3 Days in Stockholm Itinerary: Canals, Castles and Culture

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Stockholm-Mariaberget-view-sunset

As we groggily rose from our beds at the unearthly hour of 3:30 AM, we knew the early flight was a necessary sacrifice for the trip that awaited us. Little did we know that fate had a different plan in store. Our spirits dampened as the announcement echoed through the airport: our flight was delayed by a staggering four hours.

Time seemed to crawl as we anxiously waited, our itinerary and plans for the day slipping away with each passing minute.

Yet, as soon as we stepped foot in Sweden, all frustrations melted away.

Over the course of three unforgettable days, Stockholm captivated our hearts with its warmth, charm, and undeniable allure. The locals’ genuine kindness, the breathtaking architecture, and the intriguing museums left a great impression on us.

In this article we’ll share our 3-day itinerary for Stockholm which includes all the major sights and some bonus tips at the end.

Where to stay in Stockholm

While I was planning our trip to Stockholm, I was not surprised that accommodation here is not exactly budget-friendly.

We always try to find the best place for the lowest price possible (taking into account reviews, location, other extras like breakfast) and I think we found a gem.

We booked a room at Best Western Hotel Fridhemsplan, which was perfectly connected with the major attractions in the city by bus and metro, and it was close to the main station, where we had to take our bus to the airport upon leaving.

The price was also quite good, and there was breakfast included! This was a huge bonus as we saved money and time on looking for breakfast every morning. The room was quite small, but we didn’t need much for 3 nights.

Check availability and prices for Best Western Hotel Fridhemsplan here. 

How to get around Stockholm

We relied solely on the local public transport which was very convenient and reliable. Sometimes not so regular, but still convenient. I’d say that Sweden overall is a great country for solo travelers, especially if it’s your first time! I found it to be very safe and would imagine that solo female travelers would also feel this way.

Getting a ticket was also a breeze – we used an app called SL Journey Planner where you can purchase a ticket either for one trip, one day, 3 days etc. Once you buy it, you need to scan your ticket every time you get on a vehicle.
Find out more about the fares and the app from their official website.

Having said that, one of the things you should know about Stockholm is that the city is also very pedestrian friendly. Oh, and pretty much everyone speaks English, so even if you get lost, people will be able to point you in the right direction!

Map of 3 Days in Stockholm Itinerary

Day 1 Stockholm Itinerary

Take a Free walking tour

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One of the first things we did was take a free walking tour in Stockholm. In just about 1.5 hours, we got to know the city center, diving into its rich history and captivating stories.

I cannot stress enough how much I recommend these free walking tours, which you can find in almost every city in Europe.

Our tour guide took us through the charming streets, pointing out hidden gems and sharing fascinating insights about Stockholm’s past and present. And there were some places we would’ve missed if we were on our own!

We booked our tour in advance with Nordic Freedom Tours which take place every single day and start right at the Gamla Stan metro station.

Gamla Stan

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Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s historic old town, characterized by cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and medieval architecture. Here you’ll find charming narrow alleyways, quaint shops and cafes, and landmarks like Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm. With its captivating atmosphere and rich history, Gamla Stan offers a unique glimpse into Stockholm’s past.

Even though it was quite cold, we got to walk around the old town for a couple of hours, enjoying the beautiful buildings, taking some photos and stuffing our face with some hot dogs from 7 Eleven.

Even if you don’t explore it on your own, you’ll get to see the old town just by joining the free walking tour.

Nobel Prize Museum

Stockholm-Nobel-prize-museum

Located in the heart of the old town, the Nobel Prize Museum celebrates the achievements of Nobel laureates and showcases their groundbreaking contributions to various fields.

The museum is set up in a very interactive way, which helps you learn about the history of the Nobel Prize, discover the remarkable stories of laureates, and engage with thought-provoking displays that explore science, literature, peace.

Plan at least an hour to walk around the museum and read about the different exhibits. It was the very first museum we visited in Stockholm and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Stockholm City Hall

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Stockholm City Hall is a striking red-brick building located on the eastern waterfront of the city. It is famous for hosting the Nobel Banquet each year in its lavish Blue Hall (which is in fact red).

I strongly recommend taking the guided tour, offered by the City Hall itself. The tickets can be bought only at the City Hall ticket office, on the same day as your visit! There’s no option to get them online, we checked.:)

Be sure to get them earlier during the day, as spots are limited and if you show up just a few minutes before the tour, there might be no tickets left.

Check the schedule for the tours in advance from this link.

Entry fee:
Adult: 140 SEK
Senior/Student: 120 SEK
Youth 7-19 years old: 60 SEK
Child 0-6 years old: Free

The Royal Palace

Stockholm-Royal-Palace-Guards-Change

Situated in the center of Stockholm, the Royal Palace is an impressive architectural marvel and the official residence of the Swedish royal family.

Witnessing the Changing of the Guard ceremony is one of the most popular things to do in Stockholm, and I’m so happy we got to see it as well! Keep in mind that it’s so popular, that finding a good viewing spot can be a tough task – just be sure to be there a bit earlier.

