Flights to Stockholm

Fly with SAS to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, and you’ll be ready and raring to explore Stockholm feeling relaxed and well rested.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport

MARCH 2024

The Stockholm archipelago offers more than 30,000 islands of various sizes and character, enticing visitors with their greenery and charm. Here’s our guide to the islands not to be missed when visiting Stockholm this summer.

Sandhamn

One of the most famous islands in the archipelago, Sandhamn lies far out to sea. The island attracts many sailing enthusiasts who come to dock at the harbor. Others visit to discover the bathing areas, enjoy good food at one of the island’s restaurants and cafés, or check in at one of Sandhamn’s hotels—such as the mythical sailing-themed hotel Sandhamn Seglarhotell.

How to get there:

To get to Sandhamn, hop on the ferry from Stavsnäs pier just outside the city, which is served by regular buses. The boat trip takes around an hour.

Norröra

The island of Norröra is best known as the setting for Astrid Lindgren’s popular story Seacrow Island—and it was here that the TV series was filmed in the 1960s. On the picturesque island, you can walk around and experience the settings from the show, such as beautiful walking paths and swimming spots. Norröra is perfect for a day trip, and from here you can also visit the neighboring island of Söderöra, also made famous in Seacrow Island.

How to get there:

To get to Norröra, take a ferry from Strömkajen in Stockholm, which departs around twice a day in high season.

Fjäderholmarna

If you don’t want to travel far, Fjäderholmarna, just a 25-minute boat ride from the city, is the perfect choice. Despite its proximity to the city, it’s the perfect getaway for those who want to experience the idyllic archipelago. Have lunch at one of the island’s restaurants, such as the popular Rökeriet, swim from the rocks, and watch the sunset before catching the last boat home.

How to get there:

Boats to Fjäderholmarna leave Slussen every hour during the summer season.

Grinda

Just over an hour from the vibrant city life of Stockholm, scenic Grinda offers both adventure and relaxation. At Grinda Wärdshus, you can sit and enjoy first-class food, and for the adventurous, there are hiking trails, kayak rentals, and climbing to explore on the island. There are several accommodation options, including hotels, cottage rentals, and hostels.

How to get there:

Boats leave from Strömkajen several times a day during the high season.

Vaxholm

People come to Vaxholm daily both by boat and car to explore the small town center or to head out to the more remote islands of the archipelago. Vaxholm is something of a gathering place for archipelago enthusiasts thanks to its close and convenient location near the city. While you’re here, you have to visit Vaxholm Fortress, an old military building from the 16th century with impressive architecture that now serves as a museum.

How to get there:

Boats depart several times a day from Strömkajen and Nybrokajen, and the journey takes around an hour. You can also get there by bus or car.

Photo: Unsplash

Landsort

Landsort is a picturesque island at the end of the Stockholm archipelago, known for its historic lighthouse, one of the oldest in Sweden. You can visit the lighthouse and enjoy a great view of the Baltic Sea, followed by a beverage at the small café next door. Landsort is also known for its environmentally protected status and rich birdlife—it is quite the paradise for birdwatchers.

How to get there:

To get there, take a boat from one of Stockholm’s ports. The journey takes a few hours, giving you time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the archipelago.

JULY 2023

Composed of 14 different islands linked by 57 bridges, Sweden’s capital is a breathtaking oasis encircled by water. There’s always plenty of new things to discover, regardless of the season – from exciting restaurants to world-class shopping and more. We list everything you won’t want to miss out on during your weekend in Stockholm.

Friday

Start your weekend in style by staying in the heart of Stockholm near the Stureplan or Hötorget plazas. It’s convenient and easy to get around Stockholm from here, and the busy area is packed to the brim with shops, restaurants, cafés, and bars. Miss Clara, Story Hotel, Sparrow Hotel, Hobo Hotel and Hotel Ruth are appealing options that suit a wide variety of budgets.

Before you embark on your shopping odyssey, you may want to grab a quick lunch. The newly opened Kapibara Ramen on Riddargatan 20 offers delicious Asian food in a relaxed atmosphere at affordable prices. Another recommendation is the taqueria La Neta (also located in Södermalm), which serves authentic Mexican tacos and quesadillas on colorful enameled plates – spicy, simple, and muy delicioso!

