Last Updated on August 14, 2026
This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
One day in Stockholm is definitely not long enough, but it can be a great introduction to Sweden’s capital.
I recently traveled to Sweden for a concert and planned one full day in Stockholm prior to it. Looking back, I wish I had at least another day, because this is one amazing city and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. There’s so much to do and see.
After spending just one day in Stockholm, I can say that this is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The combination of architecture, islands, nature and the fact that you are always near water makes Stockholm a very attractive city. Expensive, but beautiful.
I visited Stockholm in the summer, when long daylight hours and nice weather, make it perfect for sightseeing. It’s definitely the best time to visit Stockholm. Also, with the extra hours of daylight you can fit quite a lot into just one day.
Still, it’s impossible to fit everything in your 1-day Stockholm itinerary, so you’ll have to skip some attractions and focus on those that interest you the most.
So while I strongly recommend spending more than one day in Stockholm, if that is all you have, here are my suggestions how to spend those 24 hours in Sweden’s capital.
How to get from Stockholm Airport to city center
If you are flying into Stockholm, you’ll arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), which is about 25 miles (40 km) outside of the city. There are several ways you can get from the airport to the city center, depending on your budget and how fast you want to get there.
- Arlanda Express – the easiest and fastest way is the Arlanda Express train, which is a non stop service from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm’s Central Station. It only takes 18 minutes and runs very frequently, every 12-15 minutes. But it is the really expensive, one way ride costs 340 SEK (640 SEK round trip). They do offer discounts, so check their website before traveling to Stockholm. I paid 199 SEK one way during their summer promotion.
- Pendeltåg – a cheaper option is the commuter train Pendeltåg 40, which goes from the airport to Stockholm City Station in about 40 minutes. Technically it costs one way SL fare, which is 43 SEK, but when leaving the airport, you need to pay Arlanda passage fee, which is 157 SEK. This brings the total cost of the ride to 200 SEK.
- Bus/Train – this will take the longest (about 60 minutes), but is the cheapest way. First take a bus from the airport to Märsta station, then from there hop on the SL Commuter train Pendeltåg 41 heading to Södertälje. The train stops at Stockholm City station, which is the one you’ll need assuming you’re staying in the city center. The entire journey costs the price of one way SL ticket, which is 43 SEK (tickets are valid for 75 minutes, so it will cover your trip from the airport even with the transfer).
How to get around Stockholm
If you follow this 1 day Stockholm itinerary, most of your sightseeing will be done on foot, but you will hop on the metro a couple of times. While Stockholm is a very walkable city, with most attractions close from one another, using metro will save you time getting between neighborhoods. And seeing Stockholm’s subway stations is also one of the top things to do in Stockholm (more on that later!).
Stockholm’s public transportation is excellent and is run by SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik), which consists of metro, buses, trams and even ferries. Best way to use it is to download the SL app and buy your tickets directly there, then scan the QR code at the gate to enter metro stations. Don’t forget to activate it before you travel.
You can also pay by tapping your contactless credit card.
One way ticket costs 43 SEK and is valid for 75 minutes from the time of activation. You can change trains and switch between buses etc as long as it’s within that time frame. They also offer 24-hour ticket (180 SEK), 72 hour (360 SEK) and 7 day ticket (470 SEK).
If you’re in Stockholm just for one day and plan to walk most of the time, buying a single SL ticket (or tickets) when you need a ride, will most likely make most sense. But if you plan on using public transport several times, you might benefit from the 24 hour ticket. Basically, just do the math and see.
One day in Stockholm – Things to know and tips
- Some of the attractions on this one day in Stockholm itinerary are seasonal. So while you can visit Stockholm year round (if you don’t mind the cold!), certain activities may not be available. But you can easily replace them with other one of Stockholm’s many museums and other indoor activities.
- The currency used in Sweden is Swedish Krona (SEK).
- Stockholm is very much a cashless city. Cards and mobile payments are not only accepted everywhere, but a preferred method of payment. Many places in Stockholm will not even accept cash, so I wouldn’t rush to the ATM when you arrive.
- Scandinavia has a reputation for being expensive and Stockholm is not exactly a budget destination. However, there are ways to keep the costs down, by taking advantage of the free things to do in the city. This one day in Stockholm itinerary includes several of those attractions. But overall, yes, Stockholm is an expensive city.
- There’s no language barrier in Stockholm, everyone speaks excellent English.
Things to do in Stockholm in one day
Breakfast
Start you day with a breakfast at one of the Stockholm cafes. You can’t go wrong with Vete-Katten, which is Stockholm’s institution. They have been open since 1928 and have several locations throughout the city.
