Planning a trip to see Stockholm, the capital of Sweden? How long will you stay – a couple of hours, a day, or overnight? What to see in Stockholm and what do you want to experience during your stay? Here we give you our best tips on how to experience and discover as much as possible during your visit. What are the best tourist attractions in Stockholm? What museums in Stockholm are worth visiting? Which restaurant to choose? Which sightseeing tour is the best? Finally, what must-sees are available in Stockholm? Get inspired by reading our tips on things to to see in Stockholm Sweden!
Sightseeing – Experience Stockholm from Land & Water
Do you want to experience as much of Stockholm as possible for a limited time? A sightseeing tour by bus and/or boat is the best way to see the most famous places and sights around the city.
Hop On-Hop Off Bus – Sightseeing from Land
See and learn more about the sights and places around Stockholm on a Hop On-Hop Off bus. Hop on and off as many times as you want during the day. If you go the whole lap, the tour takes 75-100 minutes.
Hop On-Hop Off Boat – Sightseeing from the Water
Experience Stockholm from the water – step aboard a Hop On-Hop Off boat and listen to the guided tour that will tell you about famous places in the city. Hop on and off as many times as you want. If you choose to go on the entire tour, it takes just less than an hour.
The Royal Canal Tour – 50 minutes
The Royal Canal Tour takes 50 minutes and is perfect for those who want to see the national city park Djurgården and hear more about the places that are along Stockholm's quays. The guided tour is available in 10 different languages.
Under the Bridges of Stockholm – 2 hours 15 minutes
If you want to see the most of Stockholm, you should go on the guided boat trip Under the Bridges of Stockholm. You will see famous places, buildings, and sights and the tour goes beneath twelve of Stockholm's bridges as well as locking between Saltsjön and Mälaren. The guided tour is available in 10 different languages.
Things to see in Stockholm - visit the top attractions
In a city like Stockholm, there is a lot to see and discover. If you come on a cruise ship, sometimes the time can be limited, and it is important to pick out the city's gems and the best attractions in Stockholm. Here are our top five attractions you don't want to miss when visiting Stockholm:
- Royal Djurgården – a national city park with beautiful nature, museums, and restaurants.
- Old Town - one of Europe's largest and best-preserved medieval city centers. A popular attraction with a lot of history, shopping, and restaurants.
- Stockholm archipelago – a unique archipelago with 30,000 islands and islets.
- Stockholm City Hall – municipal hall and exclusive banquet halls where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held. Tower spire with golden three crowns.
- Södermalm & SOFO – hipster neighborhood with a relaxed and artistic touch. Art, second-hand, cafés, and restaurants.
What to do in Stockholm - places to visit
How many things you have time to see and do in Stockholm depends of course on how much time you have. We have listed what to do and the best places you can visit in Stockholm.
Visit the Archipelago and Lake Mälaren – Go by Boat
Stockholm is unique with its fantastic archipelago filled with picturesque islands. Here are three tips on excursions you can do in the archipelago and Lake Mälaren depending on how much time you have:
Fjäderholmarna – the Archipelago’s Closest Island
You get a real archipelago feeling at Fjäderholmarna - just 30 minutes by boat from Stockholm city. Stroll around the island, and visit the island's small genuine shops with crafts and art. Here you can also eat Swedish archipelago-inspired food.
- The departure point for the boat to Fjäderholmarna: Strandvägen, berth 13
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Drottningholm Palace – a World Heritage Site in Lake Mälaren
Just an hour by boat from central Stockholm is the World Heritage Site Drottningholm Palace. A castle from the 17th century that is now the permanent residence of the Swedish royal couple. Enjoy the castle parks, the beautiful surroundings, and the fantastic castle halls.
- The departure point for the boat to Drottningholm Palace: Klara Mälarstrand, berth 4-5
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Birka - The Viking City
For those who stay a little longer in Stockholm, a visit to Björkö and the Viking City Birka is an excursion destination to recommend. A full day that offers a round trip by boat from the city, entrance to the museum, and a guided tour of the ancient monument area at Birka.
- The departure point for the boat to Birka Vikingastaden: Klara Mälarstrand, berth 3
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Stockholm’s Best Museums
The list of museums in Stockholm is long and there are museums for all interests and ages. We have listed typical museums just for Stockholm that are easily reachable with a Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat.
