Last updated on August 31st, 2024 at 03:41 pm
I’d wanted to visit Stockholm for a while so when we planned a summer trip to Scandinavia, I made sure Sweden’s capital was our first stop!
Famed for Abba, Viking history, fika and fabulous meatballs, Stockholm is easy to navigate and has loads of attractions to explore, many extremely close to each other – making it a great destination for a short break.
Visiting Stockholm with kids is also a joy. During our two days in Stockholm, it was just me and my daughter: we felt safe and found it a friendly city with lots for kids to do – including free (or cheap) entry to several of Stockholm’s main attractions.
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2 Days In Stockholm: What To Do
Whether you have one day in Stockholm or two days to explore, Stockholm offers a range of activities suited to families. From interactive museums and pretty old town streets to exciting amusement parks and must-try eats, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful Nordic city.
In this 2 day itinerary for Stockholm, we’ll take you through the best family-friendly activities to make sure you make the most of your short visit and ensure you all have an unforgettable experience. We’ll take you through the best things to do in Stockholm whatever your interests.
Here’s your perfect family itinerary for 48 hours in Stockholm:
➡️Day 1: Exploring Djurgården: Abba, Vasa, Skansen & Grona Lund
➡️Day 2: Gamla Stan (Old Town) & Stockholm Central
To make your 2 day Stockholm itinerary easier, we’ve included a map of Stockholm which will show you where the places we recommend visiting are all located in the city.
SWEDEN QUICK FACTS:
LANGUAGE: Swedish
CURRENCY: SEK (Swedish Kroner)
FLIGHT TIME FROM UK: 2 hours 20 minutes
FLIGHT TIME FROM US: 9 to 10 hours
NATIONAL ANIMAL: Eurasian Elk
POPULATION: 10.49 Million (950,000 in Stockholm)
Day 1: Explore Djurgården
Djurgården is the location of many of Stockholm’s main attractions so it’s really convenient to base yourselves there for the day, pinpointing the ones you want to visit.
We stayed in Stockholm Central (by the train station) and caught the Number 7 tram to Djurgården (the tram stop is opposite the large Arlens department store and Joe and the Juice). Trams run to Skansen, which is where you’ll want to get off.
It’ll take you around 10 minutes to reach Djurgården from the centre by tram. If you fancy stretching your legs, walking will take you around 40 minutes. Tickets can be bought aboard the tram, purchased online on the SL phone app or from a local 7-Eleven store.
Morning
You can fit two museums into the first morning of your Stockholm 2 day itinerary. Our tip would be to start with the Vasa Museum, which opens early at 8.30 am.
Vasa Museum
Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Times: 8.30 am to 6 pm
Ticket Price: 220 SEK (children under 18 years old are free)
The Vasa Museum is one of Stockholm’s most visited attractions, and once you enter it’s easy to see why a visit here is considered one of the best things to do in Sweden.
The Vasa is an impressive 17th-century warship. Unfortunately, despite how great it looked, it sank less than half an hour after setting sail on its maiden voyage. Its construction had significant faults – it was too tall and too narrow. The ship sank in just a few minutes with those below decks struggling to reach the surface of the water: over 30 people drowned.
We started our visit to the museum by watching the seventeen-minute video about how the Vasa sank, was recovered and rebuilt. It’s family-friendly and a good introduction.
There’s an 8:40 am showing in English (perfect if you’re arriving early) – but don’t worry if you miss it, there are regular showings throughout the day. The theatre showing the film is on the right after you enter the main part of the museum.
The Vasa was found to be amazingly well preserved when it was salvaged 300 years after it sank. However, it needed some work. Following its retrieval from the water, the ship was painstakingly put back together (referred to by some as the ‘world’s largest jigsaw puzzle’). It’s 98% original which is quite some feat.
The result is a unique opportunity to see an almost fully intact warship from this era (the only one of its kind in the world) and learn about its history, construction, and the dramatic story of its sinking and recovery.
Head to the back of the ship to see the intricate carvings on the hull – all crafted with the aim of intimidating the enemy.
The museum has several hands-on exhibits through which kids and teens can engage with the ship’s history (for example, having a go at steering the ship on its course). Touchscreen activities will also engage them.
On Level 5, you can learn more about what life was like on board a Viking ship, with items found from the ship’s ruins on display.
