Family Fun in Stockholm, Sweden

Odds are that you have travelled via plane (40 minutes from city center) or train (in the heart of City Center) into Stockholm and it's time to make your way to your hotel.

Spend today exploring the Soder neighborhood to get your bearings and settle into Stockholm. I like to keep Day 1 simple allowing ample time to unpack and relax.

Some highlights:

Take a short, scenic walk (steps from the hotel) along Monteliusvägen to observe the observation points of Mariaberget and unbelievable views of the Stockholm skyline.

Eat at Soderhallarna, a massive food hall.

Play a game of Boule (a unique bowling-like game) in Boulebar.

See the action developing at the Slussen locks.

Enjoy the local farmer's market outside your hotel doors in Mariatorget Park.

Enjoy cocktails in Watson's Bar and listen to live music featuring local artists.

TIP:

I created a specific Google Map walk with points of interest across Soder to follow - contact me to learn more.

No trip to Stockholm would be complete without a visit to Gamla Stan, the old town of winding, cobblestone streets showcasing a perfectly preserved Swedish history, artisan storefronts, inviting restaurants, green open spaces and royal palaces. You can easily spend all day zig-zagging through Gamla Stan turning corners to discover hidden gems, unexpected alleyways and picturesque squares.

A few highlights:

• Stortorget Square

• Stockholm Cathedral

• Stockholm City Hall

• Drottingham - A bustling pedestrian friendly street lined with shops and restaurants.

• Nobel Prize Museum - Trace the history of this program and learn about its illustrious award recipients.

• Royal Palace - an imposing Royal Palace featuring a collection of museums and royal library.

TIP

Don’t forget to enjoy a fika during an afternoon rest.

A quick ferry ride from Gamla Stan, visitors of Stockholm can discover a green isle with countless sites to behold. Djurgården packs in many options for adults and families with children of all ages. It’s tricky to decide how to spend time here as you could truly spend two full days here just to take everything in. Our family chose Skansen and the Vasa Museum as our destination for two truly unique experiences. I remember my kids asking me to describe what Skansen is and I really have a hard time even explaining it now. It’s a combination of a zoo, aquarium, science museum and an open-air museum that recreates periods of time in Swedish history. There were some truly unique experiences at the zoo where you could actually go inside the cages with animals I had never seen anywhere before. I wavered before going to Skansen wondering if it would be a cheesy tourist attraction; we didn’t find this to be the case at all and really enjoyed our time here together.

Best Spots on Djurgården:

• Skansen

• Vasa Museum

• ABBA Museum

• Grona Lund - better for teenage kids who love big, thrill rides
  

Insider Tip:

Walk along Strandvägen toward the Royal Dramtic Theatre. It is a great route for people watching and sightseeing.

Did you know that Sweden is made of an archipelago of tens of thousands of small islands? I certainly did not before visiting this beautiful place and now that I see just how special these islands are, I can’t wait to visit even more of them on a future trip. Island hopping in Sweden is a MUST. It allows you to leave the urban areas via ferry to experience island life. You have the choice of so many inhabited islands each with their own special flavor. For me, choosing the right islands to visit was difficult because so many looked intriguing. We picked Vaxholm and Sandhamn but wished we had more time to visit others as well. You have choices for which ferries or private boats to take to these islands and I’d be happy to guide you through my experience to make sure your day is structured to maximize your available time.

TIP:

Skip the island closest to Stockholm called Fjäderholmarna. Although it is cute, it really does not give you enough distance from Stockholm to truly experience the archipelago.