Stadshuset and Riddarholmen. A bit further west, central Stockholm’s highest point, Skinnarviksberget, is a good place to soak up some sun or enjoy a picnic while gazing out at Kungsholmen and Lake Mälaren.

Alternatively, head east from Slussen to the clifftop street Fjällgatan for a magnificent view encompassing Djurgården, Kastellholmen, Skeppsholmen, Gamla Stan and beyond.

Stockholm by boat

Stockholm may not be the only city dubbed the Venice of the North, but one thing is certain – you haven’t really seen the city until you’ve seen it from the water. At the very least, hop on the Djurgården passenger ferry for the 7-minute trip between Slussen and Djurgården.

For something more informative, take a Historical Canal Tour  (scheduled to reopen again in 2022) around the islands of Kungsholmen and Långholmen, circle Djurgården on the Royal Canal Tour or travel Under the Bridges of Stockholm to visit both the Baltic and the Lake Mälaren sides of the city. Alternatively, choose one of the hop-on-hop-off boats that travel between key attractions on the Baltic side of Stockholm.

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16 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Stockholm

Written by Bryan Dearsley and Andrew Birbeck Updated Dec 24, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Known as the "Venice of the North" for its many waterways and lakes, Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, lies on a number of islands and peninsulas at the outflow of Lake Mälar into the Baltic.

This vibrant, modern city offers an astounding number of historic attractions, from architectural splendors like the Royal Palace to entire neighborhoods like Gamla Stan , Stockholm's Old Town district. If you want even more history, you can visit world-class museums like the Skansen Open-Air Museum or the Stockholm Medieval Museum, and if you're here for Vikings, the Vasa Museum should be at the top of your list of things to do.

Stockholm is also home to excellent art galleries and other world-class museums, but if you want to spend more time outdoors, it offers both expansive parks and seemingly endless waterways and islands to explore. The UNESCO-listed Drottningholm Palace is just a ferry ride away, and the central location makes day trips from Stockholm easy.

To learn more about the many tourist attractions and places to visit in this attractive European city, be sure to read through our list of the best things to do in Stockholm.

1. Explore Old Town Stockholm: Gamla Stan

2. relive sweden's seafaring past at the vasa museum, 3. get your bearings aboard a stockholm boat tour, 4. be a star at abba the museum, 5. take a stroll and see the sights of djurgården, 6. skansen open-air museum, 7. tour the royal palace (sveriges kungahus), 8. fotografiska: stockholm's photography museum, 9. see historic stockholm city hall (stadshuset), 10. the national museum of fine arts: nationalmuseum, 11. moderna museet, 12. roam the royal national city park, 13. get lost in time at stockholm medieval museum (medeltidsmuseet), 14. visit storkyrkan: the great church, 15. shop 'til you drop in östermalm, 16. take in the perfect "skyview", tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to stockholm, where to stay in stockholm for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in stockholm, more delightful swedish destinations and day trips.

Dating from the 1200s and crammed with must-see sights, attractions, cafés, authentic restaurants, and boutique shops, the area of Gamla Stan (Old Town ) is a living, breathing museum in its own right. It's often a first stop for tourists in Stockholm and is among the most popular places to visit in Sweden .

Plenty of souvenirs and gifts are available in the Old Town, and you will find yourself transported back to medieval times as you meander through a bewildering labyrinth of tiny, winding streets, many of which lead to (or from) Stortorget, the main public square.

If you want to be sure you see all the main points of interest while learning about each site's historic significance, take a guided walking tour of Stockholm Old Town . It lasts two-and-a-half hours and includes visits to highlights like the Royal Opera House, several churches, and more.

If visiting in winter, be sure to take in the marvelous Christmas Market , Julmarknad , an experience akin to finding yourself in a real-life fairy tale and among the best Christmas markets in Europe .

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan, or Stockholms domkyrka), the Nobel Prize Museum (Nobelmuseet), and the Royal Palace are all located here and should be high up on any Stockholm sightseeing itinerary.

The incredible Vasa battleship, the main attraction at Stockholm's brilliant Vasa Museum ( Vasamuseet ) , was intended to be the pride of the Swedish Imperial fleet. Yet, in a forerunner of the Titanic disaster centuries later, this majestic 64-gun vessel sank on its maiden voyage in 1628.

An amazing salvage operation took place in 1961, and now you can marvel at this glorious time capsule, 95 percent of which is entirely original. The three masts on the roof of the museum are not just a tourist draw; they were reconstructed to the exact height and specifications of the original masts.

This is the most visited museum in Sweden , and rightfully so. More than one million people a year come here to enjoy the different exhibitions and watch the movie on the ship's history. A variety of other historic vessels are also located on-site, including an icebreaker, a lightship, and a torpedo boat.

Entry is free if you are under 18 years of age, and the museum offers a free phone-based audio guide just for kids. The museum is open daily (except holidays), and also offers a quality on-site restaurant.

Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden

The sea flows through the arteries of Stockholm, and during the summer months, the city is quite literally awash with boats of all shapes and sizes. Many city-dwellers own summer houses on the islands of the skärgården (archipelago) and spend, if not the entire summer there, then most weekends. It all makes for a Friday evening commute like no other.

Bearing all this in mind, experiencing Stockholm from the water is surely a must-do for any visitor. It's also a great way to get your bearings early on in your visit. Take a sightseeing cruise under the bridges of Stockholm or hop on one of the Stromma boat excursions like the Archipelago Tour.

There are also hop-on, hop-off options with a valid ticket lasting 24 hours. Best of all, cruises are available year-round and can be just as much fun in winter.

Few pop bands from the 1970s can still garner the kind of enthusiasm among fans that Sweden's ABBA does. To celebrate the continuing interest in Scandinavia's biggest music export, ABBA The Museum opened in 2013 and has attracted young and old alike with its unique interactive exhibits.

Using state-of-the-art technology, visitors can see computerized versions of themselves not only wearing the band's most iconic outfits, but can even dance and sing along with Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.

Other highlights include a visit to a reconstruction of their recording studio , where you can try your hand at remixing some of their best-loved tunes, as well as the unique experience of seeing Benny's original piano seemingly playing itself, but in reality, being controlled by the star from his home.

You can also enjoy a thrilling virtual helicopter ride and the Waterloo exhibit, which faithfully recreates the band's winning performance at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England.

English language audio and guided tours are available. The adjoining music-themed hotel, Pop House Hotel , is a fun place to stay, with a convenient location. It offers clean, bright, and affordable rooms, with a restaurant and gift shop located on-site.

Address: Djurgårdsvägen 68, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden

A tranquil oasis in the heart of the city, the island of Djurgården draws crowds of tourists and locals alike. It's particularly busy during the summer months of long lazy days and short nights.

The park forms part of the Royal National City Park , which is the perfect place for a stroll and picnic, as well as being home to several of Stockholm's top museums and other attractions.

Scattered about are pleasant cafés, restaurants, snack bars, and hotels. You can rent bicycles to explore the forest trails or, if you're feeling adventurous, take to the waterways in a canoe. The popular Vasa Museum and ABBA the Museum are located here, as is the open-air museum Skansen and Gröna Lund amusement park.

A fun way to arrive is by ferry from Gamla Stan or Slussen , both of which are on the T-Bana. Alternatively, jump on a tram from Norrmalmstorg , take the bus, or stroll from the city center, a journey of only 15 minutes. Drop by the Djurgården visitor center for more information.

The oldest open-air museum in the world , Skansen opened in 1891 on the island of Djurgården. This is a wonderful attraction for families, particularly those with young children, although tourists of any age will enjoy the visit.

More than 150 different buildings and houses were collected from all around the country and reassembled here. On display are distinct town districts, including manor houses, a bakery, the beautiful Seglora timber church, and a pottery, all brought to life by costumed living history interpreters.

Not only will you be treated to an authentic taste of Sweden as it once was, but you'll also have fun at the wonderful Skansen Aquarium and the Children's Zoo . A wide variety of creatures can be seen at the zoo, including moose, bears, lynxes, wolves, and seals.

You can visit the aquarium for an extra fee and see more than 200 animals of all types from around the world, including not only fish but also furry friends like lemurs and many species of monkeys. For traditional Swedish Smörgåsbord pay a visit to the Solliden Restaurant.

Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 11521 Stockholm, Sweden

A visit here could be a day out in itself. Located by the water's edge on the periphery of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Royal Palace (Sveriges Kungahus) is the official residence of the King of Sweden.

Interestingly, the Queen's residence lies elsewhere. It's on the beautiful island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Drottningholm (Queen's Island), about a 45-minute ferry ride from Stockholm and an easy day trip .

A rich taste of the once-mighty Swedish Empire, this palace is one of the largest in Europe boasting in excess of 600 rooms and several museums. Dating from the 18th century and built in Baroque style, the palace houses many gems. Here, you can see Queen Kristina's silver throne and visit the Museum of Antiquities , the Royal Armoury , the Tre Kronor (Three Crowns) Museum , and the Treasury .

You won't want to miss the daily changing of the guard. Known as the Royal Guards Ceremony , it starts at 12:15pm each day (1:15pm on Sundays) and takes place in the palace's outer courtyard.

Location: Slottsbacken 1, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden

Fotografiska is Stockholm's museum of contemporary photography and hosts an eclectic mix of exhibitions throughout the year. The complex encompasses a café, restaurant, store, and gallery, and from the top floor, you can enjoy one of the most enviable views over the city.

The museum is now acknowledged as one of the world's premier photography venues, and there are always a variety of themed exhibits on display, each featuring several photographers.

The museum's restaurant is just as popular as its exhibits — serving organic, sustainably-produced cuisine, the restaurant on the top floor is acclaimed as one of the city's coolest eateries. Its weekend brunch is particularly popular with locals.

