Stockholm Tourist Information

Public transport

It’s relatively simple to travel with public transport within the city limits of Stockholm. Stockholm city tickets (SL) are valid on the bus, subway, commuter line, the light rail line, and the intra-city ferry.

You can purchase tickets at Metro, commuter rail stations and at ticket agents around Stockholm County. You can also purchase tickets with the SL app in your mobile phone or pay with your credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) once it set up. You cannot buy tickets onboard the buses. Not all stations have ticket machines, however, so if you’re in Stockholm for a few days, you’ll want to make sure you purchase an green SL smart card (reusable and costs 20 SEK) and preload. If you’re unsure of your route, plan your trip at sl.se.

A single journey ticket will cost 39 SEK, though you can add anywhere from 100-1000 SEK to your SL smart card. If you travel frequently, you can buy a week-long travelcard for 430 SEK. If you’re below 20 years old, a student or a senior, you can purchase your tickets and travelcards at a discounted fare.

Boats

Boats within the city are run by Waxholmsbolaget, which stop at several different docks around the city. Boats to the archipelago are not included in the city limits, so you’ll need to buy tickets before you board at the docks or onboard. Tickets for guided boat tours around Stockholm and for ferries to other islands in the archipelago are available at the Tourist Center at Köpmangatan 22 or stromma.se.

Restaurants

Stockholm offers up some of the most diverse and innovative palates in the world, from Japanese fusion to classic Swedish with a new Nordic twist. Be prepared to pay anywhere from 200 SEK for the entrée at a quality restaurant. If your budget is tight, you can opt to eat out only during lunchtime. Most restaurants offer a special ‘Dagens rätt’ (today’s dish), a set meal of less than 100 SEK that includes an entrée, bread, butter, salad, coffee, and juice.

In December, many restaurants offer a Christmas buffet known as a ‘julbord‘, with seasonal Swedish cuisines like pickled herring and stockfish. Throughout the year, look out for ‘husmanskost’, typical Swedish dishes like pea soup and pancakes, and fried herring.

Michelin Guide

• Frantzén (Klara Norra Kyrkogata 26, Norrmalm) – Sweden’s first three star restaurant
• Oaxen Krog (Beckholmsbron 26, Djurgården)
• Sushi Sho (Upplandsgatan 45, Vasastan)
• Volt (Kommendörsgatan 16, Östermalm)
• Gastrologik (Artillerigatan 14, Östermalm)
• Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren (Södra Blasieholmshamnen 6, Norrmalm)
• Operakällaren (Operahuset, Norrmalm)
• Ekstedt (Humlegårdsgatan 17, Östermalm)

Classic Swedish

• Den Gyldene Freden – Traditional Swedish cuisine in a unique restaurant founded in 1722, making it one of the oldest in the world (Österlånggatan 51, Old Town)
• Gubbhyllan – Seasonally inspired Swedish culinary culture, with a focus on ethics, ecology, and simplicity. Housed in a historic building in Skansen.

Foodies on a budget

• Lilla Ego – Neighborhood pub that quickly became one of Stockholm’s most beloved restaurants. High-quality Swedish dishes are carefully and lovingly prepared at a great price. Reservations needed! (Västmannagatan 69, Vasastan)
• The Flying Elk – ‘Proper pub grub’ at two-star Franzén’s gastropub in Old Town (Mälartorget 15, Old Town)

Art galleries

Stockholm has an impressive offering of art galleries and designer spaces. Drop by Moderna Museet (Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen) for impressive displays year-round, or wander into Liljevalchs (Djurgårdsvägen 60, Djurgården), Magasin 3 (Frihamnen), Bonniers Konsthall (Torsgatan 19, Vasastan), Sven-­Harrys Konstmuseum (Eastmansvägen 10, Vasastan) or Artipelag (Artipelagstigen 1, Värmdö) for their world-class permanent and temporary exhibitions. The Stockholm Metro is famously home to artistic decorations, dubbed the ‘world’s longest art exhibition,’ from the Super Mario-inspired Thorildsplan to the black and white drawings by Siri Derkert at Östermalmstorg.

Major Sights

Rich in history and preserved architecture, tourist sites within Stockholm are plentiful. You’ll want to start at Gamla Stan (Old Town) to admire the historic churches and old harbor. You can take a ferry east to Djurgården, where you’ll find the Vasa Museum, Skansen, and Gröna Lund. Other curious buildings of note include the spherical Ericsson Globe, the curvaceous City Library, and the classically inspired Stockholm National Museum. Farther afield, you’ll find the open-air sculpture museum Millesgården, and the very Victorian Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet.

Of course, no visit to Stockholm would be complete without a stop at the Royal Palace. As the official residence of the Swedish monarchy, the palace is located on Stadsholmen in Gamla Stan. Drop by Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. There are daily guides in English, Russian and Chinese.

Stockholm museums

Stockholm loves its museums, and here’s just a few to get you started:

• Armémuseum (Riddargatan 13, Östermalm)
• Arkitektur- och Designcentrum (Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen)
• Bonniers Konsthall ( Torsgatan 19, Vasastan)
• Dansmuseet (Drottninggatan 17, Norrmalm)
• Etnografiska museet (Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 34, Norra Djurgården)
• Hallwylska museet (Hamngatan 4, Norrmalm)
• Historiska museet (Narvavägen 13-17, Östermalm)
• Konstakademien (Fredsgatan 12, Norrmalm)
• Livrustkammaren (Slottsbacken 3, Norrmalm)
• Medelhavsmuseet (Fredsgatan 2, Norrmalm)
• Medeltidsmuseet (Strömparterren 3, Norrmalm)
• Moderna museet (Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen)
• Nationalmuseum (Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, Norrmalm)
• Naturhistoriska riksmuseet (Frescativägen 40)
• Riksidrottsmuseet (Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 26, Norra Djurgården)
• Sjöhistoriska (Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen 24, Norra Djurgården)
• Östasiatiska museet (Tyghusplan, Skeppsholmen)

Shopping

As expected in a cosmopolitan city, shopping is huge here in Stockholm. Drottninggatan is home to major brands and conveniently located near the food market of Hötorgshallen. For high-end shops head to Stureplan in Östermalm, but if you’re looking for vintage and used, try the designer shops on Södermalm.

Cafés

Coffeeshops are widely popular in Stockholm, as most locals take part in ‘fika‘ or afternoon break with coffee and a roll. Keep your eyes peeled for chains like Wayne’s Coffee, Espresso House, Coffeehouse By George, and Starbucks. For something a bit more unique, there are the usual local favorites: Snickarbacken 7, sophisticated Flickorna Helin, hipster-inspired Johan & Nyström, old world Vete-Katten, and cozy Chokladkoppen at Stortorget in Old Town.