Best time to visit 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.

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.

“Take up the suggestion for walking in or near Stockholm itself: we took up the Eco Park option and spent a day walking in Djurgården, unwinding from our journey to Stockholm, catching a glimpse of deer in the park, eating at the organic gardening project, and seeing another side of the city, before setting out on our trip.” – Bronwen Davies

“To use the public transport system in Stockholm you need to buy either one Access card, which can be used to buy tickets for a group of people traveling together; or an Access card for each person, which can be used to buy 24-hour or 72-hour travel cards. It may be a good idea to have bought these online before you travel, so that you can use them as soon as you arrive.” – Bronwen Davies

“If you are traveling beyond Stockholm, be aware that if you go out of season some restaurants/shops may be closed. However, we didn’t find that a disadvantage. Also, going in early June means missing most of the mosquitos.” – Andrew and Sharon Venables

“In Stockholm, the Vasa Museum is outstanding. We extended our canoeing vacation to stay in Stockholm at the end. It is such a beautiful city it is definitely worth doing (if time and money allows).” – Ian Buckley

“There was a bit of wet weather around although we got fairly lucky, so pack appropriately. Make sure you have enough time in Stockholm, it is worth it. We also booked a follow up week on the island of Utö, which was fantastic, so maybe consider this if you want another week.” – Mike Platten