10 Things You Must See and Do in Stockholm

Visit the Museums

Easily holding their own on the world stage, Stockholm's museums are exceptional. A standout among standouts is the Vasa Museum, which explores the sunken warship Vasa through a series of interactive exhibits, family-friendly films, and historical recreations. The ship herself has been beautifully restored so guests can get up close and personal and even view active preservation efforts by a team of students and researchers. Another must-see is Fotografiska, which showcases contemporary photography and exhibitions by major artists in its hypermodern waterfront building. The Nobel Museum, in Stockholm's historical Gamla Stan district, explores the founder and winners of the prestigious prize alongside rotating exhibitions.

For maximum museum viewing and money saving, visitors can purchase the Stockholm Card, an all-access pass to 80 museums and attractions in one-, two-, three-, or five-day increments.

Discover Djurgarden

Djurgarden is a calming oasis in the middle of this bustling city. The park (officially the stomping grounds of the royal family, but open to the public) fronts both the canal and the harbor, offering amazing views from everywhere. It's home to some of Stockholm's most-visited attractions, including the Vasa Museum, the open-air Skansen historical museum, the ABBA Museum, and Grona Lund amusement park. But the best way to see it is like the locals do: by having a picnic in the park, walking or biking its many trails, or simply taking a book and finding a comfortable spot in the sun.

Attend a Festival

Stockholmers love to celebrate, and there is no better place to party than on the city streets. From one of Europe's largest pride events to a midsummer holiday bathed in tradition, festivals mark almost every month of the calendar. Stockholm Pride Week kicks off each summer with five days of partying, art exhibitions, and a massive parade to cap it off. Kulturfestivalen bombards the city streets each August (for free) with countless musical performances from local and international acts. And Stockholm's Christmas markets in November and December offer cozy holiday spirit, with Swedish crafters hawking their wares at an open-air market as cheery shoppers drink glogg and nibble on gingersnaps.

Snack at Food Halls

In this notoriously expensive city, one of the simplest ways to save money is by shopping and eating at its bountiful food halls. With a large selection of Scandinavian sweets, produce, cheese, fish, game, and ready-to-eat meals, Hotorgshallen and Ostermalms Saluhall, both easily accessible by Tunnelbana, are worth a visit. Forget the postcards: Here, you can buy delicious goodies to transport home, like cloudberry preserves and strong, face-puckering licorice candies that Swedes seem to eat by the fistful.

Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar foods? Frederik Linse from Food Tours Stockholm will lead the way on a multi-hour tour of Stockholm's best food-hall eats, with stops to sample smoked fish and snaps at Melanders, traditional game at Hellbergs, and Finnish pastry at Finska Butken. Arrive hungry, and plan on not needing dinner.

Take the Tunnelbana

In any other city, public transportation is sheer drudgery, but in Stockholm, it's a work of art. Each station has its own artsy vibe, with digital installations, sculptures, murals, mosaics, paintings, and artifacts lining the walls and floors. Simply taking the T-Bana to your destination is like gliding through a gallery. Check out T-Centralen's blue-painted cave walls, Kungstradgarden's archaeological ruins (with the remains of an old palace nestled within), and Solna Centrum's blinding red ceiling and surreal statues. The Stockholm Card gives you unlimited rides on the T-Bana so you can explore all day.

Shop in Sodermalm

You wouldn't know it now, but the Sodermalm neighborhood was once a working-class district with little to recommend it aside from tenement houses. These days, it's a hipster paradise, with cool boutiques, indie coffee shops, and plenty of cheap restaurants and bars. (If you want to truly feel like an insider, call it "Soder" like the locals do.) Spend the day among the trendy denizens, shopping at vintage stores along Nytorgsgatan and loafing in the picturesque squares and coffee shops. If you get hungry, pop into Parlans confectionary for a buttery caramel or Meatballs for the People for a traditional Swedish snack, hipster-style. And wear your best skinny jeans.

Sightsee by Boat

Stockholm is a city of islands, connected by picturesque bridges and encircled by the Baltic Sea and Lake Malaren. Easy access to water means that boating is a perfect way to see the sights and sounds from sea level. Stromma runs a number of tours that explore the historical bridges, canals, locks, and waterways. A 24-hour hop-on, hop-off tour gives you the flexibility to sail at your own pace, while dinner cruises offer a taste of Swedish cuisine while you tour the archipelago. There's also an ABBA boat tour, if you're so inclined.

Have a Stylish Swedish Meal

While it doesn't quite have the culinary cache of neighboring Denmark, Stockholm's food scene is on the rise, with eight Michelin-starred eateries and countless cafes serving up Swedish cuisine both modern and traditional. If you only have the time (or budget) for one extravagant meal, the smorgasbord at the ooh-la-la Grand Hotel is a good place to start, especially if you're aching to try the traditional cuisine: herring in countless forms, gravlax, smoked fish and meat, local charcuterie, and endless trays of bite-sized sweets. Be warned: Come very hungry and don't be embarrassed about polishing off five plates—that's what a smorgasbord is for.

Explore Gamla Stan

The medieval town center of Gamla Stan is beautifully preserved, with mazelike cobblestoned streets flanked by tall buildings in shades of clay and mustard yellow. By foot or by bicycle, tour the neighborhood's museums, churches, and beautiful national cathedral. Take a walk through the Royal Palace and witness the daily changing of the guard. Squeeze through the narrowest alley in Stockholm, Marten Trotzigs Grand, which tapers to a tiny 35 inches wide. Then stop at Chokladkoppen, a favorite coffee shop for those looking to warm up over bowls of creamy hot chocolate and flaky pastry. (It's a good place to stop for a fika.)

Escape to the Archipelago

Whether fleeing town during the midsummer holiday or seeking out a peaceful weekend retreat, Stockholmers love to visit the archipelago. A cluster of thousands of islands in the Baltic Sea, the archipelago lies about 20 minutes from downtown. Adventurers can swim, sail, fish, kayak, or hike the countless isles and skerries, while the larger, inhabited islands are dotted with small seaside cottages and red wooden cabins available for rent. (Airbnb has a drool-worthy selection.) In summer, massive Fire Island-style parties rock the islands, while wintertime brings peaceful solitude to the area's fishing villages and cobblestoned roads. Year-round, ferries from the city center offer quick transport to a place that feels worlds away.

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