Climb the Stockholm City Hall Tower for views
Stockholm’s City Hall is one of the most important buildings in the city, and it’s also where you’ll find some of the best views of Stockholm. The 106 meter tall tower, that is part of the City Hall has a viewing platform, which is open to visitors in the summer only.
There are over 300 steps to get to the top of the tower, which takes about 8-10 minutes. You can also take the elevator halfway up. Each visit is 40 minutes total, including the climb. Which really is enough to take plenty of photos and take in the views.
To visit the tower you have to book your timed entry ticket in advance and those are released one week ahead. There are 27 tickets available for each time slot, so be sure to book yours before they sell out. It costs 100 SEK.
Mornings and afternoons are best times to go, as that’s when the light is better for photos and you avoid the harsh midday sun. Since I was staying basically next door, this was my first big activity of the day.
PHOTO TIP: If you want the best photos of Gamla Stan from the tower, you might want to book an afternoon ticket. When looking towards Gamla Stan in the morning, you’ll be shooting into the sun.
You can also visit the City Hall on a 45-minute guided tour, where you get to see the grand banquet halls and learn about the history of the building. This is where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held. I skipped it as I had other things planned on my Stockholm itinerary, but if you have interest, the City Hall is open to visitors.
Tickets for the tours are released one week in advance, just like the Tower and you can book your spot here. It costs 150 SEK.
Walk to Gamla Stan
From the Stockholm’s City Hall walk across Riddarholmsbron, the bridge connecting Riddarholmen to Gamla Stan, the Old Town. This is the most charming and popular part of the city and where you’ll find many of the top Stockholm attractions.
But before you get there, enjoy the scenic walk along the waterfront to Gamla Stan. It’s a great photo spot, especially looking back at the City Hall.
Watch the Changing of the Guard
Once you cross over to Gamla Stan, make your way towards the Royal Castle. There, in the Outer Courtyard, you can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. This is a fun stop to include in your one day Stockholm itinerary, especially if you’ve never seen anything like it. And it’s one of the free things to do in Stockholm.
The ceremony can look a little different depending on the day you visit. There was military band on the day I was there, which made it more lively and special. Sometimes the guards or even the band arrive on horseback. So you never know what you’re going to get.
In the summer the ceremony takes place every day, at 12:15 pm during the week and 1:15 pm on Sundays. But be there earlier if you want a front row spot. People start gathering around 11.30 am. It’s about 40 minutes long.
If you’re visiting Stockholm in the winter, you can watch it on Wednesdays at 12:15 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 1:15 pm.
Visit Royal Castle
After the ceremony, it’s time to explore the Royal Palace. This the official residence of the Royal Family, but it’s primarily used as a workplace and for official receptions, not an everyday home for the King and Queen.
With more than 1400 rooms, this is quite a big place and it’s open to visitors most of the year.
The ticket covers Royal Apartments, the Treasury and Tre Kronor Museum and if you want to visit it all, I’d plan at least 2 hours. I only had about one hour so I focused on the Royal Apartments, which are the rooms used for state functions and official ceremonies.
Some of the highlights are the Hall of State with Queen Kristina’s silver throne, the Bernadotte Apartments, the White Sea ballroom and my favorite Karl XI’s Gallery. The last one is truly spectacular and was inspired by the famous Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
If you want to spend more time at the Palace, the Royal Armory is also worth visiting. This is where you see all the royal carriages, clothing and armor. This museum requires a separate ticket though, which is 180 SEK. It’s located in the basement of the Palace.
The admission price for the Royal Palace 240 SEK in the summer months (May – September) and 220 SEK the rest of the year. It covers The Royal Apartments, The Treasury and Tre Kronor Museum.
The Royal Palace is open year round, every day from 10 am – 5 pm (summer months) and 10 am – 4 pm in the winter.
Parts of the Palace might be closed if there are any royal events, so do check the official website for any announcements before you visit Stockholm. It will be under the Opening Hours.
Explore Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s Old Town and it’s the most charming part of the city. It’s full of colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, cafes, restaurants and antique shops.
This is where you’ll find some of Stockholm’s main attractions and landmarks:
- Stortorget – this is the main square in Stockholm, and even though Stortorget means The Big Square, it’s actually quite small, especially compared to main squares in other European cities. It’s surrounded by colorful Merchant houses dating back to the 17th and 18th century. There you’ll also find the historic fountain Stortorgsbrunnen, Noble Prize Museum and several cafes, where you can take a break from sightseeing and do some people watching.
- Järnpojken – the tiny sculpture known as the Iron boy looking at the moon, is the smallest one you’ll find in Stockholm. It can be a bit tricky to find as it’s only 6 feet tall and it’s tucked away in a quiet courtyard. You can find it in this exact spot.
