Long weekend in Stockholm, Sweden

After arriving early in the morning, take the Arlanda Express train from the airport to Stockholm's central station. There are kiosks at the airport where you can buy a ticket. It is super easy- just follow the signs! The journey to the central of Stockholm takes 20 minutes.

I checked into my hotel in Gamla Stan which is in the old part of Stockholm. I stayed at the Victory Hotel, which was lovely and super affordable since I was traveling solo. Note: Stockholm is incredibly safe for female solo travelers..and incredibly safe in general!

I spent the afternoon exploring Gamla Stan. So many alley ways and nook to explore. The first thing I noticed is the way the light bounces off the yellow facades of the buildings. It was absolutely gorgeous! Go people watch in Stortoget Square and make sure you check out the Alley of Marten Trotzig which is the narrowest street in Stockholm. Other spots in Gamla Stan include the Royal Palace and the Noble Prize Museum.

Time for fika! Fika is Swedish for a mid-afternoon coffee break, and often served with something sweet on the side. Swedes take fika very seriously and I can see why. I had my fika at Fabrique which quickly became my favorite cafe. There are a few locations throughout the city. They are known for their delicious cinnamon bun and cardamon buns- a must!

After fika I took the metro to the Stockholm Public Library. Note: the metro is super easy to use and you can buy a 72-hour pass if there for a long weekend. If you love library and bookstores like I do, you will love this library! It was created by world-famous architect Gunnar Asplund and it was gorgeous!

After the library, take the metro over to Meatballs for the People - a yummy spot for Swedish meatballs! my fave!

Stockholm has lots of great museums in the Djurgårde part of the city - known as museum island. Start your museum day at the Vasa Museum which is home to the ship Vasa- an absolutely massive warship that sank in Stockholm Harbor in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later in 1961. It is a must see!

After your trip to Vasa, head across the street to Skansen - the world's oldest open air museum, showcasing the whole of Sweden with houses and farms from every part of the country. I did not know what to expect from Skansen but this was a highlight of my trip. You feel like you are stepping back in time and I loved it

If you are looking for a lunch spot in the area check out Rosendals Garden which is a farm to fork concept located in an old greenhouse. I loved this place and the food and pastries were delicious.

After lunch head over to the Abba Museum. I must admit that I didn't know much about Abba but this museum is so fun and well curated. Prepare to have "Dancing Queen" stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

For dinner check out Corvina Enoteca in Gamla Stan- a wine bar serving delicious Italian plates. It was so cozy and the perfect place to warm up after a cold day.

The Stockholm subway is said to be the world's longest art exhibit with 14 stations featuring the most amazing designs and installations. Spend your morning exploring them all - as this was by far my favorite thing I did in Stockholm. Check out this guide.

After the subway tour head over to Fotografiska - a contemporary museum of photography, art and culture. This place was so cool and is a must visit. After you are done with the exhibits head up to the museum cafe for a Fika and incredible views of the city.

Needing more Swedish meatballs in your life? check out Restaurang Kaffegillet which is in Gamla Stan right next to the Royal Palace. A cozy place that feels very "old school" which delicious Swedish meatballs and other Swedish specialties.

If this is your last day wake up early and take a walk around Stockholm's Sodermalm neighborhood- which could be seen as the city's "hipster" neighborhood. Lots of coffee shops and restaurants as well as beautiful and colorful buildings.

I didn't have time but here are some other things that were on my list of things I wanted to do:

• Drottningholm Palace- home to the Swedish royal family

• Island hopping around the archipelago of Stockholm. It was a little cold to do this in April but I would love to come back in the summer to do this!