Welcome to the first stop on our European Tour; Stockholm, Sweden! Known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture, this city has already captured our hearts. Join us as we dive into Sweden’s capital.
Palaces, Churches, and Old Town
The old town vibes in Stockholm are simply magical. With cobbled streets, colorful buildings, quaint shops, and a coffee shop on nearly every corner, it felt like we had stepped into a postcard. Even though it was only about 30°F (-1°C) most days, there were still people everywhere. The locals we met were warm and welcoming, and their friendly demeanor really enhanced the charm of the city.
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the stunning palaces and historical churches that dot the landscape of Old Town Stockholm. We started with the Riddarholmen Church, just a short walk from our hotel. This church is the final resting place for many of Stockholm’s royal and wealthy families. We then made our way to the Royal Palace, where we had the opportunity to witness the Changing of the Guards (truly impressive). We also visited St. Gertude’s Church, a beautiful German Gothic church that is noted to be the highest point of Old Town Stockholm. The intricacies of each of these buildings were breathtaking, so vastly different than anything we had seen before.
Learning the History
To get to know the city’s history more, we joined a day tour led by a local guide on our first day in Stockholm. This tour was an absolute game-changer. We were able to dive headfirst into the rich (yet sometimes brutal) history of Stockholm. One of our favorite takeaways was discovering that in 1810 Sweden’s Parliament “adopted” a 47-year-old French general under Napoleon, as the Crown Prince of Sweden and his descendants now make up the current royal family. Therefore, the Swedish royal family is not Swedish at all, they are all French! Who knew?
Fun fact:
If you are a Game of Thrones fan then you surely know the infamous Red Wedding episode. Well, that episode is based off the true events of the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520, where more than 80 members of the Swedish nobility were beheaded! (We did say some of the information was a bit brutal).
Reygerfjord Hotel and Hostel
During our time in Sweden, we stayed at the Reygerfjord Hotel and Hostel. Located right on the water in Lake Mälaren, we were staying in a converted boat. That’s right, an actual boat, floating in the middle of the icy lake! We were lucky enough to get upgraded to a beautiful room with a personal bathroom all to ourselves. The rooms were cozy and comfortable, providing a gorgeous view of Old Town Stockholm. The location was perfect—close to all the main attractions, yet peaceful enough for a good night’s rest. This was definitely our most unique hotel stay, and we would HIGHLY recommend it!
Fika Culture and Local Food
No visit to Sweden is complete without experiencing fika, the Swedish tradition of taking a coffee and pastry break in the middle of the day. We found a couple of cozy cafes in the heart of Stockholm and indulged in some coffee paired with traditional pastries like kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon rolls) and semla (a cardamom-spiced bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream). However, one thing that shocked us was the price—$8 for an 8oz coffee! Definitely not the most budget-friendly place for us caffeine lovers.
Speaking of food, we also tried some classis Swedish dishes like meatballs and lox (smoked salmon). I must admit, neither Connor nor I are huge meatball fans, but these were hands down the best we’ve ever had! They were so delicious that after finishing our first plate, we immediately went back for more. That said, eating out in Stockholm was far from cheap. We quickly realized that dining in Sweden requires some strategic planning to keep costs in check. If you’re visiting, be prepared to stretch your food budget.
Things we would do Differently
Check the Price
Alright, I have to admit, I made a big travel mistake. We knew Stockholm was going to be one of the more expensive stops in Europe, so we tried to be smart with our purchases. However, I (Caitlin) managed to mess up royally in this instance. Stockholm is located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the airport; therefore, a train was necessary to get us there. When purchasing our train tickets, I failed to pay attention to the cost and end up paying $43 for an 18 minute train ride! It was a classic case of not double-checking the fare, lesson learned for future trips.
Book in Advance
In our experience, the prices for things like short flights, buses, trains, and hotels tend to stay relatively the same, even as the date of booking gets closer. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case so far in Europe. Even waiting a day could be the difference between scoring a great deal and going over budget We ran into this issue when booking our next destination after Sweden. Let’s just say we will be staying at least a week and a half ahead on all our bookings from now on.
Maybe a Few More Layers
It was chilly! We knew that, but we still ended up forgetting a few key items (literally). The first thing we forgot was a coat. Connor had a toasty warm winter parka that never made it off the plane. It is somewhere in London without us. Beyond that, we realized we could have brought more thermal layers to wear under our pants. We each packed one pair, but when you have to wear them every day, having a backup or an extra set for layering would have been nice. If you visit in winter, learn from our mistake, pack extra layers and don’t let your winter coat leave your eyesight!
Final Thoughts
We highly recommend adding Stockholm to your travel bucket list. This city beautifully blends rich history, charming streets, and natural beauty to make it the most picturesque destination. On top of that the people here are incredibly warm and welcoming, making you feel right at home.
When visiting Stockholm, but be prepared for expensive food, pricey coffee, and unpredictable weather. However, if you plan accordingly, you can have an amazing time in this historic city. Just make sure to bring a jacket!
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
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