The gallery also hosts cutting-edge live and club music throughout the year.

Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 11645 Stockholm, Sweden

Nestled at the water's edge and topped by three golden crowns, the City Hall (Stockholms stadshus, or Stadshuset) is one of Stockholm's most iconic buildings and stars in countless images and postcards of the city. Dating from 1923, the hall opened on that most Swedish of dates: Midsummer's Eve.

Housed within are assembly rooms, offices, works of art, and the machinery of civil democracy. The prestigious annual Nobel Banquets are held here. Recipients dine first in Blå hallen (The Blue Hall) and then move on to the formal ball in Gyllene salen (The Golden Hall), which has no less than 18 million mosaics adorning its walls.

A particular treat is the chance to view the city from the famous tower.

Address: Hantverkargatan 1, 111 52 Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm's impressive National Museum of Fine Arts , the Nationalmuseum, is a great place to get your art fix. Sweden's national gallery, it was established in 1792 as the Royal Museum and was renamed the Nationalmuseum after moving to its present location in 1866. It was fully renovated and modernized in 2018.

The architecture alone is worth seeing, particularly the interior with its massive central staircase and large galleries. Notable among its collections are over 500,000 drawings and sketches, numerous works by the Dutch Masters, including some by Rembrandt, as well as a sizable collection of sculptures. It also boasts the world's largest collection of portrait miniatures.

Guided tours are available, and a wide range of educational programs and workshops are provided. There's also a restaurant and gift shop on-site.

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen, Stockholm, Sweden

At Moderna Museet , you can dip your toes into one of Europe's foremost collections of art from the 20th century to today, featuring works by artists such as Picasso, Dali, Derkert, and Matisse. The museum exhibits everything from modern classics to contemporary art, including film, photography, drawings, prints, and whimsical outdoor sculptures.

Located on picturesque Skeppsholmen island, the building of Moderna Museet was designed by Rafael Moneo, a Spanish architect.

The museum offers a world-class program of temporary exhibitions, a children's workshop, a shop, a library, and a pleasant restaurant with beautiful views of Djurgården and Strandvägen . Guided tours are available.

The museum's second gallery lies in Malmö .

Address: Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm

The right-to-roam (allemansrätten) is an indelible part of the Swedish psyche. The Royal National City Park (Kungliga nationalstadsparken) is a six-mile-long, 27 square-kilometer green space surrounding and snaking into Stockholm and encompassing three royal parks: Djurgården, Haga, and Ulriksdal .

This, the world's first national urban park , is where tourists and locals flock to unwind. The forest harbors moose, foxes, deer, and many winged beauties, including rare birds. Fun things to do include enjoying the museums, castles, theaters, sports facilities, and historic homes.

Nature lovers will be in heaven exploring wilderness areas with centuries-old oak trees, streams, lakes, marshes, enticing swimming spots, and craggy hilltops. It truly is hard to believe you're in the middle of a thriving capital city.

Address: 115 21 Stockholm

Ever wondered what life was like in medieval Europe? Pay a visit to the Museum of Medieval Stockholm (Medeltidsmuseet), and you'll find out. Situated just a short distance from the Royal Palace, this fascinating attraction was built on an actual excavation site that unearthed and preserved a number of interesting finds from the medieval period.

The museum features a number of unique period structures, including part of the original city walls from the 1500s, old brick merchant's homes and workshops, as well as part of Stockholm's original port and its buildings. Interesting exhibits detail the city's history from around the 1200s through to the mid-16th century.

English language guided tours are available, and the museum also hosts walking tours with prior arrangements. If you want to bring home a bit of medieval Stockholm, be sure to visit their gift shop.

Address: Strömparterren 3, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden

Located in the heart of Stockholm's Gamla Stan district, Storkyrkan is the city's oldest church . Also known as 'The Great Church," or Stockholms domkyrka, it was built in the 13th century and is a remarkably well-preserved example of medieval architecture.

Highlights of this simple yet impressive hall church include its brick pillar-supported vaulted ceiling, as well as the many Baroque flourishes that were added later in the 1700s. More recently, the church has been the scene of important national events, such as royal weddings and coronations.

Numerous artifacts and furnishings survive from medieval times and can be seen as part of a visit or tour.

Address: Trångsund 1, 111 29 Stockholm, Sweden

If it's Stockholm designer chic you're after, then look no further. Östermalm is the most exclusive district in the city. Here, international luxury labels rub shoulders with high-class Scandinavian design.

On Biblioteksgatan, there's an abundance of flagship shops and designer boutiques, while the neighborhood around Stureplan offers plenty of posh shops — some with sky-high price tags.

Lovers of art and interior design will enjoy Svenskt Tenn and Malmstenbutiken , which are located at the beginning of Strandvägen near Nybroviken.

Many of Sweden's top antique dealers lie around the Kommendörsgatan neighborhood, and be sure to drop by Östermalmshallen for the absolute best in Swedish fresh food and produce.

Situated on Stockholm's southern fringe, SkyView takes you to the top of the world's largest spherical building , the Ericsson Globe, which is one of Stockholm's modern landmarks. From 130 meters above sea level, you'll be treated to an unforgettable view over the entire city.

Tours aboard the gondolas take about 30 minutes and depart every 10 minutes, but be prepared for long lines at peak times of the day. After the trip, sightseers can visit the restaurant and souvenir shop.

Address: Globentorget 2, 121 77 Stockholm, Sweden

Sightseeing Tours :

• A convenient and flexible way to see the city's attractions is the City Sightseeing Stockholm Hop-On Hop-Off Tour . Accompanied by an audio commentary, this double-decker bus tour visits 14 different attractions, and you can hop on and off at any of the stops.
• If you're an active traveler who wants to explore the archipelago up close, the one-day Small-Group Stockholm Archipelago Kayak Tour is for you. This eight-hour kayak tour includes all equipment and instruction, so even those without experience can give it a try. The excursion also includes coffee, tea, snacks, and a lunch cooked over a campfire.

Stockholm by Night :

• For an edgier look at the city, consider The Original Stockholm Ghost Walk and Historical Tour , a two-hour tour of the city by lantern light, where you'll hear spooky stories about spirits, vampires, myths, and mysteries as you stroll Gamla Stan's medieval streets.
• If Sweden's Viking and medieval history excite you, the Viking History Half-Day Tour is a must-do. Along the way, you'll see runic stones at Täby; discover ancient inscriptions at Granby; and stroll the medieval streets of Sweden's oldest town, Sigtuna.

Getting Around:

• The excellent underground railway system, the Tunnelbana (T-bana), takes you almost anywhere in the city. A highly efficient and regular bus network fills in any gaps between destinations. Alternatively, take the time to walk instead, as Stockholm is a terrific city to absorb on foot. The city also has an efficient network of bicycle lanes.

Save Money :

• Although Stockholm, like most of Scandinavia, can be expensive, good value can be found if you know where to look. One way to save a few kronor is to eat a main meal during the day and opt for something lighter in the evening. The Dagens rätt or Dagens lunch (daily special) is a great way to experience authentic Swedish fare at a fraction of the cost you'd pay in the evenings.

Sweet Treats :

• Swedes love coffee and cake, and they've even come up with a verb for it: Fika. To "fika" is to drink coffee, eat something small (and usually sweet), and chat. Be sure to indulge, as the cakes and pastries are delicious.

Luxury Hotels:

• Presiding over the waterfront, opposite the Royal Palace and Old Town, the aptly-named Grand Hotel has hosted celebrities and Nobel Prize winners in its elegant suites and Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Those who prefer contemporary Scandinavian style will enjoy the Nobis Hotel on Norrmalmstorg, a public square in the heart of the city.
• Within walking distance of Gamla Stan and only two minutes from the train station, the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is a reliable chain option in a fantastic location.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• A five-minute walk from Gamla Stan, in the trendy Södermalm area, the Hilton Stockholm Slussen offers beautiful views of the city.
• The modern Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel , which shimmers in the heart of the city, is less than three kilometers from the Royal Palace and Old Town.
• Travelers seeking a more historic ambience should consider the Sven Vintappare Hotel in the heart of Gamla Stan, which is steeped in 17th-century charm.

Budget Hotels:

• Perhaps the most unique budget hotel options close to the historic sites are on the water — literally. The Rygerfjord Hotel and Hostel , Red Boat Hotel and Hostel , and Loginn Hotel are boat hotels with cozy cabin rooms within walking distance of the Old Town.
• For those who prefer a hotel on dry land, Best Western Hotel Fridhemsplan offers a variety of room configurations, including family rooms, a five-minute train ride from the city center.

Sweden is known for its vibrant cities and quaint towns. From Stockholm, you can venture into the picturesque countryside for fun day trips , including a visit to the university city of Uppsala . A mere 35-minute flight from the capital, the gorgeous island of Gotland is a popular place to visit on vacation. On the western side of the country, Gothenburg has a milder climate than Stockholm and more of a European feel, while to the south of Gothenburg, both Helsingborg and Malmo lie only a short hop from neighboring Denmark , across the Oresund strait.

More on Sweden

• 40+ Fun Things to Do (as a Tourist) in Stockholm
• See & Do

Looking for things to do as a tourist in Stockholm? Whether you’re a culture seeker, nature lover, foodie, or traveling with the kids, you’ll find that this beautiful capital city has a broad selection of sightseeing options and attractions for your Nordic adventure.

