Main Places To See In Stockholm

The first time I ever saw Stockholm was when I moved there in 2016. I had never been even close to Sweden and, to be honest, I didn't know all that much about the country or its capital. The most vivid impression I had about Stockholm was related to a travel program taking place there, where the hosts visited a fascinating sunken ship being exhibited in a museum. That was way before the idea of moving to Stockholm had even crossed my mind at all.

Fast-forward a few years and I was landing at Arlanda Airport with 3 over-sized bags where I had squeezed a big portion of my belongings. While trying to handle all those bags in the subway, I got a glimpse of Gamla Stan (the Old Town) - and my love for that city has lasted ever since.

Gamla Stan seen from the subway

GAMLA STAN - the medieval city center

Whatever guide you find about what to see in Stockholm, there is absolutely no way around Gamla Stan. That is swedish for "Old Town" and this is one Old Town that you really don't wanna miss. In fact, Gamla Stan is one of the largest medieval city centers in the whole Europe and it is even considered one of the best preserved.

Since Stockholm is the city of islands and water, Gamla Stan is - no surprise - an island (officially, several islands), which just makes it all that much charmier and special. Even if you just want to get out of the subway at Gamla Stan and wander around without a plan, you will not be disappointed by the cute cobblestones streets and the medieval houses you will find. But if you are looking for some specific places to put on your schedule, here are some tips of the most important (and some quirky) spots to visit.

• Stortorget ("Big Square")

If you are visiting Gamla Stan, there is no way you can miss Stortorget. While walking around the island, you will feel that all roads lead to it, and with good reason. But what is now the very center of any tour in Stockholm, was the place where a massacre took place in the 16th century. If you are interested in History, look up "Stockholm´s bloodbath" and you will be able to read about the atrocities committed in that square, many centuries ago.

It´s also in Stortorget that you can find the extremely famous colorful buildings that pop-up as soon as you research "Stockholm" anywhere. They are officially called Schantzska and Seyfridtzska houses and they are a true landmark, not only of Stockholm but also of Sweden. They date back to the 16th and 17th century, but nowadays you are lucky enough to be able to enjoy those pieces of History while having a Fika (more on that later). One of my absolute dearest memories from my time in Stockholm is the time when me and a friend were walking around Gamla Stan in a cold January evening and arrived at a gorgeous wintery Stortorget, covered in a perfect white layer of snow and full of glittering lights. We sat outside at the coffeeshop "Chockladkoppen", established at the bottom level of Seyfridtzska house, where we enjoyed a cup of hot tea and a slice of cake, while watching snow falling so peacefully around us.

The most famous houses in Stockholm

If you like the idea of seeing Stockholm in winter time, you will be rewarded with a cute Christmas market right in Stortorget in the middle of Gamla Stan. The scenery compensates the small size of it compared to other Christmas markets in Europe and especially during snowy days, the Christmas market at Stortorget is completely magical.

Christmas Market in Gamla Stan

Apart from enjoying the iconic view of those famous houses and an eventual Christmas market, at Stortorget you can also visit the Nobel Prize Museum, where it is possible to read about the Nobel Prize winners over the years, as well as you can watch short movies about the lots of different subjects related to the Nobel Prize.

A curious detail that most people don´t know about, is that you can find signatures of Nobel Prize winners under all the chairs used at the museum´s coffeeshop. So, if you visit the museum, don´t forget to turn left at the entrance and go straight to the café area where you can sit on extremely special chairs, as well as turn them around to see those secret signatures that most people around you will inevitably be missing.

Behind the Nobel Prize Museum you can find Storkyrkan ("The Great Church"), which is the cathedral used for coronations and royal weddings. It is a majestic building to visit and inside you can find a painting called Vädersolstavlan, which is considered one of the oldest known images of the city of Stockholm.

• The Royal Palace

Right next to Stortorget, you will find Kungliga Slottet (swedish for "The Royal Palace"). Even though it is not the permanent residence of the Royal Family of Sweden, the Royal Palace located in Gamla Stan is well worth a visit, both inside and out. Interesting temporary exhibitions often take place there, so make sure to visit their official website (The Royal Palace - Kungliga slotten), for more information on what you will be able to see during your visit.

Majestic interior of the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, Stockholm

If you are looking to keep costs down, thus don´t want to pay for the ticket to enter the Royal Palace, you can visit a museum in the same building, called Livrustkammaren. The entrance is completely free and their exhibitions are really interesting. Visit their website (Home - Livrustkammaren) for more information.

