3 days in Stockholm at a glance
Itinerary Idea
Stockholm is on every backpackers bucket list, but many shy away from it because of the steep price tag. Having spent a couple of days there myself during my trip through Sweden, I am convinced that I have found quite a couple of tricks to make the city at least a little more affordable. Therefore I want to give you a comprehensive 3 day itinerary, which does not break the bank and still covers all the main attractions, while not feeling cheap at all.
Overall, food, attractions and transportation for the day can quickly add up, but if you are careful about it and plan ahead, you can easily get around spending less than in other major European destinations as there are many freebies and nearly free things you can do. You just have to know about them. Thus, this itinerary is a combination of the best finds during my stay and how I, knowing this information now, would have liked to plan out my visit to the city if I had only had 3 days.
If you want to change something out within the itinerary my guide about budget tips for Stockholm can help. There I listed special deals for museum and more tips and tricks to circumvent the usually high price tag of the city.
Map and Overview
The points on the map are divided into different categories:
- yellow – sights
- red – museums
- green – viewpoints
- purple – metro stations
- brown – experiences
While most points of interest lie within walking distance within from one another, the ones listed below require you to take public transportation:
- Drottningholms Slott
- Sätrabastun
- Tyresta NP
- Ferry Line 80 and 89
Overall, Stockholm is very walkable and if you plan it right or follow my itinerary, you can save a lot on metro tickets.
Day 1: Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Metro and Ferries
Morning
The Gamla Stan (Old Town in English) is probably the most touristic place in all of Stockholm, but it nonetheless worth visiting. Stroll through the cobblestone alleys with their beautiful facades, the small churches and of course the Royal Palace. In my opinion it is not worth entering the palace though. It is just like any other royal residence from the inside and on the outside it looks more like a concrete box, than a castle. Overall, Gamla Stan can feel really gimmicky, so I guess 1 hours for everything there is probably sufficient.
Next on, head over to Norrmalm into the modern downtown of Stockholm. Here the city looks completely different with modern high-rises lining the streets and businessmen all over the place. A stark contrast to the tourism-centered old town. Walk through Kungträdsgården and explore Drottninggatan, the main shopping street in the district. Stop by Hötorgshallen, the historic market hall of the city and enjoy a snack or two there.
For lunch, head towards the Sergels Torg, the city center of Stockholm and enter the Gallerian Shopping Center, where you can find the famous Ikea City Restaurant, serving the most authentic food you can get in Sweden (ironically of course, but I recommend it for the experience).
Afternoon
After lunch it is now time to see something, that most tourists skip: the metro stations. In my opinion these are a must-see highlight in Stockholm. Each one is carved directly into the granite rock, creating a cave-like atmosphere. These cavernous underground stations were then given to artists as blank canvasses for them to create special designs in each one turning the Stockholm Metro into one big art gallery.
To get a good impression of the best stations you do not need to visit everyone though. T-Centralen, Kungträdsgården, Rådhuset and Stadion suffice. You can visit them all with one public transport ticket. Afterwards, with the same ticket, head over to Ropsten, the final station of the red line. Here you can switch over to the ferry and take the commuter ferry line 80 at no extra cost.
This ferry was a highlight on our Stockholm Trip. It is a 1 hour ride back to Nybrokajen in Norrmalm. On the way you pass by famous sights such as Djurgården, Gröna Lund and many of the famous museums like the Vasa Museum. In my opinion the ship offers the best views of the city, especially shortly before arriving to Nybrokajen.
By the time you arrive there it will be pretty late already. Stroll along Strandvägen or make use of an evening discount in one of the museums to end the day.
Day 2: Riksdag, Drottningholms Slott and Viewpoints
Morning
Today’s day is all about the people ruling this country. Both in name and in practice. Start of with the parliament of Sweden, the „Riksdag„. There they offer free tours around all the parts of the Swedish legislative building. They need to be pre-booked online and take around 1 hour. You even get to see the MP’s debate when coming during one of their sessions.
Having worked up an appetite, head over to Norrmalm for a Lunch Deal at a restaurant, a surprisingly cheap way to fuel up in Stockholm.
Afternoon
Head over to Klara Mälarstrand from where the commuter ferry line 89 sets off. Arrive a couple minutes early. This way you can take a closer look at the Stadshus, the city hall of Stockholm with its iconic red livery and location right by the water.
Take ferry Line 89 all the way to Tappström, the main ferry point for the small suburban town of Eckerö. This ferry is not overcrowded with tourists, as it is pretty unknown outside of Stockholm. Nonetheless it is equally as beautiful as line 80 with comparatively more greenery and fewer stops along the way. As the ride takes roughly 55 minutes, you can immediately take the bus 176, 177 or 311 to get to Drottningholms Slott. It is of course much faster to get there with the metro but certainly much less scenic. Walk through the beautifully decorated gardens with the castles facade as the perfect backdrop for pictures. The castle building itself costs entry, the adjacent Chinese Pavilion is free to visit though.
Evening
Heading back into the city, take the metro until Mariatorget and stroll through the adjacent streets. The area around the station is known for it’s many cafés, bars and thrift stores perfect to do some shopping. Check out Svedjan Bageri, the best bakery in all of Sweden in my opinion. Their Cardamom Buns are probably the best pastry I’ve ever tasted.
Watch the sunset at Skinnarviksberget or Monteliusvägen. Both spots offer beautiful views over the water and the Old Town.
Day 3: Tyresta NP and Sauna
Morning & Afternoon
After two full days immersing yourself in the city life of Stockholm, it is time to head out and see some of the beautiful nature Sweden has to offer. The best place for this is in my opinion Tyresta National Park. You can reach it from central Stockholm in a bit over an hour. Take the Pendeltåg train until Handen and switch over to bus 834 to Svartbäcken Tyresta by, which will drop you off at the visitor center of the park. From here, a 14 km long route will take you through untouched forest and along scenic lakes and marshes, giving you a glimpse into Swedish nature. The hike, including some breaks takes roughly 5 hours, so the total time with transport will be around 7,5 hours for the entire day trip.
Evening
The perfect thing to do after a long hike is to go for some relaxation. Traditionally in Sweden, this would be done in a sauna, which is perfect end to your 3 days in Stockholm. Watch out though if you are trying to save some money. Many saunas are pretty expensive costing at least 15€ for a 2 hour session. They also sell out days in advance so you have to be fast when booking. The cheapest ones, that offer practically the same quality of sauna as others in my opinion are Sätrabastun (40 Kr) and Tantobastun (60 Kr). Both are built on small rafts in the water, so a cold plunge after each session is guaranteed.