Stockholm attractions, 26 places worth your time

If it is your first visit, these are the ten Stockholm attractions most people should not miss. The rest of the guide is grouped by area, so you can see what is close together.

1. Gamla Stan · the old town, free to wander
2. The Vasa Museum · a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage
3. The Royal Palace · and the changing of the guard at midday
4. Skansen · the open air museum on Djurgården
5. Stockholm City Hall · home of the Nobel Prize banquet, guided tours only
6. ABBA The Museum · on Djurgården
7. Fotografiska · the photography museum on the Södermalm waterfront
8. Monteliusvägen · a free viewpoint over the city
9. The metro art · for the price of a ticket
10. A boat tour · Stockholm is built on 14 islands

Gamla Stan is the oldest part of Stockholm and dates back to the 13th century, when the city is first mentioned in writing in 1252. Most of the old town fits into a walk of a couple of hours. The Royal Palace, the cathedral and two of the city's best museums are all within a few minutes of each other. Here for a short stay? See how to plan one day in Stockholm.

Gamla Stan

Free · plan 2 to 3 hours · metro Gamla Stan

Narrow cobblestone streets, the colourful houses around Stortorget, the main square, and lanes like Mårten Trotzigs gränd. Västerlånggatan is the busy shopping street, and the side streets are quieter. Go early in the morning in summer, before the crowds arrive from the cruise ships.

The Royal Palace

220 SEK, 240 SEK May to September · plan 1.5 hours · Slottsbacken

The palace has more than 600 rooms by the palace's own count, and over 1,400 by others, which makes it one of the largest palaces in Europe. The royal family moved in in 1754 after the old Tre Kronor castle burned down. Today the King and Queen live at Drottningholm, and the palace is used for official duties. Your ticket covers the Royal Apartments, the Treasury, Museum Tre Kronor and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities, and there are guided tours in English. The changing of the guard takes place in the outer courtyard at 12.15 Monday to Saturday and at 13.15 on Sundays and holidays, and lasts about 40 minutes.

Storkyrkan, Stockholm Cathedral

120 SEK, under 18 free · plan 30 minutes · next to the Royal Palace

The oldest church in Stockholm, first mentioned in 1279. Inside, the sculpture of St George and the Dragon from 1489 is the main work of art, and Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling here in 2010. An audio guide is included in the ticket.

The Nobel Prize Museum

160 SEK, under 18 free · plan 1 hour · Stortorget 2

On the main square of Gamla Stan, in the old Stock Exchange building. The museum tells the stories behind the Nobel Prize and its laureates. It is closed on Mondays and open until 21 on Fridays.

The Royal Armoury

180 SEK, under 19 free · plan 1 hour · Slottsbacken 3

In the cellars of the Royal Palace. The museum calls itself Sweden's oldest museum, and it shows royal costumes, armour and carriages from several centuries of Swedish history. A good choice for history buffs on a rainy day.

Djurgården has more big attractions in a small area than anywhere else in Stockholm. Tram 7 runs here from the city centre, and ferry line 82 from Slussen costs the same as an ordinary public transport ticket. Read more in our guide to Djurgården.

The Vasa Museum

240 SEK May to September, 195 SEK otherwise, under 18 free · plan 2 hours · tram 7 to Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet

The Vasa warship sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbour in 1628 and was salvaged 333 years later, in 1961. The ship is 69 metres long and the only preserved 17th century ship in the world, and the museum is built around it. Open daily all year, and until 20 on Wednesdays.

Skansen, the open air museum

Price varies by season, cheapest online, children 0 to 15 free · plan half a day · tram 7 or bus 67

Founded in 1891, Skansen is the world's oldest open air museum. Wooden houses and farms moved here from all over Sweden, with craftspeople in traditional dress, Nordic animals like moose, bears and wolves, and views over the city. Skansen is open every day all year, with shorter hours in winter and a Christmas market in December. The aquarium is not included in the ticket.

ABBA The Museum

269 to 349 SEK, children 7 to 15 129 to 169 SEK, under 7 free · plan 1.5 to 2 hours · Djurgårdsvägen

Costumes, gold records and interactive rooms where you can sing and dance with the band. Tickets are sold for timed entry, so book ahead in summer. Visitors under 16 must come with an adult.

