I’ve been incredibly lucky this year and managed to visit heaps of places including Iceland and Italy.
My last trip of 2017 was to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, a picturesque city composed of 14 islands. Here’s my guide…
STAY
There were five of us on the trip and we were on a budget, despite being on one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our flights only cost us around £25 return but, after trawling Air BnB and hotels, it looked like our two-night stay would cost upwards of £200.
Then I found Generator Hostels, a chain of trendy hostels based around Europe. It cost £365 to have a six-bed private room with an ensuite, working out as £72.50 each for the two nights we stayed – bargain.
The place was nicer than any hostel I’ve ever stayed in before. It had a true simple Scandi feel with cute bunk beds, trunks, wall hangers and little storage cubbies. Downstairs, they have fun mixer events if you want to meet other travellers, and they also sell with cheap drinks and food.
It was hugely central and very fun to bunk with all the girls together!
Find out more about Generator Hostel Stockholm here
TIP: Remember to bring a card with you, as Stockholm is mainly cashless. I always top up my Monzo debit card when I’m travelling, there are no fees or charges for using it abroad.
EAT
Breakfast
An easy way to save money is to take breakfast with you. We filled our cases with brioche, pain-au-chocolat and breakfast bars, so we didn’t have to eat out.
One thing I wish we had tried is brunch on a boat. The SS Stockholm takes you on a three-hour tour of the city with a buffet of traditional dishes, cold and warm meats, salads and breads, as well as some pastries too. It cost 520 SEK (around £46) so we decided to pass this time.
Find out more about it here



Lunch
Stockholm has so many great cafes to pick from and Kaferang is a perfect example of a Scandi lunch place with copper lights, large wooden tables and plants galore. It serves warming soups and sandwiches and has a huge selection of homemade cakes and pastries too.
A word of warning, I ordered a sandwich and was asked if I would like it grilled. To me, that meant free of charge but instead, I was given a more expensive toasted sandwich on the menu.
We ate: chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich (115 SEK/£10.40) and tomato soup (105 SEK/£9.50) – find out more here
Another great find was Streetkäk, a Swedish street food app which locates outdoor mobile food vans with menus and prices. Great for grabbing food on the go.
Dinner
One of the tastiest meals we had in Stockholm was also one of the best value. Barrels, Burgers & Beer serve (you guessed it) delicious burgers and local beers. We sat outside, under the heaters, and managed to order burger, chips and a drink for under £20. Trust me, that’s cheap for Stockholm
We ate: Burger (117 SEK/£10.50) and chips (35 SEK/£3) – find out more here
If you’re feeling fancy, which we were for one night only after all our budgeting, Riche is the top spot in town.
A stylish brasserie, Riche serves Swedish classics with a classy vibe. Here we had the best Swedish meatballs I have EVER tasted, served with berries and heavenly creamy mash.
We ate: Swedish Meatballs (205 SEK/£18.50) – find out more here


Fika
The Swedish are known for having Fika, short breaks with coffee or hot chocolate and pastries. You’ll see bakeries all over Stockholm selling fresh cinnamon buns and cakes.
Kaffekoppen is a tiny little cafe which sits in a square in Gamla Stan, the Old Town. It’s has a cosy, authentic feel with tables packed together under low ceilings. They serve amazing hot chocolates (and white hot chocolate) made from melted chocolate bars.
We ate: Hot chocolate (51 SEK/£4.60) cinnamon bun (39 SEK/£3.50) and gluten-free chocolate cake (59 SEK/£5.30) – find out more here
VISIT
Stockholm is made up of tiny different islands, so a great way to sightsee is by boat. We went on the Royal Canal Tour which passes historical buildings as well as beautiful green areas. We went as the sun was setting and the colours of the views reflecting in the water were stunning.
Royal Canal Tour: 198 SEK (£17.90) for 50 minutes – find out more here
Fotografiska is one of the most popular attractions in Stockholm, with four galleries of photography exhibitions. For a unique experience, try visiting it at night at SLR 22. They open up the top floor to the public, along with a bar and music so you can have a few drinks in a cultural setting.
Fotografiska: Entry (135 SEK/£12.20) – find out more here
ABBA is Sweden’s biggest export so a visit to the ABBA Museum is a must. Filled with fun interactive experiences, you learn all about the band as well as singing along to your favourite tunes.
(Sorry about the bad singing!)
ABBA Museum: Entry (250 SEK/£22.50) – find out more here
And a great, cheap way to discover all Stockholm has to offer is by foot. You can walk all over the city for free. Gamla Stan was my favourite, with its old narrow streets and tall buildings that looked straight out of a fairytale.
Best thing about walking is it’s free! Here are some free walking tours in case you want a little guidance on your trip:
- Starts at: 1pm
- Duration: 1hr 30mins
- Starts at 10am
- Duration: 2hrs
- Starts at 4pm
- Duration: 1hr 30 mins
That’s what we managed to get up to in two days, let me know what I should check out next time! I hope you enjoyed my mini-guide, Cristina x
Incredible photos! I’ve never been to Stockholm but it looks great! I especially love the ‘Eat’ section of this post, I love finding the best restaurants and foods to try in different countries. Nikki x
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Thanks! Eating is one of my favourite parts of travelling too ☺️ x
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I love to travel and have never been to Sweden yet. Thanks for the travel tips! Looks like you had fun!
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Thanks Melissa, hope you enjoy if you go!
