A Long Weekend in Stockholm 🇸🇪
Where to Stay?
When weighing up options on where to stay on our first trip to Stockholm, my priorities were the three P's: proximity (to local attractions), price (because I like boujie - but affordable), and place (I was keen to find somewhere with great reviews and a welcoming aesthetic). And I found just that in the Nordic Light Hotel. Bonus: it also came with free breakfast and was a 3-minute walk away from the Arlanda Express. #winning.
However...
If you're after a few more options in the same calibré (gorgeous and well-priced), here are some others I also considered.
Find a full list of my recommended hotels in Stockholm here:
If you're travelling into the city from Stockholm Arlanda airport, I'd highly recommend using the Arlanda Express. We arrived at the airport just after midnight, and the journey into the city center took under 20 minutes, and was very convenient.
The return ticket, which we purchased right before boarding (but should ideally be purchased a little beforehand to alay any anxiety) cost £30 per person (or SEK 720 for a group ticket) and is valid for one return per 90 days.
Day 1 - Gamla Stan 🥨
Where To Eat
Breakfast:
We opted to have breakfast at our hotel daily, but if we hadn't we'd have definitely gone to the below.
Lunch & Fika:
Fika is often translated as "a coffee and cake break," but in reality, it is so much more. As a concept, Fika represents a state of mind, an attitude, and an integral part of Swedish culture. It is a time when people intentionally set aside a moment in their day to simply 'be.'
Dinner
What To See
No trip to Stockholm is complete without visiting the famous colorful buildings of Gamla Stan square. Take a break for some well-deserved fika, or explore the charming narrow streets of Stockholm's old town. And don't miss out on finding Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm's narrowest street, located between Västerlånggatan and Prästgatan, measuring just 2 feet wide!
Also, don’t forget to stop by the Royal Palace and watch the changing of the guards which happens each day at 12pm.
What To Do
You can't miss doing a (essentially free) tour of the Stockholm underground system (Tunnelbana, or T-bana) whilst in Stockholm. “Seriously, a tour of the underground?” I hear you ask - but stay with me on this, Stockholm’s T-bana is one of the world's longest art galleries, with art in 90 out of 100 stations! Impressive, I know!
You can purchase a 90-minute train ticket at any station that also gives you access to the ferry service for £3 p/p.
Some of my favourites were:
Then, head over to Nybrokajen ferry port to see Stockholm from the water.
Take the Nybroplan Ferry Line 80 (ticket included with the one you purchased for the T-bana) to enjoy the scenery from the water. This option also saves a significant amount compared to pricier boat tours, which can cost upwards of £50 per person!
Day 2 - Kungsträdgården 🌸
Where To Eat
Breakfast
Lunch & Fika
Dinner
What To See
If you’re lucky enough to be in Stockholm during cherry blossom season, you absolutely must visit Kungsträdgården and see them in full bloom. We missed this by a few days, but still got some gorgeous photos.
🎯PRO TIP: don’t buy ice cream from the stands at Kungsträdgården, we paid £15 (insane, I know) for two cones and I didn’t really realise until after I’d paid. They were also really bad tasting - definitely a huge tourist trap.
What To Do
As this list is budget-friendly, you have to do one of the few completely ✨free✨ things in Stockholm, which is a visit to the Nationalmuseum. Some exhibitions are paid for, but the Sculpture Courtyard is free, and is gorgeous!
Though we didn’t make it on this occasion, a trip to the ABBA Museum came highly recommended, and I’d love to see it on another visit.
Day 3 - Shopping 🛍️
Since you have to come away from a trip with a few tangible things, and not always JUST memories, grabbing a souvenir or two is a must. Doing gift and souvenir shopping in a city like Stockholm, whilst being budget-conscious was a personal mission I was ready to take on.
Where To Eat
🎯PRO TIP: eating out is a serious game in Stockholm, especially in the evenings and weekends, so make sure you’re making reservations beforehand or you’ll either be left waiting in a long queue, or miss out on the chance to dine where you’d like.
Breakfast
Lunch & Fika
Dinner
What To See
What To Do
The daily market in Hotorget was a great place to wander around, first of all, it was filled with row upon rows of stalls selling anything from flowers, to produce, to vintage wear, and was a lovely place to stop and pick up something unique as a memento of Stockholm. Don’t forget to sharpen your bargaining skills though!
I hope you enjoyed my 3-day Stockholm city guide as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you.
As a little extra, find below some honourable mentions for restaurants and activities I didn’t get to do this time round, and that I’ll be looking to try when next in the city and playing with a slightly higher budget:
Dining
Doing
Happy travelling! ✈️
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