Stockholm, Sweden. This was my first time in Scandinavia and I was amazed. Even though I visited in late October when it gets dark at 4pm, I still had the best time exploring this incredibly sleek, modern city. The fall foliage was stunning, the Swedish people were so kind (and also stunning lol), and my time here was nothing short of delightful. Everyone spoke perfect English which blew me away. The Scandinavian design also blew me away. The minimalistic, polished style is incorporated in every aspect of the city — storefronts, fashion, architecture. Swedish culture is so fascinating and seems more advanced than the rest of the world. Swedish fika (a time to drink coffee and relax with loved ones in the middle of the day), diverse areas to explore, and truly happy people are some things I noticed while spending four days in beautiful Sweden. As a young female, I also felt extremely safe in this city. Keep reading to learn how I reduced high costs and kept this trip to a reasonable price (because Sweden is definitely not the cheapest country in the world).

Travel Tips

Keep in mind that they use the Swedish Krona as a form of currency in Stockholm so don’t freak out if you see high numbers on your bill. The exchange rate is 10 Krona (SEK): 1 Euro. I did not need cash because everywhere we went accepted credit card. You don’t need to prepare anything with money, except to remember the exchange rate when buying things.

My direct flight from LUX –> ARN was €170 and took around 3 hours. Sweden is the most north I’ve ever been in my life, and I had fun pinning my location on a map to see just where I was in the world. It felt very surreal.

There is a wonderful shuttle from the Arlanda airport into the city center of Sweden that is 139 SEK (~€14). You buy the ticket when you step on the bus and it’s an easy 25 minutes into the city of Stockholm. We got dropped off at a stop right next to the Stockholm Hostel which was super convenient.

Me and my friend stayed at the Stockholm Hostel for €30 / night. We had a private room with two beds and a private bathroom outside the room. Highly recommend. Great location, independent check in / out, and the knowledgeable staff highlighted fantastic recommendations in walking distance to the hostel. Stay here if you’re on a budget!

We had a horrible experience with the bus system in Stockholm, so use the trains because they are more efficient and easier to understand. Pro tip: Download the Stockholm Transit (SL) app to buy passes for public transportation. We had to learn the hard way how to do this, and it was a major headache that I hope you can now avoid.

Activity Tips

One word. ABBA. A big personality trait of mine is being obsessed with ABBA, more specifically the soundtrack from Mamma Mia. I was so psyched to learn that there was an ABBA museum in Stockholm. You must purchase the tickets online beforehand, and a student ticket cost 185 SEK (€18). This museum is SOOO cool. I could have spent all day here. There’s fun interactive elements and the music, history, costumes, and Mamma Mia exhibit were all top tier. The ABBA museum is a must-do in your time in Stockholm!

Pro tip: Go outside the museum and walk to the gorgeous park across the street. Twinkly lights line the park and there’s a huge swing too. Super cool, unique spot!

We had a blast at the famous ICE bar inside the ICE hotel. We couldn’t afford to stay at the hotel but experiencing the bar was super fun! You have to book ahead of time, and it cost 169 SEK (€16) for a student ticket that includes a free drink once you get inside. The staff bundled me and my friend up in huge coats and gloves and we couldn’t stop giggling the whole time. The bar is what you’d expect — everything is made out of ice! There’s exhibits on the history of Sweden and it was very interesting to walk around with our ice glasses in hand learning more about Swedish history. Highly recommend, you definitely can’t do this anywhere else!

Go to the Lemon bar. This was a bar recommended by our hostel and it did not disappoint! The drinks are absolutely delicious (albeit a little pricey), but the vibes are unmatched. We drank yummy cocktails and danced to ABBA with Swedes that we met there … what more could you ask for? There are also tons of other bars on the Scheelegatan street in the Kungsholmen area if you’re looking to bar hop.

A fun day trip is to the Skansen open air park. We bought tickets at the door and it cost 200 SEK (€19) for a student ticket. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this place was super dope. It is literally HUGE, there are slews of different areas to explore by foot, and the autumn colors were absolutely gorgeous. We saw Nordic animals like moose and wolverines, and also tasted traditional cuisine and learned a lot about Swedish history. There is tons to see and do … you can easily spend an afternoon here. It is also very kid-friendly.

Walk around the Old Town in Gamala Stan. We got coffee at a cute shop in the narrow streets and wandered around the beautiful town. Great photo spots and a fun stroll through a different part of Stockholm.

For some reason I had it in my mind to kayak in Sweden (although it was October), so I forced my friend to spend a day trip kayaking in the Swedish archipelago. I booked through a company called Greentrails and it cost 1650 SEK (€160). This was the most expensive thing we did in Sweden, but it was for a full day that included meals and transportation (~45 minutes in a van from Stockholm to the archipelago) so I think the price is fair. We were the last trip of the season, and our friendly tour guide cooked Swedish meals for us in the forest, lead us through a lovely hike with a beautiful view of the Baltic Sea, and directed us on our kayaks through the heavy, heavy October winds. We even saw a family of wild seals right next to while we were paddling back to shore! Would I recommend this? Yes, but do it in the summertime when the freezing winds won’t scare you half to death about dying on the Swedish waters in the middle of a thousand islands. It was a crazy trip and I felt like I was dreaming the whole time we were kayaking. Cool story to tell afterwards though!

While riding the trains we noticed the beautiful art in all the stations, and after some digging we learned that all the stations had some form of artwork integrated in them! I followed The Blonde Abroad’s guide to the Stockholm Subway Art and had so much fun riding to each station and taking pictures with all of the unique sites. If you have an afternoon free, definitely do this! (Remember to buy a public transportation pass on the SL app before you attempt to do this!)

Go to the Viking Museum! Unfortunately it was closed when I was there but we heard great things about it and I was disappointed that we couldn’t go.

Food Tips

Go to Max restaurant. It is a chain in Stockholm and we randomly decided to try it one night. I got a strawberry shake and burger for 90 SEK (€9) and it was super yummy. Very casual, order at the counter type place that hit the spot after a long day of exploring.

I had to try traditional Swedish meatballs at a food stand in the Skansen open air market and they were absolutely delicious. They were super cheap, ~€4, and served with a sauce on top and mashed potatoes that sealed the deal. Me and my friend ate so many lol. You have to get these if you’re in Sweden … I mean obviously, but in case you forget here’s your reminder.

Go to this pub called Pickwick close to Old Town. It had a cozy, inviting interior and a great selection of food. We got a delectable flight of Swedish beers and savory fish and chips for €20. The staff was hilarious. This is the type of restaurant that you lose track of time and talk for hours in … and that’s exactly what me and my friend did! Pro tip: right outside this restaurant are views of docked ships on the water. They are so beautiful so definitely check them out before or after dinner!

Our kayak guide recommended this Vietnamese restaurant called Eatnam that I really enjoyed. It is a walk up type of place with seat-yourself tables, and I ordered the pho with chicken and a crisp beer for 180 SEK (€17). It was seriously delicious. They have a few locations around Stockholm so you can try this place out wherever you go.

I stopped in a little cafe called Les Petits Boudins that was straight out of a movie! They have freshly baked bread and lovely coffee and pastries. It is a great place to people-watch and unwind. It is also right around the street from the Stockholm Hostel. Stop in here if you’re close!

I loved my time in Sweden and I hope to come back during the summertime when it gets dark out at midnight instead of 4pm. The people were reserved, but oh-so-kind and welcoming. We did activities unique to this area which made the trip even more special. I got major style inspo from the Scandinavian sophistication reflected in the city. You really must visit at least once in your life … everything is so pleasant here.

xx Gracie

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