ABBA The Museum
Feel like one of the members of the Swedish pop group ABBA. ABBA The Museum is an interactive museum where you get to try on clothes, sing, mix original songs and take part in the history, gold records, and much more.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Skansen – Open-Air Museum
Skansen is an outdoor museum where there is a lot to experience. You will learn more about Sweden's history, culture, wildlife, traditions, and trends. Skansen is located at The Royal Djurgården.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Nobel Prize Museum in the Old Town
In the middle of the Old Town is the Nobel Prize Museum where you get to know everything about the Nobel Prize, the founder Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Laureates and their visions.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Fotografiska – World-Class Photographic Art
Fotografiska is located at Stadsgårdhamnen and is the world's largest gathering place for modern photos and photo art. Don’t miss their award-winning restaurant overlooking the water.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Nationalmuseum on Blaiserholmen
Sweden's leading art and design museum are Nationalmuseum, located on Blaiserholmen in the middle of the city. Here is a huge collection of about 700,000 objects from the 16th century until now.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Stockholm’s Best Shopping
Shopping cravings? In Stockholm city, there are many shops and shopping streets with different orientations. Here are some of our top tips that you can easily get to on foot or with a Hop On-Hop Off bus.
Biblioteksgatan – Exclusive Shopping
Biblioteksgatan, in the middle of the city, is Sweden's most exclusive shopping street. Many international designers and brands are represented here.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Drottninggatan – Popular Shopping
Drottninggatan is Stockholm's most popular shopping street where you will find everything from small souvenir shops to larger well-known franchise stores.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus.
Classic department store NK
In the middle of the city on Hamngatan is Nordiska Kompaniet, or NK. At NK, there are the latest in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle from world-leading designers.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus
Enjoy a Great Meal – Restaurant Tips
Are you looking for a good restaurant to have lunch at or do you stay in Stockholm overnight and want to have a great dinner? We have the best tips:
Dinner Cruise with S/S Stockholm
Swedish and archipelago-inspired is what you get on board a dinner cruise with the art deco ship S/S Stockholm. Eat well and enjoy Stockholm's beautiful archipelago.
- The departure point for the Dinner Cruise with S/S Stockholm: Strandvägen, berth 16
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Operakällaren – fine dining
If you are looking for an exclusive lunch or meal, Operakällan is perfect. It serves food with tradition, quality, and innovation – something out of the ordinary.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Riche – Sweden’s Celebrity Elite
A classic brasserie where Sweden's celebrity elite, tourists, and Stockholmers get along. Here you eat food with influences from the French cuisine mixed with traditional Swedish cooking.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Under Kastanjen in the Old Town
In the heart of the Old Town, at the square Brända tomten, is the café and the restaurant Under Kastanjen. Under Kastanjen is a bakery, bistro, and bar serving lunch, dinner, pastries, coffee drinks, and sandwiches.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Ulla Winbladh – Swedish and Classic
Djurgården is home to the traditional restaurant Ulla Winbladh. If you want to experience authentic high-quality Swedish food tradition in a historic inn environment, this is where you should go.
- You can go here by Strommas Hop On-Hop Off bus or boat
Walk along Stockholm’s Quays – 3 Tips
One of the best ways to experience a new city is on foot – see the sights up close and feel the atmosphere.
Stadsgårdshamnen & Skeppsbron
A walk along Stadsgårdshamnen offers beautiful views of the harbor entrance to Stockholm. Along the way, you pass Fotografiska and Slussen before you get out on Skeppsbron, which ends with you passing the Royal Palace.
Strandvägen & Djurgården
Along Strandvägen, you stroll and look at the exclusive houses with apartments beyond the ordinary. Take Djurgårdsbron over to Djurgården and continue your walk through the national city park.
Norr Mälarstrand
Norr Mälarstrand is the internationally renowned parkway that runs along Kungsholmen's shoreline between Rålambshovsparken in the west and Kungsholms Torg in the east. You look out over the northern part of Riddarfjärden.
Multi Destination Ticket - the perfect option for cruise guests
Are you visiting Stockholm and planning shore excursions at multiple Nordic cities? Then you should choose our affordable Multi Destination Ticket – you will save both time and money. It is an unique ticket that gives you unlimited rides for 12 days with Stromma Hop On-Hop Off products in all our destinations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.
Map of things to visit in Stockholm
On the map below, you can easily see our tips for the best things to see in Stockholm, Sweden.
