Things to Do

Sure, there’s always ABBA, Yung Lean, Avicii and Zara Larsson, but if a Stockholmer gets sentimental, he or she might burst into the ’90s Lasse Berghagen song ‘Stockholm i mitt hjärta’. The song, which translates to ‘Stockholm in My Heart’, is a love letter to the city, celebrating its beauty with its golden Nordic light and its ‘perfect mixture of sweet and salt’. But it’s not only the salty sea of the archipelago or Swedes’ obsession with fika and candy that gives the city its unique appeal. It’s that distinct blend of restrained Nordic minimalism alongside a restless pursuit of the future. It’s the cool pubs, bistros and thrift stores of Södermalm; the glitzy floating bars at Strandvägen and Strömkajen with their sun-drenched patios; and the buzzing backstreets of downtown Norrmalm and Stureplan, where Michelin restaurants and high-end eateries blend with fashionable shopping streets and nightclubs. Here are 20 essential things to do, see and eat in the stunning Scandinavian capital – enough to make you want to join in the serenade. Some of our Stockholm highlights:  Take a stroll on Stockholm's most beautiful street, Strandvägen Or do your own walking sight seeing tour around the Heights of Söder Scream your lungs out and smell the flowers at Djurgården  Watch world-class photography at Fotografiska  Take a boat trip to the nearest Stockholm archipelago Island  Have a red velvet croissant at Mr Cake – one of the city’s best ‘fika’ places  Find Stockholm's best place for boule – Sweden's favourite social drinking game  Experience the Swedish candy hype at BUBS Eat like a local at one of Stockholm's oldest restaurants  Day-drink in the coolest pool club at Ellery  🏨 Planning your stay? Discover Stockholm’s best best Airbnbs and hotels 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. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Swedish museumgoers are discerning, and rightly so. For a museum to measure up today, it takes more than dusty display cases; there are five unspoken but unavoidable requirements to go all the way. We’re talking well-curated exhibitions, seamless accessibility, an inviting restaurant, activities for children and a museum shop you actually want to browse. A first-class museum can’t be a quick box-ticking stop – it simply has to be a full-day activity for everyone. The capital’s offering is as broad as it is deep. You’ll find heavyweight institutions for art, history and science as well as more niche success stories. Indulge in pop nostalgia at a museum dedicated to the music phenomenon ABBA, or marvel at a failed warship that sank on its maiden voyage (the Vasa Museum), only to be salvaged and become a global success and a symbol of Swedish pride 300 years later. Here, we list the museums that deliver both fascinating exhibitions and that little extra that makes a visit a real hit. At these museums, you can expect a memorable experience featuring everything from modern sculptures in a coastal setting and nostalgic toys to royal garments and insights into Swedish history and life in the Nordic region.

Sun, wind and water and a gorgeous archipelago island are all we dream of for a perfect summer’s day. 

August is the grand finale of late summer – and perhaps Stockholm’s most underrated month. The water is at its warmest, the evening light at its softest, and the city fills up again as half of Stockholm returns from the countryside or holidays abroad, realising that the best of summer is still to come. There’s a special feeling in the air that everything has to be squeezed in before autumn arrives, that memories are waiting to be made. And August delivers. The month kicks off with the Pride Parade, which brings half the city centre to a standstill, before serving up everything from crayfish parties and the Midnight Run to the twin derby in the Swedish top-flight football league. The live music line-up is almost absurdly broad: The Weeknd plays his only Nordic shows at Strawberry Arena, Veronica Maggio fills a sold-out Stockholm Stadium, Emmylou Harris bids farewell to Sweden one last time, and Mosebacketerrassen hosts Swedish greats night after night. Throw in festivals right in the city centre, an archipelago just 15 minutes away, rooftop bars entering their final weeks of the season and, yes, even a dachshund parade, and you’ve got a month that refuses to take it easy. We’ve rounded up 31 tips – one for every day from August 1 to 31. Here are the best things to do in Stockholm in August.

Short on ideas for your next day off in Sweden’s capital? No worries. We’ve got you covered.

Let your inner child join your actual one at any of these fantastic kid-friendly experiences in Stockholm