10 Travel Tips for Stockholm

Travel in Stockholm, Sweden is certainly a worthwhile affair.  The streets are clean, the people stylish and beautiful, the surroundings an array of architectural styles effortlessly mingled with nature.

I’ve only just begun getting to know this chic city, but in the time I’ve been here I’ve picked up a few handy tips I think everyone should have in their arsenal prior to arrival.

Looking for a great place to stay in Stockholm? Try Generator Stockholm for a budget-friendly option or Haymarket by Scandic for a more upscale experience.

My 10 Best Travel Tips for Stockholm, Sweden

Plastic is King

Sweden may be part of the EU, but they’ve opted to stick with their own currency, the Swedish Krona (SEK, often referred to as crowns in English). However, you may not see much cash floating around during your visit as you can pay with a credit card for almost everything in Stockholm.

The one notable exception to this is public toilets. From bus stations to malls to public parks, toilets are nearly always pay-to-pee. This requires inserting a 5 or 10 kronor coin into a machine to unlock the door. A minor annoyance, but one that can be avoided by carrying small change just in case or using free toilets when you can.

If you’ve paid an entrance fee or purchased something (like in a café or bar), toilets will be free.Stockholm, Sweden is easily one of my favorite cities. Make your trip easier (and cheaper!) with these useful travel tips.

Public Transit is Queen

For the love of all things holy, NEVER take taxis in Stockholm. The public transit system is fantastic, and a taxi fare stands the chance of not only emptying your bank account but giving you a heart attack in the process.

Purchase an SL Access card from any metro station or kiosk and keep it filled with credit. This card can be used on the metro, buses, and trams, where each ride costs 25 SEK ($2.92) with your pre-paid card. SL Access cards are perfect for repeat visitors; the card itself costs 20 SEK but can be re-used on subsequent visits.

For short-term visitors, single-use Travelcards can be purchased which are valid for unlimited rides within a 24-hour, 72-hour, or 7-day time period. Be aware that bus drivers do not handle cash, so you must purchase a ticket beforehand. For full fare information, visit the SL website.

Travel Tips for Stockholm
The reusable SL Access card

Don’t Miss the Metro

Trust me when I say that you’ll be missing something special if you never ride the Stockholm metro. The stations are not only massive and spacious compared to most transit stations I’ve seen, but they are unique works of art.

Some call it “the world’s longest art exhibit” in which more than 90 stations have been adorned with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, installations and engravings.

Travel tips for Stockholm
Underground art…literally

Save Big with Casual Dining

Stockholm, and particularly Stockholm’s restaurant scene, has a reputation for being outlandishly expensive. Unfortunately, I’m not here to dispell that rumor today, but rather to offer a more affordable alternative.

Sit down for a proper restaurant meal and your wallet is bound to feel the pinch, but dine al fresco at one of the city’s kiosks and save big! Hot dog kiosks are easily the most popular (korv in Swedish) but other options (like Thai takeaway, who knew?) do exist.

Or if you’re in the mood for a burger, hit up the local fast food chain, Max. A regular burger (albeit a small one) costs just 15 SEK ($1.76) without add-ons.

Travel Tips for Stockholm
Hotdog kiosk in central Stockholm

Plan to Drink? Plan Ahead

Outside of bars and restaurants, alcoholic beverages containing more than 3.5% ABV can only be purchased at Systembolaget, the government-owned liquor store chain. This is easily the most affordable way to drink in Sweden–a nice imported beer might cost you 25 SEK ($2.93) here, whereas the same beer can cost 80 SEK ($9.37) in a bar.

As a wine drinker, I save money by purchasing 3-liter boxed varieties for as little as 179 SEK (about $20).

Oddly enough, not every Systembolaget has the same opening hours. They uniformly open at 10 am but can close as early as 6 pm during the week, 3 pm on Saturdays, and are not open at all on Sundays.  For this reason, it’s important to plan ahead unless you want to spend a fortune on drinks out at bars.

Don’t Forget to Fika

Another drink that Swedes take very, VERY seriously is coffee. There is even a cultural phenomenon centered around the caffeinated beverage known as “fika,” in which one takes a break from working to socialize with friends over coffee and sweet pastries.

