First time visiting Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm? No worries. 48 hours in Stockholm is all you need to see the highlights and get acquainted with this Swedish gem.
In this article, I’m going to give you a fly-by itinerary of my home city, Stockholm. Found out where to stay, what to eat, where to go, and how to get there. Since you only have 2 days in Stockholm, there’s no time to waste — let’s dive straight in!
Table of Contents
Where to stay
Stockholm is a large city and each of its neighborhoods offers something unique. For convenience’s sake, it might be easiest to stay in Norrmalm (the city center). However, Stockholm is super easy to get around via bus, metro, and even ferry (more on that later) so don’t worry too much about location.
That said, the most popular place for tourists to stay is in Gamla Stan but be aware that it gets very busy and prices can be extortionate (especially around Christmas time).
If you’re looking for a fancy city break, I recommend staying in Östermalm. Opt for the Hotel Diplomat for a stay in an art deco building from 1911 or the Best Western Karlaplan for an incredible breakfast.
Personally, my favorite part of Stockholm is Södermalm. Stay at the Scandic Sjörfartshotellet for magnificent views of the Baltic sea.
How to get around
Even though you’ll only be in Stockholm for 48 hours, it’s still a good idea to know how to get around. Most of the activities in this article can be reached by walking (Stockholm is a very pedestrian-friendly city) but you can also get around using Stockholm’s extensive public transport network if you prefer.
The company in charge of public transport is SL. I recommend downloading the SL app before you go to buy tickets. Otherwise, use your debit card’s “tap” feature for single journeys.
Insider tip: Stockholm’s subway network is a low-budget activity all of its own. Each station is unique and people visit some stations just to see how it’s been decorated!
Right, practicalities aside, let’s get onto our Stockholm 2 days itinerary!
Day 1
Morning: Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen
To be honest, you could devote a whole day to Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan) if you wanted to. This is the ultimate tourist destination in Stockholm because this is where a lot of the city’s history began.
If you didn’t get breakfast at your hotel, start your day the Swedish way: by going to a coffee shop and grabbing a “bryggkaffe” (filter coffee) and something to eat. I recommend Bröd&Salt.
There are heaps of museums to pick from in Gamla Stan but I would recommend the Nobel Prize Museum, The Jewish Museum, and the Medieval Museum above all others in the area.
If museums don’t pique your interest, head over to Västerlånggatan for a bit of shopping before the crowds get there. Stop by Handfaste to get some unique, Viking-themed souvenirs. Don’t forget to grab a fika (coffee and cake) mid-morning — I recommend grabbing a coffee and cinnamon bun from Café Krans.
When you’re ready, head over to Riddarholmen and check out Birger Jarl’s tower and Riddarholmskyrkan. Finally, make your way over the Riddarholmsbron (the bridge) until you reach Slottskajen. On one side, you’ll see the Swedish Royal Palace, and on the other, the Parliament House of Sweden. Stay to watch the changing of the guard at 12.15 (weekdays only) at the palace.
Afternoon: Kungsträdgården & Norrmalm
Before you grab something to eat, walk through Kungsträdgården. This picturesque park is lovely in all seasons — during spring, stop and admire the cherry blossom, in winter, show off at the outdoor ice rink!
Now, onto food. Just a stone’s throw away from Kungsträdgården is one of Sweden’s most exclusive shopping malls, Nordiska Kompaniet. Once you’ve looked around and goggled at some of the prices, head to the food court and eat lunch at Melanders, one of my favorite restaurants in Stockholm. The dish of the day is 200 SEK or under and you know you’re getting fresh ingredients.
If you didn’t get a chance to go shopping in Gamla Stan, don’t worry. Minutes away from NK are the streets of Drottninggatan, Vasagatan, and Sveavägen, which are where Stockholmers do their shopping. Keep an eye out for Designtorget which sells quirky and cool objects your friends and family will love.
Evening: Södermalm & Fotografiska
Time to head to my favorite part of town. Södermalm is famous in Stockholm for its history — it used to be full of slums but has undergone a serious transformation in the last century. This is where you’ll find the best bars, views, and, in my opinion, entertainment in Stockholm.