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Sweden looks pretty awesome . Especially the food :)) Haha . Looks like you had an awesome time. I am saving this. Sweden is on my list of places to visit . It just looks so peaceful .
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Thanks Tachira, hope you enjoy when you get there x
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Love the pictures , thanks for sharing xx
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Thanks so much x
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Ahhh i’m going there very soon, I cannot wait! This is really helpful for me. Thank you 🙂
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How exciting, I hope you enjoy it! X
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I went to Stockholm a couple of years ago as I was a bridesmaid for a Swedish couple and it was a lot of fun. I remember going on a river cruise and eating a chocolate ice cream called Plop. I have to say if I came again I would definitely like the sound of the Generator Hostel, they sound brilliant!
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That sounds so fun. I tried Plopp chocolate when I was there too!!
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Never been to Stockholm but I can agree that the place looks so gorgeous! It’s good to know that the place can be well explored even on a budget. I can imagine how the Royal Canal Tour is good! You had fun! Very very gorgeous pics you got there!
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Thanks so much Darlene, it was very fun x
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first of all, i love your blog’s name.. what a way to get some wordplay with your last name! and also, i was shocked seeing the nightrate for the hostel in sweden. seems like i have to wait forever until i step stockholm. 😛
ps. abba museum looks totally awesome! 😀
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Thanks! That was for a private room, I’m sure you could get cheaper if you shared x
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Perfectly timed post for me! Sweden is on our to visit list for this year! Thanks for the great tips. Any pointers for traveling with kids?
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Thanks for reading Sunrita! I would say ABBA Museum would be v fun for the kids as it is so interactive, even if they don’t know the songs. Also I think quite a few tours do family rates. There’s also a Moomin Cafe if they like the Moomins!
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Wow Sweden looks amazing! With six of us travel is always expensive so its great to know it’s possible to achieve it on a budget! Laura Dove
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Thanks Laura! It can be hard when there’s a lot of yo x
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Stockholm seems like a great place to go! Your pictures are beautiful, and that hostel looks so fun!
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Thanks! It was a lot of fun
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I’ve been wanting to go to Sweden for ages! These tips will come in handy when I do 🙂
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Thanks Annie, hope you have a great time when you get there!
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I was not aware that it was one of the most expensive places. This in itself is very nice to know. I have found though that there are ways to save money in most instances.
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Thanks Rose. It is quite expensive but manageable if you watch where you go!
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Great tips! My husband and I have always wanted to travel there! 🙂
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Thanks Heidi, I hope you get there one day
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When I saw the ABBA museum on your photos, my heart skipped a beat! This place is really a must go!
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Thanks, it was so much fun!
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I’ve never been to Stockholm, but when I do go it will be on a budget, so this will come in handy! Thanks
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Thanks Dustin, hope you enjoy when you visit!
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Stockholm is so picturesque! And I didn’t realize it was made up of islands. Also happy to know we can visit on a budget.
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Thanks Joline, the water is so lovely!
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Stockholm sounds spectacular, there appears to be a lot to see and do, although as you say its expensive you have definitely shared some great money saying tips. The photos are so beautiful.
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Thanks, there’s heaps more to do but wanted to keep it short and sweet!
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LOVE this post! Sweden is the number one place I’m hoping to visit in the next couple of years but I know it can be a little pricey to visit. Thank you for the travel tips which will come in handy and help save a little money when planning!
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Thanks! I hope you have a great time when you do make it there.
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I love walking around cities instead of paying for tours! It’s free, you get a workout, and you get to visit beautiful side streets and little cafes whenever you want!
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It’s my favourite way to explore!
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This is honestly one of the most helpful travel posts I’ve ever seen
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Thanks Syd!
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I have not been to Sweden but have always wished to visit this beautiful place. This post is gonna be informative for sure, as I have noted down the cafe’s and amazing foods you’ve listed here. Thanks
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Thanks, I hope you get to visit one day!
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Hi! Thank you for a wonderful post. For sure, I will use your advice when I get a ticket to Stockholm, Sweden.
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Thanks! Enjoy your travels when you get there
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Looks like you had a fab time! It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit 🙂
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Thanks Sophie!
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I can’t wait to visit there some day soon! it looks amazing (your photos really capture the beauty of Stockholms) I’d love to try the food there, as well as see the landscapes in person!
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Thanks Eloise, it is so pretty! X
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I love the layout of your blog!! And your pictures are gorgeous! Thanks for the tips too 🙂
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Thanks Allyson!
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Brilliant post. I have never been to Sweden so this guide will defo help if I manage to visit there some time soon. Followed! 🙂
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Thanks so much Amanda x
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I love Stockholm! I visited there quite a while ago and would love to go back: thanks for the helpful tips! Those Swedish meatballs look delicious!
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They were so tasty!
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Stockholm is on my bucket list! You’re photos are so amazing, I want to go even more! Now I’ll know what to do 😀 Great post.
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Thanks! I hope you get there soon
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This was a great travel post. First off didn’t know about the islands. Already great to get hostel ideas and food. Normal just get where to go.
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Thanks!
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I’ll probably need to go to Stockholm in April so I basically threw myself on your post since I know that Scandinavian cities are neck cutting. So thanks for sharing your tips – whereby I still find the prices incredible. I’ll probably end up eating meat balls at IKEA 😉
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Haha best of luck in April!
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I’m going to save this for when I go there. I had never heard of this hostel chain and I’ve heard how xpensive Stockholm can get…
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Thanks Victoria, the hostel was really good value!
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