Things to Do in Stockholm: 22 Highlights Worth Seeing

The best Stockholm highlights on one map

With our map of the best things to do in Stockholm, you can get a quick overview and see at a glance where all our tips are located.

The most beautiful neighborhoods in Stockholm

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is the old town of Stockholm and sits on a small island between the mainland and the island of Södermalm. This is where you’ll find Stockholm’s oldest buildings.

This part of Stockholm is almost entirely pedestrian-only and full of small cobblestone alleyways, cozy restaurants, and charming cafés. There are also many small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and antiques.

The historic district is pretty compact — you can explore the entire island in one morning.

In Gamla Stan you’ll also find some important attractions such as the Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum, and the German Church. If you want to take a closer look at these, plan a little extra time.

Our tip: Gamla Stan is home to the second-oldest restaurant in the world, Den Gyldene Freden, dating back to 1722. It hasn’t changed all that much since then. Heads up: the prices are pretty steep even by Stockholm standards! If you want to eat here, definitely make a reservation in advance.

Södermalm

The southern island of Södermalm is something of a hipster neighborhood. Over the past few decades, it has attracted students, artists, and intellectuals in particular.

The area between Folkungagatan to the north and Ringvägen to the south is especially packed with bars, great restaurants, and small boutiques.

Drawing on the name of New York’s SoHo neighborhood, this district has become known as SoFo (South of Folkungagatan).

Our tip: Södermalm has a world-class museum! At the northern tip of the island you’ll find Fotografiska, one of the most important photography museums in Europe. We take a closer look at it in our #13.

Djurgården

The small island of Djurgården is worth a visit for several reasons.

For one, there are a ton of great museums on Djurgården — like the Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, and the Nordiska. So you’ll almost certainly end up here anyway if you want to see a few things in Stockholm.

The island is also a little oasis where you can relax in lush greenery or enjoy the view of the water from the shore and take a break from sightseeing.

The Gröna Lund amusement park (our #17 in this article) is also on Djurgården. As you can see, it’s well worth making a detour here!

Classic sights in Stockholm

Royal Palace

On the eastern side of Gamla Stan stands Stockholm’s Royal Palace, which still serves as the official royal residence today.

The royal family, however, usually stays at Drottningholm Palace (our #19), just outside the city.

So unless an important state visit or event is taking place at the city palace, it’s also open to visitors.

Our tip: Around midday, the changing of the guard takes place daily — in summer there’s even a guard parade where the guard rides through the city’s alleyways to music. Fun fact: sometimes they even play ABBA songs.

Stadshuset

The Stadshuset is Stockholm’s City Hall and one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It’s best known for hosting the annual Nobel Prize banquet in the Blue Hall.

Among the building’s standout features is the Golden Hall, made up of 18 million golden wall mosaics — an almost unimaginable number!

You can explore the Stadshuset and its halls on a 45-minute tour. In summer, you can also climb the 106-meter-tall tower.

Östermalm Saluhall

Saluhall means market hall in Swedish, and probably the most famous one in Stockholm is the market hall in Östermalm.

The building dates back to 1888 and has held onto its charm — ornate walls, large windows, and columns — despite renovations in recent years.

But the market hall is worth visiting not only for its architecture — it’s also a fantastic stop for the many Swedish delicacies on offer. Here you’ll find typical regional products like moose sausage, Västerbotten cheese, and fresh salmon, as well as a range of restaurants and cafés.

You can also visit the Östermalmshallen as part of a food tour, where you’ll get tastings and all kinds of information about Swedish cuisine.

Book a food tour through Stockholm’s markets
Our tip: Prices at the Östermalm Saluhall can be steep. You can eat just as well for a bit less at the Söderhallarna market hall in the heart of Södermalm.

Viewpoints: The best views of Stockholm

Skeppsholm Bridge

Skeppsholm Bridge is one of Stockholm’s most popular Instagram spots.

That’s largely thanks to the small golden crown, which makes for a great photo subject. In the background, you can see Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace.

