How to “Do” Stockholm In 3 Days: Guide & Itinerary

Are you planning a weekend in Stockholm? Looking for inspiration on what to do in Stockholm in 3 days? This itinerary includes all the best things to do for first-time visitors, including the most popular hotspots.

We all know about Paris and Amsterdam, but what about those cities that manage to fly under the radar of most tourists? Case in point: Stockholm. Perched in the southern region of Sweden and scattered across 14 islands, Stockholm is perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway. Besides gaining worldwide fame for being the birthplace of the Nobel Prize and IKEA, Stockholm is also considered one of the cleanest, greenest and most innovative cities in the world.  

If you only have a long weekend to spare for your next trip and are looking for the best things to do in Stockholm in 3 days, then this little travel guide is exactly what you’re looking for.

Stockholm consists of several islands and neighbourhoods. During your stay, you can’t miss the charming Gamla Stan, the historic Kungsholmen, the lush Djurgården, and the hip Södermalm. I drew this awkward little map for you to summarize all these interesting districts.

Day 1: Gamla Stan, Nobel Museum, Royal Palace

Spend your first hours in Stockholm exploring Gamla Stan’s beautiful streets. My personal favorites were Prästgatan, Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, and Västerlanggåtan. Of course, you cannot possibly miss Stortorget to get that iconic shot of the number 18 and number 22 buildings. Founded in the early 13th century, Gamla Stan is one of the best-preserved medieval districts in Europe.

Located right in the middle of Stortorget, the Nobel Museum is also a must-visit. As you may imagine, the museum is dedicated to Nobel prize winners and prize founder, Alfred Nobel. Besides learning about the prize’s history, you can also check numerous exhibitions about current winners and their inventions. The museum is relatively small and quick to navigate through but is still very impressive. 

Near Gamla Stan you’ll also find the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish royal family. This huge building is home to five different museums and showcases a ton of artwork, Royal antiquities and garments.

To gain back your strength after a long and exciting day of sightseeing, treat yourself with some Fika time. Fika – pronounced feeka – translates from Swedish to ‘taking a break for coffee and a sweet bite to eat’. What an amazing language, right? And it’s not just about stuffing your face with cake. The concept of fika is about taking a break from your stressful workday to appreciate life and indulge in much-needed conversation with your friends. The traditional sweet of choice is usually a baked kanelbullar – a twisted cinnamon bun sprinkled with sugar. Located on a quiet residential corner, Café Pascal is a fabulous spot for Fika, and I particularly loved the buns at Vete-Katten, founded in 1928.

Day 2: Sodermalm, Fotografiska, City Hall

Start your day at Södermalm, Stockholm’s largest island and former working-class district. Nowadays, Södermalm can be considered as the official hipster neighbourhood and is filled with vintage stores, hip art galleries and nice little restaurants. You may have actually heard of it, as this is the place where most of the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson took place. For a coffee and a quick bite, head to the popular Drop Coffee. 

Besides walking around and taking hundreds of Instagram stops, I highly suggest a visit to Fotografiska, a renewed art centre that continuously features exhibitions of local and international photographers.  

In the afternoon, check out the Kungsholmen district and stop for a quick visit of the City Hall, one of the most important municipal buildings of the city. If you’re visiting Stockholm in the summer, make sure to check the top of the tower where you’ll get an amazing view of the city.  

Day 3: Djugarden, Skansen and Vasa Museum

Djurgardenis is Stockholm’s island museum – similar to Berlin’s Museumsinsel, but way bigger. There’s also an amusement park and an amazing city park.  

The best museums to visit in the area are: 

• Skansen, the famous open-air museum that perfectly reproduces 19th-century Swedish life. You can take a step back in time and visit Swedish historic buildings, chat with talented performers, learn how people lived in earlier times and check live demonstrations of their traditional activities such as spinning and weaving. 
• The Vasa Museum. The Vasa (or Wasa) is the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world. It was supposed to be one of the largest ships of its time, but unfortunately, it sank, just one thousand meters into its inaugural voyage. In 1956 the ship was rediscovered and then salvaged.  

If You Have Some Extra Time in Stockholm

If you have some extra time, you could also add a few more interesting places to your itinerary:

• Drottningholm Palace, the private residence of the royal family.
• Nordiska Museet – if you are into traditional crafts, costumes and decor, I highly suggest adding this museum to your itinerary.
• Moderna Museet, a must-visit if you love contemporary art. You can admire some fabulous collections from the 20th century, including works by Dali, Bacon, Pollock, De Chirico and Picasso.
• ABBA Museum. If that’s your cup of tea, visit this quirky museum dedicated to one of the most famous pop bands the world has ever known.

From the airport: Arlanda Express 

It is really easy to get to the centre of Stockholm, with the Arlanda Express departing from the Arrivals Terminal itself and reaching Stockholm Central Station in 20 minutes, every 15 minutes. From Stockholm Central Station you can take the subway to basically anywhere you want. 

Check for special prices on the official website, as there are usually many deals available. For example, if you buy the ticket online in advance, you will get a 40% discount. 

Around the city: Trams, Buses, and the T-Bana  

Stockholm’s public transport network, including the subway station, is labelled as “SL” and covers all the main points of interest. For further info, visit the SL website.  

Fun fact: in Stockholm, the subway is not your usual dark and dirty tunnel. The T-bana is pretty much a museum in some sections, with artworks covering every available surface. My favorite stations were Solna Centrum and T-Centralen.

When To Visit Stockholm

If you want pleasant weather and reasonable prices, visit Stockholm either in June or September. July and August are also ideal in terms of weather but the cost for accommodation will definitely be higher.  

Winter is also an option – in fact, I visited Stockholm in January! Yes, it’s very, very cold, the city is usually covered in snow and the daylight hours get shorter, but you’ll also find beautiful landscapes and a unique laid-back vibe. 

Should You Buy The Stockholm Pass? 

The Stockholm Pass is a pre-purchased “discount pass” that gives admission to loads of the city’s best attractions. The aim is, of course, to save tourists money, but the question is: should you bother buying one? If you follow this 3-day itinerary, the pass is not worth it. For 72 hours, the pass costs 1,459.00 SEK (check the official website for up-to-date prices) and does not cover City Hall.  

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