• Feed Your Senses at Stortorget
• Hop-on Hop-off with RED Sightseeing
• The easiest way to discover Stockholm
• Go Dragon Hunting at the Great Church
• Museum Hop at The Royal Palace
• Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Järnpojke
• Watch the Sun Set at Monteliusvägen
• Fotografiska: No Ordinary Museum
• Skeppsholmen
• Immerse Yourself in Modern Art, Architecture and Design
• Discover the culinary Stockholm with Moveat
• The city's most delicious activity
• Skansen: Living Scandinavian History
• ABBA The Museum: Pop Back to the 70's
• Vasa Museum: Maritime Time Machine
• It’s Child’s Play at Junibacken
• Have a Farm-to-Table Lunch at Rosendals Garden
• Get a Shot of Adrenaline at Gröna Lund
• Enjoy an evening of mini-golf, food and drinks at Swing by Golfbaren
• A unique minigolf experience in central Stockholm
• Stroll Along Strandvägen
• Brunch While Cruising the Archipelago
• Bergius Botanic Garden
• Norrmalm / City
• Mid-Century Metro
• Opera Anyone?
• Get Classy at the Stockholm Concert Hall
• Kungsholmen
• Swim at Råmlambshov Park
• Hunt for Sculptures at Stockholm City Hall
• Ramble Around Royalty at Drottningholm Castle
• Build Your Stockholm Itinerary

S tockholm is located on Sweden’s southeast coast, built on an archipelago of fourteen islands where freshwater Lake Mälaren meets with the Baltic sea. Let’s explore some of Stockholm’s islands and districts to discover activities to fill your vacation itinerary.

We’ll start with the most iconic district in Stockholm…

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Gamla Stan , (‘Old Town Stockholm’) is located on the island of Stadsholmen (and officially Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg) in central Stockholm.

At Stortorget , (‘Grand Square’) and throughout the entire island, your eyes will enjoy exploring the architecture of the iconic colorful old buildings while your taste buds savor a bite from one of the many cafés . If you’re looking for souvenirs, you’ll find some quality shops here too.

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15 Things to See & Do in Stockholm

Discover one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval centres, enormous palaces, and an array of stunning museums – all spread out over 14 gorgeous islands. Welcome to Stockholm, Sweden’s enthralling, elegant capital.

Whether you’re here for a Swedish honeymoon , city break, or Scandinavian road trip, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Stockholm. It’s a calm and charming capital city that boasts a surprising mix of cultural sights, outdoor fun, and fabulous cuisine.

To get inspired, read on to explore 15 of the best things to see and do in Stockholm.

1. Marvel at the beautiful Gamla Stan

On a visit to Stockholm, you’ll likely head to the city centre first. That’s Gamla Stan, the enchanting Old Town. With its pristine cobbled streets and colourful buildings, you’re sure to fall completely in love.

The bustling Stortorget square is one highlight of this fairy-tale district, perfectly placed to stop for a drink or just to watch people pass. Explore the attractive pedestrianised roads beyond the main square and you’ll find a rich array of delightful bars, cafés, and shops – plus so much more too.

Of course, Gamla Stan hosts many of Stockholm’s top tourist attractions as well, including the Royal Palace and the Stockholm Cathedral.

• Explore Stockholm on one of these top Swedish vacation packages

2. Discover world-class museums at Djurgården

Of Stockholm’s islands, one of the most popular to visit is Djurgården. It makes up a large part of the Royal National City Park, where local Stockholmers go to relax among the abundant forests and meadows.

For visitors to the city, the biggest draw to Djurgården is the island’s incredible array of museums. There’s really something for everyone.

ABBA the Museum, for example, tells the story of the career of Sweden’s greatest musical export. Here, you’ll get the chance to dress like ABBA, sing along, and write music yourself.

Alternatively, the Nordic Museum takes you further back in time, to the very origins of Swedish history. Or there’s Skansen, an open-air museum that shares exhibits on Sweden’s traditional people and ways of life.

Don’t miss the Vasa Museum, one of the most visited museums in all of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). It’s home to the world’s only preserved 17th-century boat, that sank in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage back in 1628. It’s an impressive, tangible part of history.

• Related: Top cities and towns in Sweden to visit

3. Explore Stockholm’s waterways

You may have heard people refer to the Swedish capital as the “Venice of the North”, thanks to its many waterways and splendid early modern architecture. Yet the similarities end there, and the city’s nickname doesn’t really do justice to Stockholm’s relationship with the water that surrounds it.

The whole Stockholm archipelago spreads across 80 kilometres (50 miles) and over 30,000 islands, divided by channels you can explore by boat. These range from the tiniest uninhabited islets to well-developed and bustling holiday resorts.

No visit to the city would be complete without taking to the water. In fact, it could be one of the most romantic things to do in Stockholm.

4. Take a dip in Lake Mälaren

Continuing your journey on Stockholm’s waters, why not visit Lake Mälaren, Sweden’s third-largest freshwater lake? Its easternmost bays are on the outskirts of the city and easily accessed from the centre.

If the city’s waters tempt you to a swim, Lake Mälaren is the best place to do it. In the summer, you’ll be in plenty of company. In fact, Stockholmers have been swimming here for centuries and the city’s warm summers make a dip a very attractive idea.

If not, Lake Mälaren also offers the opportunity for wildlife walks and scenic views. It’s definitely worth the trip out of town.

• Head to Stockholm during the warmest months of the year on a Sweden summer tour

5. Get lost in the vast Royal Palace

Back on dry land, one of the most fascinating ways to spend a day in Stockholm is in Gamla Stan’s Royal Palace. While still the official residence of the Swedish royal family, this 18th-century building is one of Stockholm’s most visited sights.

The Royal Palace is also among Europe’s largest palaces, boasting over 600 rooms. But the King of Sweden still works here today, so you won’t be able to visit them all yourself.

Nonetheless, the Palace offers an amazing amount to see and do. The Royal Apartments, for example, give you a glimpse into the real life of Scandinavian royalty. And the Museum of Antiquities is renowned for its collection of 17th-century Italian sculpture.

• Discover more palaces and castles on these  Scandinavian royalty tours

6. Join the fun at Gröna Lund amusement park

We said that the island of Djurgården has something for everyone. For families on holiday in Sweden , and the young at heart, the island’s famed amusement park – Gröna Lund – is a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to its city-centre location, Gröna Lund is smaller than the amusement parks you might be familiar with. Yet its miniature size doesn’t limit its offering, with rides that range from the thrilling to the family friendly.

In the evening, you could attend concerts by international musical artists. Seeing a gig beneath Stockholm’s long sunsets could be one of the best things to do in Stockholm at night!

7. Witness the history of geniuses at the Nobel Prize Museum

Sweden is the home of the  Nobel Prize , the annual awards recognising some of the greatest minds in literature, science, and more. If you’re interested in the history and winners of the prize – and even if you didn’t think you were interested – there’s plenty of awesome things to see.

Of course, the Nobel Prize Museum is one of the best places for you to start. Its permanent exhibitions share an important story about the history of creativity. And you can enjoy guided tours, DJ sets, and events from Nobel laureates too.

8. Unwind in one of Stockholm’s spas

One of the best things to do in Stockholm as a couple is to visit a spa. With fantastic options across the city, you’ll be truly spoiled for choice.

Centralbadet, in the heart of Gamla Stan, is an ideal option for visitors. In a building dating back to 1904, you’ll find a typical Nordic sauna, an incredible swimming pool, and everything you’ll need to while away the afternoon.

Alternatively, to the southwest of the city, discover the Hellasgården park and lake. Stockholmers come here to dip in the ice pool before heading to the nearby sauna.

• Related: Nordic spa and wellness traditions

9. Try authentic Swedish food

Scandinavian cuisine is an increasingly popular option in hip eateries around the world. Yet one of the best places to try it in all its glory is Stockholm.

Check out the city’s food courts to sample the pastries, sweets, meats, or beers on offer. The Östermalm Market Hall, for example, is a Stockholm institution to the north of Gamla Stan. Alternatively, in the summer at Hornstulls Marknad, you’ll find contemporary street food stalls lining the waterway.

Of course, while you’re in town, try traditional Swedish delicacies such as Swedish meatballs (köttbullar), fried or cured fish, and reindeer. They’re easy to sample in many of Gamla Stan’s historic restaurants.

• Delve into the secrets of Sweden on these history and culture Scandinavia tours

10. Stroll around Södermalm

If you want seriously cool things to do in Stockholm, you’ll need to head to Södermalm – or just Söder, as the locals call it. It’s a district known for its hip and relaxed atmosphere, as well as its creative and trendy residents.

Explore vintage stores and boutiques, coffee shops and galleries, and bars open long into the night. For an afternoon stroll, there’s really nowhere better.

Södermalm is also where you can enjoy some of the best views over the city. The Skinnarviksberget, for example, is the highest point in Stockholm.

11. Visit the photography museum at Fotografiska

One truly unmissable destination in Södermalm is Fotografiska, Stockholm’s renowned photography museum. But like everything in this surprising district, Fotografiska is far from your normal gallery space.

That means you won’t find museum staples like permanent exhibitions or works for sale. Rather, Fotografiska’s work aims to inspire a better world through the medium of photography. As a result, it’s all about the experience – including political exhibitions, events, fine dining, and more.

Unsurprisingly, Fotografiska also has one of the coolest bars in this part of town.

12. Take the metro

Now, you might not think it sounds much like a destination. But Stockholm’s extensive metro is more than just a transit system. It’s a unique art gallery that’s worth a visit on its own.

Journey along Stockholm’s metro and you’ll see its diverse surprises yourself. Each station is eccentrically decorated in artworks, sculpture, rock formations, and mosaics, created by over 150 different local artists.

It’s an important part of Stockholm’s culture and a testament to its residents’ creativity. Try the blue line, which has some of the most exciting displays.

• Related: Cool facts about Sweden

13. Go to a show at the Royal Swedish Opera

If you’re looking for glamorous things to do in Stockholm at night, a trip to the Royal Swedish Opera might be the answer. Set in the 18th-century opera house across the water from the Royal Palace, this is the home of elegance, high culture, and serious talent.

