Stockholm travel guide

Sweden’s capital is a destination in its own right, but take time to explore beyond its boundaries and you’ll find quiet beaches, tiny islands and pristine lakes. Our Stockholm travel guide celebrates the city and also highlights the treats on its doorstep – from pretty Baltic towns, castles and manor houses, peaceful nature reserves and sparkling lakes.

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Stockholm travel guide

There's more to Stockholm than ABBA and IKEA; the 'capital of Scandinavia' is hip and historic, surrounded by countryside that's seriously wild but conveniently close.

Location, location, location. A mantra for estate agents, but over in Sweden, it’s the reason the capital Stockholm is so beautiful, so magical, so worth a visit. Dating from 1000 AD when the Vikings were the locals, the city spans 14 islands where the Baltic meets Lake Mälaren. There is water everywhere. Stockholm is only a third developed, with another third green space and the remaining third water, so it never feels polluted or overcrowded. But that’s just the start. Southern Sweden continues this patchwork of land and water, with lakes and the Baltic lapping at islands, forests and fields, all right on the capital’s doorstep. Once you’ve explored the city and its 70+ museums, galleries and Ecopark, try another Swedish cultural must-do, allemansrätten – the right to roam. Jump on a boat and you’re transported to its archipelago or quiet, rural Sörmland. As ABBA might have put it – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Our Stockholm guide has more information (and no more bad ABBA gags – promise).

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Stockholm is...

the largest city in Scandinavia, fizzing with cool cultural and architectural treats.

Stockholm isn't...

just for city breaks. Gorgeous Swedish countryside sits right on its borders. It would be rude not to take a look...

Things to do in Stockholm…

Lakes and coast define the geography of Stockholm and its surroundings, so take to the water! Try a harbour tour on a steamer to appreciate Stockholm’s architecture, or kayak through the channels and inlets of the city. Ferry boats criss-cross Lake Mälaren, connecting you with quiet countryside, and also serve the wild Stockholm Archipelago. The lakes that pepper southern Sweden are perfect for canoeing; try paddling the ancient Viking waterways between coastal Mariefred and Trosa. Take a walking tour of Stockholm to appreciate its old town, Gamla Stan, or stroll through the Ecopark. Beyond the city, self guided walking vacations take in the Stockholm Archipelago and the Sörmland countryside, with maps leading you along quiet trails. Trips include luggage transfers, so you can move through a region, using boats to connect hiking spots, experiencing a range of sights in a single week. Itineraries are often flexible, giving you lots freedom. Explore on two wheels. Cycling here suits the whole family. The terrain, particularly on Stockholm’s archipelago, is easy going, and the tracks are safe and largely traffic-free, with self guided trips here including good maps and luggage transfers. You can also enjoy a day’s cycling through Stockholm’s Ecopark, a green oasis combining cultural heritage and natural features. Swedes love to cycle around Stockholm, too, with 70,000 cyclists crossing the city’s borders daily.

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Things not to do Stockholm…

If you’re drawn to Stockholm for its culinary scene, don’t be on a budget. While not as frighteningly expensive as Norway, eating out in Sweden can bruise your wallet. Be sure to check prices before sitting down in a restaurant, and factor in the high cost of wine. For bargain daytime scoffing, opt for a dagens lunch deal, generally offering a salad, main and drink for under a tenner. Some vacations only touch down in Stockholm before heading out the next day, but the capital deserves more than a hurried afternoon. That said, don’t limit yourself to a city break. Sweden is bursting with natural beauty – 100,000 lakes, tens of thousands of islands and over 2,000 national parks and nature reserves – and happily, many are a short hop from Stockholm. In just a week you can sample the city and immerse yourself in wild Sweden, taking in a historic castle or pretty village, too. Stockholm and its countryside are perfect for family breaks, so don’t leave the kids behind! Sweden’s family-centerd culture ensures a warm welcome, and this spacious country never feels as stuffed as southern Europe in the summer hols. You can easily combine a ton of activities onto a break in the capital, from swimming and foraging for wild berries on Stockholm’s archipelago to kayaking on Sörmland’s lakes.

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Written by Joanna Simmons

Stockholm travel guide