In front of the crown, especially in summer, you’ll find lots of photo-eager visitors in search of the perfect selfie.

We think the bridge is simply beautiful on its own, with or without the crown. The best thing to do is just stroll across and soak up the panoramic view of the old quarter and Stockholm’s many small islands.

View from Monteliusvägen

One of our favorite vantage points in Stockholm is the lookout along Monteliusvägen.

Monteliusvägen is a walking path along the northern shore of Södermalm. As you stroll along it, you’re treated to a fantastic view of the city center across the water.

Monteliusvägen is also a seriously great spot for the most beautiful sunset in Stockholm — a real local favorite.

The path can be a little tricky to find. A small trail branches off from the steep street Bastugatan — that’s where Monteliusvägen begins. There’s a sign marking the spot.

Fjällgatan viewpoint

Another great viewpoint in Södermalm can be found on the street Fjällgatan.

The street runs along a ridge on the waterfront and has a wonderful observation area. From here you get a stunning vista of Stockholm Bay, Gamla Stan, and Djurgården with its Gröna Lund amusement park.

Our tip: Right next to the viewpoint there’s a café with a glass veranda, Fjällgatans Kaffestuga. Here you can comfortably enjoy the view with coffee and cake even in bad weather. Note that the café closes for winter from October through March.

Avicii Arena

With its striking appearance, the Avicii Arena is another Stockholm landmark. The structure is the largest spherical building in the world and a multipurpose arena that hosts concerts and sporting events.

What makes the Avicii Arena (formerly: Ericsson Globe) such a great tourist attraction is the SkyView gondola lift.

The lift consists of two glass gondolas that travel on rails along the exterior of the Globe up to a height of 130 meters. From the top, you have a stunning view of the entire city.

Every ten minutes one of the gondolas heads to the top, and a ride costs 180 SEK.

The best museums in Stockholm

Vasa Museum

An absolute must-see among the things to do in Stockholm is the Vasa Museum, which houses the world’s only original warship from the 17th century — to be precise, from the year 1628.

The ship sank on its very first voyage in Stockholm Bay due to construction flaws, and lay underwater for 333 years. In the 1960s, modern technology made it possible to bring it to the surface, where it was painstakingly reassembled by hand.

The 18-meter-tall wooden ship, covered in beautiful carvings, is now on display in the museum. An exhibition tells the story of the salvage operation and life in Stockholm during the era of 17th-century shipbuilding.

Tickets to the Vasa Museum cost 195 SEK. It’s best to buy your ticket online in advance to avoid lines.

Our tip: Be sure to watch the introductory film in the museum’s small cinema before you start your tour. Every 20 minutes, a very interesting documentary about the ship’s construction, sinking, and rediscovery is shown in various languages. Highly recommended!

Nordiska Museum

The Nordiska Museum is all about the Nordic way of life, past and present.

Admittedly, we went in expecting more content from an anthropological perspective — things like migration patterns or the origins of Scandinavian languages and the like.

But the Nordiska is really simply about the Swedish way of life: the typical furnishings of a Swedish household yesterday and today, traditions, fashion, and design.

Even though the museum looks very large from the outside, the exhibition isn’t actually that big. You can get through the whole tour in about one and a half hours.

Tickets to the Nordiska cost 170 SEK per person.

Fotografiska Museum

Fotografiska is one of the top museums in Stockholm and at the same time one of the best photography museums in the world. It’s located on the northern shore of Södermalm, right on the waterfront.

Each year, it showcases the best photographs by international photographers. Legends like David LaChapelle and Annie Leibovitz have been involved in opening events and the organization of various exhibitions.

On the upper floor there’s also a restaurant — pricey, but you get another seriously great view of Stockholm from up there.

Note: Admission can only be paid cashlessly. Tickets cost 179 SEK per person.

By the way: Since 2019, there are additional Fotografiska locations in Tallinn and New York.

ABBA Museum

Just a few hundred meters from the Nordiska, the next highlight awaits: the ABBA Museum.

