One of northern Europe’s most beautiful cities, Stockholm is definitely worth a look for anyone who can fit it into their itinerary. Some things here (including alcohol in bars) can be shockingly expensive, but at least quality is high and the city is unique.
The city center is compact enough to enjoy in a few days, centering around the royal palace on Gamla Stan island.
Stockholm has a reputation for being expensive, and it absolutely deserves it. This is among the priciest cities on the planet for a tourist, to the point that it can break the budget of a backpacker even if they are just there for a quick look.
The attractions and the transportation are also priced at a level that puts them at the top end for all of Europe. The touristy parts of the city center are fairly compact so a person can just walk around and admire the wonderful shops and attractive locals, but once you want to actually do something it’s going to cost quite a bit.
| Population | 850,000 |
| Area | 1,300,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Swedish kronor |
| Airports | Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN), Stockholm-Skavsta Airport (NYO), Stockholm-Bromma Airport (BMA) |
Hotels in Stockholm are generally quite nice and many of them are luxurious so it’s not like the visitor feels ripped off, though it is frustrating that finding a simple and cheap room is nearly impossible. The hostels are a decent value, as are private rooms in those hostels, which might be a better alternative for those trying to save money. If you are in for a quick visit, you should seriously look into the Stockholm Pass with hotel package, as it’s actually quite an amazing deal.
Hotels in Stockholm are expensive all year round by nearly anyone’s standards. The high season generally runs from June through August and also around the Christmas holidays, with low season the rest of the year. Unfortunately, even with the so-called budget hotels in Stockholm it’s hard to find a good deal or promotion, so this is a city where you might consider staying at a hostel instead. Most of them have reasonably priced private rooms, although also with few amenities.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 41.70 - 63.46 |
| 44.79 - 92.11 |
| 47.87 - 132.37 |
| 69.81 - 185.86 |
| 135.99 - 213.51 |
Castle House Inn Doubles from €126/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Stockholm |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 16.32 - 30.83 |
City Backpackers Hostel Beds from €20/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Stockholm |
Older visitors might gravitate to the fairly new ABBA Museum, which is a slick and nostalgic look at the Swedish super group.
The Royal Palace is in the heart of the Old Town district and it’s usually open to the public to display the lovely art and decorations in the royal apartments, although it’s not free.
Boat tours are very popular and something each visitor must do at least once in order to orient themselves to the group of islands that make up Stockholm.
There are hop-on, hop-off open air bus tours that can also be combined with stops on a boat tour. This is highly recommended although not cheap.
Free (tips-based) walking tours of the Old Town and Sodermalm areas are also a great way of seeing many of the more famous places in a few hours.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace | This 300-year-old building is a popular stop for many tourists. | adults ages 7-17 | 17.23 8.61 |
| Sightseeing boat tour | A company runs hop-on, hop-off boat tours all around Stockholm, with a 24-hour pass. There are other options as well. | adults | 19.95 |
| Vasa Museum | This popular museum's main attraction is a well-preserved 17th Century ship. | adults | 17.23 |
| ABBA The Museum | After years of planning this museum dedicated to Sweden's most famous musical export is open. | adults child with adult | 26.29 9.97 |
Food, of course, is also quite pricey, with even simple meals or fast food costing more than far nicer fare in southern or central Europe. Hot dog carts are easy to find, and with these you can at least get an okay meal at an affordable price. Drinking is also quite expensive, with Sweden taxing alcohol heavily as a way to try to get the locals to lay off a bit, and it’s hard to know how well that policy has worked.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Most hotels include breakfast in the rate. If not, you've your options are fast food or paying a lot. | 5.44 - 8.16 |
| Budget lunch | Many casual restaurants have a daily lunch offer that is a pretty good deal. | 7.25 - 11.79 |
| Budget dinner | Meals at nicer restaurants will cost more than this. Smorgasbords are common in Stockholm and often within this range. | 10.88 - 17.23 |
| Beer (pint) | Beer, even in local bars, is expensive in Stockholm, and at clubs and nice restaurants it's outrageous. | 6.35 - 9.07 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from ARN airport to city center | 43.70 - 47.14 |
| Express train from ARN to city center | 25.39 |
| Express bus from ARN to city center | 8.98 - 11.06 |
| 3km taxi ride in Stockholm | 6.53 - 11.79 |
| Subway ride in Stockholm | 3.45 - 6.53 |
| All-day travelcard for public transport | 10.88 |
Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the huge international airport serving Stockholm and the main national carriers, but there are three other smaller airports that each serve some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Wizzair. Check which airport you are flying into before booking because getting to the smaller ones can be tricky at certain times of the day.
Sweden also has modern train service that connects Malmo in the south as well as Gothenburg in the west.
Stockholm has a modern metro system that connects the city underground, but it is one of the world’s most expensive public transport systems.
Much of Stockholm is flat and easily walkable if you are staying in the central districts.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 23 | 1.5 |
| February | 31 | 23 | 1.1 |
| March | 37 | 27 | 1.0 |
| April | 48 | 34 | 1.2 |
| May | 60 | 43 | 1.2 |
| June | 69 | 52 | 1.8 |
| July | 71 | 56 | 2.8 |
| August | 69 | 55 | 2.6 |
| September | 59 | 48 | 2.2 |
| October | 50 | 42 | 2.0 |
| November | 40 | 33 | 2.1 |
| December | 34 | 26 | 1.8 |
Stockholm has a milder climate than most would expect considering how far north it is. Summers are definitely the most enjoyable time to go, with warm long days and comfortable evenings. Spring and fall are naturally cooler, and even though the temperatures are usually comfortable you’ll find that many of the outdoor attractions are closed anyway. Winters are fairly cold and it does snow and build up a bit, but you’d be unlucky if you arrived when it actually disrupted anything.
| 21 Mar | 5:48am | 6:04pm |
| 21 Jun | 3:31am | 10:09pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:31am | 6:51pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:44am | 2:48pm |