Stockholm - What to Visit: 3 days itinerary (map included) — A Ticket to Take Off (2024)

Visiting Stockholm was never at the top of my priorities until an opportunity came up 🥰. And I’m glad I’ve decided to visit Stockholm! The Swedish capital couldn’t have surprised me more…. From its imposing buildings to its colourful little houses that look like they’re straight out of a fairytale.

Although Stockholm is quite cold in winter, I chose to visit in December and I think it was even more magical because of that. The city was dressed for Christmas, full of lights and decorations alluding to the season.

Throughout this post, you will find a 3-day itinerary to visit Stockholm, as well as other tips on accommodation, restaurants, how to visit, when to visit, how to get to Stockholm and much more.

What is the best time of the year to visit Stockholm?

Being located in Sweden, a Nordic country, winters in Stockholm are quite severe (usually freezing) and summers are never too hot.

So, if you don’t like cold weather, the best time to visit Stockholm is probably from May to September, when temperatures are milder. However, this is also the peak season as far as tourism is concerned, so you can expect higher prices. And in a city as expensive as Stockholm, anything that can be saved will probably help 😉.

However, the city is also quite magical at Christmas time, as there is a Christmas market in the city and the streets fill with colour with Christmas lights. In my case, I chose to visit Stockholm in the first week of December and I loved the experience 😍.

Of course, visiting the city in the colder months raises the question “will I be able to stand such cold”? Since my visit to Lapland, I have realized that with the right clothing, it is much easier to visit cold destinations. So if you’re not sure if you have everything you need to visit Stockholm in the cold season, take a look at this post with tips on what to wear in cold destinations.

Finally, it is also worth mentioning that the days in the winter months are very short, with the sun setting as early as 2.45 pm. However, this does not prevent you from enjoying the city. On the other hand, in summer (especially in June), the days are much longer. For example, on the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 3.30 am and sets at 10.08 pm.

How many days do you need to visit Stockholm?

Stockholm is quite a big city with plenty of points of interest. I would say that 2 days is the minimum duration to enjoy the city of Stockholm as it deserves. However, 3 days is the ideal duration to visit Stockholm. Besides the main sights, the city has many museums and if you intend to visit many of these, then I suggest you add a few days to your visit.

In my case, as I visited the city in December, the sunlight was quite reduced and so my days exploring the city started around 9 am and ended around 2:30 pm. Still, I spent 3 full days in the city and managed to cover the main points of interest, including two museums.

How to get to Stockholm?

Stockholm is well-connected to some of the main cities in Europe (and also to some places further away). Here are some countries with direct connections to Stockholm:

• Portugal (Lisbon, Faro)
• France (Nice, Paris, …)
• Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, …)
• United Kingdom (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, …)
• Germany (Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, …)
• Italy (Venice, Milan, Rome, …)
• Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich)
• Poland (Gdansk, Krakow, Warsaw)

Activities & tours in Stockholm

How to get from Arlanda airport to Stockholm city centre?

Arlanda airport is located about 40 km from the centre of Stockholm. However, there are several options for getting to the city centre (apart from the obvious taxi, which costs around 50€):

• Train Arlanda Express: this is the fastest option as it only takes 18 minutes to connect the airport to Stockholm central station. However, a one-way trip costs 299 SEK (~27€). Although it is cheaper if you buy more than 1 ticket, this is definitely one of the most expensive options.
• Bus from Flygbussarna: 45-minute ride between the airport and Stockholm Central Station, which is quite frequent. A one-way ticket costs 129 SEK (~11€), but if you choose to buy a return ticket you get a 20% discount, costing 209 SEK (~19€) in total.

• Bus from Flixbus: the journey takes about 45 minutes (the journey departs from the airport to the central station) and costs 7€. It is one of the cheapest options but has fewer timetables available.
• Metro: the journey takes about 40 minutes and costs 169 SEK (~16€). Even if you have the SL public transport pass (more on this below), you will have to pay an airport surcharge of 130 SEK (~12€).
• Bus to Märsta (583) + train (41) to the city centre: the journey takes about an hour, but you can use the city’s public transport passes.

How to get around Stockholm?

Stockholm is a relatively compact city, but sometimes the distances between points of interest are relatively long, so it makes sense to use public transport.

The public transport network is excellent as it has wide coverage, good quality and a fairly wide frequency. Public transport is operated by SL, and I highly recommend buying the transport pass for the number of days of your stay 😉. A single trip costs 39 SEK (~ 4€) so this option is well worth it!

You can choose to buy the physical pass (the card costs 20 SEK, 1.8€) or the digital version, available through the App. In my case, I opted for the App, and it worked perfectly. Reading the QR code on the machines is very fast and agile.