Whether you want ballet, opera, or just a powerful symphony, you’ll find it on the programme here. Winter is a magical time to catch a performance. And during the summer you may have the opportunity to see the Royal Swedish Ballet perform in Vitabergsparken, a public park in Södermalm.

• Related: Guide to Sweden in summer  & Guide to Sweden in winter

14. Climb the tower at Stockholm City Hall

With its solid red-brick façade and iconic tower, the Stockholm City Hall is one of the most recognisable features of the city’s skyline. It’s primarily an official building, hosting political and cultural events.

A look inside makes for a rewarding visit. For example, you can see the hall that hosts the Nobel banquet, where the world’s greatest minds receive their awards.

The highlight of the City Hall is the tower itself. Climb to the top to reach the three crowns of Sweden’s national coat of arms. It’s a truly jaw-dropping view over the city.

15. Chill out with fika

Finally, a trip to Sweden wouldn’t be complete without sampling one of Sweden’s best-loved traditions: fika .

Fika is the simple act of taking time out to enjoy a cup of coffee (or kaffi , in Swedish) and a snack. Yet the Swedes have made this ritual into an art. Fika’s not about just enjoying a pick-me-up. Rather, it’s time to socialise, check in with each other, and unwind.

You can enjoy fika at any café in Stockholm, in Gamla Stan or Södermalm.

• Related: The Swedish art of fika

Explore the best of Stockholm’s things to see with Nordic Visitor

Palaces and parks, saunas and spas, museums and markets – now you know what to do in Stockholm.

Book a trip with Nordic Visitor and we’ll take all the hassle out of your visit. We’ll organise your accommodation, activities, and regional transport in Sweden, plus any onward tours around Scandinavia.

What’s more, we’ll provide all the insights you need to experience Stockholm to the fullest. Our local travel experts are based in the Swedish capital and will share the best cultural highlights to suit you, as well as the top places to eat, drink, and relax too.

You could opt for an independent train trip or self-drive tour of Sweden to explore at your own pace. Or choose a small group tour of Scandinavia to discover Stockholm and other exciting places in the region, like Copenhagen and Oslo, with an expert guide.

Come and experience Stockholm for yourself. Get in touch to start your trip .

Wanderlust has taken Emma across much of the world, but it was Scotland that she made her adopted home. Aside from enjoying countryside walks, campervan weekends and gigs in Glasgow, you’ll often find her writing about European travel and plotting her next trip.

Getting there

We'd love to give you the same amazing travel experiences as you read about in our blog! To visit the destinations and attractions mentioned in this post - and to discover a few new highlights along the way - check out these recommended Nordic Visitor tours.

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Home » Travel Guides » Sweden » 25 Best Things to Do in Stockholm (Sweden)

25 Best Things to Do in Stockholm (Sweden)

The capital of Sweden is a cosmopolitan city with a tangled old town, stylish young districts, a dynamic city centre. Spread across 14 islands on Lake Mälaren, Stockholm’s very environment encourages you to rove and see where you’ll end up. There are around 50 bridges in the centre alone, while ferries are a fun way to get about.

When it comes to fashion, design and music Stockholm is well ahead of the curve, and many of the coolest places to shop and go out are on the island of Södermalm south of the centre. The lion’s share of the museums and family days out are on Djurgården, a wooded island where the city goes for rest, culture and fun.

Let’s explore the best thing to do in Stockholm :

1. Gamla Stan

Begin by going back to Stockholm’s roots at one of Europe’s great medieval centres, spread over three islands.

You’ll be in the midst of a true Hanseatic trading city, where gabled shops and warehouses are painted various shades of gold.

These now host all manner of restaurants, many garnering international awards, as well as museums, studios, bijou boutiques, cafes and bars.

On the eastern side of the old town there’s a long sequence of parallel cobblestone lanes leading in from the water and dipping under passageways.

Come here to squeeze through Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, an alley that tapers to just 90 centimetres across.

The visionary teacher and academic Artur Hazelius founded what was the first ever open-air museum in the world on Royal Djurgården in 1891. The idea was to show future generations what life was like in Sweden before the Industrial Age, and it has been borrowed by hundreds of museums around the world.

More than a century Skansen it’s still the best museum in its class, in 30 hectares and with a large cast recreating rural scenes from all over Sweden down to the finest detail.

A Sami camp from the Arctic circle, a farm from the remote western Härjedalen province and a open-air zoo with wolves, lynxes, otters, grey seals, reindeer and moose are a few of the attractions.

Book online : Skansen Open-Air Museum Admission Ticket

3. Vasa Museum

An awesome relic from the 17th-century reign of the all-conquering King Gustavus Adolphus has been revived at this museum the west shore of Djurgården.

The Vasa was a 64-gun warship that went down on its first voyage in 1628. It remained in the deep until 1961 when it was lifted to the surface and slowly and painstakingly restored.

The vessel has almost all of its original material and is the only 17th-century ship of this scale to make it to the present day.

And with the ship came a payload of artefacts that tell us what it was like to sail on the Vasa.

These are in ten exhibition rooms, and there’s a multilingual movie about the ship and its resurrection.

Get tickets : Vasa Museum Entrance Ticket

4. Modern Art Museum

On the island of Skeppsholmen at the Baltic Sea entrance to the city is the pick of Stockholm’s superb institutions for modern and contemporary art.

The museum started out in the 1950s in a former military building before moving into this Rafael Moneo-designed edifice at the end of the 90s.

Some of the names that even casual dabblers will know are Picasso, Marcel Duschamp, Henri Matisse and Salvador Dalí.

People also come especially for the museum’s restaurant, which looks over to Djurgården.

There’s also a sculpture with works by Picasso, Dan Graham and Alexaner Calder.

5. The Medieval Museum

In the 1970s during the construction of an underground car park builders happened upon some of Stockholm’s medieval city walls.

This is under the Norrbro bridge and measures 55 metres, and is now one of the showpieces of the city’s medieval museum.

Here you can track the history of the city from its foundation in the 13th century to the 16th century at the end of the medieval period.

Kids can dress up in armour, while other pieces of old Stockholm that came to light in the dig are part of the fun, like a 16th-century warship and a medieval graveyard.

These mingle with recreated houses, taverns and workshops.

6. Junibacken

Based on the stories of children’s author Astrid Lindgren, Junibacken is a theme park aimed at young readers.

Lindgren’s contribution to literature is indisputable and is still one of the world’s 20 most translated writers.

Her most beloved character is Pippi Longstocking, whose house, Villa Villekulla, is the final destination of a whimsical train ride through the park.

The park is designed to kindle children’s natural curiosity and abounds with niches, tunnels and miniature houses to adventure through.

Junibacken also has the largest children’s bookshop in the country, and Storybook Square is a kind of hall of fame for Sweden’s long lineup of renowned children’s authors like Elsa Beskow and Sven Nordqvist.

7. Swedish History Museum

The Swedish History Museum is anchored in the art collection of the 16th-century King Gustav Vasa, which grew with subsequent monarchs as the Empire expanded.

Now you’ll get a full chronology of Swedish history from Prehistory to the present day, with special attention on the exploits of the Vikings.

The Gold Room is literally brilliant, with more than 3,000 objects across 3,500 years of Swedish history.

Unforgettable here are the gold collars from 300-500 made from melted down Roman gold coins.

The Viking collection is as rich as you’d hope, and has artefacts from the trading post at Birka and the Mästermyr tool chest.

8. Royal Palace

With more than 600 rooms Stockholm’s Royal Palace is up there with the largest palaces in Europe.

There are five museums in this mostly 18th-century complex, which isn’t just a historical relic: The King of Sweden still lives here, most royal events and receptions happen at the palace and all the various departments associated with the royal family operate in these plush environs.

Just a brief run-down of the must-sees includes the reception rooms, the royal apartments, the Rikssalen (Hall of State) and the Ordenssalarna (Halls of the Orders of Chivalry). Of the five museums, the Treasury is predictably lavish and Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities has ancient Greek and Roman sculptures bought by the king during his trip to Italy in 1783-84.

Full day trip : 1-day Royal Palace and Castle Tour from Stockholm

9. Fotografiska

By the water on Södermalm is one of the world’s top photography galleries.

The location is the old wharf at Stadsgården, and the attraction is in a repurposed customs building.

There are four high-profile exhibitions staged at Fotografiska per year, along with 20 smaller shows, so no two visits will ever be the same.

Just by way of intro, some of the photographers featured here recently are greats like Robert Mapplethorpe, Guy Bourdin, Irving Penn, and Akseli Vamunen (Young Nordic Photographer of the Year in 2016). The gallery’s restaurant is highly regarded and has started picking up awards, while you can contemplate Djurgården from a table at the top floor cafe.

Book online : Fotografiska Entrance Ticket

10. The City Hall

One of the buildings that makes Stockholm, well, Stockholm is the City Hall, unmistakeable for its 106-metre tower and spire.

Composed of eight million bricks it’s the perfect expression of the Nordic National Romantic style and was inaugurated in June 1923 400 years to the day after Gustav Vasa’s arrival in the city.

The dimensions of the spaces inside are spellbinding, most of all the Blue Hall where the Nobel Banquet is held every December.

After dinner, there’s a dance in the Golden Hall, which is adorned with 18 million gold mosaic tiles.

An integral part of any visit is scaling the tower and gazing over Stockholm.

Recommended tour : Guided City Hall Tour

11. Strandvägen

Beside the water on Östermalm is one of the most exclusive addresses in the city: A boulevard and esplanade with views to Gamla Stan and Skeppsholmen, and tying Djurgården to the centre of the city.

Strandvägen was plotted in the late 19th century and completed in 1897 for the Stockholm World’s Fair.

