Stockholm Attractions

I love Sweden, especially Stockholm with its archipelagos; I have fallen in love with it. I have been to the Swedish capital seven times now. Of all the Scandinavian capitals, I like Stockholm the best, second only to Copenhagen. In this article, I will show you the most important and beautiful sights in Stockholm.

Are you visiting the Swedish capital for the first time? Then I will share my personal highlights with you. Check out which attractions and landmarks you absolutely must visit.

Most Important Sights in Stockholm as a List:

Stockholm has around one million inhabitants, making it one of the smaller capital cities. However, the city has a lot to offer: large parks, beautiful waterfront promenades, picturesque old houses, and the incredibly beautiful surroundings, the archipelagos. The city is located between Lake Mälaren, the archipelagos, and the Baltic Sea. So, there is plenty of water to enjoy.

Stockholm has not had a hard time winning a place in my heart. As some may know: I love cities by the water!

I had the pleasure of experiencing Stockholm with locals (Swedish friends) as well as exploring it on my own, and I've been here about seven times. Sometimes as a longer city trip, sometimes as a day trip from the archipelago, or even on the way home after visiting friends in Uppsala and their summer house in the archipelago.

Do you want to explore Stockholm away from the sights and known tourist paths? Then take a look at my article for Secret Tips in Stockholm. You can save money in Stockholm with the All-Inclusive Pass. Pay once and get free entry to more than 60 attractions and city tours.

-> Read everything about the Stockholm City Pass here (I have a discount code for you) or check out my suggested program for 3 days in Stockholm with the Stockholm All-Inclusive Pass.

These are the most famous landmarks in Stockholm as well as the historically important places and highlights of the city. In my opinion, these sights are a must-visit during your first time in Stockholm.

The heart of Stockholm consists of the three islands Stadsholmen with its palace and Old Town (Gamla Stan), Helgeandsholmen (Parliament) and Riddarholmen with the former palaces of the nobility.

If you've already seen all the attractions in Stockholm or these do not interest you at all, you can find my personal secret tips for Stockholm with the best views of the city.

The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is the ideal starting point. From here, you can quickly reach Djurgården (Museum Island), the pedestrian zones of Drottninggatan and Västerlånggatan, as well as the hip Södermalm with its great cafes, restaurants, and small shops.

Here you will find our map of Stockholm, featuring all top sights, places of interest, and tips for dining, bars, and more highlights. As you can see, you can easily explore all the attractions in Stockholm on foot. You can open this city map on your phone to perfectly plan your sightseeing tour through the Swedish capital.

The most famous landmarks in Stockholm as well as the historically important places in the city. These sights are a must-visit during your first trip to Stockholm.

Where Stockholm was founded in the Middle Ages, there are still crooked alleys, houses with fantastic facades, and underground vaults. You get the most beautiful view at the main square Stortorget, where the yellow, red, and green houses stand. At the first pharmacy in the city, you can find cocktails, and many places nearby are great for a fika.

The houses are primarily from the 17th century, narrow and extremely tall. In summer, the houses provide shade; in winter, it can be quite gloomy here as little light reaches the alleys.

The main streets of Gamla Stan are Västerlanggatan and Österlanggatan. Here you will find not only cafes and restaurants but also small shops and galleries. Unfortunately, some stores are very touristy, so watch out for overpriced items.

Search for the smallest sculpture in Stockholm: Järnpojke (also known as Iron Boy). Also known in German as 'the little boy looking at the moon', this small statue is only 15 centimeters high and thus the 'smallest public monument in Stockholm'. It is said to bring luck if you stroke the sculpture's head. Many do this as evidenced by the shiny bald head of the boy.

My tip: Take the Ghost Walk and History Tour in the Evening. A great 1.5-hour tour that even takes you into the crypt of the German church. But be careful; you should book quickly. Our tour (on a Wednesday evening) was fully booked, and I was glad to have booked two days in advance.

Alternatively: Guided Tour through Gamla Stan. This tour also takes you to hidden courtyards that you would definitely overlook. They are true oases of tranquility in the hustle and bustle of the alleyways.

