
I can say, hand on heart, that Stockholm is one of my new favourite cities in Europe! We loved our time in Sweden so much this winter.
Arriving in Sweden marks my 68th country visited. It is also the final country of the mystery roadtrip which my partner planned for me with my only clues being that I needed a suitcase full of winter clothes for ten days.
→ I documented the entire mystery roadtrip on reels; check it out on Instagram!
Heading north out of Munich, where my partner lives, we stopped along the way through Germany including the Eremitage Schlosspark in Bayreuth, the magical Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar and then spent two nights in Lüneburg, a hidden gem of a city just an hour south of Hamburg. From there, we headed to the northern German coastline to catch a ferry across the border into Denmark and spent 24 hours in Copenhagen. After Copenhagen, it was time to cross the Øresund Bridge into Sweden where we spent our first night in Halmstad on the west coast. From Halmstad, we drove to the IKEA Museum, before reaching our final destination of Stockholm!
We had three gorgeous days in Stockholm over the New Year. Our first day was bright blue sunshine (the first sun we saw in a week) and then on New Year's Eve we had the best gift of all, a massive snowstorm to ring in 2025. Here is my complete guide to this enchanting city which we can't wait to come back to:
By flight: Stockholm's International Airport, Arlanda, is 37km north of the city, about half-way to Uppsala. It's a 40-minute drive into the city from the airport or you can easily hop on one of the 937 or 941 or Arlanda Express trains into Stockholm in less than 20 minutes.
By car: We traveled to Stockholm by car as part of a mystery roadtrip my partner planned for me through three countries. We drove up from Munich, nearly 1700km away and it was quite the journey! Stockholm is on the southwestern coast of Sweden, from where we drove directly from Halmstad on the west coast. Parking is quite difficult to find in Stockholm and can be pricey; we parked at our hotel on the northern side of the city and walked or took an Uber into town, as recommended by our receptionist.
→ On our way from Halmstad, we stopped to visit the IKEA Museum in Älmhult along the way.
By train: Stockholm is serviced by a central train station, with trains arriving from across Sweden and internationally from Europe. Tickets can be purchased with SJ.
By bus: The Flixbus rus directly between Stockholm and 77 other cities across Europe.

Driving across southern Sweden


Stockholm is a large, beautiful city, spread across a number of islands and connected via bridges.
Parking is quite difficult to find in Stockholm and can be pricey, so to access downtown and Gamla Stan (the old town), we left our car parked at our hotel on the northern side of the city and walked or took an Uber into town, as recommended by our receptionist.
You might also want to join a walking tour of Stockholm to get a good insight from a local of the history and learn a bit more about the city.
To reach Skansen on the Museum Island (also where the ABBA Museum and the Vasa Museum of the shipwrecked boat are located), we drove and parked our car at the small parking lot in front of Skansen.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Stockholm.
Stockholm is surrounded by an archipelago of beautiful islands to visit; we didn't get the chance to visit any during our winter visit but plan to come back one day in the warmer months and explore. They can be reached by ferry.



The snowy roads of Stockholm
I truly believe we stayed at the best possible place in Stockholm. A bit out of the city, just ten minutes with public transport or half an hour on foot, you'll find the idyllic Stallmästaregården Hotel, situated quietly on the shores of Brunnsviken Lake. Although in Stockholm, it somehow feels like you're transported back in time to the 1600s where elegance and history come together to create a peaceful and delightful experience.
The staff are excellent, the food is absolutely mouthwatering (we dined here for our New Year's Eve dinner), the rooms and beds are oh so comfortable and the design is just delightful.
Stallmästaregården is the oldest remaining inn in Stockholm, having first opened in the 17th century! Different owners have added their own flair over time and the building has expanded over the years to become the hotel as it stands today.






You might laugh at my suggestions - because we didn't actually try that many places in Stockholm! We had breakfast and dinner at our hotel and during the day, we always went to the same place for coffee and lunch: Bröd&Salt. We loved their chai lattes SO much (especially the dirty chais, with a shot of espresso) and the healthy and fresh salad bar with loads of interesting and varied options which you fill yourself and pay by the weight.
I can also highly recommend experiencing the IKEA inside a mall (Sweden, eh!?) and especially the restaurant in the food court... meatballs in the mall!








IKEA in the Gallerian Mall
I can truly say, hand on heart, that Stockholm is one of my new favourite cities in Europe. We absolutely loved the vibe, the big airy streets, the countless things to do. The lifestyle felt very organized and play-by-the-rules while simultaneously being super laid back and unpretentious. Being right on the water was an absolute treat and it felt like every corner was waiting to be discovered and photographed.
→ Check out the reels I made about our mystery roadtrip!
We can't wait to come back and experience Stockholm in other seasons but, for now, here is everything we did in Stockholm on our winter trip:
Wander the streets of Norrmalm
Norrmalm encompasses the "downtown" of Stockholm, with streets lined with shops, restaurants and gorgeous architecture. We walked through here on our way from our hotel towards Gamla Stan.


Explore Gamla Stan
Visiting Gamla Stan, the oldest part of Stockholm dating back to the 17th century, was definitely a highlight. Situated on a small island just south of the downtown area, every corner is oozing with magic. Sure, it's a bit touristy with plenty of souvenir shops, but look past that to find the idyllic streets, the cozy cafes and the photogenic alleys. You can also find the Royal Palace here, the official residence of the royal family of Sweden.













Look over the water at Skeppsbrokajen
Lots of the ferries to the archipelago stop here and you have a beautiful view looking toward the Katarina-Sofia borough of Stockholm across the water. It was here that we watched the final sunset of 2024!


Check out the exhibits at Fotografiska
A photo museum, Fotografiska offers ever-changing exhibits discussing contemporary themes through gorgeous photography. As a bonus, there's a perfect view looking back towards Gamla Stan across the water from here.


Take in the view from Skinnarviksberget
Albiet, I have not visited every viewpoint in Stockholm, but I can wholeheartedly say this one took my breath away. It's a five-minute walk up the hill from the parking lot and you get a simply magical panoramic view of Stockholm laid out in front of you. Best on a sunny day!
→ Check out my detailed guide to visiting Skinnarviksberget!






Learn the history of Sweden at Skansen
We spent our New Year's Day at Skansen Museum, a brilliant interactive outdoor museum - the oldest in the world - featuring historical buildings representing life and culture from all corners of Sweden.




Bonus: Ring in the New Year in Stockholm!
We were in Stockholm for a few days over the New Year and got to celebrate what has probably been the most magical New Year's Eve of my life so far. We got so lucky with the weather and at 10pm on New Year's Eve, snow began to fall heavily across the city, turning the entire celebrations into a swirling winter wonderland. Watching brightly coloured fireworks go off over Gamla Stan in the middle of a snowstorm is an experience I will never forget.
→ Check out the reel I made from our mystery roadtrip about New Year's Eve in Stockholm!






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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.