How to spend a day island hopping in Stockholm
Stockholm presents you with the opportunity to do something you can’t do in most other European cities – island hop. This Northern European capital is built on 14 main islands, each with their own characteristics and qualities.
Despite all the islands to explore, you can still squeeze a lot into one day. If I did have just one day in the Swedish capital, this is how I’d spend it…
8.30am – Get some breakfast in the Old Town
- Stockholm’s atmospheric and extremely picturesque old town is known as the Gamla Stan. It is here you will find a teahouse called Chaikana (Svartmangatan 24). With its wide selection of teas, coffees and pastries, it’s the perfect place to begin a day in the Swedish capital.
9.30am – Board a ferry bound for Djurgården
Photo courtesy of Let Ideas Compete
Stockholm is a city that needs to be seen from the sea as well as land. A ferry from the old town to the island of Djurgården presents you with the perfect opportunity to do so. This island is famous as being home to two of the city’s best-known museums.
10am – Visit the Vasamuset or explore Skansen
Photo courtesy of Ib Aarmo
These two museums that are almost side-by-side are the Vasamuset and Skansen. The former is dedicated to a boat that sank on its maiden voyage, while the latter is the world’s first open-air museum that gives you an insight into what life was like in Sweden in centuries gone by. If you’re an animal lover you’ll like it here – it’s a zoo too.
12 noon – Take the boat back to Gamla Stan
After visiting either of these fascinating attractions take the ferry back to Gamla Stan. Before exploring it, wander up north to Norrmalm where you’ll find Drottninggatan, one of the city’s main retail strips.
12.30pm – Lunch on the go!
Photo courtesy of Elin Schönfelder
There’s a plethora of places to grab a quick bite to eat in this part of town (Drottninggatan). Whether it’s fast food, Asian or Swedish fare, you’ll find it around here. Get some lunch and enjoy the people watching.
2pm – Explore the Gamla Stan
Once you’ve refuelled and maybe even had a chance to explore the shops, return to Stockholm’s old town. Take a couple of hours to admire its churches, buy tourists kitsch in the shops and wander through the cobbled, pedestrianised streets.
4pm – Take in a bird’s eye view of the Stadshuset
Stockholm’s City Hall is arguably the city’s (and maybe country’s) most famous building. For the best view of this landmark, walk across the water to Söder Maläarstrand on the fringe of the Södermalm neighbourhood.
6pm – Enjoy dinner in a deli the locals love
Photo courtesy of Yukino Miyazawa
Located deep in Södermalm is the Nytorget Urban Deli (Nytorget 5), a relaxed and trendy restaurant that’s always busy. Choose to eat at the high chairs at the counter, the lower restaurant tables or the sofas and chairs. Enjoy anything from cured meats to fish dishes.
8pm – Relax for the evening in Kvarnen
Phot courtesy of JudithTB
Finish the day off in this traditional Swedish beer hall (Tjärhovsgatan 4) with a couple of pear ciders (it’s very popular in Sweden) or a different local brew.
The best of Stockholm on a map
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Written by Colm Hanratty
Colm first got the travel bug when he went to Australia in 1999 on a working holiday visa. Since then he hasn’t looked back.
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