The kanelbulle (cinnamon bun) is one of the most traditional fika pastries, but really, anything goes. Nothing complements a long day of sightseeing like a nice fika–don’t miss this charming (and delicious) Swedish tradition.

Related post: How Swedes Stay Happy & Healthy All Winter Long

Swedish Fika in Stockholm
Kanelbulle och kaffe (cinnamon bun and coffee)

Take a Free Tour

Free?! I bet at this point you thought you’d never hear the word. But it’s true, there are a few free things to do in Stockholm, and a free walking tour is one of them.

Of course, as with any other “free” tour, gratuity is appreciated by your guide, but the price is up to you. These tours run all year, just make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Check out just a few of the Stockholm free walking tour options.

Know When (and When Not) to Tip

Hooray! Workers in Sweden earn a living wage, meaning tipping is not common in Stockholm or elsewhere. Restaurants and taxis are the most common places tipping occurs, but since I’ve already warned you away from taxis, we’ll focus on restaurants.

Service charges are almost always included in your bill, especially at upscale places. For exceptional service or during evening meals, feel free to add a 10% gratuity.

This can be said for bar service as well–if a beer costs 58 SEK and you pay 60, that’s perfectly fair. There is no need to tip for services like haircuts, and even tipping hotel staff is not expected.

Stockholm at night, as seen from Gondolen
Stockholm at night, as seen from Gondolen

Take It All In

There aren’t many hills in Stockholm and due to city regulations, there aren’t many tall buildings, either. Fortunately, there are still a few places that offer fantastic city views.

Gondolen is a restaurant suspended high above the harbor that offers sweeping views of the city. Though closed in the winter, you can still access the viewpoint for a few photos.

Another well-known viewpoint is Kaknäs Tower, the hub of TV and radio transmission in Sweden.  At 155 meters high (508 feet) it gives a view of the city unlike any other.  The tower houses a restaurant, skybar, and observation deck for your viewing pleasure.

Choose Your Museums Carefully

There is a veritable multitude of museums to choose from in Stockholm, but there are two particularly Swedish ones you won’t find anywhere else: the ABBA Museum and the Vasa Museum.

The former (hopefully) needs no introduction–it pays homage to one of Sweden’s most popular exports, the pop group that took the world by storm after winning Eurovision in 1974.

The latter pays homage to one of Sweden’s biggest failures, the extravagant Vasa warship that sank not even one kilometer offshore on her maiden voyage. They’ve salvaged the situation in more ways than one, however, as the ship is one of the most well-preserved in the world (after being underwater for more than 300 years) and the museum built around it has become one of Stockholm’s most popular attractions.

And since every time I think of ABBA this song gets stuck in my head, you get to suffer with me. I’m sorry You’re welcome.

Read next: Packing for Winter in Sweden

Have you been to Stockholm?  What tips would you add? 

18 comments

  • Katie

    There’s an ABBA Museum?! LOVE it! Somehow this reminds me of my recent visit to Tasmania’s MONA, where there was an entire room devoted to thirty television screens featuring people singing an entire Madonna album. It was amazing — but a wall full of people singing ABBA? That would be even better!
    Katie recently posted…Exploring Melbourne’s Laneways: A DIY Street Art Walking TourMy Profile

    • Leah Davis (author)

      Yeah! And I totally want to go. That museum in Tasmania sounds super weird, not gonna lie! I’ve heard at the ABBA museum you do get to pretend you’re part of the band and get on stage and perform. Hilarious!
      Leah Davis recently posted…Warsaw: Poland’s Unjustly Underrated CapitalMy Profile

  • Rachel

    I love how most of these tips are about how to save money! I’m assuming the boxed wine there is pretty solid? And thank God for no outrageous tipping requirements – I could get used to that. You’ve really made me interested in visiting Sweden. I had a few friends who studied abroad there (and one who even ended up marrying a Swede) and they absolutely loved it.
    Rachel recently posted…How to Make Quito Not SuckMy Profile

    • Leah Davis (author)

      Haha well that was always my intention, to show people that living here didn’t have to be outrageously expensive. Because literally every time I mentioned going to Sweden people were like “ARE YOU CRAZY IT’S SO EXPENSIVE YOU’RE GOING TO DIE BLAH BLAH BLAH” and I was like, Ooookay calm down, there must be some sort of compromise here. And I’ll be the first to admit, my life is not that exciting over here. I cook almost all my own meals, I don’t go to bars, and I’m going to attractions for free with a press pass. I’m sure it would be a completely different story in the spring/summer when I want to be outside constantly, but for now it’s workin for me! Ha.

