The Swedish capital, Stockholm, has a peculiar reputation at present. Indeed, Sweden is not necessarily on the top of everyone’s European holiday list. However, I want to put that to rest and persuade you that 48 hours in Stockholm is a venture worth doing.
The city is built across 14 islands and connected by over 50 bridges. It has world-class museums and beautiful waterfronts, as well as historical gems. In short, I think that it is one of the most rewarding city breaks in Europe.
If you are planning to spend 48 hours in Stockholm – or even if you are just toying with the idea – I want this quick guide to be your ultimate companion. I’ll cover everything you need to know, including where to stay and how to get around. Enjoy!
48 Hours in Stockholm | Your Quick Guide
Planning Your Trip
Before we get started on what to do for 48 hours in Stockholm, let’s talk about the planning before the trip. Overall, I think Stockholm is pretty simple to navigate, but I’ve included what you need to know below.
Getting to Stockholm
Stockholm is one of Scandinavia’s hubs, making it incredibly easy to reach by either train or plane.
We have mostly travelled there as part of an Interrail adventure (see 2 Week Scandinavia Interrail Itinerary | Your Ultimate Guide for more details). Catching the train here from either Copenhagen or Oslo is straight-forward and easy, and each journey takes around 6 hours. Don’t let that time put you off though. The countryside in Scandinavia is beautiful and you’ll probably see some of the local wildlife. In fact, we managed to see both moose and eagles on the train during the Spring!
If you don’t have time for an Interrail, you can arrive by plane into Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). It is the country’s largest airport and has links to multiple cities across the world, including Europe and North America. From the airport, simply take the Arlanda Express to the city centre. It takes 18 minutes and costs 340 SEK (approximately £26.60) for a one-way ticket. For a cheaper option, take the SL commuter train. It takes around 40 minutes and costs 200 SEK (£15.65).
When you arrive in Stockholm Central, you’ll be in the heart of the city. However, you may need a taxi depending on where you are staying which brings us to our next section…
Where to Stay
There are many cool neighbourhoods in Stockholm which each offer different things. Read through the following recommendations to make the most of your 48 hours in Stockholm.
Gamla Stan
This is the Old Town of Stockholm and is perfect for people who want to have that essential Stockholm experience. It is postcard Scandinavia, with large colourful houses and cobbled streets. You’ll find souvenir shop and cafés galore here, and are close to key city attractions and the waterfront.
The downside of Gamla Stan is that it is where most people visiting choose to stay. It can get incredibly busy here and, whilst it looks like the real deal, is not necessarily the authentic-side of Stockholm. I’d also add that prices are relatively high compared to other, lesser-explored, parts of the city.
Östermalm
This is a larger district in the city which is home to some of the most elegant hotels. Incidentally, you’re also near to the world-famous Abba and Vasa Museums, which we’ll cover later. You’re also near to Djurgården, one of my favourite parts of the city.
The downside to this area is that it is on a different island to the Old Town, which means that there is some travelling to do. Fortunately, the public transport system in Stockholm (see below) is excellent.
Norrmalm
Norrmalm is the cosmopolitan part of Stockholm. Expect a wide-range of shops and for it to feel very much like a European city. The transport links are great, and the shopping and restaurant selection is excellent. It is far more local too, with few tourists really venturing up to this part unless they’re after shopping.
The cons of this area are that you don’t get the cute Stockholm vibes and it can feel slightly underwhelming. You also don’t get the scenic views of the waterfront or archipelago.
Södermalm
Lastly, we have Södermalm, a rustic and trendy district on the island directly south of Gamla Stan. I always think that this feels quite Italian in its architecture; yellow houses, cobbled streets, and plenty of hills. This is the ‘cool’ place to go in Stockholm and is perfect for an evening drink. Don’t miss Mariaberget here – it is an observation deck which gives you incredible views of Stockholm. There are also some great bars, and even deck chairs, on the waterfront. It may sound touristy – and it is somewhat – but it is also incredibly local too.