If you are planning to visit Stockholm during summer and have flexible dates, a useful tip might be to visit during Sweden´s National Day (the 6th of June). Before the pandemic, there used to be free entrance to the Royal Palace on the National Day and visitors could even get a chance to see the Royal Family when they departed from the Royal Palace towards celebrations elsewhere in the city. Due to the pandemic, celebrations have been more limited, but hopefully that will change in coming years.

Celebrations at the Royal Palace during the National Day

• Mårten Trotzigs Gränd - Stockholm´s most narrow street

If you would be interested in seeing the most narrow street in Stockholm, look no further, because it is located in Gamla Stan. This photogenic street that you have probably seen on Instagram at some point, has 36 steps which will lead you to the most narrow point of a mere 95 cm.

Even if you are not so much into quirky things like this one, it might be worth it to head to that street anyway, to see that part of the island with its many cosy streets on the way, which are well worth a visit.

The famous narrowest street in Stockholm will lead you to Prästgatan, a street which you should follow in case you are in need of a peaceful place to sit and rest - a church called Tyska Kyrkan has a very calm yard where you can slow down for a moment.

• The Swedish Parliament

As you are making your way out of the Old Town towards Drottningatan, which is the main shopping street in Stockholm, you will come across the Swedish Parliament. In a way it looks like a gorgeous door to/out of the Old Town and you will surely want to stop for some pictures. From there you will also have a very nice view towards the water and, a bit further way, Stockholm´s City Hall (more on that later).

Due to the pandemic, visits to the Swedish Parliament are cancelled, but hopefully that will change in the near future and tourists will be able to go on guided tours around the Parliament again. Visit their website (Visit the Riksdag - Riksdagen) for the most updated information).

The Swedish Parliament seen from across the water

T-CENTRALEN AREA - Stockholm´s city center

If you are going to visit Stockholm, you will understand that T-Centralen is the core of Stockholm as soon as you start planning your visit. T-Centralen is a public transportation hub, where you will be able to find trains and buses to and from the airports, trains to other cities in Stockholm, trams and all the subway lines. In fact, T-Centralen is the only subway station where all the subway lines meet.

It is in that area that you will find the biggest and most famous shopping street in Stockholm: called Drottninggatan, swedish for "The Queen´s street". There you can find coffeeshops, souvenir stores, clothing stores and much more. Even if you are not into shopping at all, it is definitely worth it to take a walk on this busy street in the city center. If nothing else, it will lead you to a must-see place in Stockholm: Sergels Torg. It is arguably the main square in Stockholm and, facing it, stands a big building called Kulturhuset, which includes a library, cinema, coffeeshops, conference and exhibition rooms.

Right next to Sergels Torg you will also find a big fountain which lights up at night, sometimes in several colors.

Kungsträdgården

Kungsträdgården litteraly means "The King´s Tree Garden". This park is steps away from Sergels Torg and it is a crucial place to visit when in Stockholm.

Kungsträdgården is considered to be Stockholm´s most central park and it certainly doesn´t lack beauty. Depending on the time of the year, the park has several different things to offer.

If you visit Kungsträdgården during winter, you will find an ice-skating ring with people having fun all day long and even into the evening. At that time of the year, you will also be pleased to see that the city of Stockholm organizes an exhibition consisting of lighted-up moose and raindeers. Considering how dark the winter months are in Sweden, that is a must, in order to brighten-up the tough winter months that people have to endure.

If you visit the park in Spring, you will of course find a completely different place. Especially at the end of April or beginning of May, a very famous spectacle takes place in Kungsträdgården: the cherry blossom.

At that time of the year, what has been dark and lifeless for so many months, suddenly turns into a pink paradise. Especially for people living in Sweden during the whole winter, that is a big deal, because the cold and dark winter months certainly take a toll and any signs of life and warmth are enthusiastically welcomed. But of course that the cherry blossom at the heart of Stockholm is also a big attraction for tourists visiting the city. Go very early in the morning if you are determined to admire the delicate blossoms without having to deal with the inevitable big crowds.

If you visit Kungsträdgården in summer, though, what you will see is a vibrant and popular park, where people meet to buy ice cream, have a coffee or simply walk around enjoying summertime. Several events are often organized at the park as well.

Regardless of the time of the year, this is a place that is always worth a visit if you are in Stockholm. The park´s privileged location and beauty more than justify your visit, but with a History that dates back to the 15th century it is even more interesting to visit this pearl in the heart of Stockholm.