The long row of palatial apartment buildings is in the Revivalist style, epitomised by Isak Gustaf Clason’s Bünsow Building, which looks like a Loire Valley chateau.

Stockholm’s tour boats and water taxis converge on Strandvägen, and the esplanade has scores of cafes and bars for a quick refreshment before carrying on your way.

Related tour : Stockholm Archipelago Cruise with Guide

12. Prins Eugen Waldemarsudde

There’s a snapshot of turn-of-the-century royal life at Prince Eugen’s estate on Djurgården.

Eugen was a man of leisure who threw himself into the art world.

He was a prominent collector and patron, and in his youth studied fine art in Paris.

Eugen’s collection, as well as his own landscape paintings, decorate his Art Nouveau house on an estate with buildings going back to the 18th century.

This is all on a small peninsula enveloped in mature oak woodland, facing the canal that links Stockholm to the Baltic and with the city’s skyline in the background.

The estate’s flower garden is a joy in early summer, and there’s also a sculpture garden with works by the likes of Auguste Rodin.

13. ABBA: The Museum

Whatever your opinion of Sweden’s biggest pop act there’s no getting away from their cultural impact.

More than three decades after they split up their music still pops up in movies, TV shows and of course their record-breaking musical Mamma Mia.

The museum brims with ABBA memorabilia and clever touches that fans will be wild for.

One is Benny Andersson’s piano, which is connected remotely to the piano in his house and plays whatever he’s playing at home.

There’s also a phone, Ring Ring, that only the four ABBA members know the number to.

At the immersive “Waterloo” exhibit you can step back to 1974 and relive the Eurovision Song Contest that ABBA won with “Waterloo”, to kick-start their career.

Tickets available online : ABBA The Museum – Walk In, Dance Out

14. Gröna Lund

Djurgården is also the scene for Sweden’s oldest amusement park, and although Gröna Lund first opened in 1883 it is very much up to date.

New roller coasters are unveiled every few years, like the state-of-art “Insane” on which you’ll spend half the ride upside down.

Another, “Eclipse” is a swing ride more than 120 metres in height.

Away from the white-knuckle rides the littler visitors will have the time of their lives on tea cups, carousels, bumper cars and romping through fun houses.

There are concerts in the park all summer, and Paul McCartney, Bob Marley and ABBA are a few of the big names to have played here.

15. Monteliusvägen

Before or after a trip to Fotografista, mosey across to the wood and cobblestone path above the north coast of Södermalm.

In a city that has a replete with scenic views, this may be the finest of them all: You’ll get your best shots of the City Hall and Gamla Stan from this 500-metre trail, and the light at sunrise and sunset is dreamy.

Over Lake Mälaren you’ll watch the big ships hoving into view and the smaller launches darting back and forth.

There’s also an old-time feel about this residential neighbourhood, and lots of places close by to grab a cold drink in summer or warm up with “fika” in winter.

16. Nordic Museum

Artur Hazelius, founder of the Skansen Museum, also conceived this ethnographical attraction a few moments away on Djurgården.

The Nordic Museum spells out the cultural history of Sweden from about the 16th century onwards, showcasing its traditional costume and textiles, ceramics, jewellery, furniture and folk art.

You can also get a handle on the Sami, Sweden’s only indigenous culture, and dip into their history, beliefs and way of life.

Isak Gustaf Clason was hired to design the building and came up with an extraordinary Neo-Renaissance palace that was finished in 1907 after a 19-year construction and would be worth the visit alone.

17. Stortorget

A mandatory stop in Gamla Stan is the oldest square in the city at the highest point of the island.

Stockholm’s expansion in the High Middle Ages began at this very point, and you can be sure that Stortorget has seen some drama in its time.

One was the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520 when up to 90 people were executed in the square by Danish forces.

The cannonball in the wall at the corner where Skomakargatan joins the square is said to go back to this time.

Stortorget’s beauty is in its gabled houses from the 1600s and 1700s, and the Christmas market in December when treats like ginger snaps (pepparkakor) and mulled wine (glögg) bring plenty of cheer.

Included in : Sightseeing Tour by Segway

18. Drottningholm Palace

One of Sweden’s three World Heritage Sites is on the western outskirts of Stockholm.

Drottningholm is in the French style and was conceived in 17th century.

Refinements were made over the next few hundred years when each successive monarch left his or her own mark on the palace.

There are opulent salons from the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s, but one of the remarkable details is the Palace Theatre, which dates to the 1700s and continues to stage performances to this day, unchanged.

The Chinese Pavilion, finished in 1769, is another marvel in an oriental-infused Rococo style and with interiors enriched with decorative works like porcelain and lacquered furniture gathered by the Swedish East India Company in the 18th century.

19. Södermalm

We’ve already taken in the scenery and visited Fotografiska, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg on this island south of the centre.

Södermalm, where Greta Garbo grew up, has a few ultra-cool neighbourhoods with quirky shops and interesting places to go out.

Try SoFo (South of Folkungagatan) for one-of-a-kind designer boutiques, vintage shops and hip restaurants and cafes.

Nytorget Square here is a fun night out in summer.

The same goes for Mosebacke, which had a bohemian reputation for as long as anyone can remember, and is just the place to go for designer shopping, live music and a craft beer or coffee.

The sight of Stockholm from the terrace of the Södra Teatern is not to be missed.

20. Canal Trip

So much of Stockholm’s charm lies in its waterways that you’d be remiss not to see the city from the water.

You could even say it’s the first thing to do in the city, as you’ll get your bearings and see the parts you’d like to explore deeper later on.

A favourite trip is to head east on the Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen, a canal on the side of Djurgården.

This was dug during the reign of Charles XIV in 1825. On the way out there are lush views of palaces and gardens, and as you loop back you’ll see the city in all its majesty.

You could also take a bridges, which takes around two hours if you want to dig a bit deeper.

21. Hallwyl Museum

In the 1890s the aristocratic couple Walther von Hallwyl and his wife Wilhelmina ordered this mansion in the centre of Stockholm facing Berzelii Park.

The architect was Isak Gustaf Clason, responsible for many regal properties around the city like the Nordic Museum.

Hallywyl House is in a faithful Italian Renaissance style and while it might seem historic, the palace was advanced for its day and had phones, plumbing, central heating and electricity.

The countess in particular was a prodigious art collector, and even ten years before she passed away the palace had been donated to the state because of its profusion of fine art, furniture, silver, tableware and expertly crafted fittings.

The drawing room, dining room and billiard room are all very swish, while the courtyard puts on concerts in summer.

22. Stockholm Public Library

A bibliophile’s idea of heaven, the central building for the Stockholm Public Library is one of the world’s most beautiful libraries, and changed the city’s relationship with books when it opened in 1928. That’s down to the monumental rotunda at the top of the building.

This is a gigantic hall encircled with bookshelves, and for the first time readers could seek out the book they needed by themselves without having to consult the librarians.

Gunnar Asplund designed the library, and it’s held as a shining example of the Swedish Classicist movement.

There’s no fee to enter, and many of the titles are in English if you’re in need of a quiet, rainy day activity.

23. Norrmalm

If you’re young and fashion-conscious Stockholm’s revitalised city centre has all the chain stores, malls and old-school department stores to stay on point.

This area of Stockholm, also known simply as “City”, had an iffy reputation up to the 90s when it was brightened up and made pedestrian-friendly.

Now it’s a shopper’s paradise where there are flagships stores for international brands all along Drottninggatan, which is heaving on weekends.

Meanwhile Åhléns and the upmarket Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) are thriving Swedish institutions that have been here for more than a century.

24. Kungsträdgården

Behind the Royal Palace is a park that has something happening in all seasons.

But Kungsträdgården is never more beautiful than in April when its twin avenues of cherry trees are in bloom.

Thousands of people show up for Körsbärsblommans Dag (Cherry Blossom Day) in this month for a walk under those pink canopies.

In winter there’s a skating rink in the part of the park known as the oktogonen (octagon), while if you pass by in summer you’re sure to catch some temporary installation or festival.

And if you just have time to kill you could catch a game of street chess.

25. Go for Fika

If you’re new to the country then Fika is the easiest part of Swedish culture to pick up.

It’s essentially a coffee break, with no set time but is always a social occasion.

People at work “fika” (it’s a verb as well as a noun) to chat for a few minutes over coffee and a snack.

The partner for your cup of coffee can be anything from cookies to an open sandwich (smörgås). But the tried and trusted option is probably cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) or if you want to be a bit more indulgent, a slice of apple cake (äppelkaka).

25 Best Things to Do in Stockholm (Sweden):

• Vasa Museum
• Modern Art Museum
• The Medieval Museum
• Swedish History Museum
• Royal Palace
• Fotografiska
• The City Hall
• Strandvägen
• Prins Eugen Waldemarsudde
• ABBA: The Museum
• Monteliusvägen
• Nordic Museum
• Drottningholm Palace
• Hallwyl Museum
• Stockholm Public Library
• Kungsträdgården
• Go for Fika

THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Stockholm

Best free things to do in stockholm.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen
• Sodermalm Borough
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Stockholm Old Town

2. Kungliga Djurgården

3. Östermalm Saluhall

4. Monteliusvagen

5. Historiska Museet

6. Sodermalm

7. Stortorget

8. Medeltidsmuseet

9. Army Museum

10. Skogskyrkogården

11. Nationalmuseum

12. Rosendals Garden

13. Skeppsholmen

14. Fjallgatan

15. Stockholms Stadsbibliotek

16. Lake Malaren

17. Parliament Building (Riksdagshuset)

18. Kungstradgarden Park

19. Strandvagen

20. Ostermalm

21. The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet)

22. Järnpojken

23. Fjaderholmarna

24. Skinnarviksberget

25. Iglesia Alemana

26. Stockholm City Museum

27. Nordiska Kompaniet - Stockholm

28. Langholmen

29. Norrmalm

30. Kulturhuset Stadsteatern

What travellers are saying.

