Why you should see Stockholm
A perfect day in Stockholm? You need more time to see the capital Sweden and really get to know their surroundings. Stockholm is not only the seat of the Swedish government. The royal family lives here. Maybe you're lucky like us and you see members of the royal family on your visit. We were there when Prince Carl Philipp married his wife Sofia. They drove past us in their wedding carriage just a few meters away. Even if their wedding messed up our travel plans for Stockholm, it was an experience that for us will always be associated with Stockholm. But even if you do not experience a major event of the king's family during your visit, the city is extremely interesting. 1 day in Stockholm is tight.
We reach Stockholm from one Journey on the Göta Canal. On board the Juno we were en route on one of the oldest passenger ships in the world. This brought us from Gothenburg across Sweden to Stockholm. The capital of Sweden should be seen by everyone who is interested in the cities of the Baltic Sea interested.
On Gamla Stan you can see the palace of the king and the parliament as well as alleys, in which it is good to stroll. Stockholm is the city that awards the Nobel Prize every year. A visit to the town hall is therefore also worthwhile. A stroll along the promenade that leads along the water is nice. There you will quickly get an impression of the importance of the proximity to the sea in Stockholm. That is also one of the reasons why we recommend more time than a day for Stockholm. The archipelago in front of Stockholm is worth a stay of several days. We have excluded this island world and the area around Stockholm on Lake Mälaren from our recommendations for a short trip to Stockholm for lack of time. Therefore, before your trip, consider whether you can extend your stay in Stockholm. The city and its surroundings are worth it.
A perfect day in Stockholm Sweden
What can you do in 1 day in Stockholm? First of all: one day is far too little time to really get to know this interesting city. We were there for three days and there is still so much to discover. Even so, not everyone has the time for a long stay in Stockholm. Therefore, at this point I am collecting tips on how 24 hours are enough to get an overview of the city and its sights.
Provide an overview of the sights
Stockholm's core is Gamla Stan, the Old Town, from which the city has spread over the centuries in all directions and over several islands. Many parts of the city can be reached by boat quicker than by road. Therefore, I think that a city tour by boat is essential for a stay in Stockholm.
You need that for a day in Sweden's capital
- On this day you will be walking a lot and partly on cobblestone streets. Therefore you need comfortable shoes for the city.
- If you are planning an evening at the opera or in a good restaurant, then you should comfortable pumps .
- We always have one Travel Guide* and one map* for orientation. Further down in the text you will find Aachen travel guides that we recommend.
- A City backpack, in which you can store your utensils and a Jacket that you need for the day is sure to serve you well.
- To capture your impressions, you should use yours Camera* do not forget. I always take mine Nikon D5300 SLR digital camera with additional battery * for photos that I need in high resolution.
Boat tour
Stockholm is located on one side on the Baltic Sea and is bounded on the other side of Lake Mälaren. The city is also spread over several islands. So, water is something that you always come across in Stockholm. Therefore, you should see Stockholm from the water, to discover this proximity to the sea and the lake itself. 24 hours in Stockholm allow you the city tour by boat good at planning it. This tour will take you to the main attractions of the city, except that you will discover them from the water. The beauty of this boat tour: You can always get off the road again to take a closer look at certain attractions.
In order to see as much of the city as possible in one day, we recommend these tours because they bring you directly to the highlights and save time. If you use public transport, this stops more often and takes up valuable time. We have done the Boat trip without a stop.
Vasa Museum
You shouldn't miss it Vasa Museum, probably the most famous museum that Stockholm has to offer. In it you can see the almost completely preserved ship Vasa from the 17. See the century. Nowhere else in the world is there such a well-preserved ship from that time. The ship sank shortly after its launch in the harbor and was there 1956 rediscovered and salvaged. Like yours Vasa Museum in one hour optimal visit You can recommend the specialists of the museum (in English) at this link. Whether and how long you have to wait at the entrance to the museum depends on the number of visitors on the day of your visit. Without waiting it will be difficult to organize, unless you book the not cheap 2,5 hourly guided tour including Vasa Museum without waiting times *.
Discover Stockholm actively
If your perfect Stockholm Tour is more active, you can discover Stockholm by bike *. There are different tours of different lengths and at different times of the day.
You may also like these activities offered in Stockholm*. You will get to know Sweden's capital in a varied and sometimes extraordinary way. On some of these adventures you can discover the city the Swedish way. What do you think about a kayak tour or a wildlife safari? Or camping on one of the islands?
We decided to see Gamla Stan on our own. You can follow in our footsteps on the suggested walk.