✅ Book tickets and a tour for the Vasa Museum HERE
Abba The Museum
Abba The Museum is a short walk from the Vasa. I’d advise you to book your tickets in advance for this attraction, as it’s one of the most popular in Stockholm.
Address: Djurgårdsvägen 68, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours: Hours vary depending on the season. The Abba Museum always opens at 10 am. It closes at 8 pm in high season (summer) and 6 pm in the winter.
Ticket Price: Adult 239-299 SEK, Family 499-699 SEK, Child (7-15 years) 100-120 SEK, Child (0-6 years) Free
Your kids may be too young to remember ABBA, but we’re pretty sure they’re familiar with some of their songs – which remain much loved today.
Plus, this isn’t a ‘traditional’ museum – it’s highly interactive and lots of fun.
We enjoyed being able to sing and dance along to ABBA’s hits in the karaoke cubicles, getting up close to the band’s iconic costumes (my favourite were the kitsch cat ones), and sitting in a replica of the jeep used in the Mama Mia film.
There’s also a great multi-media experience in which you can perform with the ABBA avatars (pick your weapon – ‘Dancing Queen’ or ‘Mama Mia’) – if you’re brave enough. We weren’t – but enjoyed watching those who were!
We found that it didn’t take us too long to explore the Abba Museum – perhaps an hour.
✅ Book tickets for Abba The Museum HERE
Lunchtime and Afternoon
After two museums, we were keen to get some fresh air and something to eat. Skansen is the perfect place to enjoy both of those things!
Skansen Open-Air Museum
Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Ticket Price: Depending on the time of year, Adults are 200-265 SEK, Children aged 4–15 are 80 SEK and there’s free entry for children under 4.
Skansen is the perfect next stop to grab some lunch and, if the weather’s good, spend a bit of time outdoors. It’s also one of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids.
Skansen is an outdoor museum of sorts – with traditional Swedish buildings, gardens and wildlife. There’s a ‘Nordic Zoo’ featuring moose, lynx and bears, amongst other animals, which my daughter enjoyed (we never realised how big moose were)! Also on site are two play areas and a smaller children’s zoo.
There are several places to get food at Skansen. We headed to Terrassen which is cafeteria style and serves Swedish fare such as meatballs and mashed potato (it has a kid’s menu too). It was quick, pretty reasonably priced and had decent food too.
As well as the zoo, Skansen has an Aquarium (and a small tropical animal zoo) on site too. This is run by a separate company so there’s an additional price for tickets (160 SEK for adults, 80 SEK for children).
It’s nicely set out and we really enjoyed it – so we’d definitely recommend adding it to your Skansen visit.
Next to the Aquarium is the Baltic Sea Science Centre, which also has an aquarium and is included in the entry fee to Skansen.
Guided tours are held every hour or two plus there are planned talks throughout the day (when we visited these were at the People’s House and the Baltic Sea Centre). These change fairly frequently, however, so do ask at the kiosk when you enter.
On Tuesdays, there’s live music at Skansen, so it can get particularly busy.
✅ Book tickets for Skansen HERE
Fika at a Local Café
Sampling Fika is a must when in Sweden.
What is Fika? They’re small Swedish cakes and pastries, usually served with coffee, and available at any time of the day.
We found a lovely cafe right across the road from Skansen’s main entrance (and between the ABBA museum and Grona Lund), called Konsthallen. Try the chocolate and coconut cake. The coffee’s really good too.
Evening
Hopefully, your energy will have been restored by a coffee and fika, and you’ll be ready to embrace Grona Lund as you head into your first evening.
Gröna Lund Amusement Park
Address: Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours: Opening hours vary. During summer months, Grona Lund opens at 10 am or 11 am and remains open until 10 pm. The park closes during Autumn and Winter, although re-opens for short periods over Halloween and Christmas.
Ticket Price: Admission ticket is 100 SEK, Ticket to Ride (all attractions) is 395 SEK)
Gröna Lund is a firm family favourite, for locals and tourists alike. Whether you’re visiting with teens or younger kids, there are rides suitable for everyone here.
We had the ticket-to-ride wristband, which provides entry and access to as many rides as you can fit in. We found that queues were quite long for some rides, however, so we only managed to fit in around four rides in the couple of hours we were there.
We enjoyed the fun house and ghost train which were particularly fun (although I’m not sure how much my daughter saw; she had her eyes closed for most of it).
