Home
One Week In Stockholm

One Week In Stockholm

Stockholm ItineraryWelcome to One Week In Stockholm, the handwritten guide. We are here to help you plan your Stockholm trip a bit smarter and with much less hassle.

Excited? You should be, there’s a lot to explore.

We are keen to share here our best insider tips to spend One Week or simply a weekend in Stockholm.

Our full guide covers:

  1. Basic Introduction
  2. Where to stay in Stockholm
  3. How to get around
  4. What to see in Stockholm
  5. Things to do in Stockholm
  6. Tickets you have to buy before – must read
  7. Food and Restaurants
  8. Day Trips from Stockholm
  9. Itinerary for Stockholm
  10. Packing List
  11. City Map

1. Basic Introduction

We want to start with a simple intro to the things you need to know before coming to Stockholm.

Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)

Language Spoken: Swedish is the official language in Sweden. It is a North Germanic language and relates to Norwegian and Danish languages. However, English is also very well-practiced by almost everybody. It will be rare that you will be served in a restaurant or cafe who doesn’t speak English.

Other minority languages are Finnish, Meänkieli, Sami, Romani, and Yiddish.

Population: 974,000

Known for: Stockholm is known for many things. These include the world’s first open-air museum and the Globe Arena – world’s largest hemispherical building. The Royal Palace Drottningholm and The Woodland Cemetery are its two UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Accommodation: You will find plenty of accommodation options around the city. From luxury hotels, fancy boutique hotels, or funky hostels, you have a long list to choose from.

Find more details in our where to stay in Stockholm section below.

Public Transport: Getting around is Stockholm is made easy through its public transportation. The subway network is efficient and still operates through the night until the weekends.

Safety: Stockholm is a very safe city to explore even for traveling women as well as solo-travelers. However, as it increases to attract tourists, the number of pick-pockets and scammers have also increased.

That is why you should stay vigilant and alert at all times especially in places that are crowded such as bus and train stations, shopping areas, and most-visited sites. And if you ever see a street fight, stay away and do not get involved in the scene.

Tip: Security guards and bouncers are allowed to use force on you, legally, when the situation calls for it.

City name: Stockholm is also called “World’s Smallest Big City” or “World’s Biggest Small Town”. It is sometimes referred to as “Venice of the North”.

Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug). Remember to pack your travel plug adapter.

2. Where to stay in Stockholm

Stockholm is the largest city in Sweden and is called Venice of the North. With its interesting history, charming landscapes, and great architecture, it draws millions of tourists every year.

And with this, Stockholm has continued to keep up with the demand for competitive accommodation over the years. The city has a wide selection of places to stay during your visit that can cater to all kinds of travelers.

From 5-star hotels to budget-friendly hostels, you have a great chance to choose what suits you well.

In a nutshell, our recommendations are:

Here we cover all neighborhoods and for which type of traveler we recommend the areas and hotels.

So, we have your accommodation set, now let us get out and explore.

Here are the transport options in a nutshell. For details info, please check the full guide.

Best for sightseeing: The easiest and the cheapest way to see the major tourist destinations and go around Stockholm is through the famous Hop On – Hop Off Bus Tour.

It is the perfect way to see the city since it is a combination of a boat and a bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. See Stockholm by land and water as many as you like.

Check more in for Hop on – Hop off Bus here.

Public transport: Going around Stockholm is very efficient and easy. Subways run through the night on weekends while the bus is the perfect choice during weekdays travels when the subways are closed. And if you are planning on a day-trip to neighboring cities, the trains are the top choice.

Note: Nynästamn and Saltsjöbaden are two famous spots you go to.

Bikes: If you’re a fan of bikes, you will love it in Stockholm. Aside from being environmentally friendly and gives you good exercise, bikes are also the easiest way to go around the city.

There are plenty of rental options located all over Stockholm. Plus, you will find paths and lanes especially intended for bikes which also makes it easy for you to go between islands.

Tip: Djurgården is one of the most visited neighborhoods on a bike.

Scooter: Instead of scooters, Stockholm has e-scooters. These are just one of the newest trends that will help you go around the city easier and cheaper. And the great thing is, you can find it all available all over the city. So you don’t have to worry about finding a place to rent it.

Walking: If you want to see Stockholm at a slower pace then I very much offer you go see the city on foot. Being surrounded by islands, the World’s Smallest Big City has plenty of very beautiful scenes to can see and appreciate through walks.

Gamla Stan is one example of a walk-able neighborhood.

Taxi: Though taxis are the most comfortable ways to get from point A to point B, it is also the most expensive means of transportation in Stockholm. Prices are not regulated thus making drivers charge what they want.

Tip: Always look for taxis with yellow number plates since these are the approved taxis with metered fares.

Boat: With Stockholm being built on islands, local ferries are also a nice way to get around the city offering scenic routes on water. Ferries are also available all year round and tickets can be bought on the quay.

And if you enjoy the waters so much, why not join a Stockholm Archipelago Cruise?

Book Stockholm Archipelago Cruise here

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Stockholm

4. What to see in Stockholm – The Must-Do’s

Wondering what to see in Stockholm? Hold on your horses ‘coz this city has so much to offer.

In every city, there is an unending list of things you should do. However, when you are traveling in a short period of time, you must know the MUST-VISIT you cannot miss.