The Vasa Museum on Djurgården Island is the most visited attraction in Sweden. The warship from 1628 sank on its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628 and lay in the water for over 300 years before being recovered. This was a tragedy at the time, as the ship had double the number of cannons onboard compared to other vessels at the time. This caused the ship to be overloaded, have insufficient draft, and it tipped over in a gust of wind, ultimately capsizing.

In 1961, the Vasa was salvaged. The recovery and restoration took a full 35 years, as the ship was completely dismantled underwater to preserve the ship and its artistic decorations before they came into contact with oxygen.

The museum itself is shaped like a ship and is immense. Take your time for this!

Make sure to book your ticket in advance, as visitor numbers are limited. Tip: The Stockholm Pass includes the ticket.

Opening Hours: Daily from 10 AM to 5 PM

Getting There: The easiest way is to take tram 7 to the stop Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet or the original hop-on hop-off bus, for which the ticket is also included in the Stockholm Pass.

The Fotografiska in Södermalm is one of the largest museums for contemporary photography in the world. The changing special exhibitions are always worth a visit. Annie Leibovitz opened the museum in 2010. The exhibitions change regularly, so you can come back here on every visit to Stockholm.

The Fotografiska Museum in Stockholm attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year.

Photography courses, workshops, and lectures for beginners and photographers are also offered. For me, it's one of the top museums in the entire world.

Note: Admission is included for free with the Stockholm Pass!

Located away in Södermalm. The best way is to take the ferry or subway (Slussen, about a 10-minute walk from here).

Book tickets in advance for specific time slots. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until the next available slot.

Prices vary starting at 17 euros: To avoid congestion and distribute guests, the museum has introduced different ticket prices for different days. It is cheaper to visit the museum on a Monday than on a Saturday. Ticket prices range from 165 to 255 SEK depending on the day and time.

One of the most famous and beloved attractions for locals in Stockholm is Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world. Here, you can explore Sweden in miniature. In 150 cultural-historical buildings, you'll see houses and objects from all parts of Sweden and discover how people lived in different regions in the past.

Since 1891, this open-air museum has existed on Djurgården Island. Here, you get a great insight into Sweden's history with old houses and native animals including the Lynx, Moose, Brown Bear, Wolf, Eagle Owl, Otter, Wild Boar, and many other Nordic animals. Please note that especially on weekends, families from Stockholm and the surrounding area love to spend their weekends here. No wonder-the place is green, spacious, and particularly exciting for children.

Note: From the higher hills in Skansen, you also have a great view of the city.

Opening hours vary by season. Make sure to check the website.

Admission: Between 220 and 120 - 195 SEK (varies with opening hours, check prices on the website), it's free with the Stockholm Pass.

Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours for your visit.

Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm, 115 93

The Östermalms Saluhall market hall, which was once a secret tip, is now known by everyone. It's in every travel guide. Since its renovation in 2021, there are also restaurants on the upper level where you can dine excellently.

Here you will find all Swedish delicacies of the best quality. The aromas of the offered foods and delicacies greet you upon entering the market hall. Did you know, for instance, that there is bear sausage? Yes, in Sweden there are too many bears, so an annual quota for hunting has been approved since August. To my shame, I must say that the sausage was indeed delicious. I was able to try it during the food tour.

Additionally, there's reindeer sausage as well as moose sausage, meat, fresh fish, and the typical Swedish 'Prinsesstårta', really everything a foodie desires. You can also take ready-made dishes packaged in boxes or dine in one of the restaurants on site.

Discover Nordic specialties on a food tour. I was surprised by everything that is available here. Did you know that there is bear sausage in Sweden?

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM - 7 PM; Saturday 9:30 AM - 5 PM. Restaurants are open longer.

Getting There: Östermalmstorg.

You can't miss the royal family's palace in the city. Lovingly called the "Shoebox", the palace at the edge of the old town is open to visitors since the royal family lives at Drottningholm Palace a bit outside the center. Both are absolute must-see landmarks, but I prefer Drottningholm.

