Stockholm
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Stockholm is a modern and vibrant capital city, but also with a deep history, perfectly mixing old and new. Across its archipelago of 14 islands, you'll find medieval houses hugging designer shops and Viking treasures living next door to the ABBA museum. Stockholm is easy to navigate by foot or boat and easier still to fall in love with.
Top Attractions
- Gamla Stan (Old City)
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![Gamla Stan, Stockholm]()
Step off the train at Stockholm's central station and you'll be just a short walk away from its medieval city center. Gamla Stan, on an island to the south, is a fascinating maze of cobblestone streets and colorful houses.
Make sure to step inside Stockholm Cathedral, and pay a visit to the Nobel Prize Museum. Don't miss out in late fall, as Gamla Stan is transformed into a winter wonderland, hosting Stockholm's most famous Julmarknad (Christmas Market).
- The Royal Palace
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![Stockholm Palace by night]()
The Royal Palace of Stockholm has over 600 rooms and houses 5 different museums, making it one of the largest palaces in Europe. You could take a full day within it to observe the richness of the once powerful Swedish Empire.
Across the bridge on nearby Riddarholmen island you can find the Riddarholm Church, dating from the late 1200s. It is one of the oldest buildings in Stockholm and the final resting place for numerous Swedish monarchs.
- Djurgården and the Vasa museum
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![Vasa ship, Stockholm]()
Hop aboard a ferry to Djurgården island, where you'll discover the impressive Vasa museum.The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1629. Three centuries later it was raised and reassembled, and can now be admired in its full glory.
The Djurgården is the location of a whole range of attractions for all ages and interests, from the Viking museum to the ABBA museum. Young kids will have fun at the Junibacken children's museum, while the older ones can go wild at the Gröna Lund theme park.
- Skansen open-air museum
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![Skansen, Stockholm]()
Skansen is an open-air museum, the world's first, and depicts Swedish life before industrial times. You can explore huts, farmsteads and Arctic camps. There is even a complete 19th-century town where you can meet actors demonstrating traditional skills and crafts.
In total, Skansen covers 30 hectares of Djurgården. It even includes a zoo with wolves, lynxes, bears and other Scandinavian animals. For some relaxation and quiet at the end of the day, take a stroll through nearby Royal Djurgården park.
- Stockholm by boat
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![Stockholm from the water]()
With so many islands, water is everywhere in Stockholm, so taking a boat is a great way to see the city. You can take a ferry to get around, or make the boat trip an attraction itself by taking a 3-hour tour of the archipelago.
If you have some extra time, make sure to visit Fotografiska, Stockholm's famous photography museum in the Södermalm district. If you prefer a bit of (expensive) shopping, check out the Östermalm district and its many designer boutiques.
Mamma Mia, here we go again...
Can't help but sing when someone turns on an ABBA song? Then make sure to head to the immersive ABBA Museum, where you can virtually take the stage with Sweden's biggest band! It also brings ABBA memorabilia to life in original ways. For example, the piano belonging to band member Benny Andersson is connected to his piano at home - and will play whatever he's playing.
Smörgåsbord anyone?
You can enjoy the full range of Swedish cuisine in Stockholm, from fresher than fresh salmon and crayfish, to the famous meatballs at the local IKEA, which happens to be the biggest in the world! Make sure to have an evening with a traditional Swedish Smörgåsbord, and take your pick from a buffet of pickled herring, cured salmon, mini sausages and, of course, meatballs.
Underground art
The Stockholm metro network has a reputation for being fast and reliable, but also doubles as an underground art exhibition. While walking through its tunnels you can expect to see many colorful and futuristic designs! Traveling between stations with your camera at the ready can make for the perfect rainy day activity.
Getting there by train
Stockholm is easy to reach from all major cities in Sweden and its surrounding countries. Trains arrive at Stockholm Central Station, which is within walking distance of the old city and all top attractions.
You can find all trains to and from Stockholm in the Eurail timetable.
From Oslo to Stockholm
From Copenhagen to Stockholm
From Hamburg to Stockholm
Flights and public transport
Stockholm's main airport is Stockholm Arlanda Airport, located 37 kilometers north of the city. You can travel to Stockholm by commuter train (departs every 30 minutes) or by Airport Coach (departs every 10-15 minutes). The travel time to the city is about 40 minutes.
Next to walking, the underground is the easiest way to get around in Stockholm. Good bus and tram connections are also available, for instance to Djürgården. If you have time to spare, take a ferry ride around the islands.