How to Spend a Weekend in Stockholm… a Perfect Itinerary of the Best Things to Do!

Do you want to know the best things to do in Stockholm? Are you looking for the perfect weekend itinerary for Stockholm? Or are you trying to find how to travel to Stockholm from the UK? Then read on and join us as we travel to Stockholm, find the best things to do in Stockholm, and create the perfect weekend itinerary for Stockholm!

Stockholm has long been seen as one of the coolest cities to visit in Europe. With so many best things to do, trying to fit everything into one weekend can be tough! But we think we have the perfect weekend itinerary, so join us and we’ll spend the weekend together in Stockholm experiencing some of the best things to do…

Day 1 Morning

Shop in Norrmalm

When you arrive at Stockholm, chances are the first thing you’ll see is the Central Train Station. This is where the Arlanda Express train goes from the airport, where trains from other cities in Sweden will arrive, and where buses from the airport will drop you off.

The Station is in Norrmalm, the city’s modern centre for business, shopping, restaurants, and hotels. And it’s well worth starting your day here and having a walk down Drottninggatan, the main street running the length of the district.

Follow the street towards Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace, and do some shopping or stop for breakfast on the way in the many shops and cafes which line the street.

Cross Norrbro Bridge and one of Europe’s Shortest Rivers

At the end of Drottninggatan you’ll reach Norrbro bridge, crossing the Norrström river… one of the shortest rivers in Europe!

From the bridge you can see the Riksdagshuset, the Parliament buildings. And at the end of the bridge is Kungliga slottet, the Swedish Royal Palace.

Watch the Changing of the Guard at Stockholm Royal Palace

The Changing of the Guard happens at Stockholm Palace, with a ceremony of marching soldiers accompanied by a musical band.

We see it as we’re walking towards the Palace… there’s a large crowd gathered and suddenly a line of soldiers with a marching band go right past us! It’s really cool to see!

For timings and where to see the changing of the guard see… The Swedish Royal Forces Website

Explore the Stockholm Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is the official home to the King of Sweden and is one of the largest palaces in Europe.

It’s a grand 18^th century building on the outside, but it’s inside where the true beauty is! We spend a few hours exploring the many rooms, seeing the intricate decorations and state rooms, and are amazed by the artwork on show.

It’s well worth the entry fee and we highly recommend it and is a great way to get some respite from the cold outside too!

Can you visit The Royal Palace in Stockholm?

Yes, most of the palace is open to visitors all year round.

How much are tickets to The Royal Palace in Stockholm?

Entry tickets cost 180SEK (around £14) and can be bought online or at the entrance. Guided tours are also available. For more information check out the booking website… Royal Palace Tickets

Day 1 Afternoon

Have ‘Fika’ in Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm, the medieval heart of the city. It’s the smallest of the city centre districts, is the most touristy, but is definitely also the prettiest!

The narrow-cobbled streets are great to wander and explore, with independent shops selling local gifts, souvenir shops selling keepsakes, and many cafés to stop at and have ‘Fika’.

Fika is a Swedish word without a direct translation into English… it means to have coffee and cake with friends.

Explore Gamla Stan

After Fika we make our way to Stortorget, the picture-perfect square on Gamla Stan which you’ve probably seen if you’ve ever Googled Stockholm!

The cobbled square is surrounded by brightly coloured buildings, cafés, and restaurants. And if you visit at Christmas time this is where the main Christmas market is held. 

Visiting at night is good too, as a lot of the crowds have disappeared by then and you have the streets to yourselves.

Visit the Nobel Prize Museum Stockholm

At the centre Stortorget is the Nobel Prize Museum, a small but very interesting glimpse into the history of the Nobel prizes for natural sciences, literature and peace.

You don’t need to spend very long here as the museum is quite small, but it’s worth a quick stop if you have an interest in the topic.

Entry tickets cost 140SEK (around £10.50) and can only be bought at the museum. For more info see… The Nobel Prize Museum

Mårten Trotzigs grand… Stockholm’s Narrowest Street

If you don’t want to spend the money to look around the Nobel Prize Museum, an interest free sight close by is Mårten Trotzigs grand, Stockholm’s Narrowest Street.

Just a few minutes’ walk from Stortorget, the graffitied alleyway is a really cool spot if you can find it. The narrow staircase takes us downhill away from the historic centre of Stockholm to the edge of Gamla Stan, and with the daylight starting to fade, we make our way towards the Slussen Bridge and onto the next island of Södermalm. 

Day 1 Night

Eat & Drink in Södermalm Stockholm

Södermalm is the cool and artsy part of town. Here you’ll find loads of independent cafés, bars and restaurants, and in our opinion it’s the best part of town for a few drinks.

So after a day of sight-seeing in the more touristy parts of Stockholm, Södermalm is the perfect place for us to unwind in a more relaxed and more local feeling atmosphere.

