Stockholm is an exciting city with lots to offer for visitors and locals. In addition to three UNESCO world heritage sites, Stockholm is also home to some of Sweden’s most significant cultural institutions. You’ll never run out of things to do in this vibrant city.
Enjoy the outdoors
Stockholm is a modern city in every sense of the word, and yet the urban scenery can be left behind in a matter of minutes. In fact, parks and green spaces make up as much as one-third of the entire city.
Here are some of the most popular parks located inside Stockholm:
- Royal Djurgården: In times long gone, this park served as the royal family's hunting grounds. Today, it is an island sanctuary for Stockholm's inhabitants. It can be reached by boat, bus, car, and of course, bicycle and walking. The area includes picnic spots, as well as an amusement park that kids will love and Skansen, the world's first open-air museum.
- Observatorielunden, Vasaparken: Vasastan offers breathtaking views over Stockholm once you climb to the top. It is also where you can find the Stockholm Observatory.
- Tantolunden, Södermalm: Located in one of the hippest areas of Stockholm, this park is popular for communal gardening projects surrounding the summer houses that dot the park.
- Hagaparken: Haga is easily reachable by bus or train. Just north of Stockholm, this park is a part of the Royal National City Park and has sprawling greens, woods and flowering gardens.
Once you've explored the parks, it's time to explore Stockholm's vast archipelago. There are literally thousands of islands that you can reach by boat (some by public ferry, others by private boat) and the scenery on each one is different. Check out some of the top islands in Stockholm's archipelago.
Visit a museum
Stockholm has a whopping 70 museums to explore ' the biggest ratio of museums per capita, in fact. As many as 9 million people visit Stockholm every year, and as an expat, you are fortunate enough to be able to visit Stockholm's attractions off-season.
Here are some of the must-see museums:
- The National Museum: Home to Sweden's most extensive art collection and an awesome collection of paintings, carvings, graphics, design pieces, and handicrafts.
- The Vasa Museum: Inside this building is the almost perfectly preserved Vasa boat that sunk just minutes into its maiden voyage.
- The Abba Museum: An entire interactive museum dedicated to celebrating the ABBA band and their legacy.
Other sites
If we were to name all the must-see places in Stockholm, you would be here for a long time. Take some time to research the city's other great spots such as the Fotografiska contemporary photography exhibition space, the Royal Palace and Drottningholm Palace, Gröna Lund amusement park, and Stockholm's theatre scene and the Stockholm Concert Hall.
Out on the town
If you've had your fair share of cultural and historical sightseeing, head to one of Stockholm's trendy restaurants for dinner and finish off with a nightcap at one of the many bars and clubs in the city.
Top tips
Buying a Stockholm City Pass is a great way to get access to Stockholm's top attractions. If you are new to the city and have some time before starting your new job, why not buy a 2- or 3-day pass to see the best of Stockholm? Free boat and bus tours are included.
Some of the museums have free admission if you are looking for a fun afternoon activity that won't take a bite out of your hard-earned salary. Other weekday activities include wandering around Stockholm's different neighbourhoods to find a quirky café and enjoy a coffee or 'fika' with friends.
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