For our one year anniversary, Akshay and I decided to go to Sweden and Norway for about a week. Two days in Stockholm was definitely the perfect place to start our anniversary trip! It was so beautiful and easy to navigate. We were here for two full days, which I personally think was enough time to get acquainted with the city. (Akshay’s note: the city is much smaller than we both expected, so I agree. 2-3 days is enough time here.) I created a list of top things to see and do if you find yourself in Stockholm in the future.
Keep in mind, Akshay and I tend to keep things light and easy, especially when its the beginning of our trip. The truth is, I always succumb to jetlag. In the moment, heavy eyelids are just not worth it (totally regret it later).
I have 5 recommendations when planning your trip:
- Purchase the Stockholm Pass here! It gets you access to so many different things, including the Vasa Museum. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to use the hop on/hop off bus and boat rides, but it looked super easy and a great way to get around.
- Stay at the Downtown Camper. It’s located right in the heart of the city and very convenient to walk everywhere! We were able to take breaks and naps in the middle of the day because it was so perfectly located. (Akshay’s note: naps are the best.)
- Try to figure out ways to use the public transportation instead of taxis. It’s so so expensive! At the airport, look into the bus/metro otherwise you will be spending minimum $50 for a 20 minute ride.
- Research cheap eats. One of my favorite things about traveling is the food, and I am always willing to splurge. However, I had a really difficult time getting accustomed to the flavors of Swedish food. It also didn’t help that every meal was around $30-50 a person! (Akshay’s note: at a restaurant. It’s expensive, but you can find street food for around $10.) By the time we reached the end of our trip, we actually ate at McDonalds once just to spend a bit less! In order to avoid that situation, which I think is another extreme (eating fast food in another country!), do your research and find some hidden cheap eats. In Bergen, Norway, we actually discovered a hot dog stand ($8 per hot dog haha) that was so delicious we came back two more times!
- Make sure to carry an umbrella or a raincoat with you at all times! The weather is so bipolar it can rain anytime without any kind of warning.
As I mentioned, we spent about a total of two days in Stockholm. Since Akshay and I kept it fairly light each day, I didn’t think it made sense to split our time out for each day. Also, we spent most of our time just walking around the city versus visiting specific attractions. Instead, I highlighted a few of the spots and experiences we had.
Food Tour Stockholm: This tour was described as a multicultural experience within the boho chic neighborhood of Södermalm. (Akshay’s note: don’t worry, I don’t know what boho chic means either.) While Akshay and I were hoping to experience more traditional Swedish food, we figured getting to experience a new city and various types of cuisines would be just as cool! However, if you are interested in tasting mainly Swedish dishes, I highly suggest booking at least a month in advance. They fill up fast! Check out the website here for most up to date information on restaurants and cuisine. The Company keeps it interesting and changes it up quite frequently. Our tour took us to a total of seven spots–5 were savory and 2 were sweet. We had the chance to experience Chinese, Greek, Indian, and Urban cuisines. In the end, they took us to a delicious chocolate shop and ice-cream store. Here are some shots of our favorites:
Yummy Greek food- Eggplant Moussaka
Found a cute little coffee stand in the middle of a park
Indian food- saag paneer
Skagen salad: Creamy shrimp salad
Favorite was definitely the vegan chocolate ice-cream at StikkiNikki’s!
Vasa Museum: This museum is one of the most visited in Scandinavia and houses Vasa, the famous 17th century ship which sunk within minutes of departing for the first time. It ended up being salvaged in the 1960’s and most of the ship was still intact! I’m not going to lie. Akshay and I don’t normally visit museums when we travel. Besides visiting the famous historical sites, we tend to walk, explore, eat, and drink. However, we were pretty engaged during our visit to this museum. There was a lot of interesting history. It’s definitely worth a look! (Akshay’s note: this is definitely worth visiting. You walk in, and there’s just a massive ship in front of you, and most of it is original. The story is really interesting, and you get a glimpse into what life was like as a sailor/seaman back then.)
Grettas: I had coordinated a blogger collaboration with this really cute, pink (Instagram worthy) cafe inside the Haymarket hotel. We were invited for a traditional fika, which is known as an afternoon tea or cake break. However, it is actually a big part of Swedish culture since this time spent is really about strengthening relationships and taking a pause during the day. We were really excited to experience our first fika. We were served fresh avocado toast, some small pastries, coffee, and some champagne. We had a really lovely time! (Akshay’s note: Tika was way more into this than I was. But at least fika rhymes with Tika, so I got about 3 minutes of entertainment from that.)
Haymarket Square: Also known as Hotorgshallen, this is a food market right around the corner from Grettas, so if you want to create your own food tour, I highly recommend stopping by. Its filled with various vendors that offer different types of food. We stopped at a place called Fiskelaget, which is known for its fresh seafood. Its a cute little set up with a few bar stools for people to sit at. However, it can get really crowded, so visit in between the lunch and dinner rush. Akshay ordered a traditional toast skagen, which is basically a yummy shrimp salad served on buttery bread. It has tangy flavors and was probably one of our favorite Swedish dishes.
Downtown Camper bar: Located on the top floor of the hotel, there is a nifty bar with amazing views. I enjoyed a glass of champagne, read my Kindle, and took in the city views. Day drinking is not a thing over there, so we had the entire area to ourselves. Fine with me!
Gamla Stan, (a.k.a Old Town): We were told that this area was filled with delicious restaurants, bars, and beautiful architecture and cobble stoned alley ways. It was definitely a cute little area. We ended up at a small hole in the wall restaurant, where we ordered the traditional Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. I’m going to be truthful here. I realized I’m not a huge fan of meatballs. I tried giving it a chance two separate times, but just could not find myself enjoying the texture. Either way, you should try it and form your own opinion. (Akshay’s note: I agree, I wasn’t a fan of the meatballs here. Gamla Stan has super cool architecture, but there are also some total tourist trap shops, so just be aware.)
Stockholm City Hall: While we didn’t go up to the top, we still managed to get some pretty nice city views from the water. They were charging quite a bit for a tour, so Akshay and I decided to pass. However, if you are looking for city views from above, we heard that this is a great location for that.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the photos. If weather permits, definitely sign up for a boat tour! That was our only regret, as the archipelagos are supposed to be really cool, but the tour got rained out. Even though two days in Stockholm doesn’t seem like a lot, we were still able to enjoy and get a real flavor of the city.