As for the passes, there are several options depending on the length of your trip:

• 24 hours: 165 SEK (~15€)
• 72 hours: 330 SEK (~30€)
• 7 hours: 430 SEK (~39€)

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The pass is valid from the first time it is validated. You can consult the most up-to-date price list, here.

How to pay in Stockholm?

The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish krona, so the easiest option for paying in Stockholm is to use a Revolut card. Stockholm is a very modern and cashless city. In fact, many shops do not accept cash at all. In the 3 days I was there, I had no need to withdraw cash, and I made all the necessary payments with my Revolut card.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you don’t know the Revolut card yet, you can read more about its advantages (such as no extra fees for withdrawing and paying in another currency) in this blog post.

Accommodation in Stockholm

Stockholm is one of the most expensive cities in Europe and, as such, accommodation in the city is no exception. So sometimes you have to give something up to find a cheaper price. And that’s exactly what I did!

I chose to stay slightly outside the city centre, which was not necessarily a disadvantage, as I bought the metro pass and quickly reached (less than 30 minutes) the centre of Stockholm. The nearest metro station to the hotel was less than a 5-minute walk away.

I stayed at First Hotel Brommaplan, located about 7 km from the city centre. The hotel, although old, has been renovated and has excellent conditions. The rooms are modern, the breakfast had lots of variety and the best part was the price!

We paid 37,5€/pax per night, already with breakfast. Considering the prices in the country, I thought it was a very reasonable price 😊.

However, there are several options available in the city, a bit for every budget. Here are some suggestions:

Stockholm city pass: is it worth it?

There is a GoCity pass for visiting Stockholm that includes some discounts on the city’s main attractions. The pass is digital and has various possible durations (1, 2, 3 or 5 days) and prices range from 444 SEK (41 €) to 1119 SEK (103 €).

This pass includes free access to some of the city’s best-known places, such as the Vasa Museum, Skansen, the Nobel Prize Museum, Fotografiska, the Cathedral, a boat trip, the Nordic Museum, the Viking Museum and others.

So it really depends on how many paid places you want to visit. In my case, it wouldn’t have paid for this pass, as I only paid to visit two of the included places (Skansen and Vasa Museum).

What to visit in Stockholm?

Stockholm is actually an archipelago made up of several islands. When I was preparing my itinerary of what to visit in Stockholm, the names of the places all seemed the same and I wasn’t very well-oriented regarding the various areas of the city I wanted to visit 😅. But now that I’ve been there, I think I can help you guys understand better which are the various parts of the city. And, for that, I prepared this map!

Anyway, before starting the list of places you can visit in Stockholm in 3 days, I leave here a map version of the itinerary, so you can better plan your trip.

What to Visit in Stockholm – Day 1

The first day of this Stockholm itinerary will be dedicated to exploring the oldest part of the city and which was also my favourite. This is Gamla Stan, Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen (zones 1, 8 and 9 on the map).

» Riddarholmen Islet

Riddarholmen is a small islet in the city of Stockholm, where many government buildings and some former palaces are located.

I suggest you start your visit by visiting the church where several Swedish monarchs are buried – Riddarholmskyrkan.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The church was closed when I visited Stockholm, so I did not visit the inside. Anyway, you can check here its opening hours.

In the square in front of the church, you can find the statue of Birger Jarl, considered to be the founder of Stockholm. You can also take the opportunity to get lost in the streets of this small islet and visit the outside of Birger Jarl’s tower. This is a defensive tower of the city and is estimated to be one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Also, be sure to take advantage of the visit to this tower to enjoy the beautiful views this islet has of Stockholm’s City Hall. It’s really something not to be missed!!! 🥰

» Helgeandsholmen islet

The Helgeandsholmen islet is even smaller and actually has little to visit other than the imposing Swedish Parliament building – Riksdag. The building can be visited by guided tour. You can find out more here.

» Gamla Stan

One place that is a must-visit in Stockholm is Gamla Stan – the old town! It’s simply lovely, and I think the photos speak for themselves 🥰. I suggest you start your tour on the main street of Gamla Stan – Västerlånggatan. The street is full of cafés, restaurants and small craft and souvenir shops. It’s the perfect place to buy a souvenir from Stockholm!

Near this street, you can also take a short diversion to the German Church of Stockholm – Tyska kyrkan. You have to pay to visit inside.

The tour through Gamla Stan continues towards the city’s main square – Stortorget. Here you can find some iconic buildings such as the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize Museum. At Christmas time, you will also find a small Christmas market, where you can buy some handicrafts, local products and food and drinks.

