Best Experiences in Stockholm

1. Sleeping on a ship

When planning a trip, one of the first things that come to mind is: “Where are we going to sleep?” There’s a special hostel in Stockholm every traveller should experience. Af Chapman hostel is located in a 100-year-old ship anchored on the Skeppsholmen island in the centre of Stockholm. At af Chapman, you can stay in ship cabins – real cabins with a slightly tilted floor, bunkbeds and only a single porthole. The deck comes with well-preserved masts, colourful ropes and, of course, a view of the old part of Stockholm, Gamla Stan.

Hostelling International card holders get 10% off, making your stay on the af Chapman ship not only a truly unique experience but also an affordable one. And don’t worry, the ship is well anchored and doesn’t rock on the water.

2. A ride on the metro

The Stockholm metro is more than just a mode of transport – it’s the longest art gallery! More than 90% of all stations have been transformed and redesigned to host art installations, be it sculptures at a station or various wall paintings. T-centralen (main station), Universitet, Stadion in Kungsträdgården are among the most beautiful stations.

3. Long days

In my opinion, the best time to visit Stockholm is in June when days are the longest. Experiencing sunset at 10 p.m. and sunrise at 4 a.m. while it never gets really dark is something truly special. Strange, how our body reacts to such long days. Sleep suddenly becomes unimportant, we get huge amounts of energy and can really make the most of every day without getting overly tired.

4. A cruise in the Stockholm archipelago

Stockholm lies partly on mainland and is partly scattered across numerous large and small islands that together comprise the Stockholm archipelago. An ideal way to see nature and many of the remote islets is by going on a cruise. And I’m not talking about a large cruise ship. No, what I have in mind is a small ship that will take you on a half-day or a few-hour trip. The view from the water is different and exceptional, and the nature surrounding Stockholm truly spectacular.

5. Fika – the Swedish word for a coffee break

When you’re in Stockholm (or anywhere else in Sweden), you need to try “fika”. For the Swedes, this usually means taking a sweet break, consisting of coffee or tea and Swedish fikabröd cakes. Fikabröd are usually cinnamon rolls; they come with all kinds of fillings like almond, pistachio, vanilla... While exploring Stockholm, stop for a moment, find a pleasant-looking café with a nice view and enjoy in the sweet delicacies.