- Mårten Trotzigs Gränd – named after a wealthy merchant, this is the narrowest street in Stockholm. It’s only 90 cm wide at it’s narrowest point and it’s quite steep with 36 stone steps.
- Storkyrkan – also known as Stockholm’s Cathedral, this is the oldest church in the city, dating back to 1279.
While Gamla Stan is undeniably beautiful, it’s also the most expensive part of the city. Expect to pay a bit more for food and drinks than elsewhere in the city.
You can also book a Walking Tour of Gamla Stan and explore it with a local guide.
Enjoy Fika
There is a wonderful tradition in Sweden of taking a break during a busy day to have coffee, some pastry, to slow down and enjoy the moment. It’s called Fika and it’s an important part of everyday life for Swedes.
So, when visiting Stockholm, you should definitely make it part of your day as well. I think after a busy morning of exploring the Old Town is a good time to take a break. I stopped at Grillska Huset Bakery, right in Stortorget, the main square for a cup of coffee and Kanelbullar, a Swedish cinnamon roll. Very cute place and everything was delicious.
But Gamla Stan is filled with cafes, so you have plenty to choose from.
Nystekt Strömming
For a quick bite to eat, make a stop at the famous fried herring food truck called Nystekt Strömming. You can find it in Slussen, which is the area by the water, between Gamla Stan and Södermalm.
Nystekt Strömming has been around for many years and it’s a beloved street food spot selling fried Baltic herring. They serve it a few different ways, from a small snack to a more filling meal.
I got Knäckis, which is herring on crispbread with pickles and onions. You can also get a herring sandwich, fried herring plate with mashed potatoes and different sides. There’s an outdoor table and some benches nearby, where you can enjoy your snack.
Want to try more of Stockholm’s food scene? You can book this Swedish Food Guided Walking Tour to sample variety of traditional Swedish dishes.
Katarina Elevator
Afterwards, walk along Skeppsbron towards Slussen area, then cross the bridge and almost immediately on your right you’ll see a steel tower. That’s Katarinahissen, so called Katarina Elevator.
Take the elevator to the top and it brings you to the bridge, where you’ll get one of the best panoramic views of Stockholm. It overlooks Gamla Stan and the waterfront, and best of all, it’s completely free! In a city as expensive as Stockholm, why not take advantage of the free activities to balance out the spending.
So if you’re looking for cheap or free things to do in Stockholm, that’s one of them.
Take a Archipelago Boat Tour
Stockholm is built on 14 islands and is part of the huge Stockholm archipelago made up by 30,000 islands and inlets. If you have more time, you can visit several of these islands by a regular ferry from Stockholm. Vaxholm, Grinda or Sandhamn are great places for a day trip.
But if you only have one day in Stockholm, a 2 hour archipelago tour is a great way to get a taste of the landscape and enjoy the scenery. And that’s exactly what I did at the end of the day.
With just 2 hours you can’t go too far outside of the city, but you get too see the nearby islands of the archipelago. You cruise past Gamla Stan, then head out towards the closest islands, pass rocky shorelines, forests, red cottages and waterfront houses.
The boat tour is a great introduction to the Stockholm archipelago, and also shows you how close to nature Stockholm is. A lot of the boat tours are narrated (this one was), so you can also learn some interesting things about Stockholm and the archipelago along the way.
You can book the same Stockholm Archipelago Boat Tour here.
Skeppsholmsbron
The beauty of summer in Sweden is that the days are long with lots of daylight, so it’s easy to fit a lot into one day.
After your boat tour ends, I recommend walking over to Skeppsholmsbron, an iron bridge connecting the city with Skeppsholmen, one of the smallest islands. The archipelago boat tour I booked started and ended at Skeppsbrokajen near the Royal Palace, so it was an easy walk there, less than 10 minutes.
The bridge is a great spot for beautiful views across the water of Gamla Stan and Royal Palace. It’s often referred to as the Crown bridge, because in the middle of it, there are two golden crowns. They are a fun detail of the bridge, but besides being a photo op, it’s also a tribute to Sweden’s monarchy.
Golden Hour and sunset are the best time to be on Skeppsholmen, so depending on your timing, you might be able to catch it here.
You can cross the bridge and continue walking for just a little bit and cross onto Skeppsholmen. It’s a very nice, scenic and quiet area of Stockholm. Waterfront views, boats and historic buildings. I wouldn’t go too far, as there are still a couple more things to see on this Stockholm itinerary.
Stop at Arch by Ai Weiwei
As your heading back to Gamla Stan, make a quick stop at the Arch by Ai Weiwei. It’s a 12 meter tall stainless steel sculpture, right in front of the National Museum of Stockholm. You can’t miss it, it’s very eye-catching.
