3 days in Stockholm: Guide to the Perfect Weekend Trip
So you’ve finally set your sights on a 3 day Stockholm break ready to immerse yourself into a world of Nordic delights but uncertain of where to start your adventure? Or do you just want to get a better picture of what Sweden’s capital truly has to offer before giving it the green light?
Well, we’ve got your back as we focus on some of the best Stockholm highlights for the perfect weekend trip!
Highlights of the 3 day Stockholm itinerary:
Is 3 days enough in Stockholm?
In a word, yes! These are my personal Stockholm highlights for that long weekend away! It’s my take on the very best Stockholm has to offer from accommodation, culture, food, drink and shopping.
Where to stay during your 3 days in Stockholm?
At Six Hotel
Now this one has been on my bucket list for absolutely ages since finding it in Wallpaper* and ever since needing that stylish Sweden hospitality fix!
The very sleek and stylish At Six hotel which is located in the former red light district of Brunkebergstorg Square. Upon arrival you are met with the hotel’s exterior; emphatically dark and brutalist in nature. I could not wait!
Disclosure:
Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them at no extra cost to you. Hope you find them useful. Thanks!!
Book your stay with At Six Hotel *****
If you enjoyed reading through our experience you can book your At Six accommodation here
Over 2,500 reviews and with an average score of 8.7 on Booking.com
Indeed the creators of this 5 star hotel have made a real effort to immerse you into a world of brutalist design combining dark interior shades (mainly steel and timber materials) with museum-like art pieces to captivate hearts and minds alike.
Walking into the main lobby you are greeted not only by the front desk personnel but also by a marble head sculpture designed by Jaume Plesna featured on the main staircase. This is very much part of the modern art vision curated by artist Sune Nordgren.
Our room continued the theme of dark tone stylishness adorned by the rest of the hotel and included a comfortable sofa, radio and all the trimmings one can expect from a hotel room fridge.
Spacious and comfortable, the room had everything we needed and more to be our base for our 3 day weekend trip including a very restful night’s sleep which is down to their choice of quality bedding and pillows.
We checked out the upstairs cocktail bar that comes with low lighting and is just the place to kickstart an evening out with pre hotel drinks, be that for a Martini or Old Fashioned cocktail. We didn’t dwell too much here but the service was swift, warm and polite, just what you need.
The hotel comes with a completely kitted out gym and a listening lounge allowing you to play vinyl records at your leisure creatning a true hipster vibe.
Clearly this is keeping in line with the adventurous art and design lover who likes nothing more than to look after themselves on their travels.
This is an incredible stay that ticked all the boxes..it was worth the wait.
Gamla Stan
This is the perfect spot for you to get one of the best views from arguably one of the most iconic sights of the capital! Gamla Stan is renowned for its refreshingly bright coloured buildings and is situated in Stockholm’s ‘Old Town’.
Being in Stockholm’s OId Town also provides the perfect opportunity to get your fix for other places to see including The Royal Palace, Swedish Parliament and the Nobel Museum.
Situated in Stortorget square, this is the heart of tourist central and great for people watching and just seeing the world go by. This is the place to help set the scene and to find the perfect pitstop to enjoy some glorious Fika!
Fotografiska
One of my key picks to go and visit is Fotografiska, Stockholm’s photography museum on the larger and more hip island of Sodermalm.
It’s about 10 mins away from Slussen station on the Stockholm metro so it’s very accessible. This is certainly a necessity for those passionate about culture and art to experience within their 3 day Stockholm trip.
Fotografiska consists of four large galleries and 20 smaller spaces where the exhibition roster changes throughout the course of the year keeping it fresh. It’s also designed in an art nouveau style keeping any budding architects satisfied.
The museum is a global magnet for some of the best photographers (both alive and passed) on offer with previous exhibitions from the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe and Anton Corbijn.
The café is also definitely worth a mention with its warm interior and outside porch area where you can take in some fantastic panoramic views. The food menu is a nice collection of wood grilled vegetables and stone oven pizza options to keep you going while the drinks on offer are an array of wines and Nordic beers.
Above all the combination of photography and dining with great views should be enough to make this on your 3 day Stockholm itinerary shortlist!
Find out more:
Website: https://www.fotografiska.com/
Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 509 005 00
Where to Eat & Drink during your 3 days in Stockholm?
Pelikan
If a traditional Swedish dining experience is what you might be craving for then look not further than Pelikan.
This culinary recommendation is against the cooler Sodermalm neighborhood backdrop and nicely juxtaposed with Pelikan’s Older World interior feel.
