20 Top-Rated Attractions in Stockholm
Stockholm steals a spot in the list of most beautiful cities. Situated on 14 islands, Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. A mix of medieval buildings and contemporary architecture, the city is known as “Venice of the North” as it is surrounded by many waterways and lakes.
A place to adore, especially the art lovers and history beef, this place serves the charms of nature along with its magnificent museums, parks, and theatres.
Top 20 places to visit in Stockholm
The locals of Stockholm call it “levandestad” or “living city” with pride. There is an unending bucket list for Stockholm, but below are the best ones you cannot skip as a traveler.
1) A living Museum- Gamla Stan
Prevailing since the 1200s and filled with several must-see tourist attractions, which include restaurants that serve authentic taste, boutique shops, etc. This place is a living museum of Stockholm. Gamla Stan is a perfect place to get around the old town of Stockholm.
The place is well-known for its antique gift and souvenir shops that you can buy and take with you as a keepsake. However, once you start wandering around the tiny maze of winding streets, it feels like you are in a memory lane to medieval times. Stockholm Cathedral, Royal Palace, etc., are some places that must be on your site-seeing itinerary.
If you have a hobby of getting deep into the culture of the place you traveled, Gamla Stan, also called Old Town, is a must-visit place.
2) The Stockholm Boat Tour
Most of the city-dwellers of Stockholm spend their summer weekends at their own summer houses. The streams flow through the heart of Stockholm, and the city is surrounded by boats of various shapes and sizes during the summer months.
The mesmerizing water view of Stockholm is a sure thing to watch during your trip. A ride under the bridges of Stockholm and the Royal Canal Tour is the best leisure activity to do. The place offers a ticket valid for 24 hours, so you can easily jump on and off the rides.
Many of you might search for a calm yet attractive place to visit in Stockholm during the trip. This destination is a perfect choice.
3) Live Jazz in Norrmalm
Also known as the world music venue, Fasching is the famous Jazz of Stockholm. The place is located some distance from the central station and is an attraction for renowned and growing music artists.
After wandering around the city for an entire day, this place can be a warm and soothing one for peaceful evenings. This place has got year-round programs that ensure that the place is live the entire year.
Ideal tourist place for your peaceful evenings, you can consider visiting the nearby cafes that serve a few drinks and stay bookings.
4) Djurgarden’s World-Class Museums
People of Stockholm are true nature lovers, particularly the peaceful Djurgarden’s waterside and woodland trails. This island also brags some of the most famous museums in the capital.
Buying some food at this place can be a costly affair, so you can choose to pack a picnic basket and have a picnic among the woodland trails.
This place is for you if you are a praiser of art and history and enjoy calm nature views. The open-air Skansen allows you to observe the five centuries of Swedish houses, farmsteads, and wild Nordic animals.
5) Stadshuset (Stockholm city hall)
Counted among the city’s most impressive landmarks, it dominates the skyline of Stockholm. Built with dusk-red bricks and gold spires of Stadshuset, this place is more popular for its Golden Hall, which is covered by 80 million gold mosaic tiles. With 200 politicians and officials working here, the Golden Hall is where Nobel Prize award ceremony guests dine. Unlike other sports, you cannot move freely here and need a guided tour inside. This political building can be your favorite tourist destination if you are interested in world politics.
6) Artipelag
Design and nature are the two major passions of Swedish people. Situated within a pine forest on the Varmdo island, the Artipelag art gallery is a unique combination of both nature and beauty.
All filled with rotating international art and photography exhibitions, it is also home to recent collections like those from the US pop art legend A. Warhol and Lars Walin, the Swedish fashion designer. If you are exploring the place during food hours, you can hold on to a lavish restaurant that serves lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. Or you can also prefer eating at the pastry shop or cafe.
This spot allows you to explore art in the lap of nature and is worth visiting on your trip to Stockholm.