The rooms in various styles invite you for an interesting tour through five centuries.

The highlight is the changing of the guard, which takes place daily (Monday to Saturday at 12:15 PM, Sunday at 1:15 PM). For a good view, you should position yourself at least 30 minutes before the changing at the chains in the courtyard.

Website kungligaslotten.se

Opening Hours for the Museum in the Royal Palace: May to September daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, October to April 10 AM to 4 PM

Admission is 160 SEK, free admission to the Stockholm Palace is also included with the Stockholm Pass.

City Hall Stadshuset is one of Stockholm's landmarks. The distinctive tower is meant to represent the neck of a swan leaning towards the water. Stroll through the adjacent park, climb the tower for a great view, or visit the blue hall and the golden hall as part of a guided tour, where the Nobel dinner takes place every December 10 (on Alfred Nobel's death anniversary).

You can only visit the City Hall as part of a guided tour. You can find information here.

Tours are conducted in English (in summer, during peak season they're also available in German)

Climb the tower with the three crowns for a fantastic view over the city. Access is limited, so you must purchase tickets in advance (open from May to September). See information here.

In Stockholm, there are many beautiful viewpoints. You'll find the most beautiful ones along Monteliusvägen in Södermalm. There are benches everywhere where you can sit down. It's best during sunset. Once you've made the hike up the hill, you will be rewarded with this view.

Stockholm is one third water. For that reason, it makes sense to explore the islands by boat. Either with the "Under the Bridges" or the "Royal Tour". Each of the two tours is an attraction in itself, as the rides with the Strömma boats include an audio commentary (also in German), and you will hear many interesting stories.

I have taken both routes multiple times. I can actually recommend both. The royal tour is a bit shorter and thus suitable for everyone who has less time in the city.

Both tours are included in the Stockholm Pass.

Book directly with Strömma on their website or through Get Your Guide (more convenient as you have your vouchers on your phone):

Tour "Under the Bridges of Stockholm", about 2 hours around the islands and through the lock between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea.

Tour "Royal Canal Tour", about 1 hour, around Djurgården and some attractions.

Sweden's most famous band ABBA has its own museum in Stockholm. The queues at the entrance are often long because there isn't much space inside to explore the world of Swedish pop music. Even though I'm not an ABBA fan, I found the museum to be really interesting. Eventually, everyone will be swaying to the well-known songs that play everywhere from the speakers.

The ABBA Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Stockholm. Therefore, you should definitely buy your ticket online before your visit.

Opening Hours: Daily from 10 AM to 5 PM

Tickets cost 250 SEK, and you currently need to book a time slot

Audioguides for 20 SEK are available at the counter, in German as well. I did not have one.

Unfortunately not included in the Stockholm Pass.

Plan about 1.5 hours for your visit.

Getting There: Best with Tram No. 7 (Liljevaljchs/Gröna Lund) or Bus No. 67 (Liljevaljchs/Gröna Lund), with the Djurgården ferry or M/S Emelie ferry (disembark at Allmänna Gränd).

While many will tell you to skip the visit to the royal palace in Gamla Stan because it is simply boring (I haven't been inside yet), every Swede recommends visiting Drottningholm Palace on Lovön Island. This is where the royal family lives.

The yellow baroque palace, located right by the water, is the residence of King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia. You can visit the unoccupied right wing of the palace. The vast French palace garden is accessible to everyone. I particularly liked the China Palace and the palace theater from the 18th century.

I found the guards' tent quite cool, although unfortunately, I found it scaffolded during my visit.

Palace garden is free. Admission to Drottningholm Palace: 140 SEK, China Palace: 100 SEK, Drottningholm Theater: 110 SEK (as included in the Stockholm Pass)

It's best to take a ferry to Drottningholm; the journey there is beautiful (included in the Stockholm Pass). The round-trip price without the pass is 250 SEK. The journey takes about 1 hour.

Stockholm and the water-it's never far away. Did you know that there are more than 30,000 small islands between Norrtälje and Nynäshamn? These are the Stockholm Archipelagos, a highlight in themselves. Only a few of them are inhabited.

