Stockholm travel blog
Stories, tips and inspiration for your Stockholm and Sweden adventure
Stockholm 2026 — what changed this year
ETIAS on the horizon, a new grocery VAT rate, updated pass prices, and a few museum changes. Here's what's different in Stockholm for 2026 visitors.
Swish, cards, and cash — the tourist payment reality in Stockholm
Sweden is 90% cashless. Swish is everywhere but tourists can't use it. Here's how payments actually work when you arrive, and what to know before you get
Gripsholm Castle and Mariefred — Stockholm's most overlooked day trip
An hour and a half from Stockholm, a Renaissance castle on a lake and a small town that hasn't changed much in a century. Here's why more people should go.
Stockholm in January — the locals-only experience
January is Stockholm's darkest month and its least visited. It's also the month when the city is most itself. Here's what you find when the tourists have
Nordiska Museet is underrated — and how it compares to Skansen
Everyone goes to Skansen. Fewer people cross the road to Nordiska Museet. We spent a full morning at each on the same week. Here's the honest comparison.
SL pass for three days versus buying individual tickets — the actual math
The SL 72-hour pass costs 340 SEK. Individual trips cost 43 SEK each. We tracked every journey across a 3-day Stockholm trip to see which actually wins.
Birka Viking day trip — was it worth it?
Seven hours, two hours on the boat each way, 53 USD per person. We did the Birka Viking island tour in early spring. Here's the honest verdict.
Stockholm in December vs January — the honest tradeoff
December has Christmas markets and Lucia. January has the lowest prices and the darkest days. We've done both. Here's what each month actually gives you.
Eating cheap in Stockholm — actually possible
Stockholm is expensive, but daily lunch menus (120-155 SEK, all-in) make good food affordable. Here's how locals eat well without the tourist restaurant
Stockholm Old Town walking tour — which company?
We compared five Gamla Stan walking tour operators across a single week. Different prices, different group sizes, very different quality. Here's the
Swedish sauna versus Finland — what's actually different
Both countries claim the sauna. We've done both. The cultures and rituals are more distinct than the marketing suggests — here's the honest comparison.
Free walking tours in Stockholm — the tipping pressure rant
We've done three “free” walking tours in Stockholm. The model is fine; the guilt-trip ending isn't. Here's an honest look at the economics and
Stockholm with toddlers — what actually worked
We did four days in Stockholm with a two-year-old and a five-year-old. Here's what survived contact with small children and what we should have skipped.
Sandhamn weekend — getting lost and loving it
We stayed two nights at the edge of the Stockholm archipelago. Here's what Sandhamn is actually like when you stay long enough to get past the harbour.
The Arlanda Express is overpriced — here's why you might still take it
340 SEK versus 43 SEK for the same journey. We compare every option for getting from Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm and when each one makes sense.
Stockholm archipelago — which island is right for you?
Vaxholm, Grinda, Sandhamn, Fjäderholmarna — each island works for different travellers. A practical comparison based on effort, time and what you want.
Icebar Stockholm — overpriced or fun?
225 SEK for 40 minutes at -5°C in a coat you rent at the door. We went. Here's the honest verdict on whether it's worth the ticket.
Three day trips that are better than Drottningholm
Drottningholm Palace is famous. It's also often crowded and less rewarding than its reputation suggests. These three alternatives are better for most
Swedish meatballs — where locals actually eat them
Not Ikea, not the tourist restaurants on Västerlånggatan. We tracked down where Stockholm residents eat köttbullar and what the experience actually costs.
Stockholm Pass vs Go City — the real math
We ran the numbers on both passes against individual tickets. The answer isn't what the marketing says. Here's the actual spreadsheet.
The best fika spots, after eating too many cinnamon buns
We spent four days visiting Stockholm's most-recommended fika cafés. Some earned their reputation. Some coasted on Instagram. Here's the honest result.
ABBA The Museum — an honest review
We went in skeptical, came out surprised. A candid look at what the ABBA Museum actually delivers, who it's for, and whether the price is right.
Stockholm in the rain — what actually works
Four days of October rain taught us which Stockholm plans survive bad weather and which ones collapse. An honest wet-weather guide.
The Vasa Museum, visited twice — still worth it
We visited the Vasa Museum on two separate Stockholm trips. Here's what changed between visits, what didn't, and whether it justifies repeat entry.
Stockholm Christmas markets, ranked
We visited all five major Christmas markets in Stockholm the same December. Skansen, Stortorget, Gamla Stan, Liseberg, Djurgården — here's the honest
Midsummer in Stockholm — a survival guide from experience
Sweden's biggest holiday shuts down almost everything. We learned this the hard way. Here's what actually works for tourists around Midsummer.
Stockholm versus Copenhagen — an honest comparison
Two Scandinavian capitals, one trip to plan. We compare transit, food, cost, atmosphere and attractions to help you choose — or split your days.
Why Stockholm's archipelago saved our trip
We arrived in Stockholm underwhelmed by the city crowds — until a last-minute ferry to Vaxholm changed everything. Our honest first-visit story.