Hei hei Stockholm: Sights & Tips for Your City Trip

It’s been almost two years since we traveled with train, ferry and bus around the Baltic Sea and stopped in several exciting cities – including Stockholm. We spent four nights and five full days in the Swedish capital in the best spring weather.

It was already my second visit, and I liked Stockholm even more this time than the first. The mix of a historic old town, a relaxed atmosphere, diverse and lively neighborhoods, and an exceptionally good café and restaurant scene makes the city, in my opinion, a perfect destination for a city trip.

I had long wanted to dedicate a post to this stopover. In this guide I finally share our tips for Stockholm, the most beautiful sights, and our personal highlights for 3–5 days in the city.

Stockholm in 3–5 days: how we organized our days

Stockholm’s city center is roughly twice the size of Zürich in terms of both population and area. The city is spread across 14 islands, and about 30% of its area is water. Despite this expansiveness, many sights are concentrated in the centrally located neighborhoods around the old town Gamla Stan and can be easily explored on foot.

Stockholm is also wonderful to explore through its different neighborhoods – each has its own character. While Södermalm scores with a creative scene, vintage shops, cafés and beautiful viewpoints, Östermalm appears decidedly more elegant with design shops, wide boulevards and the well-known market hall. The green island Djurgården on the other hand is mainly known for its museums and expansive parklands.

Since Stockholm also has a lot to offer culturally, it’s worth planning at least 3 to 4 days for a city trip. We even had five full days and additionally took a half-day excursion into the surrounding area.

This is how we organized our five days in Stockholm:

• Day 1: Sightseeing in the city center with Gamla Stan and the island Skeppsholmen
• Day 2: Excursion to Drottningholm Palace and exploration of Södermalm (incl. SoFo)
• Day 3: Visit to classic sights such as the Stadshuset tower viewpoint and the Vasa Museum
• Day 4: Focus on a culinary highlight and special places like the subway stations
• Day 5: Relaxed finale with a stroll through Östermalm and long café breaks

The most beautiful sights in Stockholm

1. Stadshuset – bird’s-eye view over Stockholm

The Stadshuset (City Hall) is one of Stockholm’s best-known landmarks – not least because the Nobel Banquet with the laureates and the royal family takes place here every year following the Nobel Prize ceremony. The climb up the 106 m high tower is especially recommended: from the top you get an impressive view over the city and the surrounding islands.

Good to know: The tower ascent is only possible in the summer months (from May). The number of tickets for the tower is limited. The desired timeslot can be reserved online via the Stadshuset online ticket shop . Guided tours of the Stadshuset’s premises are also offered.

2. Gamla Stan – Stockholm’s historic old town

Gamla Stan is the historic heart of Stockholm and at the same time one of the best-preserved old towns in Europe. Between colorful facades, narrow cobblestone streets and small cafés you feel transported to another time. Particularly worth seeing is Stortorget, the city’s oldest square, with its iconic houses.

A highlight is the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace: the roughly 40-minute ceremony with music and precise formations takes place on weekdays at 12:15 and on Sundays at 13:15 – admission is free.

My tip: Stroll through Gamla Stan early in the morning or in the evening – then the old town shows its quietest and most atmospheric side.

3. Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen – modern art by the water

The small, green island Skeppsholmen lies opposite Gamla Stan and is perfect for a relaxed walk by the water – with beautiful views of Stockholm’s old town skyline. At the same time, the island is a cultural hotspot: several museums are located here. The Moderna Museet is particularly recommended with works by Picasso, Dalí and Matisse. In addition to the permanent collection, regularly changing exhibitions provide fresh impulses from modern and contemporary art.

Good to know: The Moderna Museet is open from Tuesday to Sunday (10–18, on Tuesday until 20). You can purchase tickets online; depending on the exhibition, booking a time slot is required.

4. Mariaberget – the most beautiful panoramic view

If you only want to visit one viewpoint in Stockholm, this is it. From Mariaberget – more precisely along the Monteliusvägen walking path – you have a dreamy view of Gamla Stan, the Stadshuset and the water.

My tip: Come here at sunset! The atmosphere is simply magical.

5. Stockholm’s subway stations – art underground

Over 90 of Stockholm’s roughly 100 subway stations are artistically designed. No wonder the ‘Tunnelbana’ confidently calls itself the ‘longest art gallery in the world.’ An ideal pastime on rainy days. But even on nice days it’s worth heading to a few particularly artfully staged stations.

My tip: The stations T-Centralen, Kungsträdgården and Solna Centrum are all on the blue line and can be easily combined.

6. Art and culture in Stockholm – our museum highlights

Stockholm is a real paradise for culture fans and the selection of museums is accordingly large. In addition to the Moderna Museet we also visited these four museums:

• Nationalmuseum: Sweden’s most important art museum with works from the Middle Ages to the present. The building itself right on the water is worth a visit.
• Fotografiska: Founded in Stockholm in 2010, it is today one of the leading museums for contemporary photography with further locations in cities such as Tallinn and Berlin.
• Liljevalchs Konsthall: One of the city’s most beautiful exhibition halls with exciting modern art on Djurgården.
• Vasa Museum: Also located on Djurgården, it displays an almost completely preserved warship from the 17th century – impressively staged and a highlight not only for ship enthusiasts.

