Stockholm, a must visit city! It is the capital of Sweden and encompasses 14 islands! There is so much to do and see that my feet were killing me after the grand total of 24 miles we walked over two days to explore this beautiful city.
What to do in Stockholm
1. Walk around Gamla Stan: Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s Old Town. It is one of the largest preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Also, it is where Stockholm was founded in 1252 AD. Gamla Stan was my favorite place we went to in Stockholm. It has cobblestone streets and colorful buildings everywhere you look. While walking around you must go see Stortorget which is Stockhom’s oldest square. It is a beautiful square with colorful buildings and a fountain in the middle. We also found Mårten Trotzigs alley which is the narrowest alley in Gamla Stan (it is tricky to find so keep an eye out for a group of people huddled around an alley). It is only 90 centimeters wide at the narrowest point! There are also several museums in Gamla Stan that you can go to such as the Nobel Museum and the Royal Armory.
2. Royal Palace: The Royal Palace is one of the largest palaces in Europe and is the official residence of the King of Sweden. The Royal Palace is located on Gamla Stan. It has over 600 rooms! We did not pay to go inside, but just marveling at the building from the outside is amazing. There are guards all around the palace so be sure to stick around and watch the changing of the guards. You are able to get in to a few of the courtyards of that palace for free, but to get in to the actual palace and some of its museums, you must pay a fee.
3. Riddarholmen Church: Located on the island of Riddarholme, Riddarholmen Church is Stockholm’s only remaining medieval abbey and it was built in the late 1200s. This church is the resting place of the Swedish monarchs and aristocracy. If you are interested in going inside you will have to pay a fee. They also offer guided tours of the church during the summer.
4. Royal National City Park- this is the world’s first national urban park. It stretches around and through the city. You can walk for miles exploring this park as there are trails upon trails. The trails are free to adventure on if you want to experience nature within a city. Throughout this park there is also museums, an amusement park, castles, hotels, residences from different historical periods, theaters, lakes, streams, and swimming spots. There is so much to do that you could spend days in this park.
5. Skansen: Skansen is a must-do in Stockholm as it is the oldest open-air museum in the world along with a zoo and an aquarium. As you walk through Skansen there are fabulous views over the city. The open-air museum is like a mini historical Stockholm as they have farms and dwellings from different parts of the country that were disassembled and transported there. The zoo there is honestly one of the most lively zoos I’ve ever been too. It may have been the time of year we were there, but all the animals were active and had their babies… talk about cuteness overload. The aquarium was also great as the first part you get to be up close and personal with lemurs (sadly, you’re not allowed to touch them though). You also get to see a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. We bought the combo pack of the open-air museaum/zoo + the aquarium as it was a better bang for your buck if you got the combo. We also saved money by walking up the hill instead of paying for the funicular up the hill.
6. City Hall: The City Hall is a spectacular building that has a 106-meter tall tower that has the three crowns at the top which is the Swedish national coat of arms. During the summer you can pay to go to the top of the tower for a wonderful view over the city.
7. Eat at Günter’s: It is rated as one of the best hot dog/sausage stands in Stockholm and let me tell ya, it won’t let you down. They have a variety of sausages you can choose from. The menu is in Swedish, but we asked for suggestions and was told the kabanoss is delicious so Zach chose that one. I decided to not listen to the locals and with the chorizo. Both of them were amazing!! Your sausage is stuffed in to a bread pocket type thing in which the man fills with the best sauce/dressing (not sure what it was, but it was delicious!). He also has different toppings. It really is magic in your mouth. Plus, it is a great price for the amount of food you get!
8. Breweries: New city calls for trying a new beer, right? Right! We stopped at Frequency Beer Works and Omnipollos Hatt. Both were smaller establishments with friendly staff and delicious beer. I felt like a local in these bars and it was a great time stopping in during Sweden’s first World Cup game. Definitely a fun and lively atmosphere to be in!
9. Boat Tours: We did not do a boat tour, but there are some decently priced ones that for a few hours will take you through the canals around Stockholm. Just walking along the water in the city was beautiful, so I can imagine that being on the water exploring the city would be even better!
Where to stay in Stockholm while on a budget
Generator Hostel: This hostel is nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in and I would recommend anyone who is going to Stockholm and wants a decently priced place to stay to book a bed here. The hostel is spotless! Yes the rooms are still shared with other people, but there were only 6 people total in our room and our room got a private bathroom and shower. Each bed also has its own outlet, USB plug, bed light, and a small pocket to store things near you. The best part about the room is that each person gets a large drawer underneath the beds that you can lock to keep all your valuables safe. The drawer was so big that I was able to store my clothes along with my electronics and lock them. This hostel has a great atmosphere as we constantly talked to other travelers and hung out in their common areas. They have two bars in the hostel and they also have a food menu (the food is actually really delicious!- get the Swedish meatballs) The only downside is that they do not have a kitchen for you to cook your own meals. But Zach and I figured out that they have an All Access Card you can purchase for ~17 USD and it was well worth it. You get 1 free breakfast, 1 free coffee, 1 free towel, 1 free load of laundry, and 20% off all other meals you buy there. The staff is also very friendly and helpful with any questions you have. They even allow you to print things if need be. We needed to print a train ticket and they printed it for us at no extra cost. Really great quality accommodation in my opinion!
Stockholm is a city to remember with its rich history, cobblestone roads, architecture, color, and people.
