Free things to do · Stockholm · Sweden
6 free things to do in Stockholm
Stockholm without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Stockholm without paying an entry fee: Gamla Stan and Stortorget, Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård, Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget and Stockholm Public Library are all free. Eat your main meal at lunch: a weekday dagens lunch includes salad, bread and coffee for far less than dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Gamla Stan
1.Gamla Stan and Stortorget
Explore early in the morning or in the evening, when the cruise and tour groups have gone.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Park · Djurgården
2.Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård
Walk or cycle the waterfront path round the island, then stop for fika at Rosendals Trädgård.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
- Food
Viewpoint · Södermalm
3.Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget
Bring a drink to Skinnarviksberget on a summer evening and watch the late sunset over Lake Mälaren.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Architecture · Vasastan
4.Stockholm Public Library
Stand in the middle of the rotunda and look up; then explore the surrounding Observatorielunden park.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Enskede
5.Skogskyrkogården
Take the green metro line to Skogskyrkogården station and visit the free visitor centre for a map.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Market · Östermalm
6.Östermalms Saluhall
Have lunch at one of the counters; it is the most convenient place to try several Swedish seafood dishes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Gamla Stan | Gamla Stan and Stortorget | 2–3 hours |
| Djurgården | Djurgården and Rosendals Trädgård | 2–3 hours |
| Södermalm | Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget | 45 minutes |
| Vasastan | Stockholm Public Library | 30 minutes |
| Enskede | Skogskyrkogården | 1–1.5 hours |
| Östermalm | Östermalms Saluhall | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
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Gallery · Skeppsholmen
Moderna Museet
Walk across the Skeppsholmen bridge from the Nationalmuseum and loop round the island's waterfront afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
Museum · Norrmalm
Nationalmuseum
Look for Carl Larsson's monumental murals on the staircase before heading into the galleries.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Norrmalm
Metro art
With a 24-hour ticket, ride the blue line from T-Centralen to Kungsträdgården, then the red line to Stadion.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Religious site · Gamla Stan
Riddarholmen Church
Walk to the island's quay afterwards for a sunset view across the water to the City Hall.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunch: a weekday dagens lunch includes salad, bread and coffee for far less than dinner.
- Buy a 72-hour SL ticket; it covers the metro, trams, buses and the Djurgården ferry.
- Commuter trains and airport coaches from Arlanda cost much less than the Arlanda Express, especially for one or two people.
- Gamla Stan, Monteliusvägen, Djurgården's parkland, the Public Library and Skogskyrkogården are free.
- Buy wine and beer for picnics at Systembolaget rather than drinking in bars, where alcohol is expensive.
- Business hotels often discount at weekends and in July, when many Swedes are on holiday.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Stockholm expensive to visit?
Stockholm is expensive for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Stockholm?
Gamla Stan and Stortorget: Explore early in the morning or in the evening, when the cruise and tour groups have gone.