My recommendation is the tour to the picturesque Sandhamn. It takes a while, but it's worth it. The tour is included in the Stockholm Pass. If you have less time, you can take the Stockholm Archipelago Tour with Guide (2.5 hours).

Would you like to learn a bit about Viking history? Then you should visit the Viking Museum between the Vasa Museum and the ABBA Museum. It is interactive, shows many visual examples and-including a 13-minute ride where you go on a Viking raid. Very well done and definitely worth seeing.

I probably would never have ended up here had I not had the Stockholm Pass, which grants free admission. Additionally, the weather was quite uncertain, making the museum an easy choice.

Note: The Spritmuseum is right next door and also included in the Stockholm Pass. I walked through it once and found it less interesting.

Opening Hours: Daily from 10 AM to 5 PM

Tickets are 159 SEK, children aged 7-15: 119 SEK

Free with Stockholm Pass

The fourth largest city in Sweden is kind of a suburb of Stockholm. Just 45 minutes away, you can follow in the footsteps of the Vikings in Uppsala. This is ideal for a day trip from Stockholm.

In Gamla Uppsala, you can find runestones, royal graves, and cult sites of the Norsemen. According to medieval sources, the Vikings would gather here every nine years to worship their gods Thor, Odin, and Frey. Allegedly, not only animals but also humans were sacrificed.

Excavations at the three large mounds have uncovered ship and urn graves as well as remains of buried people with grave goods. The Gamla Uppsala Museum narrates all the myths surrounding these sites.

Are you in Stockholm for only a short time? Then I highly recommend booking a city tour and/or a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus. This way, you can definitely get a compact overview of the city. I also really enjoy bike tours.

I recommend the following city tours:

Here is a small cheat sheet to know when to go out to eat in Sweden. In most restaurants, a daily dish (dagens rätt) is offered from about 11 AM to 2 PM. The cost for a main dish (often several options) including bread, butter, salad, drinks, and coffee ranges from 125-165 SEK and up. Prices are generally cheaper elsewhere in Sweden.

It's important that you wait at the entrance until you are assigned a table.

Take a food tour and learn all about Swedish cuisine.

SMÅK: When I visited a Swedish friend in Stockholm, they sent us to SMÅK (Tastes). It's really expensive but offers extraordinary, upscale cuisine. You check off which flavors you would like to choose for each course. You'll get some pretty crazy combinations that you would never think to put together yourself. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of it anymore. It was fantastic and worth every Swedish crown.

Here you can find more secret tips for Stockholm

Cities like Stockholm can certainly be visited spontaneously and without a plan. However, this does not make sense if you want to visit popular attractions with limited capacities and long lines. That's why I've summarized my best tips so that you can plan your visit stress-free and use your time on-site efficiently.

For most attractions in Stockholm, you will get tickets cheaper if you order them online in advance through the official website. This way, you also avoid the risk of ending up in a queue of several hundred meters (the museums are very popular). Since Corona, entry is also limited to a certain number of people per hour.

Thus, you kill two birds with one stone: you can skip the ticket line at the box office, saving time and obviously money.

Stockholm is a fantastic city. Ideal for a city trip or a weekend. But you will see: you are never alone.

Save time reading and skip the next few lines. You can book your tickets online through the website of GetYourGuide to skip the queues. This way, you can accomplish much more during your trip to Madrid.

Buy a City Pass for Stockholm. Save a lot of money and use public transportation for free. For Stockholm, you currently have the Stockholm Pass (Read my test results here).

Are you visiting Stockholm for the first time? Then you can quickly lose yourself and get 'disoriented' (though wandering around can be beautiful).

To avoid aimlessly traveling from A to B, check out the places you want to see on the map. This way, you can best recognize what you can see in one day and which highlights are close to each other. In Stockholm, for example, consider visiting all the museums in Djurgården that you want to see consecutively.

For an overview, you'll find a city map included at the end, where you can see all TOP attractions and secret tips at a glance.

You will save time and effort by booking accommodations in an ideal location in central Stockholm.