And to help your organize your visits, we have made a list of your must-dos in Stockholm. We have also included those who require an advance booking to skip the lines or simply enter the facility.

The Must Do’s are:

More great sights to see in Stockholm are:

Stockholm National Library

Fotografiska

5. Things to do in Stockholm

Venice of the North ranking one of the cool European cities to visit pretty much gives you plenty of things to do and try.

Whether it’s only for two days or a one week tour, your itinerary will surely be packed with exciting new things. From iconic tourist sights to amazing activities you can dive into.

We collected for you a great list of cool Things To Do in Stockholm:

Here are more ideas:

Kayaking in Stockholm

6. Tickets you have to buy before (Must Read)

I sincerely hope you are reading this section carefully! It will make a difference

There are exactly 3 tickets you have to buy beforehand:

  1. The VASA Museum
  2. Skansen Open-Air Museum
  3. Optional: ABBA The Museum

My best recommendation: I recommend buying your tickets directly at Get Your Guide.com. It is a great, reliable website for buying entrances to sights and museums. Not to mention the amazing tours and activities you can book. Here are my guide and review of Get Your Guide.

Get Your Guide in Review - The Pros, the Cons and is it trustworth to book?

6.1 The VASA Museum

The only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world is The VASA Museum. The ship is 95% original with hundreds of carved sculptures decorated around it.

It was in 1628 when this 69 meter-long warship set-off for the first and last time. And with over one million visitors coming from around the world, booking a ticket ahead will definitely save you a lot of time.

And if you ask me, I prefer booking tickets from Get Your Guide where you will also get a guide.

Good question: Is it actually worth it to enter The VASA Museum? Yes, 100%. Have a chance to witness and explore the wonderful details and history of the VASA ship.

Book The VASA Museum here

The VASA Museum, Stockholm

6.2 Skansen Open-Air Museum

Perfect for all types of travelers, Skansen Open-Air Museum is the first and oldest open-air museum in the world. It is beautifully nestled in Djurgården and features 150 historically interesting houses and farmsteads transferred from all over Sweden.

The museum is also at the same time the Stockholm Zoo with over 75 different species of animals. Families with traveling kids will surely love and appreciate the place.

Is it worth it to enter Skansen? Yes, definitely! You can also enter Skansen Aquarium if you buy the combo ticket.

Book Skansen Open-Air Museum here

Skansen Open-Air Museum, Stockholm

6.3 Optional: ABBA The Museum

If you were swept by Dancing Queen, Chiquitita, Mamma Mia, and The Winner Takes it All, then this interactive museum is for you.

See all things related to ABBA in the museum from costumes, awards, instruments, and memorabilia. Plus, find out more of the singers Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Frida’s personal stories and memories in their journey.

Book ABBA The Museum here

The ABBA Museum, Stockholm

7. Food & Restaurants

Foods in Stockholm are often overlooked by tourists. But just like its beautiful sights, foods in Stockholm are as much exciting to try. From its traditional Swedish food known as husmanskost, Swedish meatballs to pastries and drinks.

Find all the best coffee shops in Stockholm here.

Looking for the best place to catch brunch? Try out these amazing and even cheap restaurants for brunch.

And if you’re out for great restaurants, from fine-dining Michelin-starred to cocktails bars to wine bars, you can check it out here.

As for your sweet tooth, try to visit some of these 14 cafes for not just pastries but also for desserts and ice creams.

Stockholm Food Tour Fika Bread

8. Day Trips from Stockholm

Being the largest and capital of Sweden, yes, Stockholm is certainly beautiful. But while you’re there, it’s also a great chance to see its wonderful neighboring cities as well.

And as an archipelago of islands, other charming and exciting cities are just a train away. Thus, making it easier to go on day trips to every traveler.

Find 8 best day trips here which include how you can get there from Stockholm.

I have also included here amazing day trips and tours you can book from Get Your Guide.

Wildlife in Stockholm

9. Itinerary for 7 days

We’re almost set on our trip to Stockholm. But of course, to make our trip on schedule, we should not forget our itineraries.

To help you with drafting yours, here are a few itineraries that might give you a hand.

And if you’re just dropping by just for a day, here’s also a one-day guide for you.

Stockholm

10. Packing List

There are a few things we recommend for your packing list Stockholm.

Optional but always useful:

Packing List Europe

11. Printed Guides & Map

Want printed guides? Here are the best you can buy.

Here is again our map of Stockholm with the recommended hotels and neighborhoods.

There’s much more

All Articles

Last but not least, please find below all our articles about Stockholm, the Venice of the North.

We share with you the most helpful tips and guides you should know in the capital of Sweden. From the things you should see, tickets you should buy, food places you can try to your itinerary in Stockholm. All that you need to know in your one-week in the city.

Any questions? Please, please bother us!

We’d love to help – seriously!! Send us an email.

Matt

Hey there, fellow adventurers! I'm Matt, a passionate explorer with an unwavering love for vintage cafés and an appreciation for the artistry of handmade design. Though my heart belongs to Europe, I bid adieu to my homeland in 2010, embarking on a thrilling journey across the continents. With Europe as my stomping ground, I've delved deep into its charming corners, from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the rustic villages of Tuscany. My mission? To be your dedicated European travel companion, unlocking the secrets of this enchanting continent.

All our handwritten articles