Stockholm is a vibrant city with a lot to see and do. Sweden’s capital also has a remarkable setting- it is spread out over 14 different islands. If you spend several days in the city, it’s likely that you’ll visit quite a few of them. The islands are connected by an impressive network of over 50 bridges. We spent 6 days in Stockholm and enjoyed its scenery, history, architecture, parks, shops, and cafes. Here are my recommendations on the most interesting things to see and do in Stockholm.
Interesting things to see and do in Stockholm
Explore Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is the historic center of the city dating back to the 13th century. It has beautiful cobblestone streets and a lovely Old Town Square, which is rather small, at least by European standards. The square is lined with pleasant restaurants, cafes, and souvenirs shops. The Nobel Prize Museum is located right on the square. Gamla Stan is also home to Stockholm’s Storkyrkan Cathedral and the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Even though we didn’t go on a tour, it was interesting to walk through the courtyards and peek into some accessible chambers.
I am somewhat fascinated by all the islands that make up the city, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Gamla Stan is actually made up of 4 islands, the main one named Stadsholmen as well as 3 smaller ones – Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Stromsborg. If you don’t pay attention, you may not even realize you are moving from one island into another. The Parliament Building is on Helgeandsholmen. For great view of the City Hall or Soderholmen, head to Riddarholmen. The little island has a picturesque church square and the church itself serves as the burial ground to several Swedish monarchs.
Visit the Island of Djurgarten and the Vasa Museum
The island of Djurgarten has a lot to offer! You could easily spend several days here visiting the various museums and strolling through the Royal Garden. In addition to the Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, the Nordic Museum, the Viking Museum, and the oldest open air museum known Scansen are located here. We chose to visit the Vasa Museum, which was very interesting. Vasa was a Swedish ship that sank in the Stockholm waters during its maiden voyage in 1628. After spending 330 years on the bottom of the sea, it was recovered, restored, and is now on display in the museum. I recommend taking one of the free guided tours to learn more about the Swedish history of that period, the ship itself, and its recovery. The story is truly fascinating.
Once you’re on the island of Djurgarten, I strongly recommend a stroll through the Royal Garden. The area is extensive but it’s nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the tourists.
Get a lovely view of the city from the island of Sodermalm
The island of Sodermalm is the largest of the Stockholm islands and offers wonderful views of the city. Climb up to Monteliusvägen for great vistas and picture opportunities.
Check out the City Hall on the island of Kungsholmen
The City Hall might not seem like a very impressive building from afar but once you’re in the courtyard, you will certainly appreciate its charm. You can take a tour of the different chambers, including the ballroom where the Nobel Prizes are awarded or you can just visit the tower for great views of the surrounding area.
Enjoy the City Center
Unlike previously mentioned areas, the City Center of Stockholm is not located on an island. Its most popular district, Norrmalm, sits north of Gamla Stan and is a busy and happening place with lots of attractions. Drottninggaten is the main shopping street lined with designer stores, boutiques, as well as many cafes and restaurants. The surrounding streets expand the shopping and eating options, so if that’s what you’re after, you’re in the right place. If you’d rather have some trees around, check out Kungsträdgården Park. Apparently, the park is especially pretty in April when all the cherry trees are in bloom.
Don't forget about Ostermalm
Another neighborhood worth exploring is Ostermalm, a neighborhood east of Norrmalm. It’s most popular street, Strandvägen, is particularly scenic- with nice water views and steeple adorned buildings.
Take a fika break
A fika, or a coffee break, is a wonderful Swedish idea that I wholeheartedly embraced. The Swedes apparently have a healthy work- life balance and regularly reconnect with friends during fika breaks. So, not surprisingly, you’re going to see a lot of people enjoying coffee and snacks in the plentiful coffee shops around town. We joined them for our own coffee sessions in the mornings and happy hours in the afternoons happily relaxing in the summer sun.
Spend some time on the water
You definitely should spend some time on the water once in Stockholm. You can take some of the sightseeing tour boats or you can just jump onto a public ferry to get from one island to another. The waterfront in Gamla Stan has public ferries going to Djurgarten, so for just several Euros you can enjoy the city views from the water. There are many other public boat connections, so traveling around Stockholm should not be a problem.
Sail through Stockholm’s archipelago
Now, if you’d like to go beyond the city, you should explore the Stockholm Archipelago. Again, there are sightseeing tours available or you can opt for one of the passenger ferries that frequently sail the Baltic waters. I took a boat to Waxholm, a charming little community about an hour away from Stockholm. Just set aside 4 hours, take a ferry from Stromkajen(they run every hour or even more frequently during peak hours), stroll around the small town, and return after a couple of hours. It’s nice to be on the water, see the many islands of the archipelago, and check out a little Swedish town. The price is about $10 in each direction, so not bad at all.
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