I would like to recommend 10 sightseeing activities in Stockholm, Sweden. In case you are planning to visit Sweden and its capital city Stockholm in summer, it could offer things like midnight sun, the pleasant temperature outside, and the green nature at their best. Want to know what top places & things to see in Stockholm during your summer vacation? – So let’s start.
Visit the Stockholm archipelago
Party or relax, swim or walk in the forest, tent or hotel or even travel under sail – the Swedish archipelago has many faces! From civilized and easily accessible places to pure wilderness adventure on the most remote islands, find the island in the archipelago that’s right for you! With the Stockholm Pass to visit Stockholm, you get free boat trips to some of the nearest islands such as the Fjäderholmarna Islands. Otherwise the Strömma or Waxholmsbolaget boats take you to islands like Sandhamn, Utö, Dalarö or Grinda. Again you will find plenty of things to do in Stockholm, Sweden and its surrounding areas.
Have a picnic at Rosendalsträdgård
The green island of Djurgården is home to some of Stockholm’s most popular attractions and probably one of the best things to do in Stockholm. Visit the world-famous royal warship Vasa, the world’s oldest zoo and open-air museum, Skansen; Astrid Lindgren’s Junibacken for children, or the Rosensdalsträdgård garden where you can picnic or fika surrounded by nature and colorful flowers. A picnic with friends or with kids can be a great time to spend, and basically the really fun things to do in Stockholm for a couple or a family.
Take a “fika” in Gamla Stan
The oldest part of the city, Gamla Stan, is one of the best preserved medieval city centers in the world. Stroll through winding alleys flanked by stores full of handicrafts, antiques, and art galleries and take a break in a nice cafe. In Gamla Stan is also the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) and the cathedral (Storkyrkan). The neighborhood is a magnificent maze of charming cobblestone streets, avenues, stately homes, and meeting places that reflect an undisputed architectural style typical of northern Germany. In one of the emblematic houses of the Main Square (Stortorget) you will find the Kaffekoppen coffee shop and Chokladkoppen with, what they say, the best chocolate in Stockholm. Actually, visiting Gamla Stan is a must for any tourist, who pretends to find all the best things to do in Stockholm.
Go shopping in the Sofo district in Södermalm
Södermalm is the ideal place for those specifically looking for retro items. It has a myriad of cafes, restaurants, bars, and a row of boutiques where everything vintage, independent brands, and trendy Swedish fashion designers converge in a bohemian way. In general, the offer in Söder is more trendy, younger, and more bohemian than in the City. SoFo – the area south of Folkungagatan has become, along with Götgatan, a diverse scene for the new and unexpected as well as classics of the highest order.
Enjoy a terrace by the sea
During the summer people in Stockholm live their lives on the street. Enjoy the sea breeze on one of the many terraces that stay open late during the warmer months. Strandvägen Street is a good choice as it has several. Other places are the terrace of Josefina restaurant in Djurgården, the Orangeriet bar in Norr Mälarstrand, or Stockholm Under Stjärnorna, the terrace of the At Six hotel. Check out these 8 terraces to have a drink in Stockholm.
Go to a festival in Stockholm
If you come in August, aim for the dates when the Kulturfestivalen is celebrated in Stockholm. The city is full of concerts, performances and. If you come in June do not miss the food festival Smaka på Stockholm (Taste Stockholm) in the gardens of Kungsträdgården. And if you are passionate about music: Summerburst, Stockholm Music & Arts, or Popaganda are some of the musical events not to be missed.
Take the Millennium tour
The Millennium saga has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been adapted for the big screen. Many Stieg Larsson fans have traveled to Stockholm to visit the environments in which the action takes place. There are different options to discover the city from the Millennium perspective. For example, you can take the popular and award-winning “Stieg Larsson tour” organized by the Stockholm City Museum. The tour is spiced up with facts and exciting stories that combine fact and fiction. A more economical option is to purchase the City Museum’s detailed Millennium map and do the tour on your own or download this PDF guide to the Millennium route.
Eat at one of the best restaurants in Sweden: Frantzén
Stockholm is one of the world’s leading cities in terms of Nordic cuisine. Add visiting some great restaurants to your personal Stockholm vacation ideas list. It is a clean, simple, and creative cuisine that also offers a novel approach to service. Stockholm has a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, one of them being Frantzén, which has three stars and was named the best restaurant in Sweden by the White Guide in 2012.
Sleep in a designed hotel
Some of the most fashionable design hotels in Stockholm are the Scandic Grand Central, one of my favorites in Stockholm, the Story Hotel, and the boutique hotel Berns Hotel. They are very different from each other in style but all are 4-star and have very central locations. Most of these hotels can be booked with Karta. Just take a look at their vacation rentals also, and probably you`ll find someone that will suit you. Maybe not in Stockholm but somewhere else, close to Sweden’s capital, then travel to Stockholm the next day.
Take a hot air balloon tour
The perfect way to experience Stockholm from the air is by a hot air balloon. Although it is not a particularly economical activity (around 200 € per person, somewhat less if you go in a large group) it is a memory forever. And if you do not want to go in a balloon you look for these places where you can enjoy incredible views of Stockholm, the Mälaren, the archipelago, and all the natural landscape that surrounds it.
Now you know what things to do in Stockholm, Sweden this summer. So plan your vacation, buy tickets, book a hotel, and get ready to travel to the capital of Sweden.