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The capital city of Sweden, Stockholm, blends cobbled streets, historic grandeur and impressive architecture spread over 14 islands connected by bridges. You can visit Stockholm either for a city break, weekend break or even a road trip across Scandinavia, it offers a great list of experiences for travelers looking to explore its beauty, royalty, culture, cuisine and natural history. Here is a comprehensive guide for the best things to do in Stockholm.
Explore the historic Gamla Stan
Dating back to the 13th century, the old town of Stockholm is surely a must visit with its characteristic cobbled streets and colourful buildings. Gamla Stan must be on your first things to do in Stockholm. Explore the Stortorget square as you get a feel of the city and its history. The alleyways are filled with restaurants, bars, cafes and souvenir shops. You can also find Stockholm’s narrowest street here called Mårten Trotzigs Gränd which is 90cm wide at its narrowest point!
There are many tourist attractions near Gamla Stan including the Nobel Prize Museum, Royal Palace and the Stockholm Cathedral. We did not visit the Nobel Prize Museum but the Stockholm Cathedral is beautiful to visit.
Vasa Museum
Think about a big and actual size ship inside a museum! Yes, that’s correct, in this museum you will find the well-preserved wreck of the 17th century Vasa warship. This warship had sunk within 20 minutes of its first maiden voyage in 1628. Over 1 million visitors per year come to see this warship restored in its full glory as much as possible, this becoming the most visited museum in Sweden. It surely must be on your list of things to do in Stockholm and one of the many museums to visit in Stockholm.
Hours: Open Daily 10am-5pm (Wednesdays 10am-8pm, September-May), 8.30am-6pm, June-August
Admission: Adults SEK 130, Under 18s free
Entry is included in the Stockholm Pass
Explore the Canals and Archipelago by Boat Tour
There are so many options of boat tour available to see the beautiful city of Stockholm from the water. We highly recommend ‘Under the Bridges of Stockholm Boat Tour‘ where you can see beautiful sights of the Old Town, Södermalm, Lilla, Stora Essingen and more. You travel under 12 bridges and through the lock that connects to the Baltic Sea and takes around 2.5 hours. This boat trip will be a different experience and off-beat things to do in Stockholm.
There are many other boat trip options such as Royal Canal Tour, Trip to Drottningholm Palace & also Hop-on Hop-off Boat option. Alternatively you can also rent a kayak and paddle though the waters of the archipelago at your own leisure. Do check the official website for updated running times and prices.
Under the Bridges of Stockholm Boat Tour
Departure point: Strömkajen
Admission: SEK 356
Included in the Stockholm Pass
Try Authentic Swedish food
A trip to Sweden would not be complete without trying the authentic Swedish cuisine or pausing for Fika and taking time off from your vacation. Fika is long loved Swedish tradition of enjoying a cup of coffee and snack while you unwind, socialize with others.
Stockholm has lots of cozy cafes and restaurants where you enjoy freshly brewed coffee and delicious treats. We enjoyed a Traditional Swedish Fika at Systrarna Andersson which was included in our Stockholm All-Inclusive Pass. You can grab a tea or coffee and a delicious bun of your choice with this pass.
Explore the Metro Art Stations
Regarded as longest art gallery with over 90 metro stations filled with some amazing artworks by around 150 artists, the Stockholm Metro stations are worth a visit while travelling and visiting other attractions in Stockholm. A single 75-minute subway ticket along the blue line is sufficient to cover and explore the beautiful Stockholm metro art stations.
See the views from The City Hall
The architecture of City Hall is truly impressive and it is one of the iconic landmarks in Stockholm. The magnificent interiors like the Blue Hall, Golden Hall and the mesmerizing views outside makes the visit to City Hall completely worth it. You can also climb the 106m tower for panoramic views of the capital city and surrounding islands. You can visit the City Hall only on guided tours. Check the official website for exact opening times and prices.
Tour the Royal Palace
The Royal Palace in Stockholm is one of the biggest palaces in Europe and still serving as an official royal residence with over 600 rooms across 11 floors. It is close to Gamla Stan and can be on your list of things to do in Stockholm if you are short on time and want to make most of your time in Stockholm.
Royal Palace Highlights include:
– The Treasury
– The Royal Apartments
– King Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities
– The Tre Kronor Museum
Plan your visit to the Royal Palace such that it coincides with the changing of the guard ceremony (12.15pm on weekdays; 1.15pm on Sundays).
Hours: Open Daily 10am-5pm
Admission: Adults SEK170, Under 18’s SEK75
Entry is included in the Stockholm Pass
Visit the Stockholm Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral)
Built in 1279, the Stockholm Storkyrkan or Cathedral or also known as the Great Church located at Gamla Stan is a majestic symbol of Sweden’s rich history. It boasts of a stunning Gothic facade with intricate sculptures and details. It has the the well-known wooden sculpture of St George & the Dragon, The Parhelion painting, Royal pew and much more.
Entry is included in the All-inclusive Stockholm Pass
Cathedral Admission
Adults: 100 SEK
Seniors: 70 SEK
Up to 18 years of age: Free
Opening hours
Daily 9.30 AM – 5.00 PM
More Things to do in Stockholm
With centuries of history and landmarks, vibrant atmosphere and delicious cuisine, Stockholm surely will leave a lasting impression on every visitor. There are endless things to do in Stockholm and here we present some more options which you might be interested.
Over 50+ attractions in Stockholm are included in the All-Inclusive Stockholm Pass which we used during our trip and it saved us lots of time and definitely money! Explore Stockholm’s best sights all on one digital pass over 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.
- Visit Fotografiska – World’s largest and most significant Photography museum.
- Try Different Food at Östermalms Saluhall – Stockholm’s most famous market.
- Visit the Abba Museum.
- Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Södermalm.
- Explore the different world class museums in Stockholm like the Nobel Prize Museum, Nordic Museum, Vikings Museum and many more. Read more about this in our blog.
- Visit the Gröna Lund amusement park.
- Take a boat trip to Drottningholm Palace or to the Archipelago City – Vaxholm.