Touropia Travel

Discover the World

23 Top Tourist Attractions in Stockholm, Sweden

By Spencer Leasca · Last updated on April 22, 2024

Stockholm takes the cake when it comes to beautiful cities. Sitting on a sprawling archipelago within the Baltic Sea, the capital of Sweden comprises 14 different islands. All linked by 50 bridges, it is renowned for its quaint cobblestoned streets and enchanting old town.

One-third of the area within the city limits is made up of water, while another third comprises parks and woodlands. As a result, Stockholm is one of Europe’s healthiest cities and a great place in which to spend time.

The Old Town of Stockholm, known as Gamla Stan, features a stunning collection of ochre-colored, Instagram-worthy buildings. It also boasts iconic tourist attractions like the impressive Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace, the masterful Storkyrkan Cathedral and the Nobel Museum.

Most of the things to do in Stockholm are easy to explore thanks to the ferries and sightseeing boats that take passengers between the islands.

23. Rosendals Garden

If you are a fan of the farm-to-fork movement, you should visit Rosendals Garden.

Located on Djurgården island, it has been a champion of sustainability and biodynamic farming practices for over four decades. Harvesting a fabulous selection of herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers, which they showcase in their farm shop, cafe/ restaurant and stone-oven, wood-fired bakery.

Locally known as Rosendals Trädgård, it has an orchard that grows more than 50 types of apples. It also has separate vegetable and flower gardens, a rose garden, a vineyard, a garden center and greenhouses. All organically grown, the cafe presents a delicious menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries. The best way to get there is to stroll along the canal from the Djurgårdsbron bridge.

22. Moderna Museet

For those into art and culture, a visit to the Moderna Museet should be high on your agenda.

Situated on the picturesque island of Skeppsholmen, within the central Stockholm district of the city, the museum first opened in 1958. State-run, it features one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary and modern art collections. Hosting works from luminaries like Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Meret Oppenheim, Wassily Kandinsky and Henri Matisse.

Overall, it presents 6,000 paintings, 25,000 graphical prints and 400 art videos. It also exhibits 100,000 photos which date from 1840 to the present. Entrance to the museum’s permanent collection is free. Whilst there, be sure to check out its fantastic restaurant that serves an excellent range of meals.

21. Nobel Prize Museum

Over in the Gamla Stan, you will find the Nobel Prize Museum . Despite only opening to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the prestigious award in 2001, it has quickly become one of Stockholm’s most treasured landmarks.

Residing within the former Stock Exchange Building, just a three-minute walk from Stockholm Palace, it exhibits information about how the awarding of the Nobel Prize came to be. It also presents exhibits about notable former award winners and the life of Alfred Nobel, who founded the prize. Some of its permanent displays include items donated by previous Nobel Laureates and portrayals of their life stories.

Whilst visiting the museum, be sure to stop by the souvenir shop, where you can pick up your own Nobel prize – a gold medal made of fair-trade dark chocolate.

20. Nordic Museum

Those who want to discover what life has been like for those living in Scandinavia over the last 500 years should pencil in a trip to the Nordic Museum .

Presenting an anthology of Sweden’s ethnographical and cultural history, the Nordiska Museet provides a fascinating insight into how the region has developed. Taking you from the early part of the modern period to the present, it showcases the traditions, artifacts, furniture and homes of the Nordic people since the 16th century.

You will also gain an understanding of the fashion of the time from the clothes, jewellery and textiles on display. Its major exhibition, ‘While the Ice is Melting’, even introduces you to folk who lived in some of the world’s coldest places.

19. SkyView at Ericsson Globe

The Stockholm Globe Arena is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. Officially named the ‘Ericsson Globe’ after its sponsor, it is renowned for being the world’s largest spherical building. It is also a fabulous place to enjoy extraordinary views of the surrounding cityscape.

One of the most popular things to do in Stockholm, the SkyView comprises a glass elevator structure that travels on the globe’s outer surface, taking you to its very top.

You will take in breath-taking views of the Stockholm cityscape from this vantage point of 130 meters above the street level. Two gondolas leave every 10 minutes, with a visit taking about half an hour to complete. If you can time yours to take place at sunset, the experience is even better.

18. Junibacken

If you are traveling to Stockholm with children, you should take them to Junibacken .

Located in Galärvarvsvägen, about a three-minute walk from the Vasa Museum, it is a brilliant park that brings children’s stories to life. Dedicated to literature, it introduces youngsters to famous characters from Nordic fairytales and children’s books.

As well as providing plenty of space to run around, the park boasts a playhouse, exhibitions and a theater. It even has a fabulous Story Train, which takes you through the world of Astrid Lindgren.

Complimenting this is the biggest children’s bookstore in the country. It offers hundreds of hardbacks and paperbacks written in Swedish and several foreign languages. It also has an open terrace that showcases fabulous views of the water.

17. Hallwyl Museum

There are about 50 museums in Stockholm. One of the most fascinating of them is the Hallwyl Museum.

Facing Berzelii Park, you will find this cultural attraction within the iconic Hallwyl Palace. Formerly the residence of the Count and Countess von Hallwyl, it was donated in the 1920s to the state to become a national museum .

Built between 1893-1898, the impressive palace (aka Hallwylska palatset) now presents over 300 ceramic, glass and metal displays that showcase different Art Nouveau variations and expressions. The countess collected many of these artworks during her travels abroad.

In addition to the artworks, the museum also features rooms preserved from the late Swedish Victorian period. They give visitors a fascinating insight into how the nobility lived at the time.

16. Storkyrkan

Nestled within the heart of medieval Stockholm, between Stortorget and the Royal Palace, resides the beautiful cathedral of the Old Town.

Known as Storkyrkan, Sankt Nikolai kyrka or Stockholms domkyrka, it is the city’s oldest church. Dating back to the 1300s, it is Lutheran by nature. It is also the mother church of the Sweden Diocese of Stockholm and has been at the center of some of the country’s major historical events. These include royal weddings and the parliament’s opening ceremony, which takes place every autumn.

Welcoming people of all faiths and congregations, visitors can undertake an audio tour of this impressive cathedral. They will also see several well-known artifacts, including the famous Parhelion painting and an iconic wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon.

15. Museum of Medieval

The Museum of Medieval is another prominent cultural institution in Stockholm. Just a stone’s throw from the Stockholm Palace, it was constructed around ancient monuments discovered during an archaeological excavation in the 1970s.

Featuring part of the city wall, which dates to the 16th century, the museum provides visitors with a fascinating insight into what life in medieval Stockholm was like then. It showcases booths, brick houses, a harbour, gallows and workshops. All of which regale the history of the city from the period of the 1250s to the 1520s.

In addition to its exhibitions, the museum also presents symposia, lectures and several interactive programs. It also has a well-stocked shop selling various books and souvenirs about the Middle Ages.

14. Nationalmuseum

Possibly the most famous museum in Sweden, the Nationalmuseum is the country’s national gallery.

Also known as the National Museum of Fine Arts , it sits on the Blasieholmen peninsula within central Stockholm. Founded in 1792 as the ‘Royal Museum’ (Kungliga Museet), it features a fantastic collection of sculptures, drawings, paintings and graphic art. These predominantly date from the 16th century to the early 1900s, although they include some pieces from modern times.

Overall, there are about 5,000 objects on display. These are presented chronologically via an undisplayed timeline that guides you through the premises. The museum is free to enter and features an adjacent presentation of art, design and craft. Each era has a collection of its own within the main exhibition hall.

13. Monteliusvagen

For those who want to experience the city’s beauty, one of the best ways to do this is via the Monteliusvägen.

Stretching for 500 meters on the Södermalm island, this scenic walking path provides terrific views of Lake Mälaren, Riddarholmen and Stockholm City Hall, especially during sunrise or sunset. Along the way, quaint, colourful houses flank the path. There are also several benches you can sit on to admire them.

The path begins at Bastugatan 16, which is east of the city and runs a course towards Kattgränd. If you are visiting during the colder months of winter, wear appropriate walking shoes, as the path can get slippery due to ice. Should you happen to be in Stockholm on New Year’s Eve, this is a spot to watch the fireworks.

12. Fotografiska Stockholm

Love art and gourmet food? Then Fotografiska should be one of your first ports of call. You will have to go to Stadsgårdshamnen to visit it. But once you reach the former customs house, you should enjoy an outstanding cultural and culinary experience.

Fotografiska is a bit of an enigma, not a traditional museum or a gallery. It also doesn’t have a permanent exhibition or even artwork for sale. Instead, it presents temporary and modern photography exhibitions and upscale dining that rivals anything in the city.

The venue is an impressive waterside building and features exhibitions from renowned Swedish and international photographers. The food is served by a team awarded a Michelin green star and is just as eye-catching as the photography.

11. Grona Lund

One of Stockholm’s most family-friendly attractions is the Gröna Lund.

Locally known as Grönan, this fantastic amusement park promises the most laughs in the city per square metre! You will find it on the waterside of Djurgården Island. While it is small compared to other city amusement parks, it has enough high-octane attractions to keep thrill seekers to entertained.

Boasting eight roller coasters and a fun house, it even has an old-fashioned Tunnel of Love, which should bring back nostalgia for some. They also have 5-a-side football pitches and lots of food stalls. As well as the amusement park, Grönan is a noted venue for pop and rock concerts. Bob Marley once played here in 1980 to a record audience of over 32,000 attendees.

10. Ostermalm Saluhall

Another place foodies should venture to is the impressive Östermalms Saluhall.

