Valentine’s Day in Stockholm falls right in the heart of winter, when the city has settled into its quietest, darkest weeks. But February here has its own kind of romance; long evenings that make candlelit dinners feel even more intimate, empty streets that turn a simple walk into something almost private, and a cold that makes warm spaces feel like genuine refuge.
Here are four different approaches, depending on your style. Maybe you want cosy and romantic, or something active and a bit silly, or a full spa staycation where you don’t really leave your robe. Pick the vibe that fits you, and keep it simple.
Worth knowing: popular restaurants and spas can fill up quickly around Valentine’s Day, so book ahead ahead if you have a specific place in mind. Otherwise, you can still have a great evening with a good plan, a warm coat, and a little time together. Many of the options below work well as drop-ins, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to make the evening memorable.
Cosy & romantic
Start Valentine’s Day with an afternoon walk on Djurgården. A nice route is to follow the water around Djurgårdsbrunnsviken. In winter it often feels quiet and almost countryside-like, with snow, bare trees, and wide views over the water. If a café is open, stop for a warm drink and take your time.
Try these spots: Rosendals Trädgårdskafé, Flickorna Helin, Café Petissan, Fabrique
Later, book an intimate dinner at a romantic restaurant. Look for a place with a calm dining room, candlelight, and tables that feel a little private. If you can, choose a restaurant with a view of the water. It’s also nice to pick somewhere where you can stay for dessert and a glass of wine, rather than feeling rushed.
Some restaurants that we recommend: Slipen, Prinsen, Spesso, Oxenstiernan
To end the evening, go for a relaxed drink at a quiet bar, wine bar, or café-bar. Soft lighting and comfortable seating make a big difference, especially if you want to keep talking and stay out a little longer.
Some places we recommend:
- For drinks: Hernö Gin Bar, A Bar Called Gemma, Röda Huset
- Wine bars: NOFO Wine Bar, Bar Ninja, Nektar
- Café bars: Mellqvist Kaffebar, Café Albert, Källarbyn
Active & playful
Meet in the afternoon for a fun activity that gets you moving a bit. Bowling is an easy classic, but you could also do indoor mini-golf, go-karting, padel, or badminton. It works well as a light, playful date where you can be a little competitive, laugh when you miss, and cheer each other on.
Fun places to visit:
- Bowling: Tolv Stockholm (3Arena area)
- Indoor mini-golf: SWING by Golfbaren
- Go-karting: O’Learys Kista Event Center (Kista Galleria)
- Padel: Sundbybergs Rackethall
- Badminton: Enskede Rackethall
After that, you can keep the energy up with something more “shared,” like an immersive experience. Places like VREX let you play a VR game together in the same space, which feels more social than sitting side by side with headsets. If you want something more bold, Bodyflight’s indoor skydiving is a memorable option, especially if neither of you has tried it before.
To finish, go for a casual dinner and maybe a drink nearby. Choose somewhere relaxed and easygoing rather than formal, so the whole evening keeps the same fun, low-pressure mood.
Good options include: Tolv Stockholm (If you’re doing bowling or indoor mini-golf here, you can just stay in the same place for food and drinks), Urban Deli Sveavägen (near VREX City), Bromma Blocks (near Bodyflight and VREX Bromma), SWING By Golfbaren (for combining mini-golf with food and drink)
Spa & staycation
For a calmer Valentine’s Day, book a city hotel that has a spa (or a partner spa nearby). It’s a simple way to make the evening feel like a mini holiday without leaving Stockholm. You can check in, drop your bags, change into robes, and slow down right away. Some hotels put together Valentine’s offers with spa entry, dinner, or small extras, but these change from year to year, so it’s worth checking what’s included when you book.
Checking in mid-afternoon is what makes this plan work. You drop your bags, change into a robe, and the rest of the day slows down on its own. No travelling back and forth across the city, no schedule to keep, just warm pools, saunas, and maybe a treatment if you want to make it feel a little extra. Centralbadet and Sturebadet are two well-known choices, and many hotels have their own spas too, so you can stay close, take your time, and just unwind together.
Some places that we recommend: The Nest (Downtown Camper), Selma City Spa (Clarion Hotel Sign), or Elements Spa (Clarion Hotel Amaranten), Ellery Beach House. For more inspiration on spas read our guide to the best spas in Stockholm.
For dinner, you can keep it easy and eat at the hotel restaurant, or choose a romantic spot nearby and come back after. If you stay the night, the best part is often the next morning: a slow start, breakfast in bed (or a long breakfast downstairs), and no need to hurry anywhere.
Geeky, games & culture
Start with a museum that matches what you both enjoy, like art, photography, design, or history. Museums are great for dates because you always have something to react to, which makes conversation feel easy. If you pick one with a good café, you can take a break and talk about what you’ve seen. And if the museum is on Djurgården, you can also add a short walk before or after.
Some museums worth checking out: Fotografiska, National Museum, Nordic Museum
After that, switch to something more interactive with games. You could play board games at a bar like Alphabar or Hop & Vine, have chess with a glass of wine at Svarta Hästen, or go for videogames at places like N3rds Bar or HEY STHLM’s retro arcade. The nice thing about games is that you’re doing something together, so it feels playful and personal, even if you’ve only been dating for a short time.
If you want to keep the evening going, add one last stop. A cinema works well if you want a calm ending, while a cosy bar is better if you’re still in the mood to talk and stay out a bit longer.