Also, wander a bit through the modern city center north of Gamla Stan and have a look at the great buildings that stand here. You will discover impressive architecture on every corner. Cross the bridge from Nörrbro towards the Opera or the Riksbron coming from the Riksdag to the north and you are right in the center of modern Stockholm.
Explore Stockholm's history and culture
Do you want to know more about the history and culture of the city? Maybe you are interested in the history of ABBA. Or do you want to learn more about the Vikings? What role do murder and manslaughter play in the city? In the Sigtuna Village you will learn more about Sweden's oldest city. In Markim-Orkest it even goes back to the Bronze Age. Churches from the Middle Ages are also exciting. Or do you want to know more about Swedish beer? There is a lot to discover in and around Sweden's capital.
Travel tips for Stockholm
- During our stay there was no time for one Excursion to the Stockholm archipelago, Andrea von Levartblog was there and wrote an interesting blog post about it. Check it out!
- More great tips for Stockholm there's MS Welltravel.
- Lisa from Travel Life has 19 free things to do in Stockholm (in English) collected.
Travel Arrangements:
Parking at the airport
Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.
Arrival
Arrival by plane, bus or train*. Lufthansa and SAS fly to Arlanda.
Car Rentals:
Cheap car hire - book quickly and easily!
Camper Rentals:
Compare motorhome prices here.
Stockholm sightseeing by boat:
In addition to the Hop on Hop off boat tours, there are others Sightseeing Boat Tours in Stockholm *for which you can also book tickets through Get Your Guide and avoid waiting in Stockholm.
City tours of Stockholm:
If your Stockholm on one City or Theme Tour * want to experience, then there is a large selection of tour options.
Hotels in Stockholm:
Stockholm Hotels * You can book through our partner booking.com at this link. If you Accommodation in or near Gamla Stan * seek, you will find it here.
Travel Guide:
Stockholm MM City Travel Guide
Anyone who wants to get to know Stockholm is well equipped with this travel guide. Lisa Arnold suggests 9 sightseeing tours, including one by bike through Djurgarden. You will also find tips for the archipelago and excursions in the surrounding area. A city map and a metro map help with orientation.
Stockholm - City Adventure
If you want to discover Stockholm beyond the usual sights, then this travel guide will help you discover city adventures in Sweden's capital. What do you think of a walk over a castle roof, for example? Or do you prefer to watch moose? More than half of the Stockholm tips are free or very cheap.
Do you already know:
Source: On-site research. We financed this perfect day in Stockholm ourselves. Updated December 2020
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Dear Monika,
dear Petar,
We were in Stockholm for a week and have not seen everything yet. We also did a boat trip. Stockholm is on so many islands, so you have to go boating.
Since you can not pay in cash on the buses, it is important to buy a ticket for the means of transport in advance.
Best regards,
Renate
Liebe Renate,
I can well imagine. The city really offers a lot. Thank you for the tip with the buses. We did not know that yet.
Best regards,
Monika
Oh we love Stockholm !! Luckily we were a bit longer, so we could even make a trip to the archipelago and the very best: we celebrated there in the midsummer! :) Just beautiful there!
Love from,
Anna & Vanessa
Hello Anna & Vanessa,
the archipelago teases us too. We did a mini-cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki and Tallinn last year and also went through the archipelago. Such a stay is definitely a great experience.
Best regards,
Monika & Petar
It seems you really didn't miss anything in Stockholm and you obviously enjoyed the sun too. I particularly liked the trip to the archipelago. We are also happy and frequent in Sweden, but less often in the "big city".
We've only been to Sweden twice so far, but we've really enjoyed what we've seen so far. And it will surely be back on our itinerary soon.
It must have been a wonderful day in Stockholm! And for cities, you really need a little time, because you have good opportunities to get an overview.
That's it, dear Sabine. The weather was perfect with our boat tour through the city. And our walk through Gamla Stan has shown us impressive architecture.
Nice report. For me the reference to visit the ABBA Museum is missing. For campers / campers, there are appropriate places, some with S- / U-Bahn connection.
That's right, Martin. But we had no time for our Stockholm stay. And we are not such big ABBA fans that this is one of our must-dos in Stockholm. The campgrounds in the subway and S-Bahn connection sound interesting. Do you have addresses or links?
I also like it best to let myself drift and Stockholm seems to be predestined, at least in the old town. And for the rest we take the boat. Thanks for the overview.
You're right, Antje. We usually do that too. An orientation trip to get a first overview, and then go on your own.