Known around the world as the capital of Scandinavia, the city of Stockholm is home to incredible art and cuisine and, despite being the biggest city in Sweden, maintains a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where historic charm meets cutting edge architecture.
A weekend trip to Stockholm is packed with fun and interesting things to do.
The city has announced a number of exciting new experiences and attractions launching over the coming months, which will be ready for travellers to enjoy when the time is right.
Where to stay in Stockholm
From the creators of the hugely popular Steam Hotel and Hotel Pigalle comes Ellery Beach House – Stockholm’s latest getaway and only Beach Resort, inspired by the 60s and 70s. Ellery is located on the tip of Lidingö, an island in the inner Stockholm archipelago where urban life feels far away in the rural surroundings – although just 18 minutes away from the city centre.
A welcoming beach house with its own private jetty, this is the place to go to for nature, sea, beaches, pools, cabanas, music, design and arts. The hotel’s restaurant, Palmer’s, serves Mediterranean cuisine with inspiration from the Greek islands, vibrant food markets of Tel Aviv and Lebanese meze culture. There’s also The Bally Bar, where guests can enjoy morning coffee, indulge in a long lunch, or finish the day with a cocktail around the open fireplace, as well as Coco Beach Club, with indoor and outdoor pools. Double rooms start from £140 per night.
Private city experiences
You definitely need to include a private tour of some sort on your weekend trip to Stockholm.
Visitors can book a private guide through GetYourGuide, with excursions including a walking tour of the Old Town, a Swedish Fashion walking tour, a bike tour to discover the green lungs of Stockholm, architecture tours and a Stockholm e-bike tour.
Guide Stockholm also offers private tours ranging from Carl Linnaeus and the Linnaean Gardens in Uppsala to Gripsholm Castle.
Individual museums, such as The Vasa, also offer private tours outside of opening hours. The gastronomic highlights of Stockholm can be discovered via private food tours with Food Tours Stockholm and for those who want to discover at their own pace, website Alla Promenader gives tips on walks around Stockholm and updates routes based on any starting position.
Escape to the Stockholm archipelago
Towards the end of August, the archipelago starts to relax from the busy summer season. The colours shift slowly from lush green and intense blue to yellow, orange and red and the sun sits low on the ocean horizon. This is the right time to go for long walks, gaze at the choppy sea and breathe the fresh air. The ferries to and from Stockholm still run frequently, most shops and restaurants are still open and the water is still warm enough to take a dip in the sea.
The idyllic island of Lidö in the Stockholm Archipelago teamed up with Scandinavia energy company Neste for a project called Zero Island, where they aimed to make the whole island fossil-free within a year. 18 different solutions were found, ranging from fossil-free fuel for transport through to fitting solar panels, air water heat pumps and climate curtains to buildings. Over the year, the project reduced emissions by 78%, down from 180 tonnes of CO2 in 2018 to just 40 tonnes in 2019. Guests are encouraged to visit, staying at the Inn Lidö Värdshus, enjoying fossil free experiences and trying a zero carbon diet.
Öregrund, Stockholm Archipelago – credit Anne Sofie Eriksson
There are a few ways to experience the Stockholm Archipelago including hopping onto a kayak, going camping or going snowshoe hiking in the winter months.
