Stockholm is the most essential city to see in Sweden. It is the perfect getaway for a long weekend or to include it as a starting point for a road trip through Sweden. The historic center of Stockholm is one of the most beautiful in Europe, full of color and with precious corners to discover. The city has many things to do and places to discover. In this post I will tell you about the 20 essential things to see and do in Stockholm.
20 MUST SEE AND DO IN STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
1. Discover the historic center of Stockholm (Gamla Stan)
The historic center of Stockholm stands out for being one of the most beautiful medieval historic centers in Europe. The city was founded there in 1252. Its cobbled streets are pedestrianized, ideal for strolling among its charming colorful buildings. The area is full of shops, cafes and restaurants, especially on its two main streets: Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan. Many of the places of interest to visit in Stockholm are located in the historic center, making it a good option where to stay in Stockholm.
2. Take a free tour of Stockholm
You have a wide variety of free tours to do in Stockholm, perfect for getting to know the city from different points of view. I will tell you in more detail about all the free tours you can do in Stockholm here.
Here is a list of the free tours that you can book for FREE! in Stockholm:
3. Discover the oldest square in Stockholm
Stortorget square is the oldest square in Stockholm. There merchants and citizens met. And today, the square is surrounded by narrow colored buildings that give a very happy and special atmosphere to the historic center of the city. If you visit Stockholm in December, don't miss the Christmas market held at Stortorget.
4. Visit the Royal Palace in Stockholm
The residence of the Swedish royal family is open to the public. This baroque palace is impressive, it has more than 600 rooms and seven floors. During the visit you will be able to see the magnitude of the palace inside, see armor, carriages, crowns... Do not miss the changing of the guard.
The entrance costs 160 crowns (17 euros). There is the possibility of taking a guided tour for 20 crowns more (2 euros).
5. Stroll along Prästgatan
Walking along Prästgatan is an essential thing to do in Stockholm. It is a narrow street with beautiful facades. You will be able to see the remains of a building from the year 1100 on the corner with Kåkbrinken street. Its name means Street of the priests, since the religious who served the Stockholm Cathedral lived there.
6. Boat ride through the canals of Stockholm
One of the best things to do in Stockholm is canal boating. You will be able to see the islands in it and see the city from a different perspective.
One of the most recommended excursions is the boat trip through the Stockholm archipelago. You will visit 14 of the 24,000 islands it has in about 3 hours. The landscapes throughout the tour are beautiful and the activity is well worth it.
7. Visit the Nobel Museum
This museum is known for being the place where the Nobel prize awards are made. In it, you will be able to see a room with personal belongings of the winners, as well as explanations about the great scientific and technological advances that they have promoted. Not only are there regular exhibitions, there are also various videos and there are even theatrical performances dedicated to great figures such as Nelson Mandela or Marie Curie. Admission costs 120 crowns (12 euros) and includes a guided tour.
8. Cross the Skeppsholmsbron Bridge
One of the best places to see the Royal Palace is the Skeppsholm Bridge. It is a steel structure considered a historical monument that connects the Blasieholmen peninsula with the island of Skeppsholmen. Notice the golden crown on the bridge, looking towards the Royal Palace. It is the perfect place to take a panoramic photograph of the historic center of the city.
9. Visit the interior of the Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm has an impressive city hall. It is huge and built in red brick. More than 8 million bricks were used to build it. The building is very impressive from the outside, but inside you will find incredible places such as the event rooms, where the Nobel prize banquet is held.
To visit it you must do it with a guided tour. They are held every half hour from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The visit costs 110 crowns (11 euros) from April to October and 90 crowns (9 euros) the rest of the year.
10. Observe the city from the town hall tower
Do not miss the opportunity to climb the tower of the town hall to have one of the best views of the city of Stockholm. At the top of the tower is represented the coat of arms of the city with three crowns. It is only open from May to September. All the visits are guided, they are made daily every 40 minutes. The entrance costs 50 crowns (5 euros).
11. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, one of the most essential buildings to see in Stockholm
Stockholm Cathedral is one of the most important buildings to visit in the city. It is considered the first parish in Stockholm and, according to legend, it was built by Birger Jarl, the founder of the city. The exact date of its construction is not well known, but it appeared documented for the first time in the year 1279. In the year 1527 it became a Lutheran Protestant church.
In addition, due to its location in the heart of the city, it has been the scene of coronations, funerals and royal weddings.
12. Go on the subway in Stockholm and discover true works of art
One of the best ways to get around Stockholm is by metro. But, in addition, the Stockholm metro stations are a true work of art. The vast majority of the exposed stone has been preserved, simulating that you are entering a cave. In addition, the ceilings are painted with abstract images, flowers, flags...
You can take a guided tour of the Stockholm metro. It is an opportunity to know what some of the works of art printed on its ceilings and walls mean.
13. Visit the Vasa Museum, an essential visit to do in Stockholm
In Stockholm you have endless museums to visit, but the Vasa Museum is one of the most important.
There are several exhibitions dedicated to the central object: a ship that sank on August 10, 1628. The king ordered the construction of this huge warship and no one dared to disobey. Leaving the port of Stockholm for the first time, it foundered. After 333 years under water, it took 2 years to bring it to the surface to expose it. It remains almost intact, with 98% of its original structure.
You will be able to visit the ship and the exhibitions about its construction, its rescue and important details about that time. The entrance costs 130 crowns (14 euros).
14. Fall in love with the bohemian neighborhood of Södermalm, one of the most beautiful places to see in Stockholm
The island of Södermalm is the most hipster/bohemian island in Stockholm. Its cobbled streets are lined with charming cafes, local shops and small art galleries. Despite the fact that in ancient times this neighborhood was considered working class, today it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Stockholm.
15. Watch the sunset from Monteliusvägen
One of the best viewpoints in Stockholm is Monteliusvägen, near Skinnarviksberget. You will need to follow a causeway that skirts the north shore of Södermalm. From there the views of the town hall, the historic center and Lake Mälar are incredible.
16. Visit the National Library of Sweden
The Swedish Library, located in Stockholm, is amazing. It has more than half a million books in more than 100 different languages. Also, the building is also amazing. It was created by the Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. He created a large central circular structure with free access to all volumes.
17. Take a trip to Drottningholm Palace
If you are going to be in Stockholm for several days, I recommend that you spend a day visiting the town of Dronttningholm and its palace. There is the residence of the Swedish royal family since 1981. Although the palace was built in the 17th century. You can make a visit and see the old halls, the tea rooms, the library, its beautiful gardens and the Chinese pavilion.
18. Boat trip on the Royal Canal
Sailing through the Djurgarden canal is a relaxed activity to enjoy the canal, the nature that surrounds it, see the forests of Stockholm... It is a cheaper alternative to the Stockholm archipelago tour. The activity lasts 50 minutes.
19. Delve into the forests of Stockholm
The forests of Sweden are beautiful. Leafy forests with trails that take you to lakes and beautiful landscapes. If you are a nature lover and want to combine your trip to Stockholm with some nature activity, you have two great excursion options:
20. Visit the Viking city of Birka
If you want to know a little more about the Viking history of Sweden you cannot miss visiting Birka. Birka was the first city in Sweden and was an important center of trade during the Middle Ages. We recommend you book an excursion from Stockholm and with it you will visit the archaeological site, see the Ansgar cross, enjoy amazing landscapes and also learn a lot about Viking history; their events, way of life...
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I hope you enjoy your trip to Stockholm a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!