There are also some more thrilling rides here suitable for teens – including ‘Monster’ and ‘Insane’. If my son was with us, I’m sure he would have loved to try them.
It’s an attractive park (not quite as pretty as Tivoli in Copenhagen, but nice all the same), and we enjoyed our time here.
There are lots of food kiosks at Grona Lund, and they looked pretty good. From sushi to hot dogs to sit-down restaurants, there’s a lot of choice. You could get something to eat here if you want to head straight back to your hotel and sleep.
✅ Book tickets for Grona Lund Amusement Park HERE
Dinner at Grona Lund or Stockholm Central
If you haven’t grabbed something to eat at Grona Lund, I’d recommend having dinner somewhere near your hotel as you’ll no doubt be pretty tired after a busy day.
If you’re staying in the central part of Stockholm like us, and you like Italian food, try Basta (at the top of the Arlens department store). They serve great pizza and some good pasta dishes too.
Day 2: Gamla Stan and Around Stockholm Central
You’ll have had a busy first day in Stockholm, spending time at the museums and attractions in Djurgården. I’d recommend that your second day should include an exploration of the Old Town (which is beautiful), plus some of the attractions based in the centre of Stockholm.
Morning
Start your day by picking up a cardamom bun at one of Stockholm’s gorgeous bakeries. We loved Fabrique, opposite Stockholm’s central station.
The Avicii Experience
Address: Sergels Torg 2, 111 57 Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Ticket Price: Adult 249 SEK, Child (7-15 years) 139 SEK, Family Ticket 695 SEK
The same company runs the Avicci Experience as Abba The Museum. You can definitely tell as it’s equally interactive.
Avicci (real name Tim Bergling) was a Swedish DJ, famed for tracks such as The Nights and Wake Me Up. Sadly, he took his own life in 2018 and this venue is a tribute to him, his life and his work.
The Avicci Experience doesn’t shy away from the impact of mental health, and Avicci’s own struggles with his place in the spotlight and the downsides of fame, particularly for those of a more sensitive disposition.
I felt this was a really important and powerful message, particularly for teens who might aspire to be famous and haven’t thought about the less positive aspects.
There are also lots of hands-on activities here which teens and older kids will love. They’ll have an opportunity to make their own remixes of Avicci’s most famous tunes.
The highlight will no doubt be stepping into the DJ booth and experiencing what it’s like to be in front of those crowds.
✅ Book tickets for The Avicii Experience HERE
Afternoon
Time to take it a bit slower this afternoon. Plan for a boat trip (either on your own or as part of a tour).
A Boat Tour
Stockholm is a city made up of islands – something I hadn’t appreciated before researching our trip. Exploring Sweden via its waterways is a great way of seeing the city if you’re visiting in the summer months.
There are a number of different types of boat trips you can take and most are suitable for families.
You can choose from an archipelago tour (these tend to depart from Strandvagen) and last from 1.5 to 3 hours. On these tours, there’s usually a guide who’ll signpost you to sights along the way and give you a bit of history about Stockholm and its islands. Some tours offer lunch or dinner packages.
If you’d prefer something a bit quieter and more independent, consider hiring a pedal boat or kayak to explore the Djurgård canal (available from Sjöcaféet at Djurgårdsbron).
✅ Book HERE for Boat Trips in Stockholm
Evening
On your last evening in Stockholm, make sure you see a bit more of the city’s old town.
Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Taking a stroll through the historic cobblestone streets in Gamla Stan is a must when visiting Stockholm. We visited late afternoon/ early evening and enjoyed a walk before having dinner there.
If you’re visiting Gamla Stan, there are a few sights you could visit while you’re there. These include the Royal Palace and the Nobel Prize museum.
Other must-see spots while you’re walking around the area are Stortorget Square (a great spot for taking photos with it’s colourful buildings) and Stockholm’s narrowest street Marten Trotzigs Grand (it measures just 90 centimetres at its narrowest).
Beyond Gamla Stan, and connected by a bridge, is Södermalm – another nice spot to walk around. This is Stockholm’s most trendy district and a great place to stop for a drink after dinner.
✅ Book guided walking tours of Gamla Stan HERE
Swedish Meatballs for Dinner
There are lots of dinner options in Gamla Stan and it took me some time to decide where we should make a reservation for dinner. I had been given a personal recommendation to try Kryp In, which I booked a week or so before visiting. It didn’t disappoint.