Start by heading to Akkurat, one of Stockholm’s coolest bars. They have 28 draught beers on offer, and if there’s at least eight people in your party, why not opt for a beer-sampling session? I recommend the “svensk provning” where you get to sample 6 Swedish beers for 440 SEK per person.
Have your dinner served with the best views in town by heading to Himlen, a restaurant and sky bar on Götgatan. Alternatively, visit my favorite restaurant in Söder, Pelikan. It serves delicious traditional Swedish food and has barely changed since it opened 100 years ago!
If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, go to Hermans. It has the best vegan buffet in the city and I promise you will not leave hungry.
End your evening or start your first night in Stockholm with a visit to Fotografiska, a world-famous photography exhibition gallery. They’re open till 11 pm and it’s right on the waterfront, so it’s a great place to sample Swedish culture and enjoy the view, whatever the weather!
PSST: If you want to go nightclubbing, check out our guide to nightlife in Stockholm.
Day 2
Morning: Djurgården, Skansen, Museums
Whenever a friend visits me for the first time in Stockholm, I always take them to Djurgården. Why? It’s packed full of fun places to go and gorgeous views and it’s a guaranteed great day out. There’s a catch, though. There’s so much to do in Djurgården that it’s going to be tough deciding what to do.
Personally, I have two “unmissable” museums on my list. The first is Vasamuseet, a world-famous museum that houses the Vasa ship which was wrecked in the 17th century. You may opt for an entrance ticket with an audio guide. Trust me, it is incredible. (That’s it, down below!)
My second favorite museum is Skansen, an open-air museum that combines a wildlife park with Swedish history. Pro tip: visit during early fall or summer before the brown bears go into hibernation, they are adorable!
For today’s fika, I highly recommend grabbing a coffee and a cinnamon bun at the onsite traditional bakery.
If you have a need for speed, head to Gröna Lund, Stockholm’s only amusement park. Groups of friends should opt for a “tre-kamp” ticket, where you can compete in various games to try and win a meter-long chocolate bar (spring and summer only).
Other museums worth visiting around Djurgården include The Viking Museum and The Nordic Museum. You can also try on virtual costumes and walk in the footsteps of ABBA at the ABBA museum.
Afternoon: Östermalm, Archipelago boat tour, Sturebadet
If you haven’t already, take a stroll along Djurgården’s waterfront (where the Vasa, ABBA and Nordic museums are) passing Junibacken. Head for the bridge taking you back to Östermalm. Grab lunch at Restaurang Artilleriet (again, opt for the dish of the day or anything from the brunch menu).
Tired of walking and the concrete jungle? Escape for a few hours by taking a Stockholm City archipelago guided boat tour. It takes 2.5 hours and offers breathtaking views of undisturbed nature in the city’s backyard. If you’d rather stay in the city itself, hop on an Under The Bridges boat tour – again, you get a guided commentary and an opportunity to rest up.
Alternatively, if you’re tired of sightseeing and want to relax, head to Sturebadet for a traditional Swedish massage or a sauna and bathing experience. It is pricey, but dinner and a glass of champagne are included in the spa package.
Evening: Stureplan, Bars & Strandvägen
Whether you fancy a spa or not, it’s time to head to Stureplan. This famous square is where royals rub shoulders with the rich and famous, and it’s also lined with expensive shops and luxury bars.
Channel your inner 007 and visit Stockholm’s mysterious underground bar, Lucy’s Flower Shop. You can get premium, delicious cocktails at decent prices and the interiors are straight out of a spy movie.
Whether you’re planning on joining in on Stockholm’s nightlife scene or not, it’s always a good idea to fill your belly with some delicious food first. Head to Sturehof for dinner if you’re feeling fancy. They serve mainly fish and shellfish dishes (but also have meat and vegetarian options).
However, Stockholm is expensive and if you’re on a tight budget, I have to recommend a visit to the burger chain, Max. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s fast food. The burgers here are consistently voted the best burgers in Sweden. Yes, we have Burger King and McDonald’s too but Max is, in my opinion, so much better.
Now that you’ve been fed and watered, it’s time for some last-minute fun. You’re already in the nightclub district if that’s what you’re after — I recommend Berns if you are — but also just around the corner is more peaceful entertainment.
Round off your time in Stockholm with a walk past Dramaten and along Strandvägen. Let the twinkling lights wave you off in style and start thinking about where to visit next!