Endless shopping options

When it comes to shopping, Stockholm is in a class by itself. The city has everything from busy (to downright chaotic on weekends) Drottninggatan, where you’ll find all your favorite chain and big box stores, to the historic Nordiska Kompaniet department store. Just a stone’s throw from downtown is Bibliotekstan, a smaller, upscale shopping district featuring iconic Scandinavian brands such as Axel Arigato, Filippa K, Rodebjer, and Acne Studios as well as international luxury goods from Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, among others. If you’re into designer home decor, you’ll want to visit Svenskt Tenn on Strandvägen, Nordiska Galleriet, and The Modern Sthlm on Nybrogatan, not to mention the brand new Ikea store inside the Gallerian!

Quench your thirst at one of the refreshing wine bars in the area (Tyge och Sessil and Schmaltz are two favorites) before filling up with some hearty Swedish home cooking at either PA & Co or Tennstopet in Vasastan.

Saturday

Sunbathing and swimming

In Stockholm, you’re never far from the water. If you’re in the city in the summertime, pack a swimsuit and spend a sunny Saturday like the locals – at one of the popular swimming spots. Piers and jetties, rocky cliffs, grassy dunes, or sandy beaches – whatever your preference, you’ll find it here. A favorite of the locals is Reimersholme, which is easy to get to from Södermalm by bus, bike, or on foot. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast or a traditional Swedish fika coffee break at a popular café like Pascal (Södermalm, Vasastan, and downtown Stockholm) or Bar Ubu (Södermalm) and savor the chill summer vibe. If your appetite’s sated but you need a break from the sea and the sun, head to the stately Reimersholme Hotel for an aperitif and then make your way to Mariatorget, where you’ll find the best handmade pasta in town at Gazza and mouth-watering tapas at the charming Racamaca. If you’re still full of energy and are looking for some nightlife, wrap up the evening at Bar Hommage or Häktet.

Classic art, modern cuisine

If you’re planning to visit Stockholm when it’s too cold to swim or if sun and sand just aren’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of other things to do in the city. Sweden’s biggest art museum, the Nationalmuseum, is located in Blasieholmen, a lovely area that’s also home to the historic Grand Hotel. The museum, which is known for its majestic exhibit halls and striking architecture, offers an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, sketches, and prints from the 16th to 20th century. A short, leisurely stroll toward Skeppsholmen then takes you to Moderna Museet [the Modern Museum] and ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design. You can even enjoy a delicious lunch and soak up the artsy atmosphere while visiting either the Nationalmuseum or Moderna Museet.

Nationalmuseum. Photo: Unsplash

Once you’ve had your fill of the fine arts, amble down Skeppsbron Road past the Royal Palace and on over the bridge to Slussen as you make your way toward Södermalm. Enjoy an aperitif at the cozy Babylon or the sun-drenched Mosebacketerrassen while pondering what sounds better for dinner: tasty, authentic Korean food at the acclaimed Madam or fresh, innovative Scandinavian cuisine at Bar Agrikultur. If you love the nightlife, head to the trendy Riche Fenix, the Freyja rooftop bar, or the Trädgården nightclub (open from May through September) after your meal.

Sunday

No visit to Stockholm is complete without a stroll over the bridge to the lush oasis of Royal Djurgården. Locals and tourists alike flock here on a daily basis to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings and wealth of cultural attractions, museums, and historic architecture. For travelers with kids, Gröna Lund amusement park, Skansen Zoo, and the storytelling museum Junibacken are all popular family destinations. If you’re a history lover, a visit to the Vasa Museum or Nordiska Museet [Nordic Museum] always leaves a lasting impression while the Spritmuseum [the Museum of Liquor], with its fascinating exhibits and free tastings, is the perfect pick-me-upper.

When it’s time to call it a day, you can quickly get back to the city from Djurgården on the tram, but why not indulge yourself first in a tasty lunch at Rosendals Trädgård or Blå Porten?

MARCH 2023

Fly to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and you can get so much more than just a visit to the Swedish capital. Within three hours’ drive, you find everything from dizzying nature experiences, to Sweden’s best gastronomy, and a picturesque historic little town.

Adventures in Järvsö

About three hours directly north of Arlanda, you’ll find this small town in Hälsingland province, home to all kinds of excitement, adrenaline thrills and experiences. Winter, spring, summer or fall – a visit to Järvsö is always a good idea.

Skiing for all

Järvsöbacken

Järvsö is a great ski destination during the winter. With 20 slopes, eight lifts and five conveyor belts, the family-owned Järvsöbacken is the ideal resort to learn downhill skiing and snowboarding. If you prefer cross-country there are all kinds of options, from the guaranteed snow of Harsa to the centrally located Järvsö lit trail.