There is certainly nothing wrong in that and I love how it feels to be part of an eating and drinking experience that is steeped in 350 year old Stockholm history…Wow!
The restaurant look is rather grand with the main hall possessing a high ceiling and wood panelled architecture alongside elegant lamps to match. The atmosphere really provides such a charm as soon as you walk in!
On this occasion we went for lunch where we had the Pelikan Meatballs which are served with gravy, pickled cucumber, lingonberries and potato puree – absolutely delicious! As you can see they were juicy and packed full of flavour.
For the more adventurous meat lover, the Roasted Reindeer with baked beets, celeriac, crumbled goat cheese brussels sprouts along with red wine sauce provides an exquisite tasteful twist while showcasing their expertise in game meat delicacy.
All the meals seem to come with generous portions (you will not go hungry!) and are all served by a polite and attentive service.
Lunch and dinner options are both reasonably priced considering Stockholm’s (and Scandinavia at large) generally higher price point so you come away not feeling short changed.
Above all this is a must try restaurant as long as you’re looking for something a bit more classic, grand and refreshingly different from other more modern types of Stockholm restaurants.
For more information:
Website: https://pelikan.se/
Tel: +46 8 556 090 90
Address: Blekingegatan 40, 116 62 Stockholm, Sweden
Ekstedt
Ekstedt takes on a completely different note and journey into a very authentic traditional way of Scandinavian cooking and cuisine.
It’s a 1 star Michelin restaurant owned by Niklas Eskstedt who takes you on a food adventure into the unexpected by only using electricity for lighting and refrigeration. Here birch logs are the core ingredient for cooking lunch and dinner!
The initial atmosphere feels dark yet warm and heavy with the heat coming from the birch log fuelled kitchen.
This is really the centrepiece of the restaurant and where guests are invited behind the scenes for a quick kitchen tour snapshot to find out more about this distinctive type of historical cooking technique.
Ekstedt pulls out all the stops with its impeccable quality of service aimed to keep you at ease and to talk you through the heritage and history of the cooking along with the food on the menu.
It’s clear from the outset that this isn’t just about the eating of the food itself but to feel an experience like no other and to see food as an art form to behold before indulging.
For dinner we decided to be bold and go for the ‘taste of Ekstedt’ which is their 7 course menu option. What is so special and frankly unique is the menu constantly changes with the seasons ensuring you get the very best fresh produce for that key moment in time.
As you can see the food is a spectacular mix of forest-esque cuisine combined that resembled an art piece!
It’s not cheap of course (it proved to be our most expensive meal by a country mile) but if you want to experience extraordinary luxury dining over 3 days in Stockholm then Ekstedt is the perfect place for you to expand your horizons and your taste buds.
For more information:
Website: https://ekstedt.nu/
Address: Humlegårdsgatan 17, 114 46 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 611 12 10
Le Hibou Roof Terrace at Bank Hotel
I have to admit I am not much of a nightclubber these days but if you are more in tune to refined rooftop experiences then Le Hibou at Bank Hotel is the place to be.
This is a drinking destination that we came to after dinner one evening and we were not disappointed at all.
Bank is a luxury boutique hotel situated in the Ostermalm district. It plays homage to its very name with marble and chequered flooring accompanied by high ceilings and a radiant Stucco decor to match.
We take the lift from near the hotel lobby in anticipation of evening cocktails, excited to get a new view and experience on what the city has to offer!
On making our way to the entrance of Le Hibou Roof Terrace you gain a sense of gleaming interiors reminiscent of Parisian apartment style.
The setting was perfect overlooking the Ostermalm views from the terrace and met by a shimmer of light running across our city view from where we were sitting. Absolutely stunning!
For cocktails I went for the ‘April in Paris’ on the menu which is a mixture of Roku Gin, Cointreau, lemon, ginger & honey – delicious. My boyfriend went for a classic Negroni to get his kick for arguably his favourite little tipple!
Although we didn’t stay at the hotel, it looked as though it had all the ingredients for the perfect guest visit.
If you do happen to love a bit of luxury with all the trimmings of fine design and service then this could be for you too. It might even inspire us for our second trip stay..
More information
Website: https://bankhotel.se/restaurants/le-hibou/
Address: Arsenalsgatan 6, 111 47 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 598 580 00
Where to shop during your 3 days in Stockholm?
Svenskt Tenn
Stockholm is home to some of the finest design you will ever come across on your travels and the Svenkst Tenn store at Strandvägen is no exception.
