A Guide to 48 Hours in Stockholm
Stockholmers call their city the Venice of the North.
Despite spreading across 14 islands, surrounded by an archipelago of 30 000 islands, many of which you can visit by boat, Stockholm is a rather compact city and walking or riding a bike is usually the best way to get around. The islands on which the city is built are connected through bridges, and where not there will be ferries.
In and around the city you will find world-class galleries and museums that aim to inform and provoke: institutions where the future, past, and present constantly merge and become one. Despite its historical and cultural richness, Stockholm is a dynamic and ever-evolving city.
Stockholm’s renowned sense of style leads one to believe that good design is not a luxury, but a mere right. From the lighting and furniture right down to the smallest detail, even the most modest coffee shops and restaurants are revealed to be design literates.
Given the city’s surroundings of water, fields, and forests, it is not surprising that Stockholm’s gastronomic scene is a passionate one with prime ingredients drawn from the nature around. From traditional Swedish food to extravagant raw food and fashionable açaí bowls; whatever the culinary trend, Stockholm is on it.
For this city guide, we will walk you through our ideal 48 hours in Stockholm.
Hotels for your stay:
Ett Hem
With twelve rooms, Ett Hem, designed by interior design superstar Ilse Crawford, offers discerning guests comfortable interiors and bedrooms full of summery whiteness of light. The interiors feel relaxed and special, with a handpicked mix of vintage, bespoke and contemporary furniture and art. Outdoors, the courtyard garden is a secret city wilderness that is the perfect place for summer breakfasts or winding down in the evening over a chilled bottle of wine. Ett Hem is not the usual hotel. It is a place where guests are treated as friends of the family, a place that allows guests to become part of it and feel at home.
Villa Dagmar
Villa Dagmar is a tasteful boutique hotel for the world-accustomed traveler who is looking for accommodation with both personality and heart. The hotel is an inspiring environment for meetings and events, and offers first-class restaurant experiences from two of Sweden's most acclaimed chefs, a concept store, a large and welcoming hotel bar and opportunities for relaxation and exercise. The name Villa Dagmar originates in Karl and Dagmar's private home in Båstad, a classic and elegant home surrounded by a beautiful rose garden. Villa Dagmar, then as now, is an escape from the bustling city, an eclectic and cozy place where friends and family can gather. The accommodation was inspired by Villa D’Este in Rome and Villa San Michele in Capri.
DAY 1
Breakfast at Pom & Flora Café
Cafe Pom and Flora is a tribal hook for health-conscious Stockholmers. The place has become so popular that they recently opened their second café in Stockholm. Now they are both in Södermalm and in Vasastan. In cool, trendy premises, guests come for breakfast, no matter what time of day it is. The same menu applies no matter what. Pom and Flora are above all famous for their healthy breakfast bowls. These bowls are filled with goodies like acai, fruit, granola, nuts and more. In addition to the tasty breakfast bowls, there are also many other breakfast dishes on the menu. Here you can choose between different porridge varieties, sandwiches and healthy pastries. There are also many gluten-free and vegan options. The drinks menu is extensive with many different kinds of coffee, tea, milk and smoothies.
The Artipelag Museum
Artipelag is an international meeting place for art, good food, events and activities - beautifully located in the Stockholm archipelago, only 30 minutes from the city. The name Artipelag comes from the merger of Art, Activities and Archipelago. That says a lot about what is on offer, but far from everything. With its 3,000 m2, Artipelag is one of Stockholm's largest art museums.
Lunch at Restaurang Milles
An exciting restaurant with recurring happenings! Good food and drinks combined with wonderful ambiance & various events. With an internationally spread interest in the kitchen, all dishes are prepared with precision and a great desire to experiment. Milles is open for lunch and dinner, and on weekends they also offer brunch.
The shopping scene
NK
For Stockholm’s equivalent of La Rinascente - NK - you can expect service beyond the ordinary. Under one roof, other than luxurious shopping, you can among other things have your party makeup laid by a professional, have a tailor-made suit made for you, or enjoy a personal shopping experience with the help from one of NK's stylists.
If the NK experience seems too extravagant for you, don’t sweat! We have plenty of other gems lined up for you.
Acne Archive
Do you love Acne but think the prices are a little too high? Then this is the store for you. Since 2008, Acne Archive (owned by Acne) has been offering a hand-picked selection of new classic Acne Studios garments, samples, accessories, shoes and previous collections with up to a 75 percent discount. This concept store is found in Stockholm only!
Vintage
Stockholm is not only a great shopping spot – it also has a large and addictive second hand and vintage scene. Below you will find our personal favorites.
Humana
A hip and modern store for the younger crowd. Humana collects clothes from all over Sweden. By reselling them they support different projects, especially in Africa. The store looks a bit industrial in style, but is the perfect place for all the hipster shoppers.