Depending on the time of the year, the schedule for the ceremony changes, so be sure to check it in advance from the official website.

You can also visit the Royal Palace inside, which we didn’t get to do. The guided tours take approximately 45 minutes, and tickets pre-buys from their website, or at the cash desk at the Royal Palace. You can also visit it without a guided tour – just be aware that tickets are for a certain time slot.

The Cathedral (Storkyrkan)

Stockholm Cathedral, also known as Storkyrkan, is an iconic landmark in the city. This historic cathedral dates back to the 13th century and boasts stunning Gothic architecture. Inside, visitors can admire its beautiful interiors, including the renowned statue of St. George and the Dragon. It’s also a place that has been used for royal coronations and weddings since the 1300s

Watch the sunset at Mariaberget

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Mariaberget offers one of the most beautiful views of Stockholm and it’s a popular place to watch the sunset (or admire at any other point of the day). You need to walk a steep hill to reach it, but once you get there, there are some benches to catch a breath.

It’s a picture-perfect spot and one you should definitely add to you Stockholm itinerary!

Day 2 Stockholm Itinerary

Vasa Museum

Vasa Museum Stockholm

The Vasa Museum houses the Vasa – a preserved wooden 17th-century ship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961. It’s crazy that it actually stayed underwater for exactly 333 years! I guess it doesn’t come as a surprise that this is one of the most visited museums in all of Scandinavia.

Everyone I talked to, who had already been to Stockholm, recommended this museum, and here’s me doing the same – this was one of the most interesting places we visited in Stockholm!

It’s suitable for people of all ages, and I saw so many families with children there – both young and older people can have fun exploring this massive wooden ship that looks like from a bygone era. Well, it technically is.

We enjoyed our visit so much that I even wrote a separate article, dedicated to the Vasa Museum itself. Hence why I won’t go into too much detail here. Read my article about visiting the Vasa museum here.

Check entry fees and buy your ticket in advance from here! (that’s what we did)

ABBA Museum

Abba-museum-Stockholm-3-days-itinerary

Ah, the ABBA Museum… I remember having ABBA songs on my MP3 player when I was around 12-13 years old. And it was so nice getting to experience their museum and their journey, all presented through the signers’ perspectives.

The museum is extremely interactive and you can easily spend a couple of hours here, singing and dancing along to ABBA’s greatest hits, stepping on stage with the holographic band members, and even recording your own ABBA-inspired music videos.

Abba-museum-Stockholm-3-days-itineraryAbba-museum-stockholm

And watch out for the famous red phone, and only the four ABBA members have the number to this exact phone. So if it rings, it’s ABBA calling! I waited around for a few minutes, but I guess it wasn’t my lucky day.

I read that the phone rings once every few years. I wish it was more often, like once every few months. Dear ABBA, do something about it – you’d make so many people super happy!

Check entry prices and grab your ticket in advance here.

Swedish History Museum

The Swedish History Museum provides an in-depth exploration of Sweden’s rich historical heritage. Its extensive collection includes artifacts from the Viking Age, medieval times, and beyond. The museum’s exhibits shed light on Sweden’s cultural, social, and political development throughout the centuries.

This is the only museum on this itinerary that we actually didn’t get to visit, as all of the museums in Stockholm close so early! It was just impossible to fit it in and we decided to prioritize the others.

However, if you do have enough time, it might be worth checking it out.

Skansen

Skansen-museum-Stockholm-3-days-itinerary
Skansen-wild-lifeSkansen-wild-life

Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum. It showcases traditional Swedish rural life with over 150 historical buildings from various regions of Sweden.

You get to experience the customs, traditions, and crafts of the locals, such as pottery, glassworks of a glassblower (I had never seen anything like this before!), woodwork, baking etc. The even more exciting part, however, was the native wildlife! We got to see reindeer, moose, lynx, seals, an arctic fox and more! Even though we’re two grown-ups, we felt like little kids visiting a zoo for the first time.

Skansen also hosts seasonal events, including Christmas markets and Midsummer celebrations.

I strongly encourage you to leave Skansen as your last museum for the day – after their closing time, all the little houses close, but they allow you to stay inside the open-air part and still enjoy the buildings and the animals.

Check prices and get your tickets in advance here. 

Watch the sunset at Skinnarviksberget

Stockholm-Skinnarviksberget-sunset

Skinnarviksberget was the second place we visited to watch the sunset. It’s a bit more difficult to get to than Mariaberget (it involves some “climbing”) and it’s just these plain rocks, without any benches you can sit.

It was extremely cold and windy as we got there so we just stayed for a few minutes to enjoy the view and went back down. The weather was just unbearable.

However, I can imagine it being a super nice place during the warmer months.

Day 3 Stockholm Itinerary

Archipelago Boat Cruise

Stockholm-archipelago-boat-cruise

After two long days of walking and exploring, we decided to give our feet some rest and go on one of the famous archipelago boat cruises around Stockholm. It was a 2.5 hour experience, taking us along the coast of what’s apparently the second largest archipelago in the Baltic sea.

