Things to Do in Stockholm

I could have titled this as “Let Yourself Go with the Flow” or something like “A Healthy Travel Guide.” After all, there was also calm music playing in the background as I wrote this, which I think reflects the emotional impact Stockholm has on me: calmness and slowness…

Is it because they are one of the cities most affected by climate change that they are so healthy? Is it due to the cold that their skin looks so good? Why is even the construction worker so well-groomed? Are they chosen ones? Are they as beautiful inside as they are on the outside? These are just a few of the questions that crossed our minds during the trip.

Was it the joy we felt encountering sunny days despite it being April, or was it something else that made us feel good? I don’t know, but somehow this city draws you into its flow, and you start to calm down, moving as if this were your natural state—or maybe it was just how I felt. Did I feel the same during my first visit?

I don’t remember how I felt about the calmness during my first visit, but I do remember feeling very poor with my student resources 🙂 We barely managed to sit in two cafes throughout the trip; the rest of the time was spent in fast food restaurants at the central station. Fortunately, this time, we went with the project funding from my workplace, so we were able to switch from starvation to a single meal and coffee 🙂 What I mean is that Sweden is an expensive country; if you are a student, I’d say wait until you start working!

As for the weather in Sweden, I suggest you bring something to wear even in July, but if you catch a sunny day in April, you can take off your coats and enjoy a sunny afternoon. However, don’t be fooled into thinking winter is over while there are still ice floes floating on the water 🙂

Anyway, let’s leave our thoughts to ourselves, and I’ll start telling you about what we saw, visited, and ate.

Transportation in Stockholm

You can walk almost everywhere in Stockholm, except for the route from the airport to the city center! To get from the airport to the city center, you have a few options; we used the train (Arlanda Express) and the bus (Flygbussarna). Arlanda Express is quite an expensive option, and although we got it slightly cheaper with weekend discounts and group promotions. You can buy your ticket from the Tourist Info inside the airport.

Flygbussarna is a slightly more affordable option. Although it’s not as fast as Arlanda Express, it’s another comfortable option for getting to the airport since it runs frequently and doesn’t have many stops.

Within the city, I’d recommend walking like everyone else since transportation isn’t very cheap. Also, since it’s not a very big city, spending money on transportation is an unnecessary expense. If you do use transportation, you can choose the sea route options to enjoy beautiful views during your journey.

Accommodation in Stockholm

We stayed at Radisson Blu which was rigth next to the main train station. The centrality is as you can imagine the best feature. It was very easy to find something to eat or markets and everywhere was walkable from the hotel. Radisson Blu Royal Viking is one you can comfortably choose for its central location and comfort.

Scandic Upplandsgatan is another centrally located hotel that our friends stayed at and were satisfied with; I heard the breakfast was quite good.

Some of our friends also stayed at Comfort Hotel, and they were happy with it as well. Besides hotels, there are also some hostel options, though not many.

Places to Visit in Stockholm

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

I think the Gamla Stan area is one of the most beautiful places in Stockholm; with its narrow streets, red and yellow houses, cafes, and souvenir shops, it’s a small area that contains a lot. My favorite square in this area is Stortorget, which I sensed I would come across as we passed by a street during my second visit; it’s where the Nobel Museum, colorful houses, and a cute cafe called Choladkoppen are located. I think you should try to explore all its streets rather than just looking for specific places.

Södermalm

This is another island in Stockholm. If you continue from Gamla Stan, you can reach Södermalm. Here, you can find trendy cafes, vintage shops, and stores. The Photography Museum is also located here, though we didn’t go in since we weren’t particularly interested. There’s also a small hill called Skinnarviksberget, where you can see a panoramic view of the city, which we went to on the recommendation of a Turkish friend who is now a local. Yes, it’s a bit rocky, but it’s not impossible to climb; I’d say definitely give it a try. The cover photo was, of course, taken from this hill.

Skeppsholmen

Even though we went here due to a wrong direction from Google, we say some mistakes are beautiful because we loved the bridge we crossed and the photos we took on this bridge on our way to this island. Also, it’s one of the most peaceful places; there are actually a few museums on the island, but since there’s not much else, I don’t think it’s a place people specifically visit. Even if you don’t cross to the island, I recommend visiting the bridge that leads to this little island.

Djurgarden

Let’s move on to the city’s most popular island for tourists. Since it’s the island where almost all the well-known museums are located, you’ll likely encounter the most tourists here. If you walk from the city center, especially if you prefer to walk along the seashore, there are cafes where you can sit and enjoy yourself, although unfortunately, the prices are not very enjoyable. One of the museums worth seeing on Djurgarden is the Vasa Museum. As some of you may know, this museum contains the remains of the Vasa ship, which sank in 1628. There is also a documentary that tells the story of the ship’s construction, sinking, and recovery; to be honest, we got the impression that the documentary could have sufficed without visiting the museum. Also, during our visit, there was an exhibition about the women of Vasa, explaining the active role of women in the construction of the ship.

The Nordiska Museum showcases Swedish lifestyles from the past to the present, and it took us about 3-4 hours to see it all. Of course, different sections will interest different people. For example, some people might spend time on kitchen traditions, while others might spend more time on home arrangements or festival traditions. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, there are also temporary ones. For example, when we visited, there was a temporary exhibition about the Sami people and their place in society. I suggest adding it to your must-see list. Also, the museum has different puzzles/games related to each section for children in almost every part, and we even won a small gift by solving all the mysteries in the Northern Lights section 🙂 Yes, we’re still those who haven’t lost their inner child 🙂 If you combine the Nordiska Museum with the Skansen open-air museum, you’ll also see reenactments of what you saw in the museum. With houses you can enter, green spaces, and animals, it’s especially ideal for families with children.

Aside from these museums, there are many other museums in this area, such as the Abba Museum and the Spirit Museum. Even if you don’t visit the Abba Museum, you can take a photo by the Abba poster at its entrance.

While you’re on Djurgarden, I suggest entering through the blue door and taking a break in the park. Did you feel the tranquility in the photo below?
Normmalm: This is the area where most hotels, markets, shops, restaurants, and the central station are located. You can do your shopping here, and if you come across a market set up in Viking style, you can witness some interesting sights.

Even though it’s not in Normmalm, City Hall, which feels like it’s in this area due to its proximity to the central station, is also one of the city’s must-see places. Its courtyard and garden, offering beautiful views, are quite nice, and these parts are free to enter. The room with gold-plated walls is also among the things I remember from my first visit.

Shopping in Stockholm

If you’re someone who expects to see Ikea everywhere in Stockholm, you’re mistaken—we only came across Ikea once, and I can’t say we were eager to go inside. There are many other stores for home goods and kitchenware. One of them is Lagerhaus, a lovely store offering kitchenware, stationery, decorations, and many other things.

H&M is more widespread, but the prices aren’t that cheap. However, you can find different products here, with higher quality and more muted colors—more in line with Swedish style. There’s also H&M Home.

For souvenirs, there are many shops in Gamla Stan. You can buy a variety of souvenirs here, from Viking helmets to magnets.

We also bought tea from a shop called Kahls The & Kaffehandel—we couldn’t resist the wonderful aromas. This shop is located on a street across from the central station in Norrmalm and is run by an Iranian owner. They have such a wide variety of teas that we didn’t even look at the coffee. My favorite tea is Svenska Bar.

Some of my friends also bought things like vitamin D and multivitamins, and the prices were quite reasonable.

You might also want to read my article on “Best Restaurants and Cafes in Stockholm“.