Housing some of the finest interior design furnishings, it has collections that range from candle holders, plates all the way up to larger pieces including tables and even sofas.
What is really apparent is that these collections hit you with an explosion of colour and what can only be best described as quirky floral elegance!
Josef Frank was one of the creative masterminds being Svenkst Tenn who came up with such innovative designs and you can clearly see that his grand interior collections live on and absolutely thrive in the space.
I am amazed at how beautiful the store is with no item out of place, and with furnishings carefully hand selected and positioned to perfection.
After curiously looking around the shop and taking my time to the dismay of my boyfriend, I decided to buy a small candle holder and the Mirakel 65cm tray to add to my collection!
Some of you may have not heard of Svenskt Tenn as they have decided not to branch out to overseas shores, so this is a must see shopping experience and should be part of your Stockholm 3 day trip!
For more information
Website: https://www.svenskttenn.com/nl/en/range
Address: Strandvägen 5, 114 51 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 670 16 00
Acne Studios
The fashionistas among you will be aware of the Acne Studios clothing brand and Stockholm is the native home to this forward thinking fashion house. Established in 1996, the Acne Studios brand has gone from the strength to strength developing a unique sense of style and character.
Based in the town square of Norrmalmstorg, the Acne Studios building is considered by their creative director Jonny Johannson as a ‘temple’ and this is reinforced by its remarkable marble flooring and interior that is definitely worth the entry for let alone the clothes on show.
I recommend checking out the flagship store not only for the latest cutting edge designs but because the building interior and architecture is just stunning! The building was also once the former Bank that was robbed in 1976 and where the term ‘Stockholm syndrome’ was coined- ooh!
Make your way through this structural masterpiece where you’re also met with the latest collection of avant garde one off pieces alongside more ready to wear items in a mix of premium hues, fabrics and cuts ready to grab your attention.
Although I didn’t pick up anything here (it’s certainly on the more premium end for retail therapy) it’s nevertheless such an experience and an ideal way to spend an afternoon once you’ve had more than enough of your typical cultural sightseeing.
If unlike me, you cannot resist the temptation to pick up some of the cutting edge Acne fashion on display then do keep your credit card at the ready!
For more information
Website: https://www.acnestudios.com/uk/en/home
Address: Norrmalmstorg 2, 111 46 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 611 64 11
Take a Speedboat Tour of the Archipelago islands
Seeing the city by foot is one thing but exploring the beautiful Archipelago islands by speed boat has to be one of the more adventurous and high-octane activities you can do here!
This is up there as one of my key Stockholm highlights as seeing these islands is really a must see while spending time in Sweden’s capital for 3 days.
The tour was booked through Viator and we went for the Stockholm RIB Speed Boat Tour. It was easy to book and gave us the flexibility to make the most of the islands bearing in mind we were only here for a maximum of 3 days.
At around £80 pp it’s reasonable considering Stockholm and Sweden is not the cheapest country to visit.
The tour gives you a well rounded view of things by seeing the islands in about 45 mins. We were met at Strandvagen by the crew and the rest of the group.(to be clear this was a group tour not a private one) and before we knew it we were slipping on our life jacket and waterway ready attire ready for action.
The first 10 mins of the speed boat journey is slow and steady as you start to descend out of the waterway from the main island. Here we start to see the bigger view of the horizon appear as the motion and speed begin to pick up pace.
Once we get out of the narrower water we then start to descend much more quickly ramping up the speed. It’s now time to buckle up as the speed boat starts to bump against the waves adding more fun and increasing the adrenaline. This is what the tour was made for!
During the 45 mins duration you get to see some additional nature as we start getting closer to other nearby islands. You’re able to witness some of the local woodlands, birds and housing along with locals taking their time strolling through some of the suburban Stockholm.
One of my particular highlights was seeing a Heron taking off once we slowed down again going through one of the smaller waterways in what seemed like we were going through a local park.
It’s a refreshing look at what Stockholm has to offer beyond the usual touristy sights and allows you to see a different side to the Capital during your stay.
This in my opinion is the best way to see the beautiful Archipelago islands based on the time you have here and coupled with the speedboat dynamic it really offers more than just your typical boat trip.
For more information:
Website: https://www.viator.com/
Well that’s it from me for this whistle stop tour of my essential things to see and do over a long weekend in Sweden’s capital.
Of course there are more things to experience but hope this curated list of goodness helps you on your way to starting your very own 3 day Stockholm adventure!
