2022
Though Sweden’s short, but glorious summers with 18 hours of daylight at its peak are a great time to visit, autumn is still my favorite time to be in Stockholm. With its many trees and greenspaces, the entire city is set ablaze with golden leaves accented by early sunsets and a pleasant chill that makes everything feel cozier. It’s also the perfect time to see the city for the first time, as the cooler temperatures allow for comfortable walks from one sight to the next, and an excuse to duck into the city’s genuinely cool metro when you’re feet get too tired.
There’s plenty to see in Sweden’s capital, which isn’t surprising considering the city’s Old Town was first built around 1000 CE by Vikings, but here’s what you absolutely can’t miss during your first visit.
Beware, this museum has a bit of a strong smell to it, but it’s for a good reason: it houses a salvaged 17th century ship. The Vasa is a 64-gun warship that King Gustavus Adolphus ordered to be built during a war with Poland. Due to a variety of factors, including impatience and incompetence, the ship sank about 20 minutes into its maiden voyage. After 333 years at the floor of Stockholm harbor, the ship was raised and this museum was built around it. Due to the toxic nature of the harbor at the time and conservation efforts after it was raised, over 95 percent of the ship as it stands today is original.
This stunning modern art museum offers a look at incredible works of art and beautiful views of the rest of the city. The permanent collection, which includes famous works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dali, is free to visit. There are also temporary exhibits, which there is a fee for, and they have never failed to impress me. Walk over from Norrmalm for the full effect.
Tucked away on Djurgården, Rosendals Trädgård is a beautiful public garden with a famous bakery known for its cinnamon buns. Stroll the various gardens or sit with a bun and coffee or a glass of wine while enjoying the changing of the leaves. Fall also brings special events to Rosendals for Octoberfest, All Saints’ Day, Christmas and the start of winter.
Located on Södermalm, Fotografiska is Stockholm's contemporary photography center. With no permanent collection, it instead offers four major exhibitions a year in addition to smaller rotating exhibits, so it’s a completely different experience each time you visit. Past exhibits have included photos by Annie Leibovitz and David LaChapelle as well as rising photography stars. The vegetarian restaurant at the top of the museum is also worth a trip.
After all that sightseeing, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite, but luckily Stockholm has plenty of awesome dining options, like my favorite, Nytorget 6. You should start with traditional Swedish food though, and there’s no better place for that than Restaurant Pelikan. Go for classics like the Swedish meatballs, reindeer, salmon, or cod and wash it all down with an aquavit (a distilled Scandiavian spirit) tasting.
Have you ever been to Stockholm? What would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!
Hello @kmajewski
I love to know more about history & historical places, foods and culture of Stockholm and Sweden. I never visited Sweden but I hope I can visit soon.
JAPAN LOCAL GUIDES
