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From Lake Malaren to the Baltic Sea, 14 islands make up Sweden’s waterside capital. Across them, centuries of history blend seamlessly into the latest Scandinavian sophistication. That’s the thing about Stockholm: one minute you’ll be ogling a futuristic skyscraper, the next, admiring a regal palace.
The birthplace of Alfred Nobel, the man who lends his name to the Nobel Prizes, Stockholm is no stranger to hosting the world’s most celebrated. After all, this is the city which brought together Sweden’s own fab four. One day in Stockholm is just enough time to pay homage to both Nobel and ABBA.
Of course, there is far more to Stockholm than science and music. Home to Sweden’s finest museums, it’s top restaurants and most diverse array of street food, quirky art galleries and the chocolate box houses of Gamla Stan, one day in Stockholm has the makings of the ultimate Scandinavian city break.
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When to visit Stockholm
Summer (June to August) is Stockholm’s peak tourist season. The weather is at its best with temperatures hovering between 20 and 25°C (68-77°F) and the days are long. Sitting at a latitude of 59°N, Stockholm enjoys up to 18 hours of daylight around the summer solstice. In fact, during midsummer, it never gets completely dark.
Visiting Stockholm in winter is a great idea, too. Scandinavia as a whole is a fantastic winter destination. Towards the south of the region, Stockholm has some of Scandinavia’s highest winter temperatures. Let there be no doubt, it’s certainly chilly, but even in the coldest months (January and February), the average temperature only drops to -1°C (30°F).
Also in winter’s favor, spending one day in Stockholm in the run-up to Christmas is nothing short of magical. Royal Court Stable and Gamla Stan host some of Europe’s best Christmas Markets. The ice skating is phenomenal and a glass of mulled wine is the perfect remedy for the winter chill.
Getting to Stockholm
Sweden’s capital and largest city, Stockholm is well connected to the Nordic countries, Europe and the wider world. The country’s busiest airport, Arlanda (ARN) is located 37-kilometers north of the city, but the Arlanda Express train makes the journey in just 18 minutes. The prices are on the higher side, so if time isn’t your biggest concern, it can pay to take the slower regional train or one of the frequent express buses.
If you’re arriving from within Europe, Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO) and Vasteras Airport (VST) are the city’s low-cost airline hubs. Whilst flights are cheaper, it’s worth factoring in the additional travel time. Despite the names, Skavsta and Vasteras are both over 100 kilometers from central Stockholm and require a coach transfer of around 90 minutes to reach.
If you prefer traveling overland, Stockholm Central Station is well served by trains from across Sweden. International services from Berlin, Copenhagen and Oslo also operate daily. For an even more relaxing journey, you can travel to Stockholm from Helsinki, Tallinn and Turku by ferry.
Is one day in Stockholm enough?
It’s true that one day anywhere is rarely enough. This, to an extent, is as true of Stockholm as everywhere else. You could easily spend a weekend or even a week in the city without running out of things to do. One day in Stockholm, however, is enough time to get acquainted with the Swedish capital and tick off its most revered sights.
If you are able to add a day or two on to this one day in Stockholm itinerary, don’t miss the chance to take a ferry ride to one of the outlying islands or head out to Tyresta National Park. Stockholm’s transport links also make it a great place to spend a few days before embarking on a longer Swedish adventure.
One Day in Stockholm
9 am: Breakfast at Café Schweizer
Every great adventure starts with a hearty breakfast, and that’s exactly how you should kick off your one day in Stockholm. Café Schweizer in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town, has been welcoming diners since 1920. A wonderful mix of modern Scandi-style and old Viennese coffee house charm, their cakes are the eye-catching stars of the show.
If a more traditional breakfast is your style, their signature Schweizer Breakfast of Kalles and a boiled egg is the ideal introduction to Swedish cuisine. Kalles, commonly (albeit incorrectly) referred to as caviar, is a Swedish delicacy. A spread made from fish roe enhanced with oil, sugar and spices, it can only be packaged in aluminium to avoid the roe reacting with air.
Despite being invented as recently as 1954, Kalles is one of Sweden’s national foods. So proud are Swedes of their Kalles, when IKEA replaced the original with own brand in their restaurants, there was uproar. Within a couple of years, real Kalles was back.
10 am: Explore Gamla Stan
Having filled up at Café Schweizer, you’ll be perfectly located to continue your one day in Stockholm experience with a walk through Gamla Stan. Dating back to the 13th century, the old town occupies the island of Stadsholmen. Growing up as an iron trading post, when Hanseastic trade reached Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s significance was immediately cemented.
Travel tip: To see Stockholm through the eyes of a local history expert, book your space on a 2-hour walking tour through Gamla Stan’s cobbled passageways.