I recommend buying a combination of these two travel guides:

If you love the sun and summer, then the summer months of June to August are the perfect travel time for you. Summer can be short in Stockholm, but it is predominantly warm and sunny.

If you like snow, the winter is the best time for you to visit. Even in March or April, snow can still be found in Stockholm. Winters are cold but mild, not too damp. Furthermore, winters are very dark, with only about 2 hours of sunshine.

I have been lucky on all my trips to Stockholm (I visited in May, June, August, and late October). Except for August, I always had sunshine and temperatures around 24° to 30 °C (in October still 20 - 24 °C).

The best travel time for Stockholm is in June around Midsummer. The days are extremely long and seem never-ending. At night, it only gets a little dark for a few hours. Maximum sightseeing experience is guaranteed, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine.

People often wonder if a weekend is enough for a city trip. Usually, you are only there for 48 hours to see the most important places and highlights.

Generally, that's enough for Stockholm, but if you also want to take a boat tour in Stockholm or go out to the archipelagos (both are recommended), you should plan for 3-4 full days in the Swedish capital.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport is located between Stockholm and Uppsala and is directly served by numerous airports in Germany. Budget airlines often fly to Stockholm Skavsta Airport, which is located south of the capital. The transfer to the city center takes longer in that case. Additionally, the bus to the city costs money, which often isn't included in the calculation.

I have flown to Skavsta twice only to conclude that it simply isn't worth it if I have limited time for my city trip. Therefore, I now only fly directly to Arlanda Airport.

Check out my flight booking tips

From several cities in Germany, you can also travel to Stockholm by long-distance bus. From Hamburg, Hanover, or even Cologne, you can travel to Stockholm for less than 100 euros by bus. The downside: the journey takes about 25 hours.

From Hamburg, for instance, you can go to Stockholm for under 50 euros with Flixbus.

From northern Germany, the ICE trains travel several times a day to Copenhagen (about 5 hours). From there, you can take a train to Stockholm and arrive in the Swedish capital after another 5 hours.

There is even a night train called Snälltåget that takes you to Stockholm directly from Copenhagen in 19 hours. Arriving well-rested? That's fantastic. You can book the night train here.

If you, like me, are traveling to Stockholm by car or motorhome, I recommend parking your vehicle outside the city. There is now a city toll that varies in cost depending on traffic conditions.

From Arlanda Airport, the best option is to take the direct bus called Flygbuss. The journey to the city center takes about 40 minutes.

The alternative is the Arlanda Express. The express train is the fastest and most comfortable option at 20 minutes but costs 260 SEK (about 28 euros) per ride, making it three times as expensive as the Flygbuss.

If you wish to travel comfortably to the city by taxi, you need to ask for the price beforehand at the airport. Otherwise, you may be misled and the ride will cost far more than the recommended 500 crowns.

You can get from A to B best and fastest using the subway (Tunnelbana). A 24-hour ticket costs 160 SEK (about 15.70 euros). You can also book a day pass for the e-scooter from VOI for 7.76 euros. Since there are bike lanes everywhere, you will be faster and more flexible with the e-scooter.

Ideally, on your first visit, a ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus is perfect. This way, you can conveniently get to Djurgården, which doesn't have a subway station.

I love this beautiful city. Even after seven visits, there are always new places and attractions to discover. The Vasa Museum can be visited over and over again, and you will discover something new every time. The boat tours are always beautiful. Culturally, I still find new lovely places in Stockholm, thanks to friends living in Stockholm.

Stockholm actually has the only subway system in all of Sweden. During my visits, I rarely used the subway since most places are indeed reachable on foot and the weather was great. Only once did the day passes for subway and e-scooter prove their worth.

Yes, definitely! I always love coming back here! Stockholm is one of my absolute favorite cities in Europe. The city and its residents are very relaxed; there is no stress anywhere. There are great cafes, restaurants, and small shops everywhere to round off the sightseeing (here's our guide to dining in Stockholm). There are also great hotels that always keep up with the latest trends. I love Stockholm!

Tell us your favorites! Which Stockholm attractions should no tourist miss?

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