Lisa Larsson
It may seem a bit chaotic when you walk into the store and notice the owner Lisa Larsson sorting the new arrivals in the entrance area. Lisa started her business in 1986 and sells only women’s clothes – men can find their stuff in the store next door. Behind the entrance room there is a second and a third room where you can find everything from coats to dresses, hats, shoes, shirts, trousers and accessories, while listening to French songs played in the store. Much is vintage style, mixed with some modern second hand items.
Stadsmissionen
Stadsmissionen is active in several issues such as working integration, migration and homelessness. Beyond their stores in Stockholm they also have their own design label named “Remake” which is based on durability and sustainability. Perhaps not the cheapest place around, but offering a very unique sense of fashion.
“Fika” at Valhallabageriet
Fika is often translated as "a coffee and cake break", which is kind of correct, but really it is much more than that. Fika is a concept, a state of mind, an attitude and an important part of Swedish culture. Many Swedes consider that it is almost essential to make time for fika every day. It means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a little something to eat.
For the typical fika, visit Valhallabageriet to experience the best cinnamon bun, cardamom bun and sugar pretzel that Stockholm has to offer.
The Fotografiska Museum
Fotografiska, a vibrant place for photography, food experiences, inspiration and events. Exhibited is photography and visual art from all over the world, from the most well-known photographers to the new generation of image creators.
Dinner at Asian Post Office
Asian Post Office likes Asia. So much so that the restaurant is trying to swallow the entire giant continent with all its food cultures and spit it out reinterpreted in a Swedish backpacker version. The concept is based on snacks and medium-sized courses that are to be shared, and what is promised is a “journey through Asia”. It is an open and inviting place. To avoid the hangar feeling, the restaurant is decorated with tables of different heights, with plants and sofas that serve as room dividers. The kitchen is open, and the bar is solid with a mixing desk for DJs close by.
If you pass through, make sure to order the Thai Basil drink.
Drinks at Beirut
Beirut Café Restaurant opened in august 2021 above their already existing deli with a full-scale bar that serves you drinks inspired by the Lebanese kitchen and a carefully selected wine list. The atmosphere is colourful, vibrant and an oasis in Stockholm for an unforgettable Lebanese food experience. Their mission is to modernize the Lebanese kitchen and serve Lebanese passion at its best.
However, we recommend going here after dinner-hours to enjoy a cocktail or two before going out.
Going out to Spybar
This unique concept nightclub is one of Stockholm's most popular nightclubs, based out of a refurbished trendy apartment giving a classic look and feel. Spybar is a little speakeasy in the corner of a building, where people can take a break from everyday city life and enjoy a night out clubbing in a wonderful atmosphere.
DAY 2
Breakfast at Garba
After a night out enjoying the Stockholm nightlife, at Garba, the cosy restaurant hosted by chefs Marion Ringborg and Linn Söderström, you can enjoy a breakfast in a beautiful environment surrounded by artworks in the heart of the city to recharge for the day. Garba offers an insight into the clean yet welcoming Scandinavian design that you can find scattered throughout many of the cute cafes the city has to offer. Garba is open for a quick breakfast, a healthy lunch or a relaxed dinner but we highly recommend trying their pastries.
A Museum Visit Complete with Lunch at Hallwylska Museet
Along the seashore of the city there are beautiful 19th century buildings, hiding amazing collections of art. Hallwylska Museet is located in the house that once belonged to the Count and Countess von Hallwyl, that was later donated to the Swedish state to eventually become a museum where you can now visit and experience the life of the Stockholm 19th century nobility.
We recommend visiting this gorgeous house to get a quick insight into Swedish history. The Hallwyl Collection, which is housed there, encompasses some 50,000 objects, from classic artworks to a luxurious bowling alley. The house further encloses a beautiful courtyard where you can enjoy a nice lunch at their restaurant after visiting the enormous collection of artworks.
The restaurant offers a variety of dishes from Swedish traditional cuisine with a modern touch, to Asian inspired dishes.
A Seaside Walk Along Djurgården
To fully enjoy and bask in the nature of the city a walk along Strandvägen, from The Royal Dramatic Theatre to Djurgårdsbron is highly recommended. After passing the Blue Gateway, Djurgården is a tranquil oasis in the middle of Stockholm.
You can walk along the Swedish archipelago and enjoy the beautiful view of the city mirroring itself in the water. Here you can find plenty of walkways, such as the ”Love Path”, a romantic stroll through the lush nature. Another popular walk is along the canal where you can truly see the fjords of Stockholm.
Traditional Dinner at Sturehof
To get the full Swedish experience a dinner at Sturehof is a must. The origins of the restaurant are generally traced to 1897, making it an iconic place for residents and is one of those restaurants that just about every Stockholmer has visited at least once or twice. The restaurant specialises in traditional Swedish cuisine, from meatballs to shellfish.
Sturehof is located in the middle of Stureplan, an area known for shopping trendy bars and a fun nightlife and especially on the weekend when Stockholmers often meet up at the restaurant for drinks before heading to one of the nearby nightclubs.
A Night at the Royal Swedish Opera