The menu is small – but I usually tend to see that as a good sign. It’s limited on vegetarian options, but if this isn’t an issue I recommend going for the traditional Swedish meatballs with mash, gravy and lingonberry jam. I also tried the moose carpaccio which was interesting.
I’d suggest you definitely book a traditional Swedish restaurant during your 2 days in Stockholm to sample those famous Swedish meatballs – they were a big hit with my daughter too!
Address: Prästgatan 17 111 29 Stockholm (there’s also another branch in Södermalm)
Other Activities in Stockholm
If you have 3 days in Stockholm and are looking for some more suggestions for things to do, here are a few more popular activities:
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningham Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a wonderfully preserved castle, built in the 1600’s. It’s also the permanent residence of the King and Queen of Sweden. Guided tours are available twice a day during the months of June, July and August and on weekends at other times.
For younger kids, you can pick up an activity sheet for an image hunt at the entry desk (choose either Lion Safari or Gold Hunt).
The Viking Museum
The Viking Museum is right next to the Vasa and has lots of interactive exhibits about Viking history and culture. The highlight, though, is the Viking ride (Ragnfrid’s Saga) in which you can experience what it was like to be part of a Viking raid.
Junibacken
Junibacken is a great choice if you’re visiting Stockholm with younger kids. Inspired by the books written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, you can enjoy theatre performances, the Moomin’s play valley and a fun ride based on the last book Lindgren wrote: ‘The Story Train’.
Is the Stockholm Pass Worth It?
The Stockholm Pass (also known as the ‘Go City All Inclusive Pass’) offers free entry to more than 40 attractions in Stockholm. It also has several bus and boat tours included.
The Stockholm Pass is helpful if, as our guide to your first day in Stockholm recommends, you’re planning on fitting quite a few attractions and sights into your first day.
Not all museums and attractions are included in the Stockholm Pass. Most notably, Abba The Museum is not. There’s so much else on offer, however, that it’s still a financially sound decision. It’s also a time-saver, as at some venues you won’t have to queue.
A one day pass costs 999 SEK for adults (children are 309 SEK) and a two day pass is priced at 1,349 SEK per adult (479 SEK per child).
The following attractions which I’ve recommended above are included in the city pass:
- The Vasa Museum
- Skansen
- Grona Lund Amusement Park
- Various Boat Tours
- Drottningham Palace
- The Viking Museum
✅ Click HERE to purchase the Stockholm City Pass
Where To Stay In Stockholm
A central location is best if you’re only staying in Stockholm for 2 days. We stayed at the Radisson Blu Waterfront which is very close to Stockholm’s central train station, the number 7 tram and lots of restaurants, cafes and shops.
📍Budget Option: Downtown Camper by Scandic
Scandic have several hotels in Stockholm and this one’s surprisingly affordable. It’s great for singles, couples and families alike with lots of extra fun activities on offer (think movie nights, yoga and kayaking sessions). Family rooms with bunk beds are available.
📍Mid-Range Option: Radisson Blu Waterfront
This hotel met all our needs. We stayed in a premium room which gave us amazing views of the city. Breakfast was great and the location couldn’t have been better. We only had to cross the street to get to the station on arrival and when we left to head to Copenhagen.
✅ Book Radisson Blu Waterfront HERE
📍Luxury Option: Bank Hotel
Bank Hotel is a small luxury hotel located in the Östermalm district (close to the Royal Palace). It’s housed in a former bank (hence the name) and is super stylish. If you want to splash out, book the penthouse suite!
Getting Around Stockholm
Stockholm is a small, compact city and often walking is the best way to get around.
If you want to travel further afield, or the weather’s not great – then you might prefer to consider public transport options.
You can purchase a ticket for travel on train, tram or boat which lasts for 75 minutes (42 SEK for adults, 26 SEK for children and teenagers). There’s also the option to buy tickets for 24 or 72 hours. Up to six children under the age of 12 can travel free with a fare-paying adult on public transportation.
Trams
Stockholm has a tram system in place which is reliable and efficient. There’s no need to purchase tickets in advance – you can easily tap your phone and buy tickets on board.
The Number 7 tram will take you to Djurgården from the city centre. Be prepared for queues and busy trams on the way back later in the day in high season.
Metro system
Stockholm’s Metro system is otherwise known as the T-Bana. It operates within the centre of Stockholm only and has three main lines. From T-Centralen (the Central station) you can hop on either the red or green line to get to Gamla Stan.
