The Complete Stockholm Travel Guide

As someone with Swedish heritage and traditions like making Swedish meatballs for Christmas, I always knew I needed to visit Sweden one day. Stockholm seemed like the perfect place to start, with its long-established history, gorgeous buildings, and unique placement across 14 islands. City-goers and nature-lovers alike will love Stockholm and all it has to offer.

This complete Stockholm travel guide will take you through what to expect, where to stay, the best things to do, and where to eat vegan during your time in Stockholm!

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What to Expect

How to get there: If you are flying into Stockholm, you will likely fly into Arlanda (ARN) as it is the largest airport. The quickest way to reach the city center is by taking the Arlanda Express. You can buy your tickets in advance online or at an airport kiosk. You may also be visiting from a nearby country or city, in which case I recommend my favorite transportation app, Omio.

When to go: Because Sweden has all four seasons, the time of year you go might depend on the weather you would like to experience. Stockholm experiences mild summers and cold winters. Luckily, there are a variety of activities to enjoy no matter the weather.

Language: Although the official language is Swedish, most people know English. As usual, I recommend learning a few phrases, out of courtesy.

Currency: Sweden uses the Swedish Krona which currently sits at about 10 SEK to 1 USD. US citizens will find the prices quite comparable to prices at home. I would recommend not taking cash out in Sweden. They pride themselves in becoming a cashless country and it is possible to go to places that don’t accept cash.

Safety: I found Stockholm to be very safe. I walked during most of my visit — day and night, and never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.

Packing: What to pack is based largely on the season you go. Be well prepared if you go in the winter as temperatures do go below freezing. Stockholm is a large city so bring proper walking shoes if you plan on seeing the city on foot.

Where to Stay

From luxury hotels to backpacker hostels, Stockholm truly has something for every budget. I sway towards hostels not just because I travel on a tight budget, but because I love the atmosphere and community that hostels offer. I like using HostelWorld to book my hostel accommodations. During my visit to Stockholm, I stayed in the City Backpackers Hostel which was located in the Norrmalm neighborhood, close to shopping, cafes, and the central station. An added bonus to this hostel is the free sauna!

Extra tip: As a typical rule of thumb, I tend to stay close to the city center so I can walk everywhere. This especially came in handy because transportation was quite expensive.

Best things to do in Stockholm

Fika

I think Sweden and Fika are practically synonymous. For those who aren’t familiar with the term “Fika”, it’s the practice of taking a break with a coffee, pastry, and good company. If you know me you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this was my favorite tradition. Because this is such an important part of the culture, it is no surprise that there is an abundance of amazing coffee shops around the city. Make sure to try a Kanelbullar, the traditional Swedish cinnamon bun — they are hands down my favorite pastry — which is available at every cafe.

My favorite spots:

Gast Cafe

Stora Bageriet

Cafe a la lo

Drop Coffee

Slow Hands Cafe

Skeppsbro Bageri

Fotografiska

This contemporary photography museum was given as a recommendation by a couple of different Swedes, so I knew I had to visit. I have to admit, I went in without research or expectations, and it ended up being one of my favorite activities of the trip. The museum had 3 exhibits, all with a unique story to tell. It was unlike any other museum that I've visited. Anyone that has a passion for photography or storytelling should pay a visit.

Visit Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is an island in Stockholm that is considered the “Old Town” where Stockholm was founded in the 13th century. The current buildings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, making this one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Europe. Here you can also find the Royal Palace and the Nobel Prize Museum. While Gamla Stan is by far the most touristy part of Stockholm, it can’t be missed. I would recommend taking a Free Walking Tour to get a more in-depth look into this charming old town. Also, if you are visiting in December, you will be lucky enough to see the Christmas Market going.

Tour the tunnels

Almost all of the tunnels in Stockholm have been painted or designed uniquely, making this the perfect activity for a cold day or a DIY art tour. Tickets can be bought at the metro stations and cost about $4 for 75 minutes or $16 for the day. Some of my favorite stops were Morby Centrum, Stadion, and T-Centralen. But it was fun to hop on and hop off at different stations and see all of the different designs.

Stadion Station Stockholm - Rainbow pride art

Island Hopping

Stockholm is located in the Stockholm archipelago which comprises 30,000 islands in the Baltic Sea. With ferries running between many of the popular islands multiple times a day, you could easily see a few islands in a day or spend a few days exploring. The ferries even run during the winter months, however, some islands are built more for summer tourism so make sure to do your research!

Ice Skating

If you visit Stockholm in the winter as I did, you will find ice skating rinks located around the city. If you venture out into nature, you will likely also see people skating on the frozen lakes.

Other ideas

Visit nearby cities - Uppsala
Hiking
Modern Art Museum
National Museum
ABBA Museum
Grona Lund (Amusement park)

Where to Eat

Compared to many European cities I’ve visited, restaurants in Stockholm were some of the most expensive. To save money, I would usually eat breakfast and dinner at the hostel and go out for lunch. Lucky for me, there were plenty of vegan options to choose from. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try them all but I compiled a list of recommendations.

Recommendations

Meatballs for the people

Rosendals Tradgard

Hermans

Kafe Plattan

Cafe a la lo

Mahalo