Here are some things I did and loved that you might like too…

Fun things to do in Stockholm

Get your adrenaline fix Rooftop Hiking in Stockholm

If possible, I like to begin my time in a new city by getting my bearings from up high. Stockholm isn’t a very tall city, so there are no skyscrapers, but there’s another option here that is way better – rooftop hiking!

Head over to Takvandring and book yourself a rooftop hiking tour.

You’ll be led to the attic of one of the taller buildings in Stockholm where you’ll be kitted out with a full-body harness. Then you’ll clip on and climb out onto the roof for a walk and a tour.

I loved this tour because it gave me a little adrenaline fix walking along the rooftop catwalks. But it’s not just about that. The guides were great too and they stopped at each corner of the roof to tell us the history of Stockholm.

The Stockholm rooftop hiking tour takes just over an hour and costs SEK 695 which, like everything in Sweden (and similar to Norway), isn’t cheap. But it’s absolutely worth it, great fun, and I would do it again.

Mooch around the old town in Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s old town. As you’d expect from an old town, it is filled with narrow streets and even narrower alleyways.

Most of the old town is made up of gift shops, cafes and restaurants, so it’s a popular area for tourists. It gets pretty busy on the main streets, so I recommend visiting early morning when it’s a little less crowded.

Give your arms a workout kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago

If you’re looking for something fun to do in Stockholm, why not rent a kayak from Langholmen Kajak? You can pre-book online or just show up when you’re ready to hire.

There’s no need to have kayaked before, as the staff will give you a thorough briefing if needed. If you’re not ready to paddle off by yourself, you can even book a guided tour.

Langholmen Kajak has maps of suggested routes on their website which are really helpful if you aren’t familiar with the different islands. The routes are graded in terms of difficulty, so you can select one appropriate to your level.

I chose to paddle around the Essinge Islands, which is 3/5 difficulty and took me just under two hours. Up to 2 hours costs SEK 250, which I thought was quite reasonable. It was a really great way to explore Stockholm and see a little more of local life.

Eat delicious Swedish Food

You can get all kinds of great food in Stockholm from all over the world. But don’t forget to try something traditionally Swedish! Meatballs are a good place to start.

I went to Meatballs for the People, which is a casual restaurant with a nice vibe. Here you can order meatballs served with mash, lingonberries and pickled cucumbers. They have a few different meatball options and you can even order Moose!

Main courses range from SEK 179-225 and the food is yum.

Sip a tasty Cocktail at a Stockholm Rooftop Bar

Stockholm has a number of rooftop bars and you can find a good list of some of the best here.

My friend and I went to Tak. Tak has a large rooftop terrace, complete with a few swings (be careful if you’ve had a few…) and panoramic views of the city.

Tak describes itself as “A space where crafted drinks meet lively conversations and laughter with a hint of escapism”. I like that description and it fits well. Tak draws a mixed crowd of different ages and backgrounds and it’s not too pretentious.

Have Fika – coffee, cake and a lovely chat

What’s Fika? Basically coffee, cake and a chat with a friend. This is considered so important for wellbeing in Sweden that they’ve given its own name.

You’ll see signs for Fika outside pretty much every cafe in Stockholm, so finding a good spot is going to be pretty easy! Then just order your coffee and cake and settle in for a good natter. Job done!

Stay somewhere fun in Central Stockholm

I stayed at Skanstulls Hostel in Stockholm and I absolutely loved it. As it’s quite expensive to travel in Scandinavia, I stayed in hostels and AirBnBs to try to keep the costs down.

Most hostels are nothing to write home about (or write on a blog about!), but I particularly liked this one.

Decorated with unusual furniture, quirky pictures and fun ornaments, Skanstulls feels like staying in the home of an eccentric. In a really nice, fun way.

It’s clean, comfortable, the staff are friendly, and it’s well located. I had a private room, which felt more like a hotel room than a hostel room, and it was the perfect balance between budget and style.

Does Stockholm sound like fun?

If you visit Stockholm, I hope you have as much fun as I did! If you’re inspired by my list I’d love to know, or if you have any questions feel free to give me a shout – I genuinely love to help

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