Sweden is one of Europe’s most expensive countries, but unexpectedly the nation’s capital is incredibly affordable for travelers (if you know what you’re doing).
So while your trip to Stockholm can’t be completely free, it can be a lot free. This is one of the many reasons Stockholm is one of my favorite cities! Here’s some tips on what to do to have an excellent and inexpensive trip to Stockholm:
FREE activities:
1) Free Walking Tour. This is my top recommendation to any traveler on a budget visiting any city. Not only is the tour free, but the tour guide usually knows other great ways to see the city on a budget. Also, Stockholm offers not one, but THREE free tours. They offer a city tour which covers the downtown area and more contemporary history of Stockholm. Then there’s the typical Old Town tour, taking you through the cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan. And finally, there’s the Söder Tour of the hipster island Södermalm. All tour times, meeting places, and additional information can be found on Free Tour Stockholm’s website.
2) Gamla Stan. Gamla Stan means “old town” in Swedish and if you have a limited amount of time in Stockholm, this is where you want to spend it! On the little island, you’ll find the Royal Palace, Mårten Trotzigs Gränd (Stockholm’s narrowest street), and the Nobel Museum.
3) Nordiska Museet. Nordic museum. One of the plethora of museums on Djurgården. (free 13-17 Tuesdays). Here you can learn about all things Swedish – from traditions to table settings. They have exhibits on art, literature, fashion, jewelry, household items and furniture, and beer.
4) Historiska Museet. History museum (ALWAYS FREE). The museum covers the stone ages to the middle ages and has an exhibition on Sweden’s history from the 11th century until present day. This is seriously one of the top history museums I’ve been to. The museum is well laid out and has a ton of artifacts. I went during the evening and remember wishing I had more time to go through the exhibits before they closed. It’s located near the Nordiska but not on Djurdgården.
5) Tekniska Museet. Museum of Science and Technology. (free 17-20 Wednesdays). I didn’t visit during the free hours, but the museum was TOTALLY worth paying for. My favorite exhibit was 100 Inventions which displayed 100 important inventions throughout time. There were so many cool items with their invention histories – just one of many neat exhibits at this museum. You can easily spend 3 hours here.
6) Libraries. This tip is 2 for 1 – Museums got you down? Check out the Kungliga Biblioteket in Humlegården (I didn’t actually visit, but the pictures of the reading room look amazing!), and the Stadsbibliotek which has a cool rotunda full of books to wander around in.
7) Nobel Museum. Learn all about the Nobel Prize and past winners. (free 17-20 Tuesdays). Tip: If this museum is of high interest to you, then I would suggest visiting during normal hours because the museum is frustratingly crowded during the free hours.
8) Subway station tour. Take advantage of your transit card and check out the cool subway art on one of Stockholm’s 3 (soon to be 4) subway lines.
9) More museums! I personally haven’t visited these museums, but here are some more free options in Stockholm: Moderna Museet – modern art museum (main collection and certain exhibits are free). Myntkabinettet – royal coin cabinet and national museum of economy (free on Mondays, but closed for renovations until 2020). Sjöhistoriska – the Maritime Museum (always free!). Arme Museum – “journey through wartime and peacetime” (always free!).
What you should spend money on:
1) The Vasa Museum. I. Love. Boats. The Vasa Museum revolves around a Swedish ship that sank into Stockholm’s waters nearly 400 years ago. Because of the brackish water, over 95% of the original ship was able to be recovered and is now on view in the museum. Exhibits contain information on everything from building the ship, life on the boat, and uncovering who the people onboard were and what their lives were like.
2) Fotografiska. The photography museum. Located on the swanky island of Södermalm in a hipster brick building that used to be the customs house, the Fotografiska houses rotating exhibits of contemporary photography.
3) Drottningholm Palace. Unfortunately the palace was not open for visitors during the winter months (so check the opening hours carefully), but the grounds were still fair game for wandering around. As the only soul there, I had the entire place to myself to explore in its enchantment of fairytale winter snow. (also a UNESCO site)
4) Skansen Open-Air Museum. Sweden’s first open-air museum is dedicated to showing ways of life around Sweden before the industrial revolution. I didn’t check it out but it is highly recommended everywhere. Tell me how it is!
Have you been to Stockholm before? Any other great budget trips for Scandinavia’s best city that I missed? I will definitely be visiting again, so hopefully this list will grow!