10 Best Things to Do in Stockholm

Stockholm’s origins lie on the atmospheric island of Gamla Stan, where merchants and monarchs occupied the medieval streets around the Royal Palace. Stroll through the meandering alleyways, past landmarks like the 13th-century Storkyrkan Cathedral and the Nobel Museum, celebrating the achievements of Nobel Prize winners. Plenty of restaurants line the waterfronts, and, in the evening, jazz and music clubs draw people into the narrow side streets.

To the west of Gamla Stan is the tiny island of Riddarholmen, home to grand palaces and noble houses. They are so perfectly preserved the whole area feels like a film set.

Stortorget Square is the heart of old Stockholm. The charming 17th-century buildings are painted in earthy pastel shades and surround a cobblestoned square. It’s an understatement to say this small marketplace has seen more than its fair share of drama and intrigue. In fact, a cannonball is still lodged into one of the walls from a Danish invasion.

Take your pick from a row of cafés and enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate with a pastry. Snacking on pastries along with a hot drink is known as fika in Swedish – the nation’s enshrined coffee break – and is a great way to fill up on cream and sugar for the day ahead. Throughout December, a large Christmas market takes over Stortorget Square and the surrounding area.

Skansen is a living history museum, showcasing how Swedes once lived. You can tour the farmsteads and craft shops, eat traditional food, and pet the animals. Built over 300,000 sq m, Skansen is a full-scale replica of an ancient town. If you’re looking for souvenirs of your time in Stockholm, you can buy some of the crafts produced here.

Throughout the year, Skansen celebrates seasonal occasions like Midsummer, Harvest time, and New Year’s Eve, following the folk traditions of yesteryear. It’s a fascinating way to get a glimpse of Sweden’s ancient culture.

Boats are a major mode of transport in Stockholm, with plenty of routes to choose from. One of the best is the ferry from Nybroviken ferry terminal, down the Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen to Drottningholm Palace, the private residence of the Swedish royal family. Many boat trips combine entry to the palace in the price of the ticket. This route takes about 1 hour each way, but there are shorter boat trips around the harbour, if you’re pushed for time. Note that many routes only run between April and September due the harsh winter weather.

Gröna Lund is a vintage theme park with surprisingly fast and thrilling rides. Located on Djurgården island, the park has more than 30 rides, ranging from bumper cars to vertical freefall rollercoasters. If you like a fright, the walk-through haunted house is terrifying – you’ve been warned!

Teens will love Gröna Lund amusement park while kids under 6 are allowed in for free. Gröna Lund is also a popular live music venue, with the many of the world's finest musicians performing throughout the summer months. Check their website for details.

Drottninggatan is one of Stockholm’s best shopping areas. It’s home to many mid-range international brands and lots of local ones too, like H&M and WeSC. It’s a pleasant area for strolling in the sunshine, but if you’re visiting in winter, head to Åhléns City shopping mall for great shopping sheltered from the snow. It’s easy to find this shopping district, right outside T-Centralen metro station.

Vasa Museum is named after a mighty galleon that originally sank in the 1600s. After more than 300 years languishing at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, it was salvaged, and now it takes pride of place at this popular maritime museum. The ancient warship has been impeccably restored and the story of the vessel is well told on audio tours in multiple languages or guided tours in Swedish or English. Located on Djurgården Island, it’s easiest to take the tram from Central station straight to the museum.

Located on the western edge of Södermalm island, this outdoor market is one of the best things to do in Stockholm throughout the summer. The type of items on sale include vintage clothes, jewellery, kooky art and homeware, and there are loads of food trucks preparing dishes from many different regions around the world. The vibe is relaxed, and the crowd is a mix of students and families. Open from April to September, it’s easy to find Hornstull Marknad – take the Metro to Hornstull station and walk to the waterfront.

Trädgården is a huge outdoor club and party space that combines world-class DJs, fun games and an extremely casual vibe. Music ranges from EDM to funky vocal house, drum & bass, and other niche genres, but the crowd is always ready to let loose on the dancefloor.

Located underneath an expressway on Södermalm island, this is not the type of club for VIPs. Drinks are served in plastic cups here, and people happily play computer games and ping pong under flashing neon lights. The outdoor stage, surrounded by towering concrete arches, is the best spot throughout the summer, while in winter everything moves indoors. You must be 21 or over to enter Trädgården.