7) The Royal Palace
Like any other palace, the Stockholm Royal Palace is also decorated with jewel-encrusted swords, crystal chandeliers, and coronation carriages embellished with gold. Since 1700 this palace has been the residence of the Swedish sovereigns.
With 600 rooms, out of which a few are open for tourists, you can prefer taking a 45-minute guide around the palace and exploring its beauty. If you have plans to test for Sweden’s royals, then regular military parades and changing of the
Guard is the best hours to visit the palace.
This palace offers you the splendor of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and if you have a knack for history, you can visit this place to explore.
8) Skansen Museum
This is one of the largest open-air museums. If you are a history buff who loves communicating, you must consider visiting this place.
This place can divide your group into two depending on everyone’s preferences. This museum gives you a view of historic-wooden homes and an opportunity to meet the weavers and bakers in person.
Love animals? You can also steal the opportunity to gawp a close vision of Nordic animals. This place will do justice if you do not know any local people and prefer to enjoy seasonal Swedish fun.
9) Stadsbibliotek
Do you have an addiction to bibliophiles and architecture? If yes, you won’t mind spending hours at the Stockholm Public Library? This place is a store of 400,000 poems, novels, plays, and reference materials available in multiple languages.
It has an iconic cylindrical tower with books stacked from floor to ceiling. Gunnar Asplund, a Swedish architect, is credited for the room's unique three-level design. His goal was to facilitate visitors to browse the shelf without help from the librarians. So visit the place if you are a bookworm and don’t hesitate to click pictures as the readers here are quite adapted to tourists passing by.
10) The Vasa Museum
Designated as the most visited tourist attraction of Stockholm, this place is a rescued warship of the 17th century, about which most of you would be unaware. This wooden vessel that is 69 meter-long is covered with decorative carvings. This ship sank on its maiden voyage and was discovered almost 333 years later.
The place not only allows you to view the fascinating ship but also allows you to peep into the lives of passengers who traveled and the rescue operation.
Reward yourself with deep knowledge of Swedish history by visiting this place. You can also prefer to take a guided tour of 30 minutes.
11) Abba- The Museum
Gold discs, chunky platforms, and quirky memorabilia best describe this place. However, this fascinating place is, in reality, a tribute to the Glitziest band in Swedish history.
If you are an extrovert and love to sing and dance, you will enjoy being at this place. Some bright interactive exhibits here allow you to perform alongside the Abba on the stage and dress up as virtual versions of some select groups’ sparkly outfits.
Even if you are not a die-hard music fan, you can still spend half a day at this place, and you’ll surely come out as a humming dancing person.
12) The National Museum of Fine arts
Also called the Nationalmuseum, it is a perfect place for art lovers. Originally in 1792, it was established as Sweden’s National Gallery as the Royal Museum.
It was renamed Nationalmuseum after it moved to its current location in 1866. This art museum was fully redeveloped and renovated recently in 2018.
The massive central staircase and large galleries are breathtaking, along with the architecture of the place. In addition, this place boasts the most extensive collection of the world’s portrait miniatures. Restaurants and gift shops are also present at this spot.
The art and the architecture are worth watching, making the place fall in the must-visit tourist destinations of Stockholm.
13) Moderna Museet
The art dates from the 20th century to the present time and is all you can enjoy at the Modern Musset. This museum is an exhibition of the modern classics along with contemporary art.
It includes films, photography, drawings, whimsical outdoor sculptures, prints, etc., that visitors can enjoy. A Spanish architect named Rafael Moneo is behind the designs of this beautiful Musset that is located on the picturesque Skeppsholmen island.
This place is an all-rounder if you are a true die-heart art lover as it facilitates temporary exhibitions of world-class programs, a library, children’s workshop complemented by the mesmerizing views of Djurgarden and Strandvagen.
14) Royal National City Park
This is a six-mile long, 26 square-kilometers long stretch that surrounds Stockholm. It stretches across three municipalities of Stockholm, Solna, and Lidingo.
You might be unaware that this is the world’s first National Urban Park that allows its tourists and locals to flock and unwind. This forest is home to moose, foxes, deer, and many rare birds, including winged butterflies.
