5 days in Stockholm

Day by day

1. Day 1: Gamla Stan and Stortorget and Royal Palace

   Gamla Stan and Stortorget, Royal Palace and Nobel Prize Museum, then Fotografiska in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gamla Stan and Stortorget

      Explore early in the morning or in the evening, when the cruise and tour groups have gone. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Royal Palace

      Time your visit for the changing of the guard in the outer courtyard, a ceremony with a military band in summer. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Swedish meatballs

      Traditional restaurants (krogar) in Gamla Stan and Södermalm, and food halls such as Östermalms Saluhall.

   4. Afternoon

      Nobel Prize Museum

      Ask in the bistro to see the signed chairs, and try the Nobel ice cream served at the banquet. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Fotografiska

      Stay late; it is open into the evening, and the café view is best at sunset.

2. Day 2: Vasa Museum and Skansen

   Vasa Museum, Skansen and ABBA The Museum, then Gröna Lund in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Vasa Museum

      Arrive at opening or in the last hours of the day in summer, and watch the short film first for context. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Skansen

      Take the funicular up from the Hazelius entrance and walk downhill through the park. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cinnamon bun

      Bakeries and cafés everywhere; independent bakeries in Södermalm and Vasastan are especially good.

   4. Afternoon

      ABBA The Museum

      Use the code on your ticket to collect your recordings and performances online afterwards. (1.5–2 hours, expensive).

   5. Evening

      Gröna Lund

      Ride the drop tower for a few seconds of the best view in Stockholm before the fall.

3. Day 3: Stockholm City Hall and Moderna Museet

   Stockholm City Hall, Moderna Museet and Nationalmuseum, then Stureplan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Stockholm City Hall

      Climb the tower in the warmer months for a panorama over Riddarfjärden and Gamla Stan. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Moderna Museet

      Walk across the Skeppsholmen bridge from the Nationalmuseum and loop round the island's waterfront afterwards. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gravlax

      Swedish restaurants, food halls and breakfast buffets; also sold in delis to take away.

   4. Afternoon

      Nationalmuseum

      Look for Carl Larsson's monumental murals on the staircase before heading into the galleries. (2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Stureplan

      Upscale clubs and bars in Östermalm with door policies, dress codes and queues on weekends.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Drottningholm Palace

   About 1 hour by boat, or 30–40 minutes by metro and bus each way. Getting there: Summer boat from Stadshusbron, or metro to Brommaplan then bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Drottningholm Palace

      About 1 hour by boat, or 30–40 minutes by metro and bus (Summer boat from Stadshusbron, or metro to Brommaplan then bus); about 11 km.

   2. Day

      Drottningholm Palace

      The UNESCO-listed home of the Swedish royal family on an island in Lake Mälaren has baroque gardens, a Chinese Pavilion and a palace theatre from 1766 that still uses its original stage machinery. Best for culture, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Stockholm

      Dinner: try Pickled herring.

5. Day 5: Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård and Junibacken

   Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård, Junibacken and Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget, then Södermalm in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård

      Walk or cycle the waterfront path round the island, then stop for fika at Rosendals Trädgård. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Junibacken

      Ride the story train first, then let children loose in Villa Villekulla. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pickled herring

      Traditional restaurants and food halls; a herring plate with several flavours is the best way to try it.

   4. Afternoon

      Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget

      Bring a drink to Skinnarviksberget on a summer evening and watch the late sunset over Lake Mälaren. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Södermalm

      Bars and pubs around Medborgarplatsen, Mariatorget, Nytorget and Hornstull, relaxed and varied.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Vasa Museum, Stockholm City Hall and ABBA The Museum before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Gamla Stan keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Norrmalm ($$$) suits first-timers, shopping and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–34 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 6.1 hours in December to 18.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Stockholm
• 2 days in Stockholm
• 3 days in Stockholm

Questions travellers ask