Stockholm-archipelago-boat-cruise
Stockholm-archipelago-boat-cruise

Even though it was cold and windy, I spent a good over an hour on the tip of the boat, sitting and enjoying the views. It was relaxing and interesting at the same time, as a local tour guide was with us the whole time and shared a lot of information.

I recommend booking at least 2 days in advance – when I was booking before our trip, almost all spots were taken.

Check the prices and the availability for the exact same tour that we took.

Drottningholm Palace

A place we reeeally wanted to visit, but sadly didn’t manage to, as it’s a bit outside of the city – 30 minutes by public transport and you’re there.

Drottningholm Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Sweden’s best-preserved royal castles from the 1600s. It showcases European architecture of that time. A visit to Drottningholm offers a unique experience with its charming Chinese Pavilion, impressive palace theater, and beautiful gardens. The palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder under Queen Hedvig Eleonora’s commission and has hosted many royal figures throughout history.

The palace is where the King and Queen live permanently, with the southern wing reserved for them. However, the rest of the palace and grounds are open to the public year-round. If I ever get to go back to Stockholm, this would be the first thing on my list, since I’m so sad that we missed it.

Fjällgatan

Perched on a cliff with a stunning city view, Fjällgatan is a historic treasure. The area surrounding Fjällgatan, including Stigbergsgatan, Mäster Mikaels Gata, Fiskargatan, and Södra Teatern, is lined with beautifully preserved wooden buildings from the 1700s.

It’s a delightful blend of history and nature, where you can also find the charming and popular Fjällgatan’s Kaffestuga café. Prepare to be captivated by the enchanting atmosphere and the breathtaking sights that await you at Fjällgatan.

Additional things to do in Stockholm

Explore the longest art gallery in the world – Stockholm’s Metro Stations

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Stockholm-metro-artStockholm-metro-art

Let me tell you a secret. A hidden gem awaits beneath the bustling streets of Stockholm – the longest art gallery in the world, concealed within the city’s metro stations.

Each station bears its own unique identity, adorned with captivating murals, sculptures, and installations that transformed the mundane into the extraordinary. From the vibrant colors of T-Centralen to the whimsical designs of Solna Centrum, we found ourselves wanting to see more and more stations, even if that meant going out of our way.

We spent two of our evenings, after the sun set and everything closed, travelling between the different metro stations, just so we can see the art.

On the embedded map you’ll find some of the stations we went to. Keep your eye out for a new article coming out very soon, dedicated to Stockholm’s metro stations!

Djurgården

Djurgården, a tranquil oasis nestled in the heart of Stockholm, holds a special place in the hearts of both locals and visitors.

This charming island has been owned by the crown since the 15th century, adding a touch of royalty to its allure.

What makes Djurgården truly unique is its collection of Stockholm’s most famous museums and cultural attractions.

From the fascinating Vasa Museum and the lively Gröna Lund, to the nostalgic Abba Museum and the immersive Skansen, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

And let’s not forget the lush green nature, beautiful parks, and family-friendly activities that make Djurgården a perfect destination.

On a sunny summer day, we highly recommend taking a leisurely walk along Strandvägen, from The Royal Dramatic Theatre to Djurgårdsbron, to soak up the picturesque views. Djurgården truly is a haven that combines history, culture, and natural beauty in the most delightful way.

Gröna Lund

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A visit to Gröna Lund is a guaranteed recipe for unforgettable memories, and a perfect place to visit if you’re in Stockholm with kids. Whether you’re indulging in mouthwatering meals at the park’s restaurants, challenging yourself with fun-filled mini-games, grooving to live concerts, or braving the thrill of the park’s 30 exciting rides, there’s something for everyone.

Gröna Lund was closed during our visit – it opens in late spring and operates until September, since the rest of the months are too cold. If you’re visiting Stockholm around that time, be sure to add it to your itinerary.

Go thrifting!

As someone who loves second hand shopping for many reasons – saving the environment from newly produced clothes, the thrill of finding the perfect piece and also not breaking the bank, I found out that Stockholm is a thrifting heaven!

I put a few stores on my list (and map) and managed to visit two of them. I spent almost 2 hours in one of the stores, which happened to be right next to our hotel!

I ended up buying a black denim jacket, two scarves, one hat, two vases.. And I would’ve bought many more things if they actually fit me.

The quality of the clothes was incredible simply because thrifting has turned into a culture here and stores really do their best to only display high-quality pieces.

The store I fell in love with and would want to go back to is called Stockholms Stadsmission Second Hand – definitely check it out if you enjoy thrifting!

As our incredible journey through Stockholm comes to an end, we can’t help but reflect on the unforgettable moments we’ve experienced in this vibrant city.

I hope this 3-day Stockholm itinerary helped you plan your trip. Don’t hesitate to drop any questions below in the comments.


Are you looking for more information about Stockholm? You may also enjoy:

6 Enchanting Day Trips From Stockholm, Sweden

All You Need to Know Before Visiting the Vasa Museum in Stockholm

Author

  • Lyubomira is the creator and author behind Bulgarian On The Go. With a background in journalism and experience in the field of tourism and marketing, her mission is to show travellers many beautiful places they might have never thought of visiting or even knew existed.

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