Make a stop at Storkyrkan, the city’s oldest church. It’s often referred to as a cathedral, even if it isn’t, and is the seat of the Bishop of Stockholm. As impressive as the exterior is, the real beauty is inside. Keep your eyes peeled for the 15th century of St George and the Dragon.
11 am: The History of the Nobel Prize
Leaving Storkyrkan behind, continue through Gamla Stan’s maze of narrow alleys to the historic main square, Stortorget. Lined with Medieval buildings, the highlight is one of the more recent additions. The Stock Exchange Building, built in 1778 takes up the entire northern side of the square.
An unmissable stop on any one day in Stockholm itinerary, the Nobel Prize Museum is one of Sweden’s finest. It showcases the achievements of every Nobel laureate, right back to the very first in 1895. Alfred Nobel, born in Stockholm in 1833, dictated in his will that the Swedish Academy of Sciences would select the laureates for chemistry and physics, a tradition maintained to this day.
The museum is open every day except Mondays. To save time and hassle during your one day in Stockholm, it’s worth booking tickets in advance.
1 pm: Street Food Swedish-style
Like all of Scandinavia, restaurant prices (and prices in general), are on the higher side. A great way to save on food costs is to indulge in Stockholm’s varied street food scene. No matter which cuisine you’re craving, you’ll find it in Stockholm. With just one day, it’s only right to sample as many Swedish classics as possible.
Take a short metro ride to Skanstull for an authentic Swedish street food experience at Haqet. The Swedish Classic pork and juniper hot dogs are the clear winner. Forget a choice of mustard or ketchup; you’ll get both, along with roasted onions and fresh shrimp salad. Their beef and lamb dog, Haqet’s Favorite, comes with tomatoes, onions and chimichurri. Two vegan options are also available.
2 pm: The Birthplace of ABBA
One day in Stockholm wouldn’t be complete without a ferry journey across the bay. Head for Slussen Ferry Terminal, at the southern edge of Gamla Stan to embark on the short crossing to Allmanna Grand on Djurgarden island. The crossing takes around 8 minutes, with departures every 15 minutes.
The next stop on our one day in Stockholm itinerary is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the ferry terminal. Dedicated to the lives and music of one of the most iconic pop groups of the 20th century, ABBA The Museum is an essential part of any visit to Summer Night City. After all, it was ABBA who lent it the nickname.
Travel tip: ABBA The Museum is one of Stockholm’s most visited attractions. It’s well worth booking your entry slot in advance.
The museum’s permanent exhibits relive Benny, Bjorn, Frida and Agnetha’s lives from long before ABBA was born to their Eurovision breakthrough with Waterloo and the international fame that followed. You’ll get to see their original costumes, experience what it was like to perform on stage and wallow in the sadness of One of Us and The Winner Takes It All which pathed the way to ABBA’s break up.
But, in their words, breaking up is never easy, and ABBA never truly did. A temporary exhibition, on display throughout 2025 tells the tale of their revival in the 2010s and the infamous virtual concert which followed.
From a piece of modern Scandinavian history, make the short journey to another of Djurgarden’s fantastic museums. The Nordic Museum covers 500 years of life in Sweden and the Nordic countries.
Highlights include a fascinating depiction of life in the Scandinavian Arctic, a collection of dollhouses and 19th century toys and an exhibition explaining how British styles influenced Nordic fashion. The museum is open daily. It’s best to purchase tickets in advance.
6 pm: Sweden’s National Dish
Even if the closest you’ve got to Swedish soil so far is a certain flatpack furniture store, there’s most likely one dish which instantly springs to mind. The truth is, Swedish meatballs really are as good as you’ve heard.
Pelikan is the place to go for the most authentic meatballs in Stockholm. The meatballs are divine, doused in a rich and creamy gravy served with the classic mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam on the side, but what really makes it is the atmosphere. The wood panelled dining room with lavish décor complete with unpretentious chandeliers is an ode to the Sweden of yesteryear.
For a more contemporary take, Meatballs of the People have the most diverse meatball menu in Stockholm. From the classic beef-pork mix to moose, bear and boar, they have it all. Their salmon meatballs are a delicious alternative, and the vegan balls are so good, you’ll struggle to taste the difference.
9 pm: A Cold Drink
There’s nowhere more appropriate to round off your one day in Stockholm than Icebar. From the creators of Stockholm’s very own ice hotel, this chilly bar is decked out with fabulous ice sculptures. It may be -5°C (23°F) inside, but the ice cape and gloves handed out on entrance will soon warm you up. There’s space for just 60 guests at once, so book tickets in advance to guarantee entry. Every ticket comes with your first drink included.
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