48 Hours in Stockholm

A part of me was questioning why we booked to go to Stockholm in the middle of Winter. However, we embraced the cold weather, packed our thermals and were on our way.

We landed at around midnight on the Friday night into -11 degrees. We could’ve rushed to get the Arlanda Express which runs a regular service into the city centre but unfortunately the train doesn’t run through the night. Therefore, we decided to get a taxi straight to our hotel, Hilton Stockholm Slussen.

A late night meant a slow start to the morning, with a nice buffet breakfast including fresh to order eggs, salads, pastries and Swedish delicacies such as meatballs (of course) and herring. Our room was a good size and had a great view over the water. Conveniently the hotel was also located right next to a train station – I’d highly recommend it for anyone visiting for a long weekend!

We got dressed up into all our thermals and took a short walk into Gamla Stan; the old town. The architecture of the whole area was really beautiful, with classic buildings to see in every direction. Our first stop was to the Cathedral, Parliament building and outside the Royal Palace. I have very fond memories of my late grandpa taking me to see the Changing of the Guard in London, so we added Stockholm’s version to our itinerary as soon as I heard you could view the spectacle on Saturdays and Sundays.

In the afternoon, we took a short boat ride to Djugarden – the island home to the Vasa Museum and ABBA Museum. We spent an hour or so at the VASA Museum, learning about the maiden voyage and seeing the restoration of the boat; which was really quite incredible, especially given its age! After leaving the museum, we got caught in a blizzard but after the ten minute walk to the ABBA Museum, the skies completely cleared.

My partner is a huge ABBA fan and it was his Christmas present to visit the museum (hence the trip to Stockholm mid winter) and we definitely were not disappointed. With music playing through speakers in the cafe and a stage set up for karaoke, we knew we were in for a fun afternoon. The museum was really informative, teaching us all about ABBA’s members and how the band came to be together. There was a constant soundtrack of ABBA songs throughout, with great Instagrammable moments like karaoke booths, costumes, waxworks and old records. It was a real feelgood museum and I left with all of their songs stuck in my head for the rest of the weekend.

Fortunately the snow stopped by the time we got out, so we got the boat back to Gamla Stan and walked back to the hotel. We were lucky enough to have access to the Executive Lounge and enjoyed a glass of wine and some snacks before having dinner in the hotel – delicious steak for him, and a bowl of hearty pasta for me!

Sunday felt slightly warmer, and the sun was shining when we head out after breakfast. Our first stop was Katrina’s Lift – a viewpoint right by the hotel giving panoramic views of the city. We then took the train to the Central Station, to have a wander around that area and see the outside of the City Hall building. I was quite keen to go inside, but unfortunately it was closed for the weekend, so we only had the chance to admire the exterior.

We walked back over the river into Gamla Stan to stop for the legendary Fika (Swedish bun and coffee) – and unfortunately were ripped off by one of the more touristy spots! On our first day, we went to an independent coffee shop, but the more touristy spots (and often those closer to the main attractions) can be quite pricey, so I’d make sure you look at pricing before ordering where poss!

As a final spot of touristing, we went into the Royal Palace, which was really spectacular. The rooms all had so much character and felt really special, and it gave us a really good insight into how the Royal family in Sweden lives, and their history.

To end the weekend, we visited Lilla Gastabud; a small restaurant serving delicious home style dishes. We both tried traditional Swedish dishes; beef meatballs and mashed potatoes, and salmon with dill and potatoes. It was the perfect ending to the weekend, and I wish I could’ve taken their recipes home with me!

If we had more time, I would’ve loved to visit the Nobel Prize Museum and Drottingholm Palace (as well as inside City Hall), so would definitely add these to your itinerary if you’re visiting for more than two days.

Overall, I’d highly recommend Stockholm as a place to visit – and don’t be put off by the cold weather! For more tips, head to www.visitstockholm.com