5 Things to Do in Stockholm
Famous for its history, architecture and natural beauty, Stockholm is also a city with a unique culture and delicious, diverse foods. Home to over 50 bridges that connect the 14 islands, the list of things to do in Stockholm is endless, but here are 5 you must put on your to-do list.
1. Walking tour in Old Town
Stockholm has one of the largest and most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Founded in 1252, the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town or Gamla Stan is a living museum with colorful ancient buildings and monuments. The history here is not stored away in libraries or museums; it’s alive in Gamla Stan.
Go to the heart of Gamla Stan and check out Stortorget Square, a central market square during the medieval times. Today, you can enjoy the historical sights and eat in one of the many restaurants.
The Royal Palace, Coronation Church, Gamla Riksbanken (The Old National Bank), Rune Stone from the Viking era and the Nobel Prize Museum are some of the sights to explore when walking around Gamla Stan. Free and paid guided walking tours are available in Gamla Stan. Check out tours provided by
Stromma at 220 SEK (about $22.60) and
Stockholm Tourist Center.
2. Visit Vasa Museum
Vasa sunk in Stockholm’s harbor during its maiden voyage in 1628. This 226-feet warship with 64 cannons never set sail further than the port. It was salvaged from the bottom of the sea after 333 years. It’s the world’s oldest restored warship and is the most famous museum in Scandinavia.
The museum is on the island of Djurgarden. There are several famous museums there, including Skansen, the oldest open-air museum and Abba Museum.
3. Enjoy Swedish popular music and visit Abba Museum
Sweden is the third-largest pop music exporter in the world. For decades Swedish music by music icons like Abba, Avicii, Roxette, and Robyn has infiltrated music all over the world. Besides venues for live music in Stockholm, music lovers can visit Abba Museum and the Swedish Music Hall of Fame.
4. Tour the palaces
The 18th-century Royal Palace houses the Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, the Royal Armory and has over 600 rooms. Visit the palace’s outer courtyard on weekdays at 12:15 pm to see The Changing of the Guard.
Drottningholm Palace is another palace that should be on your list. Located on an island about 50 minutes from central Stockholm, the palace has one of the world’s best-preserved 18th-century theater, the Chinese Pavilion, and an old baroque and English gardens. Drottningholm Palace is a UNESCO listed site and residence of the Swedish royal family.
5. Get fika experiences
When in Stockholm, you must go for Fika. Fika means going to a cozy cafe for coffee and pastries.
Visit Stockholm has a list of places where you can experience fika.
Travel tips to Stockholm
- For direct flights to Stockholm, use Travelmath’s non-stop direct flights calculator.
- You don’t have to change your cash to local currency when in Stockholm. Swedish shops, restaurants, transport, and museums prefer credit card as the form of payment.
- Stockholm has a well-organized transportation system. You can take the bus, train, ferry, plane, or drive from Stockholm to other parts of Sweden and other neighboring countries. To find out the distance between each city, use Travelmath’s distance calculator.
