10 things to see and do in Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is the largest city in Scandinavia and is filled with an abundance of things to see and do. From islands and lakes, to world-renowned museums and Europe’s most historic streets, Stockholm has it all! I recently published my ultimate guide to Stockholm, which includes lots of tips from the best time to visit to where to stay. Here’s what I loved most about Stockholm…

Disclosure: This trip was hosted by Visit Stockholm. All views, opinions and photos are my own and remain a trademark of Roam with Rakhee. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on a link and proceed with booking an activity, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

1) Visit the Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Prize Museum is the place to come for inspiration on ideas that have changed the world. From films and audio guides featuring the Nobel Prize laureates and Alfred Nobel, to visiting a creative exhibition about the Nobel Prize Banquet and learning about the most prestigious prize in the world, you will come away with some fascinating insights. The museum is located in the former Stock Exchange Building in Stortorget Square, Gamla Stan.

BOOK: Nobel Prize Museum

2) Tour the Stockholm City Hall

Stockholm City Hall is one of Sweden’s most famous buildings, standing proudly on Kungsholmen Island. City Hall is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10 December every year, and hosts other prestigious events in its grand ceremonial halls. To gain entry into the building, you will need to book onto one of the informative hourly tours, which in the summer months, also include access to the City Hall Tower, offering breathtaking views of Stockholm.

3) Explore the Vasa Museum

Sweden is built on its maritime tradition and the Vasa Museum is home to the world’s best-preserved 17th century ship. Vasa capsized and sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. In 1961, after 333 years on the seabed, the wooden ship was miraculously salvaged. It is no surprise that this is the most visited museum in the whole of Scandinavia, so be sure to make time to see the ship and its carved sculptures, 98% of which are original. Whilst you cannot walk on the ship itself, the multi-level vantage points (all the way up to floor seven!) within the museum will allow you to see and appreciate its sheer size and complexities, from a range of different perspectives.

4) Explore the city on a boat tour

Given that Stockholm is built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges, experiencing the city from the water is a must! There are a variety of tours offered by different companies, so it’s worth checking out what you want to do. I first went on the Red Sightseeing hop-on-hop-off tour which is really convenient as the stops are all located along the main sights and is the perfect way to cruise along the waters at heart of the city, like around Kungsholmen and Gamla Stan. I took the first tour from the Royal Palace and got off at the Vasa Museum.

On the next day, I chose to experience the Strömma Royal Canal Tour, which leaves the inner city behind, and sails along Lake Mälaren, through the beautiful and very green Djurgården canal. It was a great way to see more of the Stockholm archipelago from the water and the onboard service during the cruise was faultless, with food and drink provided and audio commentary offered.

BOOK: Strömma Royal Canal Tour

5) Ride on the hop-on-hop-off buses

Stockholm’s open-top hop-on-hop-off buses are another great way to see the city from a different perspective. You can explore the sights at your own pace, with the bus stops located next to all the city’s main sights and attractions. The full loop takes 1.5 hours and at the end of my penultimate day in the city, I sat back, relaxed, and took in all the sights without getting off.

BOOK: Stockholm Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour

6) Explore the Stockholm metro art

In my opinion, Stockholm’s metro stations are the best in the world. My favourite thing to do in the city was definitely exploring the unique metro art. Check out out my blog post here for my recommendations on the best stations to visit.

7) Visit the Royal Palace

Located on the edge of Gamla Stan, you can’t miss visiting the incredible Royal Palace. The 600-room palace is one of the largest in Europe and is the official residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden. There is a daily Changing of the Guard ceremony, which starts at 12:15pm on weekdays and 1:15pm on Sundays, lasting 40 minutes. The palace also features three museums: the Treasury, the Tre Kronor Museum, and the Museum of Antiquities, and you can get a combined entry ticket to visit them all.

8) Roam around Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is famously known as Stockholm’s Old Town, filled with cobbled streets, colourful buildings, and monuments, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also home to the Royal Palace. This historic island is one of the largest and well-preserved medieval city centres in the whole of Europe, so making a visit here is definitely a must when in the city! It is also a great place for shopping and eating some traditional Swedish treats.

BOOK: Stockholm Old Town Walking Tour

9) See the city from Soder Mälarstrand

Söder Mälarstrand is a 2.2km long promenade in the Södermalm district, with lots of pretty hidden gems and the best vantage points, with stunning views of the Stockholm skyline…

*Stockholm skyline from Soder Mälarstrand*

10) Visit the Stockholm Parliament House

Stockholm’s Parliament House, also known as Riksdagshuset, is an impressive building, both from inside and out. It is open for pre-booked guided tours and also for anyone wising to attend a public hearing or a Parliamentary debate.