If you’re following along on my Europe Summer trip, this is destination number two in our two week trip through 5 countries! If you’re new, then welcome, here is a snip it of our three days in Stockholm.

After departing from our first destination, Vilnius, Lithuania, we landed at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm! We decided to take the train to the central station, but in hindsight, an Uber would have been a smarter choice. For reference, a taxi costs about $100, an Uber around $45, and the train $33 per person (or $16 for those 25 and under). With just two people, Uber would’ve been more cost-effective—and we were three! To top it off, we had to order an Uber anyway once we reached the central station. Lesson learned, and now you know too!

We stayed at Hotel Hasselbacken on Djurgården Island and, after meeting up with my sisters, got settled in. We then took the hotel’s bikes for a ride around the same island, which was mostly parkland and absolutely beautiful. The rivers and ocean surrounding the island were full of boats and cruise ships, making for a peaceful ride. After asking the hotel concierge for other suggestions, she recommended several museums on the west side of the island, where there’s a row of them including an amusement park at the end. On our way, we stopped for lunch at Mackverket, a delicious sandwich shop near the museum we planned to visit.

To learn about Sweden’s Vikings, we visited the Viking Museum. We discovered how the Viking age began. The term “Viking” comes from the Old Norse word víkingr, meaning someone who embarks on adventurous expeditions, and the verb víking, referring to seafaring raids. Starting in the 8th century, as Scandinavia’s population grew and resources became scarce, the Vikings ventured beyond their homeland—exploring, trading, and raiding distant lands. One key fact they emphasized was that Viking helmets did NOT have horns, something they made very clear!

Afterward, we took Lime scooters to Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town. We strolled along Västerlånggatan, the main street lined with shops. Venturing down one of the many side alleys, we reached the Nobel Museum, which is next to the iconic view of Sweden that most people recognize. While we were taking photos there, a group offering Polaroids for payment quickly snapped a shot of my sister and me, then brought the printout to us for free. Pretty cool!

Later that evening, we went out to dinner at Villa Godthem, and it was absolutely delicious. Every dish was great, even the salmon, which we expected to be warm but was served cold and thinly sliced, like lox for bagels. It was surprisingly good! Of course, the Swedish meatballs were amazing—you can’t visit Sweden without trying them at least once. Sure, IKEA’s Swedish meatballs are great, but having them in Sweden is on another level!

Day 2:

The next day, we headed straight to the Nordiska Museet, a museum dedicated to showcasing Sweden’s culture and ethnic groups throughout history. This was one of my favorite activities—it’s easy to spend hours here, exploring interactive exhibits and following stories about various artifacts, starting from the 17th century onward. I recommend getting the headset for an extra two euros, or bring your own headphones and download the app for a guided tour. And definitely set aside plenty of time—you’ll want to stay awhile!

Next, we visited the Vasamuseet, home to the famous Vasa ship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. What makes this museum so special is that the Vasa is the world’s best-preserved 17th-century ship, retrieved from the ocean floor after 333 years underwater. Remarkably, it’s 98% original, with just 2% modern bolts and screws holding it together. While you can’t board the ship, you get fantastic views from multiple floors and through exhibits surrounding it.

We headed back to the Old Town, wandering through its charming streets and alleyways. We visited Kungliga Slottet, the official residence of the King of Sweden, before taking a taxi ferry ride back to our island. Once there, we spent some time unwinding at the hotel.

At 8 pm, we boarded a Viking Line overnight cruise bound for Finland—an ideal way to travel. I highly recommend this transportation method. You set sail in the evening and wake up the next morning in a new country, ready to explore, all without the hassle of flights or airports. It’s essentially the time you’d spend sleeping in a hotel anyways, and cheaper than a flight and a hotel combined at around $140 one way.

Return to Stockholm!

Three days and two countries later, we returned to Stockholm for a bit more of exploring before flying to our next destination. With only a half day to sightsee, we didn’t have time for anything major, so we decided to explore more of the old town and its surroundings. While wandering the streets, we noticed a big crowd gathered outside the Royal Palace and went to check it out. It was quite a contrast from a few days earlier when the area was mostly empty besides a few other tourists. This time, there were plenty of guards and a band playing music for the changing of the guards. After watching for a while, we moved on.

My sister and I crossed Slussbron Bridge and wandered into a downtown area on Götgatan Street, which we assume is the main downtown area beyond the touristy Gamla Stan. Before heading to the train station, we made a quick stop at the City Hall, which was beautiful, with amazing views. With time running short however, we hurried to meet up with the others and made our way to the airport for the next leg of our journey: France!