48 Hours in Stockholm

Friday

Start your weekend in style by staying in the heart of Stockholm near the Stureplan or Hötorget plazas. It’s convenient and easy to get around Stockholm from here, and the busy area is packed to the brim with shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars. Miss Clara, Story Hotel, Sparrow Hotel, Hobo Hotel and Hotel Ruth are appealing options that suit a wide variety of budgets.

Before you embark on your shopping odyssey, you may want to grab a quick lunch. The newly opened Kapibara Ramen on Riddargatan 20 offers delicious Asian food in a relaxed atmosphere at affordable prices. Another recommendation is the taqueria La Neta (also located in Södermalm), which serves authentic Mexican tacos and quesadillas on colorful enameled plates – spicy, simple, and muy delicioso!

Endless shopping options

When it comes to shopping, Stockholm is in a class by itself. The city has everything from busy (to downright chaotic on weekends) Drottninggatan, where you’ll find all your favorite chain and big box stores, to the historic Nordiska Kompaniet department store. Just a stone’s throw from downtown is Bibliotekstan, a smaller, upscale shopping district featuring iconic Scandinavian brands such as Axel Arigato, Filippa K, Rodebjer, and Acne Studios as well as international luxury goods from Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, among others. If you’re into designer home decor, you’ll want to visit Svenskt Tenn on Strandvägen, Nordiska Galleriet, and The Modern Sthlm on Nybrogatan, not to mention the brand new Ikea store inside the Gallerian!

Quench your thirst at one of the refreshing wine bars in the area (Tyge och Sessil and Schmaltz are two favorites) before filling up with some hearty Swedish home cooking at either PA & Co or Tennstopet in Vasastan.

Saturday

Sunbathing and swimming

In Stockholm, you’re never far from the water. If you’re in the city in the summertime, pack a swimsuit and spend a sunny Saturday like the locals – at one of the popular swimming spots. Piers and jetties, rocky cliffs, grassy dunes, or sandy beaches – whatever your preference, you’ll find it here. A favorite of the locals is Reimersholme, which is easy to get to from Södermalm by bus, bike, or on foot. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast or a traditional Swedish fika coffee break at a popular café like Pascal (Södermalm, Vasastan, and downtown Stockholm) or Bar Ubu (Södermalm) and savor the chill summer vibe. If your appetite’s sated but you need a break from the sea and the sun, head to the stately Reimersholme Hotel for an aperitif and then make your way to Mariatorget, where you’ll find the best handmade pasta in town at Gazza and mouth-watering tapas at the charming Racamaca. If you’re still full of energy and are looking for some nightlife, wrap up the evening at Bar Hommage or Häktet.

Classic art, modern cuisine

If you’re planning to visit Stockholm when it’s too cold to swim or if sun and sand just aren’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of other things to do in the city. Sweden’s biggest art museum, the Nationalmuseum, is located in Blasieholmen, a lovely area that’s also home to the historic Grand Hotel. The museum, which is known for its majestic exhibit halls and striking architecture, offers an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, sketches, and prints from the 16th to 20th century. A short, leisurely stroll toward Skeppsholmen then takes you to Moderna Museet [the Modern Museum] and ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design. You can even enjoy a delicious lunch and soak up the artsy atmosphere while visiting either the Nationalmuseum or Moderna Museet.

Once you’ve had your fill of the fine arts, amble down Skeppsbron Road past the Royal Palace and on over the bridge to Slussen as you make your way toward Södermalm. Enjoy an aperitif at the cozy Babylon or the sun-drenched Mosebacketerrassen while pondering what sounds better for dinner: tasty, authentic Korean food at the acclaimed Madam or fresh, innovative Scandinavian cuisine at Bar Agrikultur. If you love the nightlife, head to the trendy Riche Fenix, the Freyja rooftop bar, or the Trädgården nightclub (open from May through September) after your meal.

Sunday

No visit to Stockholm is complete without a stroll over the bridge to the lush oasis of Royal Djurgården. Locals and tourists alike flock here on a daily basis to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings and wealth of cultural attractions, museums, and historic architecture. For travelers with kids, Gröna Lund amusement park, Skansen Zoo, and the storytelling museum Junibacken are all popular family destinations. If you’re a history lover, a visit to the Vasa Museum or Nordiska Museet [Nordic Museum] always leaves a lasting impression while the Spritmuseum [the Museum of Liquor], with its fascinating exhibits and free tastings, is the perfect pick-me-upper.

When it’s time to call it a day, you can quickly get back to the city from Djurgården on the tram, but why not indulge yourself first in a tasty lunch at Rosendals Trädgård or Blå Porten?

Addresses

Miss Clara Hotel
Sveavägen 48, Stockholm

Story Hotel
Riddargatan 6, Stockholm

The Sparrow Hotel
Birger Jarlsgatan 24, Stockholm

Hobo Hotel
Brunkebergstorg 4, Stockholm

Hotel Ruth
Surbrunnsgatan 38, Stockholm

Kapibara Ramen
Riddargatan 20, Stockholm

La Neta
Barnhusgatan 2, Stockholm
Östgötagatan 12B, Stockholm

Nordiska Kompaniet
Hamngatan 18–20, Stockholm

Svenskt Tenn
Strandvägen 5, Stockholm

Nordiska Galleriet
Nybrogatan 11, Stockholm

The Modern Sthlm
Nybrogatan 20, Stockholm

Ikea
Hamngatan 37, Stockholm

Tyge och Sessil
Brahegatan 4, Stockholm

Schmaltz Bar & Delicatessen
Nybrogatan 19, Stockholm

Café Pascal
Nortullsgatan 4, Stockholm
Skånegatan 76, Stockholm
Sturegatan 8, Stockholm

Bar Ubu
Folkungagatan 140, Stockholm

Reimersholme Hotel
Reimersholmsgatan 5, Stockholm

Gazza
Hornsgatan 66, Stockholm

Racamacca
Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 5B, Stockholm

Bar Hommage
Krukmakargatan 22, Stockholm

Häktet
Hornsgatan 82, Stockholm

Nationalmuseum
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, Stockholm

Moderna Museet
Exercisplan 4, Stockholm

ArkDes
Exercisplan 4, Stockholm

Babylon
Björns Trädgård, Stockholm

Mosebacketerassen
Mosebacke Torg, Stockholm

Madam 마담
Tjärhovsgatan 5, Stockholm

Bar Agrikultur
Skånegatan 79, Stockholm

Riche Fenix
Götgatan 40, Stockholm

Freyja
Hornsgatan 18, Stockholm

Trädgården
Hammarby Slussväg 2, Stockholm

Gröna Lund
Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9, Stockholm

Skansen
Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm

Junibacken
Galärvarvsvägen 8, Stockholm

Vasa Museum
Galärvarvsvägen 14, Stockholm

Nordiska Museet
Djurgårdsvägen 6–16, Stockholm

Spritmuseum
Djurgårdsstrand 9, Stockholm

Rosendals Trädgård
Rosendalsvägen 38, Stockholm

Blå Porten
Djurgårdsvägen 64, Stockholm

Text by Agnes Regell