Top Things to do in Stockholm | The Ultimate Guide to Stockholm, Sweden — 27 Travels (2024)

FAQs

How many days in Stockholm is enough? ›

Three days is a perfect amount of time to visit the Swedish capital, because it gives you a chance to explore the center and its closest islands as well as taking a day trip somewhere further out. Our 3-day Stockholm itinerary takes in: Gamla Stan. The Royal Palace.

With picturesque cobblestone streets, fairytale architecture, and location on the water, Stockholm is one of the most beautiful (and underrated!) cities in Europe. Add to that world-class museums, unique historical sites, and beautiful nature and you've got plenty to keep you occupied in 2 days in Stockholm.

1. No cash needed: The official currency of Sweden is SEK (There's no need to exchange a lot of currency – Stockholm is in large parts a cash-free city. Although you'll find ATMs (recognized by teal/blue-green-colored signs reading "Bankomat"), many restaurants, shops, and hotels don't accept bills or coins.

Most people choose to visit Stockholm in June, July and August when the weather is at its best. The summer may be short, but the days are long and the city has a celebratory air, particularly after Midsummer, with verdant parks, urban beaches and island excursions to enjoy.

Stockholm is a very walkable city which is one of the reasons why we loved it so much.

Swedish meatballs, perhaps the country's most famous culinary item, are a part of both traditional holiday meals and a staple in everyday home cooking. Swedish meatballs are traditionally served with gravy, mashed or boiled potatoes, lingonberries, and pickled cucumber.

Swedish cuisine could be described as centered around cultured dairy products, crisp and soft breads, berries and stone fruits, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, eggs, and seafood. Potatoes are often served as a side dish, often boiled.

We love both city's equally. But depending on what you are looking for we can recommend one city over another. For history buffs and nature lovers, we would choose Stockholm over Copenhagen.

For the most part, yes. However, there are variations. The bigger the town, the greater the chance that stores in the city center or other commercial areas will be open on Sundays. In smaller towns or outlying areas stores are more often closed on Sundays.

Is Stockholm cheap to visit? ›

Sweden may be one of the most expensive countries in Europe, but it's also easy to travel on a budget if you know how. Prices in Stockholm rival that of most of Western Europe's capital cities and while the cost of living may be high, it's actually not too expensive to travel Stockholm on a budget.

Local currencies

The different currencies can generally not be used across the borders. In Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland, Euro and US Dollars might be accepted by bigger hotel chains but they are not commonly accepted.

Tipping 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.

Sweden is a nearly cashless country - bring your debit/credit card. Many Swedes prefer to use plastic over cash - some cafes and kiosks in Stockholm even refuse cash payments and accept cards only.

We love both city's equally. But depending on what you are looking for we can recommend one city over another. For history buffs and nature lovers, we would choose Stockholm over Copenhagen.

Stockholm in 5 days

With thousands of restaurants, cafés, and bars alongside hundreds of parks, Stockholm is a city of immense diversity that must be experienced. With favorites like Brasserie Astoria, Stockholm City Hall, and Swedish History Museum, we'll make sure you don't miss out on all the must sees.

Five days are enough if your sole purpose is to enter into the Arctic Circle, enjoy winter sports and chase the Northern Lights. However, since the country is much more than just a winter playground, we recommend a Sweden itinerary lasting seven to ten days.

By Rick Steves

Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographical proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities: 4 days: Copenhagen, Stockholm (connected by a 5.5-hour express train) 6 days, add: Oslo. 8 days, add: Norway in a Nutshell fjord trip, Bergen.