Top Attractions to Experience in Stockholm
Stockholm’s pleasures are legion, ranging from abundant waterways and elegant green spaces to neighborhoods filled with character and fascinating museums showcasing art and Swedish culture. Even if you only have a few days here, you can see and do plenty. Whether you’re looking for history, culture, or nature (or all three), here are our suggestions for places and activities you should prioritize.
1. Take in the grandeur of Stadshuset
Topped with three golden crowns, Stockholm’s red-brick City Hall is a symbol of the city since its completion in 1923. Visits are by guided tour only, featuring highlights such as the Blue Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year, and the opulent Golden Hall adorned with mosaics depicting key historic events and figures in Sweden.
Across the courtyard, the 348ft (106m)-high tower offers spectacular 360-degree views of central Stockholm. An elevator takes you halfway up, followed by stairs and sloping walkways leading to the cupola.
2. Stroll down Strandvägen
Stretching along the Östermalm waterfront from Nybroplan to the Djurgården bridge, Strandvägen is Stockholm’s grandest boulevard. Featuring turreted apartment buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the picturesque street offers a gracious waterfront promenade lined with cafés and restaurants.
Passenger ferries and sightseeing boats bound for the archipelago load at the avenue’s western end. In summer, as crowds linger into the light late evenings, Strandvägen is at its liveliest and most beautiful.
3. Take to the water and see Stockholm by boat
Visitors often find that Stockholm’s core consists of islands and canals, meaning you haven’t truly experienced the city until you’ve seen it from the water. At the very least, embark on the Djurgården passenger ferry for the 7-minute trip between Slussen and Djurgården.
For a more informative experience, consider taking a harbor boat tour around Kungsholmen and Långholmen or join the Royal Canal Tour to circle Djurgården. Alternatively, choose a hop-on-hop-off boat that travels to key attractions along Stockholm’s Baltic side.
4. Get pastoral on Djurgården
Known for its many museums, Djurgården is also an excellent destination for nature and outdoor recreation. Once a royal deer park, this 689-acre oasis on the city’s eastern edge features extensive woodlands and meadows, lined with walking and cycling paths. Rent bicycles next to the bridge at the Djurgården Visitor Center, or at nearby cafés, where kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats are also available.
Enjoy a beautiful walk or bike ride along the bay and canal on Djurgården’s north side, which spans just over 2.5 miles (4km) to the island’s easternmost tip. A delightful stop along the way is Rosendals Trädgård, featuring biodynamic gardens, a farm-to-table café, and a stone-oven bakery.
5. Feel Swedish culture come alive at Skansen
The world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, offers a cultural history of Sweden within a single accessible site. Since it opened in 1891, more than 150 significant buildings from across the country have been relocated here. Many feature demonstrations of traditional crafts or other historical activities. Additionally, various gardens represent different regions, while a zoo provides encounters with diverse Swedish wildlife.
If you’re in town for major holidays such as Walpurgis Night or Midsummer, Skansen is the place to experience traditional Swedish celebrations.
6. Get lost in the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan
Every visitor to Stockholm heads to the Old Town for good reason. Dating back hundreds of years, this area features cobblestone streets lined with narrow buildings in warm ochre hues that invite you to wander, especially away from the busier Västergatan.
Significant attractions abound, including medieval and Renaissance churches, not to mention the majestic Royal Palace. However, much of Gamla Stan’s charm lies in its quieter pleasures, like a serene square, a narrow alley, a hidden courtyard, or whimsical finds like Stockholm’s smallest statue, a 5.9in (15cm) tall iron boy looking up at the moon.
7. Celebrate Sweden’s sensational super troupers at ABBA: The Museum
Decades after their split, ABBA remains Sweden’s biggest musical export of all time. If you’re a fan, visiting ABBA: The Museum is a must. This vibrant museum is packed with memorabilia, from photos and letters to the iconic stage costumes along with a replica of the Polar recording studio complete with original instruments.
Interactive stations offer opportunities to sing with the band, mix music, dance like your favorite ABBA member, or even ‘try on’ costumes for virtual photo shoots.
8. Plunge into Swedish history at Historiska Museet
For those intrigued by Scandinavia’s past, Historiska Museet is essential. The Viking exhibit showcases over 2,500 artifacts, along with interactive stations covering every aspect of Viking life. Another permanent exhibit continues from the Viking display, tracing Swedish history from 1000 AD to today, guiding visitors along a chronological timeline.
Below ground, the dazzling Gold Room displays over 3,000 treasures, including heavy gold collars from the 5th century CE and a jewel-studded gold reliquary from the 13th century.
9. Board a 17th-century ship at Vasamuseet
The Vasamuseet commemorates one of Sweden’s most notable maritime incidents: the sinking of the warship Vasa just 20 minutes after her illustrious launch in 1628. Though intended as a show of military strength, Vasa was unbalanced, and a gust of wind prompted her rapid descent, just off in central Stockholm.
After lying at the bottom of the harbor for over three centuries, a remarkable salvage operation in 1961 brought the Vasa back to the surface. Now displayed in a hangar-like setting, the ship is the museum’s centerpiece, with additional exhibits providing context for this compelling tale of failure and recovery.
10. Explore Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen
Positioned in the heart of Stockholm’s harbor, the lush islands of Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen provide a peaceful respite from the urban hustle. As you stroll around these islets, breathtaking views appear in every direction, with landmarks like Strandvägen and Djurgården to the north and east, and Södermalm and Gamla Stan to the south and west. Interesting boats also line the shores, including the full-rigged sailing ship af Chapman, now a quirky hostel.
For over 300 years, these islands served the Swedish Navy. While military operations have since transitioned elsewhere, the Swedish naval flag continues to fly over the small citadel on Kastellholmen, symbolizing peace.
11. Take in the views from Södermalm
Södermalm is ideal for panoramic views of central Stockholm, characterized by steep cliffs rising from the waterfront. A popular spot is Monteliusvägen, a scenic walking path just west of Slussen, offering viewpoints opposite Stadshuset and Riddarholmen. Further west, Skinnarviksberget, the highest point in central Stockholm, invites you to relax, enjoy a picnic, and gaze at the enchanting scenery of Kungsholmen and Lake Mälaren.
Alternatively, venture east from Slussen to Fjällgatan for a magnificent vista encompassing Djurgården, Kastellholmen, Skeppsholmen, Gamla Stan, and beyond.