Often referred to as just Östermalmshallen or shortened to Hallen, this fabulous food hall contains one of Sweden’s most celebrated markets.

First opened in 1888, while the prices do not match this period, the antique stalls do. Offering everything from seafood and cheeses to gourmet preserves and meats, it remains the best place in the city for fresh produce.

The hall can be entered through five different gates and provides an excellent breakfast, brunch or lunch option if you want a quick snack in an ambient Victorian-style food hall. In addition to the food stalls, several cafes within the marketplace offer a range of hearty and elevated local delicacies.

9. Stadshuset

Stadshuset (City Hall) is more than just government offices. It’s one of Stockholm’s major tourist attractions. It’s home to an upscale restaurant, Stadshuskällaren, and is where the Nobel Prize banquet takes place.

As far as history buildings go, it’s not, having been constructed in the late 20th century. City hall is made several halls, including the Blue Hall, home to Scandinavia’s largest organ with 10,270 pipes, and the Golden Hall with its 18 million mosaic tiles that depict Swedish history. Visitor access to the hall is by guided tour.

8. ABBA The Museum

ABBA need no introduction. But if you are a fan of their music, you will want to check out the museum dedicated to them.

Located not far from the Gröna Lund, the museum opened in Djurgården in 2013. Housed within a modern and interactive space, it presents the supergroup’s collective works, memorabilia and other cool features.

One of them is Benny’s Piano. A self-playing piano linked to the piano Benny has in his home. What is great about this is that when he plays the piano at his residence, the one in the exhibition automatically plays the same tune!

Other exhibitions include a recreation of The Polar Studio, where they recorded much of their music and a collection of times that relate to their 1974 performance of Waterloo at the Eurovision Song Contest.

7. Royal Palace

The Stockholm Palace (Kungliga Slottet) is one of the city’s premier tourist attractions. No visit to Stockholm is complete without at least taking an admiring glance at it.

Construction of the lavish palace finished in 1754. Made from sandstone, brick and dimension stone in a baroque style, it resides within Stadsholmen in the Gamla Stan district of the city. Undoubtedly one of the largest, most ornate and most vibrant palaces in Europe, it is the official home of the Swedish royal family.

All told, there are 600 rooms within the palace. While most are off-limits to the general public, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of parts of it. Some of the main attractions you see include three fabulous museums and a grand library.

6. Skansen Open-Air Museum

Build in 1891, the world’s oldest open air museum, Skansen , is a good place to learn more about Sweden.

It houses Stockholm’s only zoo, which features animals native to Sweden. You’ll also find a traditional pre-industrial mini-Sweden, with 150 farms and buildings relocated from other parts of the country.

You’ll see costumed staff demonstrating crafts and other facets of 19th century life. Located on pretty Djurgarden island, it’s where many traditional Swedish festivals, such as Lucia and Midsummer, are celebrated. Enjoy, too, the views of Stockholm from here.

5. Drottningholm Palace

Sweden has several palaces, but Drottningholm Palace is where the royal family lives. Located on Lovon island, the name of this late 16th century palace means “queen’s islet.”

The original palace burned in 1661 but was rebuilt. It was used as a summer residence for a couple of centuries, but fell into disuse and decay in the 19th century. It has since been modernized and restored.

Palace grounds include a 1736 church used by locals the last Sunday of every month and an eclectic mix of gardens dating back to the 17th century. The gardens are the main tourist attraction here.

4. Millesgarden

Barcelona has Park Güell, and while it is not directly comparable, Millesgården may be a Swedish version.

Nestled on the charming island of Lidingö, this attraction takes the form of a sculpture garden and art museum. It is on the grounds of a home once owned by acclaimed sculptor Carl Milles, who lived there along with Olga, his artist wife.

Finished in 1908, Millesgården is just 20 minutes from downtown Stockholm, so it is easy to reach. The museum showcases the artist’s home and antique collection. It also features an impressive art gallery and several of his sculptural works dotted around the gardens.

As well as the artwork, there is a good restaurant, and a quaint museum shop is onsite.

3. Stockholm Boat Tour

As Stockholm comprises 14 different islands, the best way to visit it is on a sightseeing boat tour. Two reputable boat tour providers in Stockholm are Red Sightseeing and Strömma, who operate several brunch or dinner cruises throughout the city.

These provide an excellent way to get your bearings around Sweden’s capital, as you will see most of the main attractions. They will also take you to the archipelago, where you can explore the other islands. The Red Sightseeing is particularly good for tourists as it is a hop-on, hop-off tour, which visitors can use as they please.

If you would prefer to head straight to the Stockholm archipelago, either as part of regular ferry traffic or a guided tour, you can draw upon the services of Blidösundsbolaget and Waxholmsbolaget.

2. Vasa Museum

The Vasa was an early 17th century war ship that, like the Titanic, sunk on its maiden voyage. After 300 years on the ocean floor, the ship was salvaged to become the only 17th century almost-intact sailing ship ever preserved. Today it stars in the Vasa Museum , a maritime museum that is the most visited museum in Scandinavia.

The museum building itself is unique; 384 architects submitted designs, with the winning one featuring a copper roof with stylized masts the height of Vasa’s. The Vasa can be viewed from six levels. Other exhibits center on Sweden’s maritime history and include four other ships.

1. Gamla Stan

The Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s old town, so you will want to immerse yourself in its unique charm and beauty. Officially named Staden mellan broama, which means “the town between the bridges,” it is situated on the island Stadsholmen.

Small and bustling, the island is notable for its fabulous, cobbled streets and comely 17th- and 18th-century architecture that is resplendent with vibrant colors.

Many of Stockholm’s best attractions are here, such as the Royal Palace and the Storkyrkan cathedral. There are also several excellent restaurants, cafes, and bistros that offer top-notch Nordic cuisine. After a busy day of sightseeing, this is a great place for nightlife, as many of the best bars, traditional pubs and clubs are located here.

At any time of the day, it is also a wonderful place to sit and people-watch the locals.

Map of Things to do in Stockholm

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10 Cities With the Best Public Transportation, From Medellín to Stockholm

By Laura Walsh

From the cable cars of Medellín to London’s double-decker buses, cities with the best public transportation systems make it easy to travel efficiently, affordably, and sustainably—all while offering a unique glimpse into a society's values.

In some cities around the world—as in Stockholm and Moscow —public transportation isn’t just about getting from point A to point B either. Instead, these transitory spaces have been elevated to become attractions in their own right, featuring impressive feats of art, architecture, and design. Most of the cities included on this list have also excelled at providing step-free access, making independent travel accessible for those using wheelchairs or strollers.

These are truly exceptional global systems: well-designed with residents and dignity at their core, but thoughtfully executed to warmly welcome travelers from around the world. Below, see the 10 cities with the best public transportation around the world—ranked in no particular order—based on a variety of factors including accessibility, sustainability, efficiency, dependability, cleanliness, and design.

1. Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s public transit system offers such extensive, affordable, and accessible service that the majority of residents do not own cars.

Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway has an unbelievable on-time rate of 99.9%, with 97 of its 98 stations accessible from the street level. Additionally, each station offers free WiFi, charging stations, and clean public toilets; many now include breastfeeding rooms, too. With rides that cost only about 60 cents, it is impossible to find a cheaper, faster, or more predictable way to get where you want to go.

You can also take in the spectacular sights of the city while riding the double-decker Hong Kong Tramway, or gaze down below from the impressively steep heights of the Peak Tram funicular. For island hopping, take the Star Ferry across the harbor from Hong Kong Island to visit Kowloon while enjoying the jaw-dropping skyline.

How to experience it: Take the 10-minute Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon for $3.70 HKD (US$ 0.50) for an upper deck seat.

The Delhi Metro is a beacon of cleanliness and a model of safety and efficiency. India’s largest mass rapid transit system connects the country’s capital to adjoining satellite cities with a total of 12 color-coded Metro lines and 288 stations (an additional 45 new stations expected by 2026). The Delhi Metro was also the world’s first transit system to receive UN carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and today gets 35% of its power from renewable sources.

Trains run every 2-5 minutes during peak hours (and every 10 minutes during off-peak). With clean bathrooms and elevators at every station, the Delhi Metro is ahead of many in providing a transportation system that affords independent access with dignity for all.

To help prioritize a safe environment, the Delhi Metro introduced women-only carriages in 2010 that are now available on each train.

The trains and stations are all air-conditioned, making Delhi's metro a fast and comfortable way to traverse the vast city that’s often hot and humid. Fares are calculated based on distance and start at just $0.12.

How to experience it: Relax in Delhi on the Yellow Line: explore the Garden of the Five Senses (Saket Station) or Lodhi Gardens (Jor Bagh Station).

The Moscow Metro cruises onto this list thanks to its unwavering commitment to efficiency and its extraordinary stations. During rush hour, the trains of the Moscow Metro run every 90 seconds. But once you step into these breathtaking stations—also known as the “palaces of the people”—you may find yourself slowing down to take it all in. Emulating the grandeur of Russia’s historical palaces, Moscow’s Metro is an attraction in itself and demonstrates that even something as seemingly basic as public transportation is deserving of care and artistry.

The Moscow Metro probably won’t win any awards in the easy-to-understand category, but with almost 300 stations and 17 lines—including two circular lines which eliminate the need to travel to the city center for transfers—it is the fastest, most affordable, and the most inspiring way to get around.

How to experience it: Stations you won’t want to miss: Park Kultury, built with five types of marble and connected to Gorky Park, the stained-glass filled Novoslobodskay, and Mayakovskaya station, named for the famed Soviet artist.

Tokyo’s metro is vast, clean, fast, and reliable. It’s a breeze to figure out where you need to go—even if you don’t know the Japanese alphabet. Thanks to the sensible naming, numbering, and color-coding of the stops, there are numerous ways to locate your destination all while enjoying a comfortable ride (in almost virtual silence).

