Three days in Stockholm allows you to explore several districts, visit some of the city’s top museums and popular sights, enjoy traditional Swedish food, and experience a classic Swedish fika break with coffee and pastries.
Day one: Gamla stan, the Royal Palace
Morning: Gamla Stan, Stortorget, Stockholm Cathedral
9:30 am: Gamla Stan (The Old Town)
Take the metro to Gamla Stan station, or if you’re staying at a nearby hotel, take some time to stroll through the city. Explore the alleyways and cobbled streets, and be sure to visit Stortorget square, where you’ll find several restaurants and cafés lining the square.
Continue to the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), located just behind the square on the other side of the Nobel Prize Museum. The Cathedral, which opened in 1304, has been a part of Stockholm since the city consisted mainly of Gamla Stan.
Cost: Stockholm Cathedral: 120 SEK (90 SEK for senior citizens)
Noon: Lunch in Gamla Stan
For lunch head to the restaurant Tradition, located near the Royal Palace.
As the name suggests, they specialize in traditional Swedish cuisine. While Swedish meatballs are on the menu, this is the perfect place to explore other classic dishes if you’ve already tried meatballs. Their lunch menu offers a variety of options, including meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. You can choose their daily lunch special (choice of 3-6 dishes) for around 165-175 SEK or opt for their à la carte menu, priced at 235-240 SEK.
Cost: Lunch at Tradition: 205-335 SEK
- Food: 165-240 SEK
- Drinks: 40 SEK for s soft drink or 80-95 SEK for a beer
Afternoon and evening: Royal Palace and Miyakodori
The Royal Palace, built in the 18th century, stands on the site of the original palace, which was destroyed by fire. It serves as the official residence of His Majesty the King and houses several museums. Admission to the palace is 200 SEK, but we recommend adding another 50 SEK, for a guided tour, which provides a much more insightful experience. You can still walk explore the rooms and exhibits at your own pace before or after the tour.
Cost: The Royal Palace: 200-250 SEK
- Royal Palace Entry: 200 SEK (180 SEK for students)
- Royal Palace Entry with guided tour: 250 SEK (230 SEK for students)
7 pm: Dinner at Miyakodori
A Japanese izakaya-style restaurant specializing in yakitori (grilled skewers) cooked over charcoal, along with other small Japanese dishes. Be sure to book well in advance, as this spot is very popular.
Cost: 800 – 900 SEK
Nightlift or relaxation: Drinks or a stroll through Norrmalm district
MAP Petite Maison is a cocktail bar on the busy street Vasagatan. The cocktails are priced at around 185-200 SEK per cocktail, which may be on the higher side, but the quality makes them well worth it. For those preferring non-alcoholic options, mocktails are available for approximately 110 SEK.
Cost: 110 – 200 SEK
Day two: Djurgården and museums
Morning: Museum in Djurgården
Head to Djurgården and pick one of its iconic museums: the Vasa museum, ABBA the Museum, the Nordic museum or Skansen.
Cost: Museum entry: 195 – 299 SEK
- Vasa Museum: 195 SEK
- ABBA the Museum: 299 SEK (260 SEK for seniors and students)
- Nordic Museum: 170 SEK (150 SEK for seniors and students)
- Skansen: 220 SEK (200 SEK for seniors and students)
Noon: Lunch at Swedish restaurant
For lunch, visit Ulla Winbladh, located in the heart of Djurgården island. The restaurant serves traditional Swedish dishes and offers vegetarian options for some of the dishes. Consider trying their fried Baltic herring or the soya buns, a vegetarian take on Swedish meatballs.
Cost: 255 – 395 SEK
Afternoon and evening: Walk around on Djurgården and fika
Djurgåden is a large island with plenty to explore. You can rent a bike at Djurgårdsboden, located just outside the open-air museum Skansen, or just outside the restaurant Djurgårdsbon. For a more adventurous experience, consider exploring the area by water – pedal boats and kayaks are also available for rent.
One you’re done exploring, stop by the café Blå Porten for a fika. They offer a wide selection of desserts, and during summer, their garden is a popular spot for a relaxing coffee break.
Cost
- Bike rental: 200 SEK (for 2 hours)
- Pedalboat: 300 SEK (for an hour)
- Kayak: 340 SEK (for 2 hours)
- Fika at Blå porten: 100-150 SEK
7:00 pm: Dinner at Hantverket
For dinner, reserve a table at Hantverket, a chic restaurant where classical Swedish ingredients are crafted into exciting and tasty dishes.