Stockholm Cathedral is located right nearby, however, its exterior was being restored when I visited Stockholm.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Entrance to the church is paid (75 SEK, ~7€) and is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. You can consult the most up-to-date information here.

Another must-see in Gamla Stan is the city’s narrowest street – Mårten Trotzigs Gränd.

But Gamla Stan has more to show us 😉 Stockholm’s magnificent Royal Palace is also located in the old town, and you can watch the changing of the guard daily. I only chose to watch for a few minutes, as I didn’t find the ceremony very interesting. However, if you enjoy these types of events, I recommend arriving early as it is quite crowded.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: In addition to the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, you can also visit the inside of the Palace. All the information to better plan your visit can be found here.

And to round off your visit to Gamla Stan, I suggest you also stop off at the House of Nobility – Riddarhuset.

» Boat trip to visit Stockholm from a different perspective

Since Stockholm is an archipelago, one of the activities that can be interesting in the city is a boat trip to get to know the city from another perspective. I opted for this boat trip that lasted 50 minutes.

Apart from the fact that the departure point of the boat is very close to the historical centre of the city, the boat has an interior and exterior part and an audio guide available in several languages.

» Vasa Museum

We end the first day of this itinerary with one of the museums most worth visiting in Stockholm. Here you will find the Vasa ship on display. It is a 17th-century warship that sank on its first trip.

Although the ship was submerged for over 300 years, it was finally recovered at the end of the 20th century and is now on display in this museum. It is one of the best-preserved warships in the world.

I would never say I would like a museum of this kind, but I ended up visiting given all the reviews I read about it. And let me tell you that I really enjoyed the visit. Even not knowing much about it, the ship is really impressive. Both for its size and its details.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The price to visit the Vasa Museum is 170 SEK (~16€) from October to April and 190 SEK (~17€) in the other months. From September to May the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm (and until 8 pm on Wednesdays) and in the other months from 8.30 am to 6 pm. You can check the most up-to-date information here.

What to Visit in Stockholm – Day 2

The second day will be dedicated to exploring Norrmalm (point 7 on the regions’ map), Skeppsholmen (point 3), Kastellhomen (4) and Östermalm (6). And to end the day, I suggest you try the Swedish concept “fika”.

» Norrmalm

Norrmalm is a more modern part of Stockholm, where we can find two of the city’s main shopping streets, as well as one of its main cultural centres.

I suggest starting your visit to the Norrmalm district with a walk through Biblioteksgatan and Drottninggatan streets. I particularly liked Drottninggatan street, where you can find several shops, cafés, restaurants and bars.

From here you can continue your way towards Sergels torg. It is one of the main squares in the city, so expect a lot of traffic there.

On this square, you will also find one of Stockholm’s main cultural centres – Kulturhuset. Kulturhuset translates to “House of Culture” and besides being a centre for conferences and concerts, you can also have meals, visit some shops, see exhibitions or even go to the cinema.

We head towards Kungsträdgården – one of the most visited parks in Stockholm. While in winter its ice rink steals all the attention, in spring and summer, the flowering trees are the main attraction of this square.

Also not to be missed, even if only on the outside, is the Royal Swedish Opera building. The building dates back to the 18th century and there we can watch opera, ballet or modern dance performances.

» Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen

We arrive at the island of Skeppsholmen by its most famous gateway – the Skeppsholmsbron bridge. In the middle of the bridge, you will find two crowns (one on each side) in honour of the Swedish royal family.

Skeppsholmen island is quite peaceful, and we can find some museums there, such as the Museum of Modern Art.

However, most people visit this island for another reason: the incredible views of Gamla Stan. No need for words, right? 😍

It’s time to continue towards the islet of Kastellholmen. There isn’t much to visit in Kastellholmen apart from its small castle, built in the mid-19th century.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Next to the castle of Kastellholmen is one of the best viewpoints over the city’s amusem*nt park – Gröna Lund.

» Östermalm

Östermalm is one of Stockholm’s fanciest areas, known for its most exclusive shops, restaurants and nightclubs. But the main reason I suggest visiting Östermalm is not this!

The Östermalm market (Saluhall) is a market created at the end of the 19th-century where we can find everything from the sale of fresh produce, to restaurants and even some souvenirs (more food related).

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The market is open from 9.30 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday and until 5 pm on Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.

But Östermalm has more to visit. This is the case of the Swedish History Museum, the Transport Museum or even the National Library.

» Try out the Swedish “fika” concept

And what better way to end the day than by trying one of the most famous Swedish concepts? Fika is a Swedish concept that basically refers to a break during the day to socialize, have a hot drink and a sweet treat.