The Nordic Museum

170 SEK · plan 1.5 hours · next to the Vasa Museum

Founded in 1873, the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet) shows how people in Sweden have lived, dressed and celebrated, from midsummer celebrations to Christmas. The building itself, a huge palace at the entrance to Djurgården, is worth a look from the outside.

Gröna Lund

Seasonal · plan 3 to 4 hours · on the Djurgården waterfront

Sweden's oldest amusement park, opened in 1883, with rides squeezed in along the water. The season starts in late April, there are big concerts in summer, and in autumn the park opens on selected days for Halloween, from 9 October to 8 November in 2026.

Spritmuseum

190 SEK, under 15 free · plan 1 hour · Djurgårdsstrand 9

The museum of Swedish drinking culture, from aquavit to punsch. It also houses the Absolut Art Collection, which started with Andy Warhol's Absolut painting in 1986. There is a free short introduction tour every hour, and the restaurant is open until 22.

The Royal National City Park

Free · plan 2 hours or more · Djurgården and north

The world's first national city park, opened in 1995. It stretches about 10 kilometres through Stockholm, Solna and Lidingö and covers some 27 square kilometres, almost eight times the size of Central Park. Rent a bike on Djurgården and follow the shore for the best of Stockholm nature without leaving the city.

Central Stockholm has the two big art museums and the metro art, all close to each other and to public transport.

Nationalmuseum

160 SEK, under 20 free, free Thursdays 17 to 20 · plan 2 hours · metro Kungsträdgården

Sweden's museum of art and design, founded in 1792. It reopened in 2018 after a five year renovation and holds the world's largest collection of portrait miniatures. Closed on Mondays.

Moderna Museet

170 SEK, 18 and under free, free Fridays 18 to 20 · plan 2 hours · bus 65 to Skeppsholmen

Modern and contemporary art from the 20th century to today, in a building by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo on the island of Skeppsholmen. Closed on Mondays.

The metro art

A regular public transport ticket · plan 1 to 2 hours

More than 90 of Stockholm's 100 metro stations are decorated with art, which is why the metro is often called the world's longest art gallery. Solna Centrum has a red sky over a green forest, and the statues at Kungsträdgården are replicas of art from the Makalös palace that once stood above it. Most of the best stations are on the blue line.

Kungsholmen is the island west of the city centre, with the City Hall and the waterside walk along Norr Mälarstrand. Vasastan, north of the centre, is home to Gunnar Asplund's famous City Library, but it is closed for renovation until early 2028. Vasastan is a great area for fika instead, see our guide to the best cafés in Stockholm.

Stockholm City Hall

150 SEK, by guided tour only · plan 1 hour · Hantverkargatan 1

Built from 1911 to 1923 and designed by Ragnar Östberg, with almost 8 million bricks. The Nobel Prize banquet is held in the Blue Hall every year on 10 December, and the guests dance afterwards in the Golden Hall, which is covered in more than 18 million mosaic pieces. Tours take about 45 minutes and tickets are released a week ahead. The 106 metre tower is open from May to mid August and has a separate ticket, but it closes for renovation in 2027 and 2028.

Norr Mälarstrand and Rålambshovsparken

Free · plan 1 hour · from the City Hall heading west

A walk along the water from the City Hall heading west, with views across Riddarfjärden to the cliffs of Södermalm. It ends in Rålambshovsparken, one of the most popular parks for picnics and sunbathing in summer.

Södermalm is the island south of Gamla Stan, with the best views of the city, vintage shops and some of Stockholm's best cafés. See our guide to the best cafés in Stockholm for where to stop for a cinnamon bun.

Fotografiska

From 195 SEK, 12 and under free with an adult · plan 1.5 hours · Stadsgårdshamnen 22

A photography museum in a former customs building from 1906 on the waterfront, a short walk from Slussen. It has no permanent collection, so the exhibitions change several times a year. Open every day until 23, with a restaurant and café at the top of the house and a view over the water.

Monteliusvägen

Free · plan 30 minutes · near Slussen

A path of about 500 metres along the cliffs on the north side of Södermalm, with one of the best views in Stockholm, over Lake Mälaren, the City Hall and Riddarholmen. Go at sunset in summer. The path can be slippery in winter.