Another reason to head underground to Stockholm’s metro system is the impressive artwork down there (some call it the longest art gallery in the world). You can purchase a ticket to explore the different stations independently, or you can book a guided tour.
✅ Book HERE for Guided Tours of Stockholm’s metro system
Ferries and Boats
Since Stockholm is made up of islands, travel by boat can work well. Exploring some of Stockholm’s less populated islands can be a nice thing to do in the summer months.
Stockholm’s closest island Fjäderholmarna is just a 30-minute boat ride from downtown Stockholm. Other options include Dalarö and Vaxholm which are both an hour away.
Book your tickets with Waxholmsbolaget for ferries to the islands.
Arlanda Express
The Arlanda Express is the quickest way to get from Stockholm’s main airport (Arlanda) to the centre of Stockholm.
Trains go every 15 minutes from the early hours of the morning until around midnight.
Tickets for adults are 340 SEK -so it’s not the cheapest way to travel – but when we booked online, we found that one child travels free per adult – which made it a much more reasonable choice.
Trains stop at both the North and South Terminals. Once you have your baggage and come out of arrivals, turn left and you’ll see the yellow signs and lift for the Arlanda Express.
Book your tickets for the Arlanda Express HERE.
Trains Going Further Afield
Stockholm is also well connected to other cities within Sweden and beyond. We travelled to Copenhagen from Stockholm by train (via Malmo). A beautiful journey taking you over the impressively modern (and narrow) Oresund Bridge.
We booked our tickets a couple of weeks in advance with Omio.
Stockholm FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a visit to Stockholm:
Are 2 days enough for Stockholm?
Due to Stockholm being a small, compact city, I’d definitely say 2 days are enough to see the main sights. 36 hours in Stockholm is even better – but if you’re looking for a weekend break (or it’s part of a longer Ïtrip in Scandinavia) you can definitely feel that you’ve got the most out of the city when you visit Stockholm in 2 days.
If you have only 1 day in Stockholm, I’d advise picking two of the options from our Day 1 itinerary and then exploring Gamla Stan and having dinner there in the evening.
Is Copenhagen or Stockholm better?
This is a tricky one. We visited Copenhagen straight after our stay in Stockholm and I’m torn between the two.
Copenhagen is beautiful and has a trendy, edgier feel to it in my opinion. Stockholm has some lovely traditional parts to it (such as Gamla Stan), is very pretty and a little more peaceful (in my view).
Is Stockholm very expensive?
Sweden, alongside the rest of Scandinavia, has a reputation for being pretty pricey.
Out of the three Scandinavian capitals we visited on this trip (Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo), we actually found Oslo (Norway) and Copenhagen (Denmark) to be a bit more expensive than Stockholm. Particularly in relation to accommodation.
Expect to pay around 45 SEK for a cup of coffee in Stockholm. The main dishes at Kryp In (where we ate out) were around 245 – 325 SEK for a main dish.
Tickets to attractions are not hugely expensive, and kids do go free or at a significantly reduced price at most places.
What is the best month to visit Stockholm Sweden?
There’s an easy answer to this question: it’s the summer months of June, July and August.
Sweden, much like the rest of Scandinavia, can get pretty chilly in the winter – with snow remaining on the ground into Spring.
I do think, however, that Sweden can be very magical to visit at Christmas time and in the lead-up to Christmas. We visited Gothenberg many years ago just before Christmas, and the gorgeous decorations, cosy feel and Christmas activities really got us in the Christmas mood. Scandinavia just does Christmas so well.
But, for sightseeing and taking advantage of outdoor activities such as boat tours, Skansen and Grona Lund, it’s got to be summer. Stockholm is a wonderful city to walk around and, in my view, warmer weather makes that much more enjoyable!
NOTE: Although summers are often warm/ mild, weather in this part of the world can still be unpredictable. It can be rainy, windy and cold even during the summer months. We were lucky and had lovely warm sunshine – but bring layers.
2 Days in Stockholm Itinerary: The Verdict
I hope this Stockholm itinerary and guide has been helpful in planning your visit to Stockholm, We loved how clean, modern and easy to get around it was. Plus, we were pleasantly surprised by how little traffic there was on the roads – a bonus for walkers.
With 2 days in Stockholm, you’ll be able to see the main sights and get a good flavour of the city. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it so much you’ll want to head back again soon for a longer stay.
