Explore Stockholm Sweden: The Venice of the North

Gamla Stan- Old Town

• Explore Gamla Stan: The best-preserved city center in Europe, and completely escaped any damage in WWII. Enjoy strolling down the cobbled pedestrian streets and looking at all of the lovely colorful historic buildings, which are mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries.

• Visit ‘The Storkyrkan’ (The Great Church), also called Sankt Nikolai Kyrka (Church of St. Nicholas), which dates back to the 13th century. For a time this was the only parish church in Stockholm and is now the oldest church in Stockholm.

• Don’t forget to check out the 18th century Swedish Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish royal family.

• Archipelago Boat Tour: Board near Gamla Stan and then sail through the archipelago that makes up Sweden’s capital city. Seeing Stockholm from the water is probably the most beautiful and unique view of the city. Choose from multiple cruise options, including hop on/hop off or dinner cruises.

Djurgarden- Museum Island

• Skansen is one of the oldest open-air museums in the world, open since the 1890’s! The museum is home to many native animals, gardens and eateries, among other things. Learn about Swedish history, holidays and crafts.

• The Viking Museum: Learn more about who the Vikings really were in this interactive exhibit. You will hear stories, watch videos and learn more about objects and mythology that have been discovered. Try on a Viking helmet and hold a sword. Finish your trip with an interactive Viking lore ride. A smaller museum, but very informative.

• Vasa Museum: See this almost fully intact 17th-century ship, one of the only ones to have ever been salvaged. Vasa was the world’s most high-tech warship when it set sail in 1628, but sank a little over 1,000 meters into her maiden voyage. The ship lay on the bottom of Stockholm harbor for 333 years until it was rediscovered in the 1950s.

Sodermalm - Bohemian District

• Shopping in Sodermalm: This district is where you will find higher-end Nordic clothing brands, vintage shops, record stores and Stockholm’s most fashionable people. Creativity drives this neighborhood.

• Fotografiska: Despite often being categorized as a photography museum, it's actually not a museum, but a well-curated exhibition, which stays open as late as 1:00 am. There is a restaurant onsite with great views for dinner or a drink, a very popular brunch spot among both locals and tourists.

Day Trips:

Gotland, Sweden, an island off the east coast of Sweden, about 125 miles south of Stockholm. You can get there by car, ferry or air. Being one of Sweden’s best beach destinations, Gotland is famous for its sandy beaches, bicycling and hiking. There’s also history to be found with almost 100 medieval churches, and the town of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Plan a day trip from Stockholm to the Finnish capital of Helsinki by way of a one hour flight across the Baltic. Helsinki is a very beautiful and interesting city and is definitely worth a visit if you are up to it!

Sips & Snacks

• Ice Bar: If it’s not cold enough outside for you, come check out ICEBAR Stockholm. The bar is kept at a temperature of -5° celsius. Your entry fee includes one drink and a 45-minute visit. Everything is made of ice, from the bar, the decor and even cocktails are served in an ice cup. All visitors are given an ice cape and pair of gloves to use to protect them from exposure to the cold.

• Skeppsbro bakery: A 100% organic craft bakery. Making fresh tasty treats like pretzels, pastries and loafs of bread. Check the schedule or keep an eye out for their bread truck that drives through Stockholm selling bakery items. All grains are purchased from nearby towns and flour is ground on site in one of their two mills. Bread is baked in a stone oven. No corners are cut here! Skeppsbro donates 1% of total sales to various environmental organizations.

Lunch & Dinner

• The Hairy Pig: A farm to table restaurant that focuses on working with small farmers, butchers, bakers and more to cut out the middleman and deliver quality food to their customers. The Hairy Pig is recommended to order the sharing board and try an assortment of the unique offerings, such as Moose Meatballs, Reindeer Tacos or Swedish Wild Boar Sausages.

• Tak Izakaya: A rooftop Japanese bar and restaurant with stunning views of Stockholm. TAK's menu offers a fusion of modern Scandinavian and Japanese small dishes that can be shared among the table. My favorites are build your own bao or the chirashi. Ingredients are carefully selected based on season, quality and sustainability; TAK is located at the top of level 14 next to the roof terrace.

• Gyldene Freden: For 300 years people have met here over food and drinks. Since 1722 Gyldene Freden has served traditional Swedish Fare

• Sjätte Tunnan: Found in a Medieval Cellar in Gamla Stan. The food at Sjaätte Tunnan is inspired by authentic medieval recipes from cookbooks dating back to 1386. Feast like the nobility during your feast.

• Aifur: Aifur Krog & Bar is named after a Viking ship’s namesake. A restaurant and party venue in the middle of Old Town. Drink and dine in the Viking ways. Enjoy thoughtful themed dishes that each tie back to some component of Viking life.

• Fem Små Hus: A first-class restaurant and bar that serves local beers, wines and authentically Swedish cocktails. The food is a fusion of Swedish and French cuisine. The restaurant’s location was first opened as an illegal tavern in 1694, but has since spread to seven underground vaults, each containing decor that’s been recovered through history. Find a stern shield from the time of Louis XV or look for parts of the old Kung Gustaf train ferry in the lower bar.