Stockholm – The Heartbeat of Sweden
Stockholm is the epicenter of Swedish culture and administration. The biggest city in the country with roughly 2 million people in the metro area combines heritage and history with a modern and lively city atmosphere. Different parts of the city reflect that perfectly. While Gamla Stan is full of historic architecture, Normalm is home to many of Sweden’s biggest companies and is full of suit-wearing businessmen during lunchtime. On the other side, there is is Södermalm, the cultural heart of the city with many restaurants, bars and secondhand stores lining the streets. Stockholm is compared to Göteborg and Malmö much further North, so snow in the winter and colder temperatures are much more likely making it a romantic winter destination as well.
As Stockholm is one of the most expensive places on the planet, budgeting can feel really hard compared to many other European destinations. During our stay in the Swedish Capital we learned there are quite a lot of tricks with which it is possible to save a lot of money and I want to share that here, so that you can see this city even with not so deep pockets. If you are interested in an entire itinerary for Stockholm on a budget, you can find that here.
Budgeting is key
Transportation
Transportation in the city can quickly add up, so be sure to plan trips wisely. The Single Ticket for Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) costs 43 Kr and allows you to take unlimited rides with bus, tram, train or ferry for 75 minutes. The day pass costs 180 Kr, which is only worth it if you take 5 rides at a minimum so I would not consider it, as many places can be reached by walking within the inner city. The only pass that might come in handy is the 3-day pass. It costs 360 Kr and is worth the money, if you take at least 3 rides per 24 hours.
For us, the best option was to buy a Single Ticket every time we used the system. We only did 1-2 rides per day, so this option was enough. Here are some general tips and tricks to save on transportation:
Accommodation within walking distance
This is probably obvious, but if you get yourself an accommodation far away from the city center to save some money, you will have to pay roughly 8€ just to get into the city and back every day. We opted for an AirBnB in Sickla and walked one way everyday, as it is only 3 km from the center.
Plan, what you want to see
If you find that walking is not an option to see everything you intend to, than maybe the 3-day pass is a good option for you.
Make the most of a ticket
Single tickets in Stockholm are unique in the way, that they are valid to get onto any form of public transportation for 75 minutes. So as long as you enter the metro, ferry etc. within the time frame you can ride it indefinitely. You could arrive to a ferry with 2 minutes remaining tap you card once you get on and ride it for another 1,5 hours.
Museums and Entries
Sightseeing in Stockholm can get pretty costly depending on what you intend to visit. Some of the biggest attractions like the Vasa Museum and the ABBA Museum take over 20€ each. Thus, making sure that you make your moneys worth is especially important here. For us, the big museums were actually not much of a highlight. Yes, they are extensive, illustrative and very informational but if you are neither into ships nor ABBA music the above-mentioned museums are not necessarily a must-see on your Stockholm Trip. For us, the city itself held a lot in store with local culture and nature being much more interesting and cheaper. Here are some budget tips, that will save your wallet during your stay in Stockholm:
Fotografiska Deals
Every Monday, the photographic museum has a special discount for students, where entry only costs 100 Kr. Every Wednesday past 6 pm, you can also buy 2 tickets for the price of one.
Moderna Museet Friday Deal
Entry into the Moderna Museet is free on Fridays between 6 pm and 8pm
National Museum Deal
Every Thursday, the National Museum has free entry between 5 pm and 8 pm
Swedish History Museum Deal
The Swedish History Museum has a special Deal on Sundays. Students pay only 90 Kr to enter.
Swedish Parliament Tours
Tours through the Swedish Parliament are actually entirely free to take. Reservations are not possible though. Look up schedules for tours online.
Stockholm City Museum
Good News. The Stockholm City Museum is always free to enter.
Cheap or Free experiences
Stockholm is expensive, but this does not mean, that it has nothing available for cheap? We found several locations, that are either free or cost very little and are an absolute must-visit during your stay.
Public ferries across the archipelago
In the SL system, some ferries are included, which have especially long routes. Save yourself the expensive boat tour and take line 80 to see many famous sights like Djurgården or Gröna Lund from the water for the price of just 43 Kr.
Visit some of the many free viewpoints
There are many viewpoints scattered throughout the city. The best ones in my opinion are:
- Monteliusvägen
- Skinnarviksberget
- Fjällgatan
- Mosebacketerassen
Go to a Sauna
In Sweden Sauna has a long tradition and the perfect end to a long day of walking through Stockholm. Most of them cost at least 15€ but I found two which are cheaper: Tantobastun sits right in the city center and costs roughly 5€, you need to be quick when tickets sell online though. They are sold out days in advance. Sätrabastun does not require prior reservation and only costs 40 Kr. The downside is that it only operates on weekends and is quite far away from the city center. Both are beautifully situated on the water and were some the best experiences we had during our stay in Stockholm
Shop at Secondhand stores in Södermalm
Södermalm has quite the variety of thrift stores where you can find everything from clothing to decor for cheap. It is a fun way to experience the area and find a good deal at the same time.
Visit the Mojang Office
Played Minecraft as a child? The lobby is free to visit and is decorated accordingly.
Visit Metro Stations
Each station of the „Tunnelbanan“ is an artwork in itself. Stations here are special compared to other cities in the way, that they are struck right into the bedrock itself. The stone walls are left exposed and together with different art installations, create a beautiful diversity of picturesque station designs. To get a good impression visit T-Centralen, Rådhuset, Kungsträdgården and Stadion. These 4 are close to each other located in the city center and can all be reached with one single ticket.
Walk around
Honestly, Stockholm is perfect for walking around and experiencing the local culture on foot. On most occasions you will be completely separated from unpleasant through traffic and all the fumes and noises that come with it. There are nice parks or small local roads almost everywhere, were mostly other pedestrians and cyclists will cross your way. Many sights like the Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, the Drottninggatan or the Strandvägen are also perfectly visible during a walk around town.
Food
In terms of food Stockholm has quite a lot of budget options and is far less expensive than one might think. We were actually surprised how affordable things to eat were compared to prices in my home country of Germany. While everything else is ,as expected, really expensive you can get a full stomach for just a couple euros if you do it right. Here are some tips, with which you can easily save a couple of euros during your stay in Stockholm:
Make use of Lunch Deals
Many restaurants in Stockholm offer a special Lunch Menu, mostly with just a couple of options. Those have a lower price than evening options from the main menu and mostly come with water, coffee and salad (sometimes even some bread). Meals are filling and I was always full until the evening, so I did not spend anything on snacks during the afternoon. My girlfriend even took some of the lunch home as dinner on some days, so for her it was an even bigger bargain. Compared to going to the supermarket it is just a couple euros more but tastes much nicer obviously.
Get Lunch at Supermarkets
Swedish supermarkets are really good and have a wide selection of local produce so go for some Tunnbröd or fresh fish as a snack for when you are hungry. You will not regret it.
Go to IKEA
Sounds weird at first, but Ikea has a city restaurant in Downtown Stockholm. Here you get the classics, like Köttbullar, Lax and more for just a couple of euros. A must see, when in Normalm.
Go for Fika
To truly immerse yourself in the Swedish Lifestyle go for a Fika. This traditional event can take place all over the day and includes meeting with friends or family for a coffee and a pastry. The importance of this tradition is visible at 4pm when all cafés are filled to the brim, especially on rainy days. Head to Svedjan Bageri, the best bakery we encountered in all of Sweden.