Welcome to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden! Stockholm is an awesome city break destination. Are you planning to go?! Here’s why you should!

Remember to download the free Swedish transportation app ‘SL’ to get around Stockholm in bus and metro. You pay 45 SEK ($4,5) and you’re able to use the ticket for 75 min in any bus/metro. Super easy!

Stockholm Is A Must-Go Destination

Stockholm is made on 14 islands and with more than 50 major bridges connecting the different parts, which make the city unique. After spending a few days here on my 16th visit to Sweden, I wanted to share with you ‘The 7 Unmissable Things To Do In Stockholm.’ An absolute MUST-GO destination!

Spending nearly 3 days here in end of July, 2019, I can tell you already the weather is not Stockholm’s greatest attribute. Nonetheless it’s a really cozy place with lots of charming streets and places that you’ll love!

Weather – Is Stockholm Cold?

I was literally two seconds away from not bringing a jacket to Sweden on my 1-hour flight from Copenhagen to Stockholm, thinking “hey, it’s Swedish summer,” but in less than seconds before leaving to the Airport, I made the decision to bring a jacket. Smart choice! Even though July/August are Sweden’s absolutely best summer months, Stockholm is located pretty north and bringing a jacket here is recommended in my opinion, unless you’re a true Swedish Viking which I’m not apparently. Danish viking though!

Shielded From The Worst Of The Arctic Weather?

Stockholm in sunshine is absolutely tremendous. The capital is actually shielded from the worst of the arctic weather by the mountains of Norway, so the weather here is more pleasant than foreigners first think.

Summers typically average from 17 to 25 degrees Celsius (63 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit,) which usually feels a bit colder with the wind in this extensive Baltic Sea archipelago. Winters are usually cloudy with rain and snowfall, with January and February being the coldest months, with the average minimum temperature of -4°C (24 Fahrenheit) and with some freezing storms moving in over the capital. 

7 UNMISSABLE Things To Do In Stockholm

This is the list of the ‘7 Unmissable Things To Do In Stockholm,’ and it’s the most perfect inspiration for a few days in the Swedish capital to keep you busy!

1. Gamla Stan

Begin your trip by going back to Stockholm’s roots at one of Europe’s great medieval centres, spread over three small islands. The bustling, compact island of Gamla Stan is the city’s old town, with cobbled streets and colorful 17th- and 18th-century buildings, yet still the Old Town is actually dated back to the 13th Century.

Gamla Stan is home to the medieval Storkyrkan Cathedral and the Royal Palace, the King’s official residence. Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s original city centre, and with its glorious labyrinth of charming cobbled streets, alleyways and rust-colored town houses, it’s one of my favourite places in Stockholm!

2. Skansen

Skansen is the World’s oldest open air museum, and it attracts more than 1.3 million visitors each year, which is a very high number for Swedish standards.

Skansen was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to provide an insight into how Swedes once lived. You can easily spend a day here and not see it all. Around 150 traditional houses and other exhibits at this hilltop – it’s meant to be ‘Sweden in miniature’, complete with villages, nature, commerce and industry.

Note that prices and opening hours and days vary seasonally; check the website before you go.

3. Royal Palace

With more than 600 rooms Stockholm’s Royal Palace is up there with the largest palaces in Europe.

The King of Sweden still lives here, most royal events and receptions happen at the palace and all the various departments associated with the royal family operate in these plush environs. Furthermore there are 5 museums to go and see.

4. Vasa Museum

Not the biggest fan of museums usually, but the Vasa Museum and this awesome relic from the 17th-century of the all-conquering King Gustavus Adolphus is super cool! It’s been revived at this museum in the west shore of Djurgården, Stockholm.

The Vasa was a 64-gun warship that went down on its first voyage in 1628. It remained in the deep for 33 years, until it was lifted to the surface and slowly was restored. The Vasa is only 17th-century ship of this scale to make it to the present day, which is indeed fascinating. The only negative thing is you can’t get a boat ride in ‘The Vasa’ in the plenty of canals in Stockholm and feel like an old Swedish pirate! Damn it!

5. Gröna Lund

Djurgården is also the scene for Sweden’s oldest amusement park, and although Gröna Lund first opened in 1883 it’s very much up to date.

New roller coasters are unveiled every few years, like the state-of-art “Insane” on which you’ll spend half the ride upside down.

Another, “Eclipse” is a swing ride more than 120 metres in height.

6. Södermalm

Södermalm, where Greta Garbo grew up, has a few ultra-cool neighborhoods with quirky shops and interesting places to go out.

Try SoFo (South of Folkungagatan) for one-of-a-kind designer boutiques, vintage shops and hip restaurants and cafes. Södermalm is, after all, more than just trendy shops, cozy cafés and some of the best bars in Stockholm. Walk around in Södermalm in Stockholm – I’ll recommend you a nice walk in the sunshine.

Nytorget Square here is a fun night out in summer. Yes, I said it! Check it out!

7. Stockholm Public Library

The last thing on my ‘Top 7 List of Things To Do in Stockholm’ is with a free entry and what a place!

The Stockholm Public Library is one of the World’s most beautiful libraries, and changed the city’s relationship with books when it opened in 1928. That’s down to the monumental rotunda at the top of the building.

Gunnar Asplund designed the stunning library, and it’s held as a shining example of the Swedish Classicist movement. Again there’s no fee to enter, and many of the titles are in English if you’re in need of a quiet, rainy day activity, which of course can happen in Stockholm!

I hope you you will have a perfect time in Stockholm with great weather and I’ll see you next time, Sweden!

Gustav

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