Uphill, downhill and flat

Järvsö Bergscykel Park

When the hilly landscape of Järvsö is not covered in snow, it’s a paradise for keen cyclists. Try one of the area’s thrilling, professionally built mountain bike trails for families or experienced riders, or the local MTB park with downhill trails for all skill levels.

Whitewater rafting in Edängeforsen

Järvsö forsränning

Get ready for a dizzying adventure in Ljusnan, about 15 km north of Järvsö. A rubber raft takes you and your friends or family through the wild rushes and rolls of Edängeforsen. The season runs May to October and difficulty levels vary, but note the minimum age is 12.

Photo: Unsplash

Need help with ideas and activities in Järvsö? Contact the Järvsö Guides who offer everything from a sauna raft to team-building.

Foodie heaven in Bergslagen

Stockholm is an obvious destination for foodies, but for the truly curious there are some delicious gems also west of the capital. Head for the stunning region of Bergslagen, where some of Sweden’s leading gastro-destinations await.

Delicacies among the sheep

Bredsjö Mjölkfår AB

Beautiful Bergslagen is also home to the family-owned Bredsjö Mjölkfår, an organic sheep dairy farm whose cheeses are now sought-after delicacies in stores across Sweden. Their flagship product is Bredsjö Blå, a mature blue sheep’s cheese, but you’ll also find the delicious Bredsjö Hård, a hard Swedish cheese equivalent to an Italian pecorino. As well as browsing the cheesy delights of the farm shop, you can also enjoy light meals in the cheese café & farm bistro – with the sheep quietly grazing close by.

A food and wine trip

Grythyttans Gästgivaregård

The small town of Grythyttan is home to Grythyttans Gästgivaregård – a culinary oasis where skilled chefs serve outstanding food, carefully prepared from seasonal local ingredients, accompanied by wines from the impressive cellar (housing one of Sweden’s oldest collections for example). To enjoy the full gastro experience, you can even check into one of the hostelry’s individually furnished rooms, from luxury suites to more basic single rooms.

Award-winning culinary craft

Hjulsjö 103

Hjulsjö 103 explores what can be created from a few carefully selected local ingredients: grain, apple, cheese and coffee (the latter not produced in Bergslagen, but bought from a friend of the owners who imports sustainable coffee). The result? An amazing sourdough bakery with award-winning sourdough bread and hand-rolled croissants, a small-scale cider house and coffee roastery. Hjulsjö 103 is open Saturdays, but you can also book a weekend at the one-room hotel.

Picturesque, historic Vadstena

Just over three hours’ drive south of Arlanda, the landscape along the E4 highway goes from the eclectic nature of Södermanland to the vast plains of Östergötland province, bright yellow in May with expansive fields of rape. The small town of Vadstena – beautifully located next to Vättern, Sweden’s second-largest lake – is home to historic monuments, picturesque cobbled streets, and flea-market bargains galore.

The beating wings of history

Vadstena Klosterområde

Strolling around Vadstena Monastery Quarter is a powerful experience. Founded in 1384, this medieval monastery was planned and designed by Saint Bridget of Sweden, and was a ‘double monastery’ housing both nuns and monks of the Bridgettine order. Following King Gustav I’s reformation the monastery was closed in 1595, and has since been used as a veterans’ home, a mental hospital, a hospital for treating venereal diseases, and a hospital. Nowadays the Monastery Quarter is home to some 20 different units – the Abbey Church, Sancta Birgitta Klostermuseum, Pilgrimage Center, Herb Garden, and Monk’s Garden (one of the oldest preserved orchards in Sweden) are all worth a visit.

The cutest tearoom in town

Gamla Konditoriet

The counter at the old 15th century Helgeandshuset features the most delicious cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Gamla Konditoriet, the Old Bakery in Vadstena, makes and bakes everything from scratch, adding even more charm to this classic little café. Odd little coffee cups, floral plates and solid old wooden furniture – Gamla Konditoriet in Vadstena is a must for any lover of Swedish fika.

Find a bargain

Lions loppis Vadstena

Like many other small towns in Sweden, Vadstena is big on flea markets, especially during the summer. Glass, porcelain, furniture, furnishings and other antiquities can all be found in traditional second-hand shops and private flea markets or yard sales. And if you’re feeling peckish, there are plenty of farm shops and garden centers to choose from.

Do you want to travel in even more comfort? You can always upgrade your SAS flight ticket to the next travel class. This gives you access to Fast Track, SAS Lounges, priority boarding and meals & snacks onboard.

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