Some things to do in Stockholm in a weekend

Two ducks swimming at sunset in the inner city of Stockholm, with a metro train running over a bridge in the background.

A few weeks ago we went to Stockholm for a quick break from work. I’ve visited the city before, but only during winter, with temperatures as low as -20° Celsius and sunsets at 3.30 in the afternoon.

Ducks in a park in Stockholm, with the Kaknästornet TV Tower and boats visible in the background.

Summer is a much better time to visit this city. Stockholm feels so much more alive when you’re not walking around in something that feels like a gigantic industrial freezer. It’s also much nicer to go out and discover things while walking around.

Metro trains between Söderström and Gamla Stan in Stockholm, moving over a bridge that runs over a bus stop.

Things you should do in Stockholm

Have a look at the beautiful exhibitions at Fotografiska

The photo museum of Stockholm is a great way to spend half of your day if you’re into photography. We went to check out the exhibitions of Inez & Vinoodh and Nick Brandt, and we were not disappointed at all.

Hop on a boat to one of the archipelago islands

The center of Stockholm itself is nice enough on its own, but if you want to discover another side of the area you should visit one of the countless islands in the archipelago. We visited Fjåderholmarna, a small island and apparently a very popular getaway for the locals.

Locals relaxing on rocks near the water on Fjåderholmarna, a small getaway island near Stockholm.

The sunny sky in Stockholm as seen from a ferry boat on its way to an archipelago island.

Visit the Vasa Museum

The Vasa Museum is one of the must sees in Stockholm if you’re interested in the history of the city. The Vasa was a warship that sunk right after its first journey in 1628, and it was finally lifted out of the water half a century ago. The stunning preservation work on the ship and the recovered documents of that time period give an impressively detailed glimpse in the life of the crew on board the fated ship.

A weathered gun port of the Vasa Boat in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

Just walk around

Stockholm is great to discover by foot. There’s plenty of nature in and around the city, and it would be a shame if you don’t bathe yourself in the beauty of places like Gamla Stan and Djurgården.

Kids and pigeons sitting at yellow seating installations at the Sergels torg Plaza in Stockholm.

The bridge and gate leading to the Katarinahissen lift in Stockholm, covered in graffiti.

A narrow back street at noon in Gamla Stan in Stockholm, with tall orange painted buildings and scaffolding for a renovation in progress.

A ferry boat docked at Djurgården, an island in Stockholm, overlooked by dark clouds on an otherwise sunny day.

An elderly couple walking up the stairs near Stadsgårdshissen in the Katarina-Sofia area in Stockholm.

Places to eat

Scandinavia is super expensive and not really made for the budget traveller. Accommodation, transport, food and drinks are generally priced quite high, but we found a few restaurants that served great food without breaking the bank:

Blå Dörren (Södermalm): cheap and high quality pub with some great dishes at lunch time. Free salad bar, too!
Barrels (Gamla Stan): great burgers and great fries.
19 Glas (Gamla Stan, across the street of Barrels): a small restaurant with friendly staff and a great lunch menu.

A youth hostel on a long summer night in the old city center of Gamla Stan in Stockholm.

The late afternoon sun shining on Rådhusgränd, a street in Gamla Stan in Stockholm.

The Kättingflygaren ride at Gröna Lund in Stockholm.

Stockholms stadshus, the City Hall of Stockholm, in the late evening with the sun setting in the west.