Stockholm's most elegant district, with the grand buildings along Strandvägen, designer shops around Biblioteksgatan and Stureplan, and Östermalms Saluhall, the classic food hall at Östermalmstorg. Come for lunch, when the food hall is at its busiest, and try traditional Swedish food like herring or Swedish meatballs, served with lingonberries. Allow an hour or two with some shopping.

These take a little longer to reach, but each one is easily accessible by public transport, and two can be reached by boat in summer.

Drottningholm Palace

170 SEK · plan half a day · metro to Brommaplan, then bus

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and the home of the King and Queen, who have lived in the south wing since 1981. The palace burned down in 1661 and was rebuilt from 1662 by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. It is open daily from May to September and on weekends the rest of the year. In summer you can also go by boat from Stadshuskajen next to the City Hall.

Fjäderholmarna

Boat from Slussen, May to mid September · about 25 minutes each way

The closest islands of the Stockholm archipelago, with restaurants, small shops and smooth rocks by the water. A good half day if you want a taste of the archipelago without a long trip. Read more in our guide to the Stockholm archipelago.

Millesgården

170 SEK · plan 2 hours · metro to Ropsten, then the Lidingö tram to Baggeby

The home and sculpture garden of the sculptor Carl Milles and the artist Olga Milles on Lidingö, about 20 minutes from T-Centralen. It became a museum in 1936, and the terraces of sculptures above the water are the highlight. Closed on Mondays.

Artipelag

About 195 SEK for exhibitions, under 18 usually free · plan half a day · bus from Slussen or summer boat

An art hall in the pine forest on Värmdö, by the water, with changing exhibitions, a café and walking trails. Take bus 474 from Slussen and change to 468, or the boat from Strandvägen in summer, which takes about 1.5 hours. Closed on Mondays.

SkyView at Avicii Arena

180 SEK · plan 30 minutes · metro Globen

Glass gondolas that ride up the outside of Avicii Arena, formerly the Ericsson Globe, to 85 metres above the ground. The arena was the world's largest spherical building until the Sphere in Las Vegas opened in 2023. Closed on Sundays, and tickets on site are card only.

Stockholm sits on fourteen islands, and the facades along Gamla Stan, the City Hall and Riddarholmen were built to be seen from the water rather than from the street. That is why a boat appears on almost every list of what to do here. The cheapest way out is the Djurgården ferry from Slussen, which is part of the public transport network and costs no more than an ordinary ticket. For the full route with a guide on board, our one hour open electric boat tour covers the city centre, and the archipelago tour runs 2.5 hours out into the inner archipelago. Our guide to Stockholm from the water goes through what you actually see along the way.

• Getting around · Public transport covers almost everything in this guide. Buy tickets in the SL app or with a contactless card at the gates. Tram 7 runs to Djurgården, and ferry line 82 from Slussen uses the same ticket.
• How many days · Two days covers Gamla Stan, Djurgården and the City Hall. With three days you have time for Södermalm, a boat tour and a day trip to Drottningholm or the archipelago.
• For adults · Fotografiska is open until 23 every evening, Spritmuseum has a restaurant and bar, and Gröna Lund has concerts in summer.
• With kids · Skansen, the Vasa Museum and Junibacken, the Astrid Lindgren house for younger children on Djurgården, are the classics.
• City passes · Go City sells Stockholm passes that include the Vasa Museum, the Royal Palace and Skansen, among others. They can save money if you plan several paid attractions, but check the current price and what is included against individual tickets.
• Free for children · Under 18s get in free at the Vasa Museum, Storkyrkan, the Nobel Prize Museum and Moderna Museet. At Nationalmuseum it is under 20 and at the Royal Armoury under 19.
• Completely free · Gamla Stan, Monteliusvägen, the Royal National City Park and the changing of the guard cost nothing. See our guide to free things to do in Stockholm.
• On a rainy day · The Vasa Museum, Nationalmuseum, Fotografiska, the Nobel Prize Museum and the Royal Armoury are all indoors and close to public transport.
• Take a fika · Fika is the Swedish coffee break, a coffee and a cinnamon bun or another pastry, and it is the easiest way to rest between two attractions.
• Seasonal events · Skansen and Gamla Stan have Christmas markets in December. See our guide to the Christmas markets in Stockholm.