A spectacular tribute has been built here for Sweden’s most successful band of all time.

The museum is interactive and features many unique exhibits from the band’s history. You can also mix ABBA sounds, sing on stage yourself, and answer quiz questions. Fair warning though: we had “Waterloo” stuck in our heads for three days afterward.

Our tip: During peak season, lines can form at the museum entrance since only a limited number of visitors are allowed in at a time. To skip the wait, buy your ticket online in advance — and it’s a little cheaper that way too.

Book a ticket for the ABBA Museum

Skansen Open-Air Museum

Another popular day-trip destination for Stockholm locals is the world’s oldest open-air museum, which also doubles as a wildlife park.

Skansen is located, like most of Stockholm’s museums, on the island of Djurgården and is super easy to reach from the city center by tram or subway.

Skansen shows what Sweden used to look like, with replicas of old Swedish farmsteads, residential houses, and a church where real weddings and baptisms still take place, as well as all kinds of 19th-century workshops.

Scattered throughout are various animals native to Scandinavia — bears, moose, and wolves, as well as typical farm animals like chickens and sheep.

Skansen also includes an aquarium and an insect house. With 300,000 square meters, you can easily spend an entire afternoon here.

During peak season, Skansen is fairly pricey — in June, a ticket costs 220 SEK. But it’s totally worth it!

Book a ticket for the Skansen Open-Air Museum

Book a combo ticket: Open-Air Museum & Zoo Stockholm

Special places in Stockholm

Skogskyrkogården Cemetery

Skogskyrkogården means woodland cemetery. Stockholm’s cemetery is located in the southern part of the city and is a wonderful example of the successful interplay of architecture, culture, and nature. The grounds cover around 100 hectares and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The grave sites are beautifully integrated into the natural surroundings, among pine trees and well-tended, grass-covered hills.

If you’re after a quiet retreat after exploring Stockholm — somewhere you can also take in the typically Nordic nature and architecture — Skogskyrkogården is absolutely worth the detour.

Gröna Lund Amusement Park

Attention roller coaster fans: on Djurgården, right next to the ABBA Museum, you’ll find one of Sweden’s oldest amusement parks, Gröna Lund.

There are over 25 rides for children and adults, as well as exhibitions and live shows. Gröna Lund is also home to the world’s tallest swing ride, the Eclipse — a chain swing ride set at a height of 121 meters and spinning at 70 km/h.

A standard ticket for Gröna Lund starts at 160 SEK. A ticket with unlimited access to all attractions costs 395 SEK.

Note: Gröna Lund is only open from April through September.

Also read our tips for southern Sweden with kids!

Tours and day trips in and around Stockholm

Boat tour through Stockholm

Water is everywhere in Stockholm, and getting around by boat is just as natural for locals as taking the bus.

That’s why it’s definitely worth hopping on a boat to get from A to B. Many ferries are part of the public transit network.

You can take the Djurgårdsfärjan to get from Gamla Stan to the island of Djurgården. From the ferry landing on Djurgården, it’s a short walk to the Skansen Open-Air Museum, the Vasa Museum, or the ABBA Museum.

Alternatively, you can take one of the boat tours through Stockholm that are designed specifically for tourists and focused on seeing Stockholm’s highlights.

Our tip: We did the classic boat tour and really enjoyed it. The ride lasts just over two hours and takes you a little outside the city center. You won’t see the major sights up close, but the tour is simply a lot of fun.

Book a ticket for the classic boat tour

Drottningholm Palace

While Stockholm’s city palace is now used only as an official venue and for special occasions, Drottningholm Palace serves as the official residence of the Swedish royal family.

The palace is located approximately 12 kilometers outside of Stockholm, on the island of Lovö.

Its design was inspired by the Palace of Versailles near Paris, complete with a vast palace park featuring lakes, meadows, and linden tree-lined avenues.

You can tour the palace both inside and out. Only the south wing is private, as that’s where the royal family lives.

