Stockholm has 14 islands and 57 bridges, and like few other cities, it resembles Venice in some way. Although the architecture is very unique and its interesting features cannot be seen anywhere else, not even in Scandinavian countries. 

There is something about Stockholm that is at the same time calming, buzzing, and energetic. Being on the Baltic sea gives you calming water effects, boat tours, walking across bridges. At the same time, it is an ultra-modern city with modern architecture, tech companies, popular fashion brands, and everything else one capital city should have. And then you see all the greenery in the city and around the city, which pushes you to go outdoors, stay active, and enjoy nature.

Being in Stockholm is like time travel, from historic Gamla Stan to modern Norrmalm. You can spend a month in the city and still have streets to walk through, and parks to explore. As international as the city is, don’t be surprised that everyone speaks good English, and that you will make friends or ask for directions easily.

Stroll Through Gamla Stan

Stockholm Old Town, located near the Royal Palace, is overlooking the canal and offers great views of the city. Its narrow streets and buildings in warm colors look very cozy, and even though it is the most touristy area of the city it is not too crowded. You can always find a cafe where you can sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Gamla Stan was built in the 1200s, and it was the city center. Now it is filled with authentic art galleries, small restaurants, and other attractions. While exploring the labyrinth of small streets stop by souvenir shops and get something to remind you of Stockholm. 

If you visit Stockholm in wintertime, you will find the most adorable Christmas market here, Julmarknad. In Gamla Stan, there is also the Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm Cathedral, and the Parliament house. 

A place you should not miss in Gamla Stan is Stortorget, a square at the highest point of the island. Nowadays this is the most recognizable tourist attraction in Stockholm, and a few centuries ago this was a horrific place where Danish forces killed 90 people on this square.

Visit the Vasa Museum

In the Vasa Museum, you will see a marvelous Vasa battleship that never sailed. It was built in 1628 and as soon as it left the pier it sank because it was built too heavy. They paid too much attention to the outside of the ship and the design but didn’t think of how that is going to work once the ship is on the water.

They took it out of water in 1961 and did a slight reconstruction. Still, 95% of the ship is original and even the reconstruction followed the original plans, so what you see is exactly what people in the 17th century saw. 

Vasa Museum is now the most visited museum in Sweden. It is quite interesting and funny when you know the story of the ship, but it is definitely a piece of history worth seeing. Make sure to set up your camera right when taking photos inside the museum, because the museum is very dark and if you take photos with a flash they will turn out very bad. Use the night mode or low light mode for best results. The ticket is 170 SEK for adults, and kids are free of charge.

Wander Through Djurgården on a Sunny Day

Central Park is to New York, Djurgården is to Stockholm, a favorite place for free time. Not just locals, but also tourists love visiting this gorgeous park for relaxation and recreation. The most beautiful part of the island is Royal National City Park, where you can enjoy the scenery while having a picnic.

The forest has hiking and biking trails, and you can also explore the area by canoe or kayak. On the island are Skansen, ABBA Museum, Gröna Lund amusement park, and Vasa Museum. A section of the park is also dedicated to Rosendals Garden, an oasis hidden from the city buzz, a farming garden with vegetables and fruits grown sustainably.

I Love the Skansen Open-Air Museum

To me, Skansen is the most impressive place you can visit in Stockholm. This open-air museum on Djurgården island has authentic homes and buildings brought here from all around Sweden. They were carefully taken down from their original locations and built back up to look the same in this amazing place. You can enter many of these homes and see what life was like a few centuries ago.

Opened in 1891, Skansen is the oldest open-air museum in the world. Later on, many Scandinavian countries created similar museums that are very popular among tourists nowadays. Part of the museum is also Skansen Aquarium and Children’s Zoo.

In more than 150 buildings, costumed staff will create time travel for visitors. You can see manor houses, bakeries, a wooden church, and more. In the Solliden restaurant, you can try delicious Smörgåsbord, a traditional Swedish buffet-style meal. Admission to the museum is 220 SEK for adults and 70 for kids.

Check Out Sveriges Kungahus: the Royal Palace

The royal palace in Stockholm is one of the best-preserved royal palaces in Europe. Every room is filled with furniture, everyday items, art, and personal items of the royals. It is still the official residence of the King of Sweden.

The palace consists of 600 rooms, and it was built in the 18th century in Baroque style. The palace is separated into several museums, some of which is the Museum of Antiquities, Tre Kronor Museum, and Treasury. Changing the guard is an attraction by itself you shouldn’t miss. The ticket is 160 SEK for adults and 80 for kids.

If you love visiting royal palaces, Sweden is the country for you. Some of the other palaces you can see are: Kungliga slottet, Drottningholms slott, Gripsholms slott, Hovstallet, Kina slott, Ulriksdals slott, Rosersbergs slott, and many more.