STOCKHOLM MUST SEES

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, offers a plethora of things to do and see. While the city is made up of 14 islands and those islands are connected by bridges, we will focus on staying in the heart of the city, on a few of the islands. If you have never been to Stockholm, these are some of the things I recommend you absolutely do:

Vasa Museum

While the Vasa Museum is a maritime museum, it is unique in that it primarily focuses on one singular ship: a 64-gun warship called the Vasa that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. It stayed lost in the Stockholm harbor for over 300 years, but has since been salvaged and now can call itself the world’s best preserved 17th century ship! The Vasa is absolutely massive, and you can access different levels of the museum to enjoy various vantage points of the ship. Take a walk to Stockholm’s Island of Djurgården to see it!

ABBA The Museum

Another museum on the island of Djurgården is one dedicated to the beloved pop group ABBA! This band was formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Together, their initials formed the band’s name, ABBA. Since the band’s inception, they have created hit after hit like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Voulez-Vous, and Waterloo – the last song winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. The interactive museum shows their award-winning Eurovision performance, as well as many costumes and recreations of special items like Benny’s piano and the Polar Studio, where many ABBA songs were recorded. If you love ABBA, this is the museum for you!

Skansen

The last museum on this list on the island of Djurgården is Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo. The museum was originally opened in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to offer a peek into life in Sweden before the industrial era. The museum showcases different Swedish houses, animals, and traditions, and has dining options on site so you can really make a day of it at Skansen!

Royal Djurgården

The last must see on this list on the island of Djurgården is Royal Djurgården, a beautiful national park. Here you can ride bikes, have a picnic, go for a swim, or relax in the grass. We took a bag of licorice with us as we walked along the pedestrian path, enjoying views of the water!

Gamla Stan

While Gamla Stan is itself one of the 14 islands of Stockholm, it is a good idea to set aside time to simply walk the cobbled streets and explore. Gamla Stan is the city’s Old Town, and is home to colorful 17th and 18th century buildings, as well as restaurants and shops. It is a wonderful place to grab souvenirs (like traditional wooden Dala horses) and treats (like Swedish candy canes or black licorice).

Storkyrkan

Stockholm Cathedral, or Storkyrkan, is located on Stockholm’s island of Stadsholmen, also known as Gamla Stan. As you are exploring Gamla Stan, you will probably run into this cathedral, as it is a light pink color! Since the 1300s, Storkyrkan has been the backdrop of many coronations, royal weddings, and Swedish Parliament openings. As this church is used for many events, please be sure to check the website for the most up to date opening hours.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is located on the island of Gamla Stan, and is the official royal residence of the Swedish monarch. Designed by architect Nicodemus Tessin, this baroque-style palace has more than 600 rooms scattered between 11 floors. I particularly love the Royal Apartments, which consist of sumptuous state rooms that are used for gala dinners, cabinet meetings, medal presentations, and formal audiences. You also have the opportunity to see the changing of the guard, which takes place in the Outer Courtyard of the Royal Palace.

Riddarholmen Church

While Riddarholmen Church is on the island of Riddarholmen, it is just a five-minute walk over the Riddarholm Bridge from the Royal Palace. The church has had roots in Stockholm since 1270, when the Franciscan Monastery was founded on what is now Riddarholmen. While the congregation was dissolved many moons ago, the church is still used for burial and commemorative purposes. With the exception of Queen Kristina, the Swedish rulers from Gustav II Adolf to Gustaf V are buried in this church. A very special aspect of Riddarholmen is that it is also a church of the Order. The Order of the Seraphim is Sweden’s most honored order, and when a knight of this order passes away, his coat of arms is brought to this church and displayed. I highly recommend a visit to Riddarholmen, a highlight of my time in Stockholm.

Nationalmuseum

This fine arts museum is actually located on a peninsula in central Stockholm, connected by a bridge to the island of Skeppsholmen. The museum hosts a number of paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the 16th century to the early 20th century, as well as applied arts and design up to the present day. I particularly love the sculpture courtyard, Alexander Roslin’s The Lady with the Veil, and Joseph’s Ducreux’s La surprise (a self-portrait which can be seen below).

Stockholm Archipelago

An archipelago is a group of islands, and Sweden’s largest one is the Stockholm Archipelago, made up of thousands of islands. Some of these islands have inhabitants, while others have been untouched by civilization. Each island has something to offer, whether they have hiking trails, cute coastal towns, hotels, or camping sites. Some islands like Vaxholm and Gustavsberg can be reached within an hour of downtown Stockholm, while other islands like Möja and Grinda are further away and might need longer than a day trip to truly make the most out of your journey. If you do not have a ton of time, but would still like to experience the Stockholm Archipelago, I would suggest a 90-minute archipelago tour with Stromma, where you will enjoy Stockholm’s inner archipelago and circle around Fjäderholmarna, the closest archipelago island to Stockholm.

DAY TRIP: MALMÖ