Convenient to almost every attraction in the city of Tokyo, the metro serves nearly 7 million people every single day and is globally recognized for its rigorous cleaning and maintenance (the trains are deep-cleaned every 15 days). Tickets are available for purchase at every station; adult fares start at 180 Yen (around $1) and increase depending on how far you’re traveling.

Many stations are equipped with elevators and lifts, making the metro accessible for those using wheelchairs or with strollers or luggage.

How to experience it: Check out Shinjuku Station, the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the world’s busiest train station serving over 2.7 million passengers per day on 12 different train lines.

Alex Erdekian

Charlie Hobbs

Steph Koyfman

5. Singapore

Singapore is a city and a nation rolled into one on an island nearly the same size of New York City. As the third-most densely populated country in the world, well-designed transportation that can move millions is essential for this small nation.

Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) currently has 6 lines with 140 stations and is scheduled to double in size by 2040. In a country of just over 5.5 million people, Singapore’s MRT carries an outstanding 3 million every day.

The MRT’s trains are fast and predictable, running every 5 to 7 minutes most of the day and every 2 to 3 minutes during the morning rush. The MRT’s reach is complemented by the LRT, a light rail system with 2 lines and another 40 stops.

With station signage and announcements in Singapore’s four official languages—English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil—the MRT makes it remarkably easy to navigate without a car or a care. They have also installed protected walkways on every quarter-mile leading to every MRT station, making it easier to walk to transit, monsoon or shine.

How to experience it: Don’t miss Singapore’s breathtaking Garden by the Bay located at the MRT station with the same name on the Thomson–East Coast Line.

London’s transit is such an integral part of the city that their red double-deckers are instantly recognizable as national symbols of the UK. Pioneers of the world’s first underground railway, London’s transit system is vast and continues to expand. The “Tube” serves 5 million people every day on 11 lines and 272 stations—nearly half of which operate 24 hours a day.

Beyond the traditional Underground is the newest addition to London's transit system, the Elizabeth line . First launched in 2022, the new energy-efficient railway connects London's outer suburbs to the heart of the city, bringing an additional 1.5 million people within a 45 minute commute of central London. Visitors can travel from Heathrow Airport to central London in 45 minutes onboard Elizabeth line trains that run every half-hour.

Numerous above-ground options allow for simultaneous sightseeing, like the Overground with 6 lines and the iconic double decker buses with 675 routes, the IFS Cloud Cable Car, or the robust bikeshare system tied to an ever-expanding network of “cycleways.”

How to experience it: Stroll through one of London’s 3,000 parks, like Hyde Park, located at the Paddington Station on the Elizabeth line.

Seoul is home to some of the world’s largest, fastest, and most reliable public transit systems. The city goes the extra mile to make sure its public transportation is easily navigable by people from all over the world.

For example, stations have signage in Korean and English and stops are announced in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. To make navigation even easier, each line is color-coded and numbered, and every station has a corresponding number for identification. Many stations also feature restaurants, shopping boutiques, convenience stores, and even surprise concerts.

Buses are also color-coded by distance and destination type, and all bus stops are clearly marked—plus, many offer heated seats. Every metro station is accessible by elevators, climate-controlled, and equipped with clean public restrooms and breastfeeding rooms.

Onboard the trains, every subway car has yellow “priority seats” reserved for the elderly, those with physical disabilities or illnesses, and people with young children. Additionally, every car has pink seats reserved for pregnant women.

How to experience it: Take Seoul’s metro to Anguk Station (Line 3) to the 1000-year-old Changdeokgung Palace , a UNESCO Heritage site with opulent grounds and gardens featuring 56,000 plants.

8. Medellín

Medellín’s metro system is a stellar example of how well-executed transit can be fun, functional, and help uplift an entire city.

The Metro de Medellín opened in 1995 and is the only rail-based transit system in Colombia . In addition to its clean and rapid rail options, the city is also served by a tram, a bus rapid transit line, and hundreds of other bus lines—many of which can be used in conjunction with the Metro.

The real show stopper is the Metrocable, a gondola lift system with a 7-line network that soars over the city and connects numerous neighborhoods.

Though cable cars have typically been used for tourism, Medellín was the first city to include them as part of a mass public transportation system. The cable cars connect downtown Medellín to communities isolated by the steep hills surrounding the mountainous city—in some cases cutting a 2 hour commute to just 30 minutes. Medellín’s Metro was thoughtfully-planned with community input and is a symbol of pride for the city.

How to experience it: Take in the lush hillsides around Medellin while riding Metrocable Line K to Parque Arvi where you can find unbeatable bird-watching, wildflowers, and over 50 miles of hiking trails.

9. Washington, DC

Washington, DC’s transit system is the second busiest in the United States and serves the nation's capital as well as surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland. With extensive rail and bus service, complemented by a bikeshare system, the DC Metro makes it incredibly easy to live in or visit Washington, DC without a car.

Each Metro station is reachable by elevator, ensuring everyone, including those with strollers or wheelchairs, has access to the entire system to travel independently—without having to rely on the kindness of strangers.

DC’s Metro stations also demonstrate a commitment to health and hygiene. Last month, the Metro completed renovations of all 169 of its public restrooms, a massive undertaking that took 14 years.

Trips on the DC Metro start at just $2 within Washington, DC but traveling to/from Virginia or Maryland is distance-based.

How to experience it: The Smithsonian stop on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines is home to numerous free museums like the African American History and Culture Museum and the Air and Space Museum .

10. Stockholm

Last but certainly not least is Stockholm . Sweden's capital city is made of 14 islands connected by a robust public transport network including a metro system with 100 stations, ferries, buses, and trams.

Stockholm’s metro, the Tunnelbana (or T-bana) forms the world’s longest art gallery . Though initially envisioned as a way to reduce traffic, Stockholm’s underground embraces another worthy goal: making art accessible to people of all economic backgrounds. Today, 94 of the T-bana’s 100 stations feature the work of 250 artists, including paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations.

The art at most stations depicts the history and culture of the surrounding neighborhoods, providing a colorful escape from the city’s gray winters. If you have a chance to visit, don’t miss the otherworldly Rådhuset station or Solna Centrum. The red cave-like ceiling mimics a forest sunset—look closer and you’ll find sporadic wall illustrations depicting social commentary from 1970s Sweden. Free guided art tours are available from June to August every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3p.m., starting from the SL Customer Centre at T-Centralen.

As you’d expect, the Stockholm metro is clean, climate-controlled, and sustainable. When you’re done soaking in the stunning stations of Stockholm metro, you can also see the city and attractions by ferry, for the same price as a bus or metro ticket (SEK 42 or about $3.86).

How to experience it: To see Stockholm from the water, hop on the SL ferry line 80 and visit popular tourist attractions such as the Abba museum or wander around nature in Djurgården, a National City Park.

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Photo: Anna Hugosson

9 essential travel tips for Sweden and Stockholm

Publish date : 21 November 2023

New in town, or just visiting? Here are some things that you should know.

• 1. No cash needed

There's no need to exchange a lot of currency – Stockholm is in large parts a cash-free city. Although you'll find ATM machines (recognized by teal/blue-green-colored signs reading " Bankomat "), many restaurants, shops, and hotels don't accept bills or coins. With that said, don't forget to bring your debit or credit card!

• 2. Everyone speaks English

Swedes start studying English in school before the age of 10, and we never miss a chance to practice our learning. In fact, it's often said that we love speaking English so much, that people who move here find it hard to learn Swedish.

• 3. The Stockholm airports

Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is the main international airport. It is located 42 kilometers north of Stockholm and 36 kilometers south of Uppsala. All major airlines and long-distance airplanes serve this airport.

Bromma Stockholm (BMA) is the most central airport and is used by smaller aircraft. Bra, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, and Finnair serve this airport, located 8 kilometers from the city center.

Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO) is located outside of Nyköping, and about 100 kilometers southwest of Stockholm. Ryanair and Wizz Air serve this airport.

Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST) is located outside of Västerås, and about 100 kilometers northwest of Stockholm. Ryanair serves this airport.

Read more about getting to and from the different airports here . 

• 4. Midsummer – the unofficial national day

Sweden's national day may be June 6, but the day we really dress up for is Midsummer Eve, at the end of June. Many locals head to the archipelago for celebrations, so Stockholm City can feel quite deserted during the Midsummer weekend. But don't you worry – there are a lot of public events in the city center as well. You’ll find them in our events calendar . 

• 5. Systembolaget has a monopoly on alcohol

If you want to buy a bottle of wine or liquor outside a bar, you need to head to government-owned Systembolaget. And plan your weekend drinking ahead – the stores close early in the afternoon on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays and during public holidays. Convenience and grocery stores sell low-alcohol beer, though.

• 6. The subway is an art gallery

The Stockholm subway system is said to be the world's longest art exhibit. Over the last few years, the interest has grown so big that SL (Stockholm Public Transport) now offers free guided art tours in English all year round. All you need is a valid subway ticket.

• 7. Getting around the city

Stockholm is built upon islands and bridges. Instagram-worthy vistas are everywhere and the best way to catch them while discovering the city is on foot. So pack your best walking shoes and a portable charger! Here are our best Instagram spots.

• 8. Island hopping in the archipelago

In the wintertime, you can use the SL card to go island hopping in between some of the 30,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago. Just make sure you have a valid travel card. On the Djurgården ferries and the commuter ferries, the travel card is valid all year round.

• 9. After work – the happy hour out of the office

"After work" is the Swedish version of happy hour. Locals head straight from the office to bars and pubs to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer, often at a slightly reduced price. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are the most popular days for an after work.

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