The cons are that it is, and will be, busy. Södermalm is possibly my favourite district in Stockholm but that opinion is shared by many people. I’d also add that there are a fair few steep hills here, so it is not the most accessible district in the city, especially if you’re wanting to explore other areas.
Getting Around Stockholm
The city transport in Stockholm is excellent. There are good Metro and bus services, and a lot of the attractions are generally walkable.
From any station you can purchase a travel card which is valid for either 24 or 72 hours, costing 180 (£14.10) and 360 (£28.20) SEK respectively. These travel cards can be used on all public transport options in the city.
Stockholm Card
For this trip you might want to consider the Stockholm Card. This gives you free entry to over 65 attractions in Stockholm, including the museums and even an archipelago cruise (not the one mentioned below). Upfront, it is quite costly (£126 per person), but with Swedish prices you do eventually end up saving money after a few attractions. Have a look through the itinerary and the link above and see whether you think you would save money.
💡 Stockholm Tip: Sadly, the Stockholm Card does not include public transport. Therefore you’ll need to purchase both.
Your Itinerary for 48 Hours in Stockholm
Now we get to the main part of this post – the 48 hours in Stockholm Itinerary. I’ve written it with the assumption that you have two full days in Stockholm. However, if you have less or more you can chop and change it how you like. There are some parts where you might want to spend more or less time in depending on your preferences.
Day One
Early Morning
Start your day in Gamla Stan. I’d recommend going for breakfast at a little place called Fabrique. It is locally-known as having one of the best kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns) in the city and is right near the waterfront. Alternatively, try Sundbergs Konditori which, dating back to 1785, is the city’s oldest café. Enjoy your bun and accompanying coffee sat on a bench by the water; the crisp Scandi air in the morning is always the best.
Mid Morning
As I’ve said above, Gamla Stan is the Old Town of Stockholm. However, it also just so happens to be one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe. Most of the buildings you see happen to be newer (17th Century), but some can go back all the way to the mid 13th Century.
There is plenty to explore here. Perhaps the most photographed area is Stortorget. This is Stockholm’s oldest squares and has rows of beautifully preserved merchant houses. If you fancy another coffee, this is a great possibility. From here, I’d just suggest wandering about. There are lots of shops to see and one of the great joys of Gamla Stan is getting lost. One place to keep an eye out for is Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, which is Stockholm’s narrowest street (only 90cm across!).
No visit to Gamla Stan is complete without a visit to the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family. You can go inside to explore (prices vary and can be found through the Royal Palace’s website) or you can simply admire it from outside. If you have the Stockholm Card entrance is included. We personally chose to do the latter as we wanted to continue with our tour of the city. Next door is Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), the oldest church in Stockholm.
Lunch
I’d then walk down to the seafront and find a nice place for lunch. There are lots of independent cafés and restaurants here. We went to Skeppsbro Bakery. It was right on the waterfront and served truly delicious food and drinks, including a range of sandwiches. This was a great location and was actually rather local – we didn’t see many tourists here at all.
Afternoon
In the afternoon we’re going to stay on the waterfront. More specifically, we’re going to find a boat to take us on the Archipelago Cruise. With over 30,000 islands and islets, the Archipelago is huge. It also just so happens to be home to many of the city’s elite and the cruise shows both the wonderful nature of this place as well as some truly impressive houses.
There are a fair few vendors which operate in this area and around Stockholm. We originally went with Lovely Cruises which had terrific reviews. They were also only 100m or so away from where we had lunch. Sadly though, after an hour on the boat being stationary, we were told that the boat had broken down. We therefore never went on it so I can’t truly recommend it, however, like I said the reviews are good.
Instead, we then found Stromma. This was a much larger boat and actually the Archipelago Cruise took an extra hour. However, there was more on this boat (there was a restaurant for lunch, for instance) and we had a fantastic time. Expect this to take around 3 hours and wrap up warm. It was incredibly cold on the water but it was nothing a blanket (yes, provided) and a hot chocolate couldn’t solve.