It was created by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei and it depicts two people holding one another inside of a big cage. The cage represents the barriers faced by migrants and refugees, while the opening symbolized freedom and human connection.
It’s especially striking during during the Golden Hour light.
Dinner
For dinner I recommend trying Sweden’s most iconic dish, Swedish meatballs, which traditionally are served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Most restaurants will have it on their menu, if you just want to walk around and pick a place that looks good.
A couple of places I tried were:
- Lilla Gästabud – I loved this small family run restaurant in Gamla Stan. The butter fried salmon was delicious.
- Restaurant Tradition – also in Gamla Stan, a great place to try traditional Swedish dishes.
Subway station
The last activity of the day was easily one of my favorite things to do in Stockholm. Even if you are in the city for a short time, such as one day, make sure to check out at least a couple of subway stations. They are the prettiest I’ve ever seen anywhere.
The metro system in Stockholm, called Tunnelbana, has a 100 stations and most of them have some kind of artwork. It’s either paintings, murals, sculptures or mosaic covered ceilings. That’s why they call it the longest art gallery in the world.
Due to lack of time, I only got to see two stations, T-Centralen and Stadion, but there are so many more to see. When I go back to Stockholm, this will be one of the top things to do on my itinerary. Here are some of the prettiest stations to see:
- T-Centralen – the biggest and busiest station, where all three lines go through. There are a few levels, so be sure to go all the way down to see the best known blue and white murals.
- Stadion – Red Line – the one with the rainbow, definitely one of the best subway stations in Stockholm.
- Solna – Blue Line – forest and sunset theme
- Radhuset – Blue Line – reddish underground cave
- Kungsträdgården – Blue Line – with the mosaic details.
When you do the subway station hopping, you want to avoid the rush hours. That’s exactly why I saved it for the end of the day. I went around 10 pm on a Thursday and it was fairly empty. During the day on a weekday will also have less people.
If you have more than one day in Stockholm …
Visit a museum
If you are a museum person, there are many great museums in Stockholm.
- Vasa Museum – one of the best and most famous museum in Stockholm, no doubt about it. It houses the amazingly preserved 17th century warship, which sank on its maiden voyage just minutes after leaving harbor in 1628. It was recovered after 333 years and it’s mostly in tact and you can now see it in the Vasa Museum. It costs 240 SEK in the summer and 195 SEK off season.
- ABBA Museum – one of the most famous bands to come out of Sweden was ABBA and now there’s an interactive museum dedicated to the band. It’s also on Djurgården island, not far from the Vasa Museum. It’s open everyday, the entrance fee costs 329 SEK and you can pre-book your ticket here.
- Noble Prize Museum – a museum dedicated to the Nobel Prize winners. It’s right in Stortorget, the main square in Gamla Stan. Entrance fee is 160 SEK.
- Skansen Open-Air Museum – the world’s oldest open air museum showcasing the Swedish life through historic homes, buildings and traditions. It’s located on the island of Djurgården and the entrance fee is 305 SEK. Pre-book your Skansen ticket here.
- Fotografiska – world-renowned photography museum, located right on the waterfront in Södermalm. The location mean you also get amazing views of the city, especially from the upper floor restaurant. The museum is open very late (until 11 pm) and the entrance fee is 225 SEK.
- Nationalmuseum – art museum with extensive collection of arts, paintings and sculptures from 16th century until modern times. Admission costs 160 SEK, but you can visit for free on Thursdays 5-8 pm.
Where to stay in Stockholm, Sweden
If you’re in Stockholm for a quick visit, you want to stay close to where the top attractions are. the neighborhoods you should consider are Gamla Stan, Södermalm or Kungsholmen.
Radisson Blue Royal Viking Hotel – this is where I stayed during my short Stockholm visit. The hotel is modern and its central location makes it a very convenient base for exploring the city. It’s right next to Central Station and Arlanda Express. There is a rooftop bar with great views of the city.
Nordic Light Hotel – stylish hotel with modern rooms in a very convenient location, right by Arlanda Express, the main train station and a short walk away from Gamla Stan.
Hotel Reisen – this hotel is right on the waterfront in Gamla Stan, so you have an easy access to some of the top Stockholm attractions, as well as subway connections to explore other islands. Some of the amenities are a restaurant, a couple of bars, fitness center and Nordic Spa.
Grand Hotel – one of the best luxury hotels in Stockholm in a perfect location, right on the waterfront and a short walk to Gamla Stan. Beautiful rooms, spectacular views and top notch service.
READ MORE:
- How to Spend One Day in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Top Things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland
- Tips for Visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Click on the Pin to save for later!
