Tourist Activities

Wandering around the city

Stockholm City Hall

Gorgeous City Hall with a public garden close to the water.
Guided tours in English: stadshuset.stockholm/en/visit-stockholm-city-hall/guided-tours/

Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/dHJz338guiDW8ATi7

Stortorget

Picturesque square in the historic centre, unmissable if you're exploring Gamla Stan.

Stop by a local café for a proper cinnamon bun fika pause!

Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/NovBgRFiXFXzGYKbA

It's all about the views:

Monteliusvägen

One of the best views of the city. It can be nicely combined with walks along Söder Mälarstrand (Södermalm area). Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/qLxFUKgUUdtxobD56

Skinnarviksberget

Another excellent view, also in Södermalm. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/Z9YU6sCgKxHJLktu7

Per Anders Fogelströms terrace

A less crowded, underrated view over the water and the Gröna Lund amusement park. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/yguy9UwirQA5DeMLA

Kajbalkong - Munkbrohamnen

One of the Gamla Stan metro station exits takes you to this picture-perfect spot in the heart of the city. A must! Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/rRQHUYLVEcbdLqFE8

Sofia kyrka

A church on a hill, providing you with a great view over the Södermalm area. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/34jkMuBUB1oNBH5p6

Himlen

You can take pictures of the city from the staircase windows of this restaurant on a 26th floor (after taking the elevator to floor 24). You might want to stay for a drink or a bite to eat too, of course. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/PPF7uoci7qebq3586

Nature! While still in town:

Nackareservatet

Nature reserve, mostly flat ground, for a low-difficulty walk.

Hellasgården

Another nature reserve, with a sauna. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/AgJHgcGFk2i83sAB6

Brunnsviksbadet (Hagaparken)

Small sand beach, and some rocky beaches. You can also go kayaking around here! (Look for the Kanotklubb - you can rent kayaks for 1 or 2 people, and canoes for 3 people). Otherwise the park itself is nice to pay a visit. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/m5CmXt7mqCswNB2g6

Hagaparken

A large English-inspired country park with a mix of walks and green areas close to the water. It includes a variety of historical buildings including several palaces and pavilions. The park comes alive when the sun is out. maps.app.goo.gl/9G1BEnfmvbeMimR28

Bergianska trädgården

Big botanical garden. The Old Orangery is one of its cafés, with a greenhouse aesthetic. An actual greenhouse houses water lilies and opens in May (the lilies might bloom closer to June). Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/XL8obsKAaiGSBLY66

Rosendals Trädgård

Botanical garden with a wonderful café and plant-related shop. The whole of Djurgården island is a beautiful place to roam around. Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/3ppbSakszp8D7BBU8

Skogskyrkogården

Cemetery with pine trees that look incredible during the golden hour (20:30 to 21:30 towards the end of May). It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. It is a very peaceful place and has a convenient café (which closes long before the golden hour). Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/oeTLqo91zzRb5pZEA

Free museums:

ArkDes

In 2025, ArkDes ( arkdes.se/en/ ) offers free entrance to their exhibitions. There is one on Designing Motherhood that we will visit together, so stay tuned! Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/Zfg9kKJmTKTknyso6

You can find other free-admission museums (always or on specific dates) here: www.visitstockholm.com/see-do/attractions/museums-with-free-entry/

Privately-owned paid museums:

Artipelag

Contemporary art museum ( artipelag.se ) located on an island in the archipelago. Lovely boat tours can take you there (for example: www.stromma.com/en-se/stockholm/excursions/day-trips/boat-trip-to-artipelag/ ), and there is also a direct bus to come back to the city. In spring and summer they have a brunch buffet (weekends). Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/gDH6dE5WA2mpAgAx7

When feeling artsy/cultural:

Färgfabriken

Färgfabriken is a foundation and an exhibition space for contemporary art and architecture. They sometimes have free workshops and lectures. ( fargfabriken.se/sv/ )

Cultural centers such as Cyclopen ( cyklopen.se ), and community centres such as Blivande ( www.blivande.com ) might be cool places to visit too.

Second-hand shopping:

Stockholms Stadsmission stores

Non-profit second hand shops all over the city ( www.stadsmissionen.se/second-hand/hitta-butik ). Workers are volunteers, and the items are donated.

Other store chains are: Myrorna ( www.myrorna.se ), Humana ( www.humana.se ), Beyond Retro ( www.beyondretro.com/pages/store-locator-uk ).

Hornstull flea market

Open every Sunday, next to a big park, Tantolunden (Söderlmam). Lovely market close to the water, with food trucks and live music (usually). Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HXFkR6k1eCaseuPe9

Rönnels antikvariat

Second hand bookshop ( ronnells.se ) with ample offer in English and other languages (floor -1). Google Maps: maps.app.goo.gl/fyMSGxTb8HXsaQVW9

Places to eat/drink:

Stockholms gästabud

Cute, quaint restaurant with very tasty, high-quality Swedish food at an affordable price.

Mälarpaviljongen

Spring/summer time café on the water, sometimes with chill, live jazz music. Even if you don't come in, it's worth it to take a stroll along the Kungsholmen coast.

Omnipollos hatt

A super-good Swedish take on pizza in a small local brewery (Södermalm area).

Knut bar

Another Swedish take on pizza and beer, this time from the North.

Café Pascal

One of the best locations for specialty coffee in Stockholm with excellent fika to go with it. There is one in the Odenplan area, and a smaller one in the Östermalm area. You might spot pop stars here! (Fun fact, we once saw Robyn sipping coffee there).

Vette-katten

As traditional Swedish pastries as it gets. There are several branches in the centre, perhaps the largest in Kungsgatan.

Robin Delselius bakeries

You can get authentic Swedish vibes there. The one in Gamla Enskede is particularly cosy (this is a neighbourhood with splendid villas, close to the cemetery with the pine trees).

Stockholms glasshus

High-quality gelato/ice cream in Vasastan, with quite Swedish/Nordic flavours.

And, you can find vegan flavours in StikkiNikki shops.

Cinammon bun, anyone? Some say the best one is in the Millesgården museum’s café (Lidingö island). Some say that the largest one is in Café Saturnus. Fun variations can be found in Mr Cake branches.

Places to dance:

Swing dancers can go to Chicago swing dance nights on Wednesdays and Swedish Swing Society on Fridays.
On Thursdays, you can dance salsa at Karolinska.

And every weekday at Sprallen there is a different outdoor social dance event.

Places to enjoy live music:

You can explore these bars/cafés with bands playing live: Stampen, Lykke (Nytorget) and Twang.

Recommended day-trips for those staying longer:

Both Uppsala and Sigtuna are towns you can reach via public transportation, and very much worth a visit. Especially pretty in the spring!