Stockholm
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Stockholm is a lively capital with a rich history, and embodies the perfect mix between old and new. You'll find medieval houses hugging designer shops and Viking treasures living next door to the ABBA museum. Built on no less than 14 islands, Stockholm is its very own archipelago, easy to navigate on foot and easier still to fall in love with.
Top Attractions
- Gamla Stan (Old City)
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![Gamla Stan, Stockholm]()
When you arrive at Stockholm’s central station, you’re just a few steps away from its medieval city centre. Located on an island to the south, Gamla Stan is a delightful maze of cobblestone streets and bright coloured houses.
Make sure to step inside Stockholm Cathedral, and pay a visit to the Nobel Prize Museum. In late autumn, don't miss out on the winter wonderland that is Stockholm's most famous Julmarknad (Christmas Market).
- The Royal Palace
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![Stockholm Palace by night]()
The Royal Palace of Stockholm is one of the largest palaces in Europe, consisting of over 600 rooms and housing 5 different museums. You could spend a full day observing the splendour and richness of the once powerful Swedish Empire.
Cross the bridge to nearby Riddarholmen island to find the Riddarholm Church. It's one of the oldest buildings in Stockholm, dating from the late 1200s, and the final resting place of numerous Swedish monarchs.
- Djurgården and the Vasa museum
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![Vasa ship, Stockholm]()
Take a ferry to the island of Djurgården, where you'll find the unique Vasa museum.The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1629. Three centuries later it was raised and reassembled, and can now be admired in its full glory.
You'll find a wide range of other museums on Djurgården, from the Viking museum to the ABBA museum. Young kids will have a great time at the Junibacken children's museum, while the older ones can go wild at the Gröna Lund theme park.
- Skansen open-air museum
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![Skansen, Stockholm]()
The first open-air museum in the world, Skansen shows you what life looked like before industrial times. Expect huts and farmsteads, Arctic camps, and a complete 19th-century town with actors showing off their skills as traditional craftsmen.
Taking up 30 hectares of Djurgården in total, Skansen includes a zoo with wolves, lynxes, bears and other Scandinavian animals. For some peace and quiet at the end of a long day, take a stroll through the nearby park of Royal Djurgården.
- Stockholm by boat
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![Stockholm from the water]()
Water is everywhere around you in Stockholm, so what better way to see the city than from a boat. Whether you hop on a ferry or take a 3-hour tour of the archipelago, you're bound to see a lot of activity on the water.
If you've got time to spare, make sure to visit Fotografiska, Stockholm's famous photography museum in the Södermalm district. If you prefer a bit of (expensive) shopping, check out the Östermalm district and its many designer boutiques.
Mamma Mia, here we go again...
Love to sing along with those catchy ABBA songs? The interactive ABBA museum lets you virtually dress up in ABBA outfits and take the stage with them. It also brings ABBA memorabilia to life in original ways. For instance, the piano belonging to band member Benny Andersson is connected to his piano at home - and will play whatever he's playing.
Smörgåsbord anyone?
Stockholm is a great place to enjoy Swedish cuisine, ranging from fresher than fresh salmon and crayfish, to the famous meatballs at the local IKEA (the biggest in the world). Make sure to have your pick of a traditional Smörgåsbord, a Swedish buffet consisting of pickled herring, cured salmon, mini sausages and... meatballs!
Art underground
Aside from being fast and reliable, the Stockholm metro network is known for its enormous underground art exhibition. Expect to find colourful and futuristic designs painted all over Stockholm's station walls and ceilings. Travelling between these stations with your camera at the ready is the perfect rainy day activity!
Getting there by train
Stockholm is easy to reach from all major cities in Sweden and its surrounding countries. Trains arrive at Stockholm Central Station, which is within walking distance of the old city and all top attractions.
You can find all trains to and from Stockholm in the Interrail timetable.
From Oslo to Stockholm
From Copenhagen to Stockholm
From Hamburg to Stockholm
Flights and public transport
Stockholm's main airport is Stockholm Arlanda Airport, located 37 kilometres north of the city. You can travel to Stockholm by commuter train (departs every 30 minutes) or by Airport Coach (departs every 10-15 minutes). The travel time to the city is about 40 minutes.
Next to walking, the underground is the easiest way to get around in Stockholm. Good bus and tram connections are also available, for instance to Djürgården. If you have time to spare, take a ferry ride around the islands.