My tip: Allow enough time, because in the Vasa Museum you can easily spend several hours.

7. Drottningholm Palace – royal excursion to the surroundings

Just a short drive outside the city lies Drottningholm Palace, the official residence of the Swedish royal family. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and impresses with its extensive gardens, the baroque palace and the exotic Chinese Pavilion.

From the city center you can reach Drottningholm comfortably in about 30–45 minutes – either by metro (green line from T-Centralen to Brommaplan, then by bus) or, especially atmospherically, by boat from the Stadshuset. I recommend planning at least half a day for the visit so there is enough time to discover the palace, park and pavilion at leisure.

Our tips for restaurants & cafés in Stockholm

Stockholm is a paradise for foodies. With five full days we had enough time to try out some really great spots. Below you’ll find a selection of our favorite places, including pictures. I have pinned further tips for you on the travel map at the end of the post.

From the Café Pascal there are several branches in Stockholm. We went twice for a breakfast coffee with a small bite in the cozy spot at Sturegatan 8 in Östermalm.

In the southernmost tip of Södermalm lies the ‘Koffein‘ which delighted us with Italian-inspired sweets. The café is ideally located to explore the hip district SoFo, where you’ll find numerous vintage and second-hand shops as well as small artist studios.

Those strolling through Östermalm’s chic shopping streets should definitely take a look at the 19th-century market hall ‘Saluhall.’ In the middle of the market hall is the restaurant Lisa Elmqvist, which is considered a Stockholm institution and seafood fans shouldn’t miss it. A few meters next to the Saluhall lies the bistro Schmaltz Bar & Delicatessen – the perfect spot for a small bite in between or an early aperitif.

For a small or larger hunger in between, it’s also worth a detour to Brunos Korvbar in Södermalm. According to various sources the stand is counted among the best hot dog addresses in the city and we can only confirm that.

A really cool atmosphere in a central location is offered by the ‘Röda Huset‘, on Malmskillnadsgatan, not far from the central station. The cocktail bar is even on the list of the ‘World’s 50 Best Bars.’ What’s special: besides creative drinks there is also surprisingly good food.

If you like Asian fusion cuisine, you’ll probably be happy at the Asian Post Office. On the way there, a short detour to the Brunkeberg Tunnel is worthwhile: the 231-meter long passage for pedestrian and bicycle traffic serves as a practical shortcut and is at the same time a popular photo motif.

With the best combination of drinks and cuisine, the restaurant Tjoget in Södermalm convinced us. The concept is reminiscent of Röda Huset, but feels a bit more relaxed and scores with even better food.

And now you probably want to know what our culinary highlight in Stockholm was. Expectations were high, but the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Frantzén could fully meet them. If you want to treat yourself to something special, I can definitely recommend a visit. The menu currently costs 5’500 SEK (about 460 CHF).

Our hotel tip in Stockholm

During our stay we stayed at the Bank Hotel (affiliate link) in the Östermalm district. The central location is ideal to reach many sights easily on foot. The hotel also includes the rooftop bar ‘Le Hibou‘ – the perfect place to end an eventful sightseeing day in Stockholm.

Practical tips for your Stockholm city trip

• By train to Stockholm – is that possible?
  Of course! We traveled via Hamburg with the night train to Stockholm. Unfortunately, connections from Switzerland are (still) not ideal and the journey takes almost a full day even in the best case.
• When is the best time to travel to Stockholm?
  Spring and summer are particularly well suited for a city trip to Stockholm. From May the days are long and life takes place outdoors. In autumn it is quieter, but also atmospheric.
• How many days should I plan for Stockholm?
  Three days are sufficient for the most important sights. If you want to visit many museums and experience the city more relaxed or plan a trip into the surroundings (Drottningholm Palace, the university town Uppsala or a day trip through the Stockholm archipelago), then 4 to 5 days are recommended.
• What’s the best way to get from A to B in Stockholm?
  Stockholm has a very well developed public transport network with subway, buses and ferries. Many sights are on the central islands and can also be reached easily on foot.
• Do I need to exchange Swedish krona (SEK) in advance?
  No, that’s not necessary. Stockholm is considered one of the most cashless cities in Europe, and many places even accept card payment exclusively. With a credit or debit card you are therefore well equipped. During the entire five days we didn’t need cash even once.
• Is Stockholm an expensive city?
  To give you a better feel for prices, here is a rough overview based on our expenses (per person):
  – Cafés & Snacks: approx. 5–10 CHF
  – Street food & simple meals: approx. 10–15 CHF
  – Restaurants (mid-range): approx. 35–85 CHF incl. drinks
  – Admission to sights & museums: usually between 15–20 CHF
  – Hotel (upscale category): approx. 300–350 CHF per night for a double room
  Our conclusion: Stockholm is definitely not a cheap travel destination, but with the right planning you can vary well – from inexpensive coffee to the fine-dining experience everything is possible.

Stockholm travel map

To help you orient yourself better, I have marked the main spots and sights mentioned in the post as well as all our restaurant discoveries on the map.