Pack a ton into a long weekend in Stockholm, Sweden with this ambitious itinerary.
Of the 5 days, the arrival and departure days are slow-paced; the 3 days in the middle are based on days starting at 9 AM, getting in 20k+ steps/day*, and ending around 11 PM/midnight.
*This itinerary also relies on 2-wheel transport. We used scooters, but bikes are available, too.
This itinerary follows a logical and efficient order for each day, and covers the following:
- 5 Museums: Fotografiska, Vasa, Skansen, ABBA, Avicii
- 3 Viewpoints
- Archipelago Boat Experience
- Neighborhoods: Gamla Stan, Sodermalm, Djurgarden island, and some Ostermalm & Norrmalm spots.
- Food & Drink: Swedish cinnamon buns, Swedish meatballs, a local food market, a speakeasy, and a Viking beer hall; food & coffee suggestions throughout
- ~10 Atlas Obscura finds (unique & unusual things)
You will also find:
- A few basic points about Sweden and Swedish culture (i.e. tap water, tipping expectations)
- Accommodations: Our hotel + 3 others fitting different budgets
- General Itinerary Plan (high-level view)
- Additional activity and restaurant suggestions, in case you want to swap out some of the activities/restaurants we went to
- Trip Cost Breakdown
đČTipping: âTipping in Sweden isn't as established as in many other countries. It's always welcome but not expected. When eating out in Sweden it is common to to round up to the nearest big number. For example, if your bill comes to 280 SEK, you can round up to 300 SEK.â
đ§Tap water free? Yes.
đŹđ§ Speaking English: You won't have any problems here.
đȘš Cobblestone Streets: Bring solid walking shoes! Cobblestones all day every day can be painful on your feet.
đŽ Scooters/Bikes: The city has abundant bike lanes and it is not scary or stressful to ride in them. Stockholm is small-ish but a 7 minute scooter ride can save you a 30 minute walk, and your feet will appreciate it! Plus, it's super fun. A GREAT way to see the city!
Accommodation
I don't recommend staying in Gamla Stan (the Old Town). Prices will surely be higher than if you stay just outside, and there are plenty of options still in great locations either north or south of the Old Town.
Mid Range.
This is where we stayed for about $850 for 4 nights. We really liked the location, our room was great, and hotel staff was super nice. Breakfast here was good but you can save some money if you forego it and grab a Swedish pastry at a bakery!
Affordable.
We walked past this place and it is actually so cute!!! It's like a floating hostel/hotel. The main difference between hostel/hotel is whether or not you have a communal bathroom. We checked out the communal bathrooms and they were simple but nice.
This was quite close to the hotel we stayed at, and we liked this area just across the water from Gamla Stan.
Mid Range.
Great location just north of Gamla Stan (Old Town). We ended up seeing this one in person as well since we had dinner at the Farm Family across the way. This location is nice for access to the boat tours, museums, and more.
Higher End.
This hotel oozes luxury vibes and is so beautiful to just gaze at from the outside! Right across from where all of the boats are for canal rides or archipelago tours, and in between Gamla Stan and several big museums, this location is also fantastic.
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General Itinerary Plan
Day 1 - Arrival day
Day 2 - Sodermalm (incl. Fotografiska), Gamla Stan, Viewpoints
Day 3 - Skansen, ABBA, Cocktail Bar
Day 4 - Vasa, Djurgarden, Food Hall, Archipelago Boat Experience
Day 5 - Avicii Experience, Departure day
Day 1
We arrived quite late and didn't have time to do anything except check in to our hotel and sleep. If you have the afternoon/evening here though, I'd recommend either doing one of the museums to give you a bit of breathing room later on in the itinerary, or having a relaxing wander around Gamla Stan (Old Town) and enjoying a cocktail and traditional Swedish dinner (reserve in advance, before 4pm!).
Iconic Old Town with a beautiful main square, lots of little side streets, and plenty of food and drink options.
Pro tip: It really becomes alive in the afternoon/evening, if you wander around in the early or late morning, it might feel a little quiet and empty, and shops may be closed.
Scenic spot. I really recommend doing this one before Mariaberget because it's farther away, so it's nice to see the city at a distance and then get the closer-up view after! Late afternoon/early evening with the golden hour sun is a really lovely time to do both of these.
Scenic spot. I really recommend doing this one after Skinnarviksberget because it's closer to the city, so it's nice to see the city at a distance first and then get the closer-up view after! Late afternoon/early evening with the golden hour sun is a really lovely time to do both of these.
Viking bar! (Also on Atlas Obscura.) Reserve in advance if you want to eat here, otherwise, grab a drink in the bar area. They had live music going when we were here!
Iconic Old Town with a beautiful main square, lots of little side streets, and plenty of food and drink options.
Pro tip: It really becomes alive in the afternoon/evening, if you wander around in the early or late morning, it might feel a little quiet and empty, and shops may be closed.
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Atlas Obscura
Unique and unusual finds - very quick things to walk around and see!
Atlas Obscura:
Ribbinska Huset; It is said that each of the white stones in the red facade of this medieval house represents the head of a murdered Swedish noble.
Stortorget Cannonballs:
Pro tip: Arrive by 9:30 to have the plaza mostly to yourself. Most shops and cafes don't open until 10 AM so coming earlier allows you to get photos with WAY fewer people in them!
Hello et bonjour ! I'm (another) American in Paris.
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