  • Inverted Sheep

    For cheap healthy eats check out the salad bars in the supermarkets. They’re really popular with Swedes and have loads of choice. You pay by weight. Sweden is also the only country I’ve been to where they have vending machines in the train station selling salad.

    • Leah Davis (author)

      Thanks for the tip! Sadly, the grocery store nearest me is teeny tiny and doesn’t have one of these elusive salad bars you speak of, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled around town! 🙂

  • Amanda

    Great tips, Leah! Super helpful and definitely things to keep in mind!
    Amanda recently posted…I’m Going to England!My Profile

    • Leah Davis (author)

      Thanks Amanda! Any plans to travel to Stockholm? For TBEX, perhaps? 🙂

  • Lauren

    Have you been to the aquarium?! It’s spectacular! Your tips are very on point though, when I visited I knew absolutely nothing about the city other than the trinket shopping would be interesting. Would also suggest bringing a jacket… or three.
    Lauren recently posted…10 Reasons You Must Visit St. Petersburg, FloridaMy Profile

    • Leah Davis (author)

      No, I haven’t been! Thanks for the tip! I’m here in the winter so a jacket (a very, very thick one) is a must. And though I haven’t been here in the summer, from what I understand it can be brisk in the evenings or windy during the days, so I believe you! Jacket seems necessary here year-round.
      Leah Davis recently posted…Warsaw: Poland’s Unjustly Underrated CapitalMy Profile

  • Ella

    My friend visited Stockholm last year and she’s been raving about it since. I’d love to visit at some point… especially for the ABBA museum haha. I have plenty of childhood memories of me dancing to their music with a tiny disco ball only lighting up a corner of the room 🙂

    • Leah Davis (author)

      I’m dying to get back so I can check out the ABBA museum myself! I think it sounds like a lot of fun 🙂
      Leah Davis recently posted…Eating San FranciscoMy Profile

  • Edith

    I don’t know any restaurang who have bill with service charges are included in your bill. Rounding your bill up …but not 2 krona…better dont leave nothing… normal is 10-15% tip…sallary this kind place are very bad..

    • Leah Davis (author)

      Hi Edith! Maybe you and I were eating in different restaurants. My Swedish friends are the ones who gave me this info, I never heard 10-15% was a normal tip. And the 2 krona example was only in a bar for example when ordering one drink.

  • Maria

    I just booked a day trip to Stockholm, I am so looking forward to it 😛 I figured it couldn’t get too expensive on just one day.. I want to get lost in Gamla Stan, visit a museum or two, enjoy a fika and probably end the day with a boat trip – crossing fingers for nice weather!

    • Leah Davis (author)

      That sounds like the PERFECT day in Stockholm, Maria! I really hope you enjoy, it’s so lovely when it’s warm! (And even when it’s not 😉 )

  • Mary Linda Smith

    I went to art school there in 1973-74. I would definitely go to Stockholm’s old town (Gamla Stan) – it’s quaint, has neat shops, restaurants (yes, expensive!), etc. Also check out Stockholm’s IKEA to compare with the one that now may be in your hometown. This is where it started! They have an extensive food/grocery area too! If you like Scandinavian design, fabrics, crystal, pottery, etc., there are plenty of places to look around for these things! If memory serves, there is Drottningholm, a castle where you can see operas or theater productions, and is a bit outside Stockholm and would be a great day trip. There are also some beautiful parks in Stockholm in which to walk or relax. There is really plenty to do – just seek it out. And virtually everyone, with the possible exception of recent emigres, speaks impeccable English. At least they used to!

    • Leah Davis (author)

      It’s true, there is so much to do in Stockholm! I always wanted to visit IKEA while I was living in Sweden (I thought of it as ‘the mothership’) but I sadly never had the chance!

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