Day 1
Morning
For mornings in Stockholm, it’s great to kick things off at a nice cafe or breakfast restaurant like the Greasy Spoon, Johan & Nyström or Älskade Traditioner, all on Södermalm. But make sure to check the times as many things open later on the weekends.
And if you’re not in the mood for breakfast, the mornings are a great time to take walks through the city. One of the most peaceful morning walks can be started in the park of Tantolunden on Södermalm near the water (Maps link) . Follow the walking path along the water until you reach Eriksdalsbadet (Maps link)and you can head back into town to the Skanstull subway stop. This walk takes about 45 minutes, but it’s truly beautiful in good weather.
Afternoon
If you want to see the most historic part of the city, then it’s best to head to Gamla Stan. You can explore old buildings and small shops, eat lunch at a cafe, like Under Kastanjen, or shop for some authentic Swedish caramels and peppermint at Gamla Stans Polkagriskokeri.
One of the great parts about Gamla Stan on the weekend is that you will be able to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Royal Castle. This is a 40-minute ceremony that starts at 12:15pm in the palace outer courtyard on Saturdays, and at 1:15pm on Sundays. There are horses, music and a little something different every day.
If you are not completely exhausted after your day in Gamla Stan, you may want to head to Drottninggatan. This street goes from Gamla Stan, where it’s known by the name Västerlånggatan (Maps link) and then through to the north of town, where it turns into Drottninggatan (Maps link). If you’re shopping for tourist items, they will be at the lower end toward Gamla Stan and once you pass the central subway in the north, there are more clothing and chain stores.
Evening
For dinner options, there are many choices, but here are a few suggestions:
- Keep it simple with Barrels Burgers and Beer. It’s a great burger place with two locations – one in Gamla Stan and another close to Kungsträdgården.
- For a bit of tourist fun, you can visit the viking-themed restaurant Aifur in Gamla Stan. Be ready to have a good, loud time with staff dressed as vikings, good music and great food! But try to make reservations before you arrive.
- It may seem odd to eat Chinese food in Sweden, but Surfers is one of the best restaurants in Stockholm. Originally started in Visby, on Gotland, the Stockholm location is on Norrlandsgatan. This is an upscale restaurant where people share many small, excellent dishes. Be sure to make reservations, as it’s usually very full.
Night
If you’re looking for a late-night drink during the summer, head over to Pelago for amazing views over the city, or Mosebacketerassen to mingle and drink beer with a crowd. At other times of the year, Pharmarium is a pricey, but fun, option in the middle of Gamla Stan. Located in an actual pharmacy from the 1500s, it’s an historic place to share a drink or two.
Day 2
Morning
Consider starting your day at popular Stortorget (Map link) in Gamla Stan with a pastry and coffee in the medieval cellar of Café Kaffekoppen. Just walk to the back and take the stairs down for a unique environment where you can enjoy rich, white hot chocolate as well as delectable pies and cakes. After that, take a quiet walk through Gamla Stan toward the water (Map link) and take the ferry across to Djurgården. The ferry is included with your SL travel card. It’s a great way to get in a “free” boat ride with some glorious views of Stockholm as you make your way to the island of parks and museums.
Afternoon
Once you arrive at Djurgården, you have your pick of museums and entertainment. The ferry arrives at the amuseument park Gröna Lund, but if you are interested in Nordic animals and the history of Sweden, you may want to check out Skansen, which is a huge “outdoor museum” open every day of the year. Other notable museums to visit include:
If the weather is nice, a walk to the park of Rosendal is highly recommended. Rosendal has indoor greenhouses with a buffet lunch and many desserts, as well as outdoor gardens where you can picnic by the apple orchard. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy some time in nature. Take the bus/tram to the very end of Djurgården (Map link) and walk from there.
Evening
If you happen to be visiting in the summertime, walk through beautiful Humlegården park (Map link) until you find Omnipollo’s Flora. Omnipollo’s Flora is a very casual, outdoor restaurant serving craft beer, burgers and salads. A great place to be on a warm, summer’s evening.
For colder evenings, or something a little more upscale, try the popular Asian-fusion restaurant Miss Voon. It’s also right across from Humlegården park and serves excellent, small dishes to share. The prices can be a bit expensive, so save this one for a special night out and make reservations. More choices can be found by clicking on “Discover Stockholm’s Hidden Food Gems.”
Night
For a unique experience, grab a drink at SUS (Stockholm Under Sjärnorna) in the middle of the city. In addition to incredible views, during the summer, you might catch a late-night outdoor film on the rooftop or musical entertainment. Open until 10 p.m. on Sundays. Or try Tak, just next door for the same views and cocktails that combine Nordic and Japanese flavors.