Top Tip: Remember, Stromma is not included in the Stockholm Pass. Instead, you’ll go with Go City which includes a stop in Vaxholm, locally known as the ‘Archipelago City’.
Evening
This evening I would suggest eating in Gamla Stan. There are loads of options to choose from in the Old Town and the evening brings with it a different light for more photographs. Restaurant Tradition and Stockholms Gästabud are good options for traditional Swedish dishes. Alternatively, there are other cuisines which can be found throughout this district.
Day Two
Early Morning
This morning, let me take you to the most instagrammable – and arguably most famous – bakery in Stockholm. If you haven’t heard of Stora Bageriet then this is your prompt to check it out. The food is sensational and the coffee is just as good. I also love the vibe here – it is incredibly Scandi-chic. Whilst it looks modern and new, it actually has a legacy going back 300 years, making it a Stockholm heritage. If you try just one bakery during your 48 hours in Stockholm, let it be this one.
Mid Morning
A short walk from Stora Bageriet is the legendary Vasa Museum. Now, this is one of the most visited spots in Stockholm and I couldn’t urge you more to get here early. When we arrived at just after 9 there were at least 3 tour buses arriving. The museum is pretty large so you didn’t really notice them, but still.
The Vasa Museum houses the world’s only in-tact 17th Century ship; the Vasa. It was built in the dutch style (think the Flying Dutchman from Pirates of the Caribbean) and was intended to be a warship. However, it sunk in the harbour and was under the water for 333 years, leaving it remarkably preserved. In the 1970s it was then housed in a custom-built museum, which nowadays allows you to see a whopping 98% of the ship!
Entrance to the Vasa Museum is 240 SEK (£18.81) per person in the summer (May to September), or 195 SEK (£15.28) per person throughout other times of the year.
Lunch
Before lunch you’re actually going on a slight walk to and through Djurgården. This is one of the largest green spaces in the city and is perfect to escape the busy city. It used to be a royal hunting park, but is now home to plenty of gardens, walks and cafés.
One of my favourite cafés in Stockholm is in Rosendals Trädgārd. This is a biodynamic garden which is filled with flowers and orchards. There also happens to be a large greenhouse here which is home to the lovely café. I’d argue that it is virtually unknown to tourists and serves the most incredible food and drink. After eating, take time exploring the park and slowly walk back to the city.
Afternoon
Head back in the direction you came from the Vasa Museum. Nearby are two other museums which could be of interest; the ABBA and Viking museums.
Spend the afternoon visiting either or both (entrance is included with the Stockholm Pass). The ABBA Museum celebrates the life and music of the biggest musical success which Sweden has produced, whereas the Viking Museum looks at the lives of the Swedish people in the Medieval Times. I personally loved visiting both, but realise that together they’re quite a shift in gear for some!
Late Afternoon / Evening
In your final afternoon of your 48 hours in Stockholm, take the Metro to the Södermalm District. As I’ve said above, it is one of the coolest places in the city. If you’re after some quirky souvenirs or a great bar, then this is the place you want to go to.
One absolutely must-see is Monteliusvägen, the viewpoint which looks over Gamla Stan and the City Hall. In my opinion, this is best enjoyed at golden hour or sunset on a sunny day. The views are spectacular and really showcases Stockholm as the pretty city which it is.
In the evening, I’d end your 48 hours in Stockholm either in Södermalm or Gamla Stan for dinner.
Got more than 48 hours in Stockholm? Don’t worry – there’s plenty more to discover. My complete guide to things to do in Stockholm covers everything from the city’s must-see attractions and museums to its prettiest neighbourhoods, best viewpoints, hidden gems and design scene.
Final Thoughts | 48 Hours in Stockholm
There is so much to see and do in Stockholm and I’ve only included the priorities which I would visit. Of course, this itinerary features my suggestions based on what we did, but feel free to chop and change as you want. Whatever you choose though, please reach out if you have any questions. I always love hearing from you.
