Known as the “Venice of the North”, today Stockholm offers glamour, beauty and rich history. Made up of 14 islands, Stockholm certainly deserves its nickname. Plus, the food is amazing and with a bit of research and planning you can even explore Stockholm on a Budget .
>>read more about the Things to do in Stockholm
Itinerary assumptions
- You will be flying in and out of Stockholm or use the train to get here
- You will be using the public transportation to get around the city
- You will be staying in a budget hotel or cheap hostel with good connections but away from the Old Town
Day 1 Walking Tour and Old Town
Get to know the city with a free walking tour . You can choose among a quick glance at the main city area or a tour of the Old Town (or both as the first leaves at 10 a.m. and the other at 7 p.m.). The tours take 1 ½ h and they are free (tips are welcomed, though). Plus you don’t need a reservation. The tour leaves from Sergels Torg in central Stockholm.
Alternatively, download a self-guided tour in mp3 format and use it on any device which supports it. It visits 56 sights (about 2 hours of listening , in total). Just pay attention that you are required to pay a fee to download the file.
While Gamla Stan (Old Town) is not recommend to stay or shop (because of the prices), it offers excellent opportunities for photography. The Royal Palace, the Cathedral and several churches are worth your time. And you can also check out Nobel Museum.
And you shouldn’t miss a guided tour of the City Hall (Stadshuset), the most well-known landmark in Stockholm. End the day with a traditional Swedish meal. And , please, don’t leave the city without tasting the famous Lingonberry Jam.
Day 2 Stockholm Archipelago
Between April and September you can catch one of the ferries from downtown Stockholm to the islands in the archipelago. Most of the islands can be reached by bus, though (year round) and it’s cheaper than taking a ferry. You can plan to spend time soaking up the sun or hiking. The islands get more sunshine than the mainland, so you can enjoy a day with fewer clothes on. You can easily spend an entire day checking out some of the islands. In between checking out interesting place, get your coffee fix at one of the cafes.
Day 3 Theme park and Picnic / Museums and Picnic
If you travel with the kids, then plan to spend some time at Junibacken, a theme park dedicated Pipi Longstocking (a character created by Astrid Lindgren). The park is just as popular among the adults loving to revisit their childhood. You can ride a train through interesting landscapes.
In the afternoon, you can explore Djurgården. The royal grounds are an excellent choice for a picnic or just to spend some time in nature , walking, baking and soaking up the views.
Alternatively, you can visit Vasa Museum – a salvaged ship , which was restored to its former beauty – and the Nordic Museum – which is dedicated to the cultural history and ethnography of Sweden.
Photo credits: Gamla Stan , Stockholm archipelago , Picnic