You can reach the palace from Stockholm in one hour directly by boat. Departures are from Stadshusbron, in downtown Stockholm.

Day trip to the Stockholm Archipelago

The Stockholm Archipelago is an island paradise made up of smaller and larger islands that separate Stockholm from the open sea. A total of 24,000 islands make up this archipelago, making it the number one day-trip destination for Stockholm locals in summer.

Some islands are so small that you can barely pull up with a boat, while others have entire cottage communities with restaurants, swimming spots, and small harbors.

If you’re visiting Stockholm in summer, definitely set aside a full day for the archipelago — or even spend the night in one of the vacation cottages.

Book a sailing tour through the archipelago

This is typically Swedish!

Fika

Fika is an integral part of everyday Swedish life, which is why we absolutely had to include it among the best things to do in Stockholm.

Fika isn’t just a word — it’s a Swedish way of life. It refers to the Swedish coffee break, where you drink a coffee, eat a pastry, and chat with others.

Fika is omnipresent in everyday Swedish life, and in the workplace it’s practically mandatory. Once or twice a day, bosses and colleagues get together for a shared fika in the break room. Pretty wild, right?

All over the city there are small cafés where Swedes celebrate fika. There you’ll also find the cinnamon buns that are an inseparable part of Swedish culture. In our Stockholm insider tips, we introduce you to some great cafés in the city.

Smörgåsbord

In Stockholm, you absolutely have to try a traditional Swedish buffet, the classic smörgåsbord. At many restaurants, this is served as a holiday brunch and is packed with delicious dishes from Swedish cuisine.

Fish dishes with fresh salmon, herring, and mussels are always on the menu, as are the classic meatballs, cheese, sausage, omelet, and a generous dessert.

You pay a fixed price and can help yourself as many times as you like. Drinks such as coffee, water, or tea are usually included.

The smörgåsbord is especially popular during the Christmas season. If you choose Stockholm as a travel destination in December, you can indulge your way through Swedish cuisine during the holiday season.

Our tip: There’s a fantastic buffet at Restaurant Kvarnen on Södermalm. Just make sure to reserve a table!

General tips: The best way to explore Stockholm’s attractions

Here are a few practical pointers to help you make the most of your time in Stockholm.

Get the Stockholm Pass (from 2 days)

With the Stockholm Pass, you can visit over 60 attractions for free without waiting in line, and enjoy unlimited rides on the Hop-on/Hop-off bus, as well as various boat tours.

Public transportation is not included, so the pass is really only worth it if you plan to visit a lot of sights and have the time to do so. If you want to see at least two or three attractions and also take a boat tour and a Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour, it pays for itself.

Sometimes there are even discount promotions where the pass is available for around 900 SEK.

Book the Stockholm Pass

Book a guided tour

You can certainly explore Stockholm on your own — especially since everything is very manageable and well sign-posted. But if you want to pick up some insider knowledge or see the best of the city in a short amount of time, a guided tour is really worth it.

These tours are great options in Stockholm:
Private tour with a local: the classic walking tour of Stockholm’s most beautiful highlights. Your local guide will share plenty of useful insider tips along the way.

1-hour island tour with a guide: On this tour, you explore Stockholm and the archipelago from the water by inflatable boat.

Bike tour: Explore Stockholm’s islands and top points of interest by bike. There’s also the option to upgrade to an e-bike.

Book your hotel centrally

As with most cities, the more central the hotel in Stockholm, the pricier it gets. But in return, you can reach many of the best things to do in Stockholm on foot or with just a few stops on the subway.

The best neighborhoods to stay in Stockholm are definitely Gamla Stan, Södermalm, and Norrmalm.

If you’d rather save on accommodation and stay farther out, try to choose a hotel that’s close to a metro station.

Book tickets in advance

Some of Stockholm’s top spots are always very busy, which means lines are pretty much guaranteed. To avoid them, buy your ticket ahead of time.

For the following highlights, it’s worth ordering your ticket online: