1. Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Stockholm’s Old Town dates back to the 1200 Century and is packed with many quaint cafes, bars, restaurants, trinket shops and endless cobblestone alleyways. For any new visitors to the city of Stockholm, Gamla Stan is a perfect starting point to get a feel for the city and its history. In many ways, the Old Town is an open-air museum in itself. If you have time to explore deeper, be sure to stop inside the Stockholm Cathedral and Royal Palace – both giving a clear insight into different aspects of Swedish history and culture.
2. Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is home to the incredible Vasa Ship, intended to be the pride and joy of the Swedish imperial fleet, but as it happened sank in its first voyage in 1628. Then in 1961, an enormous operation began to recover the wreckage that stands today inside the Vasa museum for onlookers to observe and educate themselves on naval history. With more than one million visitors per year to the Vasa, this is Sweden’s most visited museum.
Hours: Open Daily 10am-5pm (Wednesdays 10am-8pm, September-May), 8.30am-6pm, June-August
Admission: Adults SEK 130, Under 18s free
Address: Galärvarvsvägen, 1411521 Stockholm
Official site: www.vasamuseet.se
3. The Royal Palace
Whilst you’re in Gamla Stan, be sure to head to the Royal Palace – once the official residence of the King of Sweden. Nowadays the Royal family live elsewhere on an outlying island protected by UNESCO World Heritage listing, but a visit to the official Royal Palace is still a must.
Hours: Open Daily 10am-5pm
Admission: Adults SEK150, Under 18’s SEK75
Location: Gamla Stan
Official site: www.kungahuset.se
4. Skansen Open Air Museum
As the world’s first open-air museum, Skansen remains a favourite for visitors to the city of Stockholm. There are over 150 different buildings to explore and a great range of Swedish cuisine as well!
Hours: Open daily
Admission: Adults SEK100-150, under 15s SEK60, infants free (prices & opening times vary with season)
Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 11521 Stockholm
Official site: www.skansen.se
5. The City Hall
As one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings, the City Hall has as beautiful an interior as it does on the exterior. Be sure to stop by and take a short tour of the building… just don’t miss the Gold Room! Inside you’ll find no less than 18 million gold mosaic tiles.
Hours: Open daily – guided tours only
Admission: Adults SEK70-100, Under 17s SEK20-40, Under 12s free (seasonal prices)
Address: Ragnar Östbergs Plan 1, 11220 Stockholm
Official site: www.stadshuset.se/stadshuset
6. Fotografskia Museum
Another world first, the Fotografskia museum is mouthful for English-speakers but inside its a feast for the eyes. The exhibition is one of the most celebrated photographic displays in the world and is certainly worth a visit for any photography enthusiast.
Hours: Open daily Sunday-Wednesday 9am-9pm, Thursday-Saturday 9am-11pm
Admission: Adults SEK110
Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 11645 Stockholm
Official site: www.fotografiska.eu
7. Djurgården
Tourists and locals alike make their way here, particularly in the warmer months. This area is also home to the Skansen open museum and the newly opened ABBA Museum. If you’re visiting Stockholm in the summer, you will easily pass a day here riding through the endless gardens and stopping by numerous cafes and restaurants.
Official site: www.visitdjurgarden.se
8. Stockholm Port
One of the most pleasant ways to enjoy Stockholm is by boat, so be sure to head down to the Port during your visit and travel between islands. Experiencing Stockholm from the water will also allow you to see the city from another point of view – travelling under some of the many bridges and people-watching from the water.
9. ABBA Museum
Having only opened in May of 2013, the ABBA Museum has (understandably) become one of the cities’ main attractions. For any crazed fan, this is a dream come true. However if you even just enjoyed a song or two, its a great insight into the incredible rise of one of the world’s most successful pop groups. The museum also has a strong interactive theme, with the opportunity to even speak to an ABBA member should the phone ring!
Hours: Open daily: Mon-Tue 10-18; Wed – Fri: 10 – 20; Sat – Sun: 10-18
Admission: Adults SEK 195
Address: Djurgårdsvägen 68
Official site: www.abbathemuseum.com
10. Up & Coming: SOFO Design District
Finally, if you want to get a more local feel for the city, head over to the cities’ most up-and-coming design area; Sofo. Aptly named after its’ NYC inspiration, Sofo is a unique area with some of the cities’ best undiscovered boutiques and concept stores.
World of Wanderlust visited Stockholm with the Visit Stockholm Tourism Board – however my opinion is as always, my own.
I love Stockholm, there is so much to see and explore in this stunning city
The Vasa museum is a favourite of mine, but the thing I an recommend the most to do during a visit of Stockholm is to find a secluded hill somewhere and have a small picnic. There are multiple hills with an amazing view over the city and there are usually not so many persons around. 🙂
Watch the video “glass walls” with a very important message from Paul McCartney and know what you eat
Warning: Explicit violent content towards animals
Hey…check out our list…we have quite a few things in common! Our favourite was walking in the streets of Gamla Stan!
http://t.co/gGaMul6Ec8
I’ve been wanted to visit Stockholm for ages! This post really sparked my curiosity about the city once again.
I just found your blog, and as it happens you have just written blogg posts about Stockholm, Sweden. I, myself live in Stockholm and actually work in the old town. I just want to let you know that it is so much fun to read how someone from another country experiences my city.
Let me know if you’re still in town and I’ll take you to a lokal “fika”.
Safe travels!
Anna
what an amazing place!
http://www.luxxpress.com
las vegas to los angeles bus
I just got back from Stockholm last month! It’s great!
A couple notes.
DO NOT go to Skansen in the off-season. It’s dead. It’s not worth your time.
Stadshuset/City Hall – They only do tours, so there is really no way to miss the Gold Room, since they escort you to it. Make sure you come with enough time before the tour, which starts every hour on the hour. They often fill up.
I went in October, when many sites had reduced hours or were closed altogether. While this isn’t always ideal, I might warn against traveling to Stockholm in the summer. It’s innundated with tourists and day-trippers from cruise ships so you’ll find crowds and lines everywhere. I enjoyed having a break from the throngs of tourists. I think I’d recommend visiting in shoulder season (April/May or September).
I was lucky enough to spend one day in Stockholm a couple of years ago and we went to the Vasa Museum. It was one of the coolest museums I’ve ever visited and I recommend it to everyone. These are great recommendations and I wish I had had a chance to see more of them.
http://awayfromthesafeharbor.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-ponte-vecchio-at-sunset.html
All are so much nice places. thanks for sharing.
I cannot wait to go to Stockholm!! Its at the top of my bucket list! I am honestly in love with Scandinavian Europe <3 so so so beautiful! Looks incredible Brooke 🙂
Nice, you have really found 10 good things to do in Stockholm for a first time visitor. If I should add anything for your next trip to Stockholm then, it should be “roof top hiking” in the old town and taking a gondola to the top of the Globe arena, but save it for the spring or summer next time 🙂
http://www.etravelclouds.com/seven-thrilling-things-to-do-in-stockholm/
Great post, me and my friend were just wondering where we should book a city break, I’ll definitely look into Sweden!
– Grace xx
P.S would really appreciate it if you could check out my blog and maybe subscribe if you feel so inclined? <3
http://voguebeach.blogspot.co.uk/
glad you like stockholm <3
Wow Stockholm looks beautiful- we have some wonderful Swedish friends so think we will be taking them up on the offer to visit now! Thanks for sharing the top things to do, added to the list 🙂 Girls In Polka Dots xx
http://www.girlsinpolkadots.com
My mum seriously LOVED ME for taking her there she was like a kid in a candy store!!!
The ABBA Museum is pretty funny–I’ve never heard of it before, but my dad would love it.
I’m sure, like many, the Fotografskia Museum would be one of my first spots to hit! I can’t wait to do some Nordic adventuring in the future. Thanks for sharing this piece of inspiration!
Thanks for this post, it’s got me even more excited about my Swedish adventure! I’m definitely exploring Gamla Stan and the Vasa Museum
I would love to visit Stockholm. I can’t wait till the day when I’m travelling all over.
Happy to say I did most of these things when I visited Stockholm. Sadly at the time I did not know about the photography museum but that’s definitely on my list if I ever pass through Stockholm again.
Just found your blog, and it speaks to my wanderlusting heart!!! Can’t wait to follow along.
<3
Oh, Stockholm is one of my favorite cities! I currently live about an hour outside of the city and love going in. The only thing I would add to your list is to find a “basement bar”, where you head into a restaurant and go down into the old cellar for a drink! Many of the buildings have been around for hundreds of years so this is always a fun experience.
Stockholm looks so full of history and beauty! Definitely making its way onto my Travel Bucket List. 🙂
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This city looks so interesting and beautiful!
Containing full information about anything always claimant to highly praised.
So many many thanks for this post.
Would love to go there!
Aha my mom and I used to listen to ABBA non-stop when I was kid. Definitely need to visit the museum and feel like a dancing queen! http://nomoneywilltravel.com/2014/11/04/no-money-will-travel/
I definitely wouldn’t mind having Stockholm Syndrome here!
Characters & Carry-ons