Cost: 800 – 1,000 SEK
Nightlife or relaxation: Drinks in Östermalm or rooftop spa
Head over to the speakeasy style cocktail bar Lucy’s Flower Shop in the Östermalm district. The entrance can be a bit hard to spot since it’s in a regular residential building without any signs outside. Well worth the effort though, since they have some of the best cocktails in Stockholm.
If you prefer to take the evening to relax, head to the Nest rooftop spa at the Downtown Camper Hotel, at the Brunkebergstorg square. Be sure to book in advance as they only allow a limited amount of guests each timeslot. There is a sauna, an outdoor pool and a terrace overlooking the city.
Day three: City Hall and view from Södermalm
10:00 City Hall
If you are up for it, take a 20–30 minute walk back toward the central area and head to the restaurant Asian Post Office for lunch. Alternatively, you can take an Uber and reach the restaurant in less than 10 minutes.
Noon: Lunch in Norrmalm
12:00 pm Lunch at Asian Post Office
Asian Post Office is a popular restaurant serving food that takes inspiration from different parts of Asia. During lunch they have a daily lunch special, for 175 SEK, and also a few other dishes priced between 159 – 195 SEK, including tasty vegan options.
If you’re up for some shopping after the meal, head to Biblioteksgatan, a nearby street , good for shopping fashion. You can also walk to the department store NK in just a few minutes for browsing or shopping.
Afternoon and evening: Explore Södermalm
Spend the afternoon exploring the Södermalm district. The area around Slussen is the modern part of the island. Take the Katarina elevator at Slussen to the top for a stunning view of Stockholm. For shopping, the SoFo area is a good place to start. You can also take a walk along the water at Hornstull strand, and if you are up for it, continue to Tantolunden park.
5:30 pm: Dinner at Woodwood
Make sure to reserve a table in advance since they fill up quickly. Reservations can be made directly via their website.
Cost: 900 – 1,100 SEK
Nightlife or relaxation: Hernö Gin Bar or Fotografiska
After the dinner, you’ll still have time to explore some of the Södermalm district. Start with taking a walk along the scenic street Monteliusvägen, with views of the water towards Gamla Stan, Södermalm and Kungsholmen.
After taking in the views, continue to the Hernö Gin Bar at Slussen. They serve cocktails with the Hernö Gin brand and make excellent cocktails with Swedish flavours. Ask the staff for some recommendations or just go with anything with lingonberries in it, you can’t go wrong.
If you prefer a more relaxed option, consider visiting the Fotografiska museum. Evening visits are ideal for avoiding crowds, and the entrance entrance fee is reduced to about 179 SEK after regular hours.
Cost breakdown
| Activity – Day one | Cost per person |
| Stockholm Cathedral | 120 SEK |
| Lunch at Tradition | 205 – 335 SEK |
| The Royal Palace | 200 – 250 SEK |
| Dinner at Miyakodori | 800 – 900 SEK |
| Drinks at MAP Petite Maison | 110 – 200 SEK |
| Total for day one | 1,435 – 1,805 SEK |
| Activity – Day two | Cost per person |
| Museum in Djurgården | 195 – 299 SEK |
| Lunch at Ulla Winbladh | 255 – 395 SEK |
| Rental bike/pedalboat/kayak | 200 – 340 SEK |
| Fika at Blå Porten | 100 – 150 SEK |
| Dinner at Hantverket | 800 – 1,000 SEK |
| Drinks at Lucy’s Flower Shop | 175 – 200 SEK |
| Total for day two | 1,725 – 2,384 SEK |
| Activity – Day three | Cost per person |
| City Hall | 150 SEK |
| Lunch at Asian Post Office | 159-195 SEK |
| Dinner at Wood | 900 – 1,100 SEK |
| Drinks at Hernö Gin Bar or visit Fotografiska | 175 – 200 SEK |
| Total for day three | 1384 – 1,645 SEK |
| Cost for three days in Stockholm | Cost per person |
| Day one | 1,435 – 1,805 SEK |
| Day two | 1,525 – 2,044 SEK |
| Day three | 1,384 – 1,645 SEK |
| Total for three days | 4,544 – 5,834 SEK |