Stockholm´s City Hall

Stockholm´s City Hall is an iconic building by the water, which is well worth a visit. Its location allows the visitors to admire one of the best views of Stockholm, so even if you don´t plan on paying for the ticket in order to get it, it is still very much worth it to head over there and admire the views of Gamla Stan and Slussen (the big island across the water).

View towards Gamla Stan, from Stockholm´s City Hall

As you will notice, there is a very tall tower at Stockholm´s City Hall. The view from up there is the most amazing I have ever seen, so I would highly advise tourists to go up there and admire the most uninterrupted view of Stockholm. Unfortunately that is not possible all year-round, but if you are visiting Stockholm between May and September you should be able to visit it. This year the tower has been close though, due to the pandemic, but keep an eye out to see if they reopened by the time you will visit Stockholm - here is the official website: City Hall Tower - City Hall.

If you are lucky enough to travel to Stockholm when the tower is reopened to the public, make sure to plan your visit accordingly: there are two ways to go up to the top of the tower and one of them is definitely not for everyone. When buying your ticket, you will have to choose between going up in an elevator or taking the stairs. If you plan on taking the stairs, you should be aware that there are 365 steps. Even though it can be tiring and it is definitely not for everyone, the challenge quite compensates when finally reaching the top and seeing that gorgeous view of the city.

Djurgården - a green oasis in the capital

Not all countries are lucky enough to have such a green capital as Stockholm, but even for Stockholm´s standars, Djurgården is extraordinary. This oasis so close to the city center, is an island where some of the most popular attractions in Stockholm are located but you will be able to find lots of Nature there as well.

Personally, my absolute favorite way to go to the island of Djurgården is to take the local ferry departing from Gamla Stan. If you have a monthly SL card or if you have charged your SL card with unlimited trips for a certain amount of days (check your options here: Travelcards | SL), you will be able to use such ferries as any other public transportation - it is included in such fares.

By taking the ferry over to Djurgården, you will be able to see Stockholm from the water without ever having to step foot on a sightseeing boat tour. In a short ride you will be able to both see gorgeous views of Slussen and Gamla Stan, as well as reaching the island of Djurgården extremely fast.

Taking the boat from Gamla Stan to Djurgården

If you do decide to use the ferry to make your way to Djurgården, you will arrive at an amusement park called Gröna Lund. It is only open in summer and during those months it is one of the hotspots of the city. There, you can watch concerts or ride the different attractions of the amusement park, all with an amazing view to the water.

View from the amusement park Gröna Lund

. There are many other things to do in the island of Djurgården, including the most famous and popular museums in Stockholm. That is why, especially during summer, Djurgården is full of tourists and locals alike. In that amazing island there is something for everyone, so here are some tips that I will explore more in detail in other posts for those interested.

• Skansen

Skansken is the World´s oldest open-air museum, founded in 1891. Especially for people interested in History, visiting Skansen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will create memories for life. In the museum, visitors can see houses dating back several centuries and from all over Sweden - they were carried all the way to Stockholm from their original locations. Walking around the open-air museum, you will see actors dressed up and behaving like they are living several centuries ago, which gives the whole place an extremely magical atmosphere.

For those interested in animals, Skansen is a very good option as well, since there is a zoo inside the museum.

One of the many cosy streets at Skansen

• Vasa Museum

The Vasa museum is another very famous attraction, and with good reason, since it is so unique. In that very special museum, you will be able to see the Vasa ship, which sunk in her maiden voyage and was later recovered from underwater and exhibited in this museum which is entirely dedicated to it. The grandness of the ship when you walk in is enough to take your breath away and, in my opinion, no one should visit Stockholm without seeing the Vasa ship.

The Vasa ship in exhibition at the Vasa Museum

• Rosendals Trädgård

This oasis in the island of Djurgården is the perfect place to finish off a sightseeing day in the best way. It is a garden where you can also find a cosy coffeeshop and a farm shop, which makes it one of the most Intagram-worthy spots in the whole Djurgården. At Rosendals Garden, biodynamic methods are used in order to work with Nature instead of fighting it, which makes the organic produce used and sold by them all the more special. Check In english – Rosendals Trädgård (rosendalstradgard.se) for more information about this very special place.

Rosendals Trädgard in Djurgården

I hope this post gave you some ideas about what you would like to see in Stockholm. Stay tuned for other posts containing more tips about what to see and do in that amazing city.