Being a nature-lover, this place is a heaven for you as you explore the wilderness areas covered with centuries-old oak trees, lakes, marshes, and craggy hilltops. If adventure interests you then sports facilities are also available.
15) Storkyrkan- The Great Church
The Great Church, also called Stockholms domkyrka, was built in the 13th century and is one of the oldest churches in Stockholm. It is another location to explore the architecture of medieval times in Stockholm.
The hall of the church includes its vaulted ceiling supported by the brick pillar, and the Baroque flourishes constructed in 1700 are the fascinating highlights of the church. This place is the destination of important national events like royal weddings and coronations.
This place is a must-visit because it not only gives glimpses of medieval architecture but also has several artifacts from that period.
16) Ostermalm
Shopping freaks who love branded outfits and materials will not regret visiting this place. Categorized as one of Stockholm's most lavish districts, the street is covered by various international luxury labels that bring you extravagant Scandinavian designs.
Once you reach Biblioteksgatan, you will come across numerous flagship shops, including designer boutiques and many posh shops in the neighborhood around Stureplan.
If art and interior design interests you, you can enjoy the Svenskt Tenn and Malmstenbutiken near Nybroviken. Once done with shopping, you can enjoy the fresh Swedish food at Ostermalamshallen.
17) Ericsson Globe Skyview
A mesmerizing height view is what this place offers to visitors. Located on the southern fringe of Stockholm, it takes you to the top floor of the world’s largest spherical building, the Ericsson globe.
Situated at 130 meters above sea level, the view you get to see of Stockholm city is unforgettable. The place is usually busy at peak hours, and you can expect a long queue during busy hours.
Once you look at the spectacular view, you can have your meals at the restaurant and grab some souvenirs from nearby shops.
18) Spritmuseum
While some might assume this one is a ghost house, that isn’t true. Instead, this museum of Stockholm is focused on booze.
These beautiful 18th-century naval buildings in Stockholm show Sweden's complicated history with alcohol.
Home to the well-known artworks of vodka makers is sponsored by Absolut. Not much of a surprise, the place has a bar and a restaurant where you can enjoy and have a good time.
19) Millesgarden
Presently an art museum and a sculpture garden, this Millesgarden is home to Stockholm. It was built by an artistic couple, painter Olga Milles and her husband Carl Milles, who was a sculptor.
Unsurprisingly this place is occupied by amazing paintings and beautiful sculptures. In addition, the home itself is a magnificent work of art surrounded by terraces, fountains, stairways, and lush gardens.
If you adore beauty and artwork, you won’t miss the chance to visit this place. It is located at a distance of 20 minutes from Stockholm.
20) Drottningholm Palace
The royal family of Sweden lives in Drottningham palace. Situated on Lovon island, it was built in the 16th century. The name of the palace means “queen’s islet.”
It was used as a summer residence by a couple. In 1661, it was burned and became decayed. Later in the 19th century, it was rebuilt with a touch of modernization.
The palace grounds include a church built in 1736, and if you visit it on the last Sunday of the month, you can visit the church. Also, the gardens here can be a good sightseeing location.
That's not the end of the beautiful places in Stockholm. You can find many more places for your sightseeing but make sure you do not miss out on any of these.
Our Pick
Artipelag
This place perfectly symbolizes the two passions of Sweedish people: design and nature. The beautiful art pieces in the gallery surrounded by woods give the tourists chance to explore art in the lap of nature. It also has cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy the Sweedish taste. The place is a perfect location to view the art of Stockholm with the peaceful environment around the woods.
Keep Exploring
Your tour doesn’t end with these twenty places. There is a lot more to do in the Sweden capital. With the electric open boat rides, the museums in the city, and the galleries that comprise great artworks across the globe, Stockholm is a terrific city, and there is a lot to absorb from it. In addition, the cultural landmarks and tourist attractions make this place an ideal holiday location in Europe.