I don’t know about you guys, but to me, just reading the description made me immediately want to try the fika. Needless to say, I loved it 🥰. There’s no lack of cute cafés in the city with traditional sweets (great excuse to try another sweet!) and good coffee/hot chocolate.

However, in my case, I chose to try Fika & Wine. The space is very cosy and therefore perfect for those looking for something more intimate. They have several drinks available and a wide variety of traditional cakes.

» Metro stations

I know it may sound strange, but yes, I am really suggesting tourism in metro stations. The Stockholm metro is known for having some stations that are true works of art. For that very reason, I decided to include them in this itinerary.

If you can, try to visit the stations in the middle of the day or at night to avoid rush hours and get better photos! This is exactly what I did, and it went well 😊.

There are several stations you can visit, but these are the most interesting:

• Kungsträdgården
• T-Centralen
• Rådhuset
• Odenplan
• Stadion

The order in which you visit them depends on your point of departure, but I suggest the order in which I have listed them above to make the best use of the metro lines.

What to Visit in Stockholm – Day 3

The third and final day of this itinerary of what to visit in Stockholm will take us to the island of Södermalm (point 2 on the initial map) and the island of Djurgården (5).

» Södermalm

The visit to Södermalm island starts at one of the places that is, in my opinion, an absolute must-visit in Stockholm. It is one of the best viewpoints in the city, overlooking Gamla Stan and Stockholm City Hall. The name of the viewpoint is Monteliusvägen, and it’s quite simple to get there!

But the island itself is already worth a walk there. The houses and streets are, like all of Stockholm, very photogenic.

You can also take the opportunity to visit the interior of Fotografiska. Located in a former customs house, there is currently an exhibition of contemporary photography here.

But there are also two additional places worth visiting in Södermalm. The first is Mosebacke square and the second, Fjällgatan – another viewpoint with incredible views over the city.

» Djurgården

We end this Stockholm itinerary on one of the largest islands on this route. Apart from the huge park there (Kungliga Djurgården), this is where many of the city’s main museums are located. In fact, this itinerary already passed here on the very first day, when we visited the Vasa Museum.

However, on this last day, our visit to Djurgården will focus on Skansen. Founded at the end of the 19th century, Skansen is an open-air museum. The aim of this museum is to demonstrate the way Swedes have lived for many years.

Throughout the museum, we can enter several small houses that represent the main crafts of the time and learn more about them and their importance at the time. In many cases, it is even possible to attend workshops on these crafts.

In addition, during the Christmas season, there is also an extensive Christmas market in the complex, where we can find the most diverse handicraft products as well as food.

But Skansen also has a zoo with some species from the Scandinavian region.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Opening hours, as well as entrance fees for Skansen, vary throughout the year, so I suggest you check with the most up-to-date information here.

To be totally honest, Skansen was probably one of the places I enjoyed least during my time in Stockholm. The museum was packed (maybe because it was Christmas time and weekend) and it seemed more suitable for those travelling with children. However, everyone knows their interests best, so I decided to include it in this itinerary anyway.

Anyway, the island of Djurgården has many other museums and attractions to choose from. Here is the list of the most popular ones:

• Gröna Lund: amusem*nt park
• Vasa Museum
• Nordic Museum
• Abba Museum
• Viking Museum
• Galeria Thielska: painting museum
• Water Museum

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have some extra time available in your itinerary, you can also take the opportunity to visit the Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is slightly outside the city centre but is said to be well worth the visit.

Restaurants in Stockholm

I had the opportunity to try a few restaurants in Stockholm, so I leave you here some of my recommendations in the city:

• Meatballs for the People (€€): As the name suggests, the restaurant’s speciality is meatballs. They have several types of meat available and everything was very tasty.
• Spanjorskan (€€): although not a typical Swedish food restaurant, the tapas were reasonable. The portions were small, however.
• Blå Dörren (€€): A typical restaurant with acceptable prices according to Stockholm’s standards. I tried the pyttipanna (traditional dish) and a kind of pork loin. Everything was great!

Typical food to try in Stockholm

Although I have not had the opportunity to try as many of Sweden’s typical dishes as I would have liked, I leave here a short list of some delicacies you can try when you visit Stockholm:

• Köttbullar: probably the best-known Swedish dish – meatballs
• Smulpaj: there is both a salty and sweet version, but it is a kind of crumble
• Semla: a sweet with an apple-based filling and whipped cream
• Pytt i Panna: a mixture of potatoes, onion, diced meat and some vegetables.

• Ostkaka: similar to a cheesecake
• Kladdkaka: a kind of moist chocolate cake
• Kalops: meat and vegetable stew
• Raggmunk: a potato pancake fried in butter, usually accompanied by fried pork
• Saffransbullar: a kind of cinnamon rolls, but with saffron

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