We enjoy a bar crawl trying different food and drink in each place we go. And while there are so many bars and restaurants in Södermalm you can’t really go wrong, we recommend… Bistro Bohme Soder, Meat on a Stick, Snaps Bar & Bistro, and Akkurat. Or if you want some traditional Swedish food, try Restaurant Pelikan or Kvarnen… both are mainstays of Södermalm and serve up great Swedish Meatballs!

Day 2 Morning

Walk Strandvägen the Most Prestigious Boulevard in Stockholm

Since being built for the Stockholm World’s Fair in 1897 Strandvägen quickly became one of Stockholm’s most prestigious addresses.

A long waterfront boulevard in the upmarket district of Östermalm, we walk along the street on our way to Djurgården for a day of museums.

Vasamuseet / The Vasa Museum in Stockholm

The Vasa Museum is a must-do when you’re in Stockholm! The museum displays Vasa, an almost fully intact 17^th century warship which sank on her maiden voyage.

Just seeing the ship itself makes it worthwhile. But the museum is brilliantly done as well, with displays and an audio guide telling the story from the ship being built in 1628, to being salvaged over 300 years later in 1961.

It’s a fascinating visit and possibly Paul’s favourite museum he’s ever visited in the world!

Do you need to book the Vasa Museum in advance?

The museum is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions, so we recommend buying tickets in advance on the website… Vasa Museum Tickets

How much are tickets for the Vasa Museum?

Tickets for the Vasa Museum in Stockholm are 190SEK (around £14.50).

Day 2 Afternoon

The Viking Museum Stockholm

Djurgården is the island of museums in Stockholm (we’re not sure that’s official, but we think it should be!). As well as the Vasa Museum, there’s also the Nordic Museum, the open-air museum Skansen, The Viking Museum, The ABBA Museum, and even a Spirit Museum about alcohol!

We chose the Viking Museum and although it had a tough act to follow after the amazing Vasa Museum, it was good fun and interesting to visit.

A large part of the museum is Ragnfrid’s Saga… a ride which takes you through the life of a Viking from his farm in Sweden to Viking Raids in Europe. And there are Viking artifacts to see on display, as well as reconstructed outfits and weapons.

Tickets are available online at… The Viking Museum Website

And with that our weekend in Stockholm is at an end, we need to head off home now. Billed as one of the coolest cities in Europe, Södermalm certainly lives up to this. Add in the touristy but beautifully medieval Gamla Stan, the modern and stylish Norrmalm and Östermalm, and the museums on Djurgården, and Stockholm is a city which has it all.

Following out itinerary for how to spend a weekend in Stockholm and finding the best things to do is a great way to get started. But with so much on offer if you have more time you should stick around and let us know in the comments what your favourite sights are…

Travel Tips for Stockholm

How to get to Stockholm Sweden from London?

Fly Ryanair from London Stansted, Friday to Sunday, for less than £100 (prices vary per date)

How to get to Stockholm from Manchester?

Fly SAS from Manchester, Friday to Sunday, for around £200 (prices vary per date)

How to get from Arlanda into Stockholm

For the fastest route take the Arlanda Express which reaches in 18 mins. Expect to pay 600SEK (£45) for a return ticket, and trains run every 15 mins.

For a cheaper option take a Flygbussarna coach which reaches in 45 mins. Expect to pay 209SEK (£16) for a return ticket, and buses run 4 times per hour.

Both are good options depending on your time and budget, we’ve used both and found both to be very comfortable and easy to use.

How to get around Stockholm?

Stockholm is a relatively small city so it’s possible to walk large parts of it, it takes 20 mins to walk from Central Station to Gamla Stan and 45 mins to walk all the way to Södermalm. There is a very good tram service to where you can see routes, times and buy tickets on the SL App or online… SL Website

Where to stay in Stockholm?

Each district has its own appeal depending on what you’re looking for. Staying in Norrmalm is a great choice as there are a lot of options for all budgets, is close to the main train station, and has good tram links to the other districts.

Staying in Gamla Stan puts you right in the centre of the historic part of town, whereas Södermalm is where you want to be for the nightlife. And if luxury is your thing, then the high-end hotels are on the waterfront in Östermalm.

Which Hotel to Stay at in Stockholm?

For hotel recommendations, you can’t really go wrong staying at a Scandic Hotel in Stockholm, or anywhere in Scandinavia. They’re always clean and comfortable, stocked with everything you need during your stay, offer good breakfasts and have a range of hotels to meet different budgets.

In Stockholm we’ve stayed at both Scandic 53 and Haymarket in Norrmalm, Scandic 53 being more Swedish feeling and budget friendly, and Haymarket is like stepping into 1920’s LA… really cool!

For a smaller and more boutique feeling hotel, Queens Hotel also in Norrmalm, is a good choice and very budget friendly.

While if AirBnb’s are more your thing, there are lots available all over the city although we found them to be a bit more expensive than the hotels we’ve listed.