Annika Hipple

Stockholm is a fabulous spot for a long weekend break full of genre-bending restaurants, beautiful architecture and world-renowned attractions. But if you’re spending a little longer in the city, there’s a whole load more nearby cities worth discovering – and they’re easily reachable as a day trip.  The day trip options here range from picturesque university towns to the oldest city in Sweden, home to centuries-old castles, swimming lakes and great food. The best part? All of these spots are reachable by public transport (most less than an hour). From old towns to natural havens, here are the best day trips from Stockholm.  RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The best spots for shopping in Stockholm📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm🏘️ Where to stay in Stockholm This guide was updated by Annika Hipple, a travel writer based in Sweden. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Stockholm in 48 hours? A difficult task, but not an impossible one. The Swedish capital is packed with stunning sights and restaurants that are changing the expectations of traditional recipes. Packing it all into two days can be a little intense. This place doesn’t really do intense, so follow our guide to the perfect 48 hours in Stockholm and focus on pleasure. When to visit? That depends on your weather preference, but there are no bad options. Some say that Stockholm is at its most glorious in late spring and summer, but even the dark (and cold, so cold) winter has plenty to offer the intrepid explorer. Whatever the weather, Stockholm is built for enjoyment.  

Faça frio ou faça sol, Estocolmo merece sempre uma visita. Encontrará várias coisas para ocupar o tempo – tenha só atenção que algumas actividades e atracções fecham fora de algumas épocas e por isso vale a pena espreitar os horários de algumas coisas antes de se aventurar na cidade.

A staple of Stockholm’s nightlife scene, this buttercup-yellow theatre has been around since the 1800s and is now home to a complex of buzzing bars apt for different occasions. The main chandelier-clad Södra Bar on the second floor hosts gig and club nights, including legendary monthly Hip Hop Karaoke parties, which are a magnet for talented local singers and rappers. The left side of the bar winds into Kristallen, a more intimate salon area with embellished carpets and massive windows looking out towards Stockholm’s medieval Old Town. But for the very best views, head up to the champagne sky bar and terrace on the seventh floor. During summertime, Södra Teatern also opens up a giant beer garden, Mosebacke, with space for 1,000 people. It’s teeming with modish young Stockholmers between April and September. Time Out tip: Private events can cause the champagne bar and its terrace to close to the public, even on weekends, so call ahead if you’re lusting after that money-shot photo.

In a striking waterfront location on the shores of Stockholm’s greenest city island, Djurgården, Oaxen is a nautical-themed Nordic bistro set inside a stunningly-restored bright yellow shipyard. The light-flooded venue is split into two parts: Oaxen Krog is a fine-dining restaurant that’s picked up two Michelin stars, thanks to delicately presented seasonal tasting menus garnished with wild herbs from the surrounding woodland. Oaxen Slip is a slightly more casual brasserie with a penchant for sharing plates and a reputation for one of the best Sunday roasts in the city. Run by renowned Swedish restaurateur and chef Magnus Ek, both sections take their name from the island in the archipelago where the restaurant started out in 1994. Since relocating to a more central location five years ago, Oaxen has become a firm favourite amongst the city’s foodies and has also won several awards for its lengthy wine list. Time Out tip: If you can’t justify Oaxen Krog’s tasting menu but want the experience of a lingering meal in this stunner of a location, go for the three course lunch menu at Oaxen Slip, giving you the option of a prolonged coffee after most diners have gone back to work.

If you love beer, Akkurat is the perfect spot to wind down after a busy day of sightseeing. Open until 1 a.m., this unpretentious wood-paneled pub near Slussen has Stockholm’s best beer menu, with more than two-dozen craft brews on tap and a huge selection of bottled varieties. There’s also an extensive menu of whiskies, especially from Scotland; just don’t try ordering wine!

An essential part of Swedish culture, fika means a coffee break, typically with a pastry, and with an added element of congenial company and coziness. Stockholm is filled with cafés where you can have a great fika, but few are as much a part of local tradition as Vete-Katten, which has been serving up mouthwatering baked goods and light lunches since 1928.