Solo Travel in Stockholm: The Essential Guide

Find out why Sweden’s capital is perfect for going it alone, with my essential guide to solo travel in Stockholm!

I took a solo trip to Stockholm a few years ago on a whim, and it turned out to be one of my favourite weekend city breaks that year. I’m a sucker for a compact, walkable city centre and Stockholm’s was right on the money. Think cobbled streets and cosy vibes, delicious food and loads of fascinating museums to explore, and you’ve basically got Stockholm down.

Stockholm is a great city for a solo travellers, with welcoming and lively hostels, a low rate of violent crime and plenty to do. In this guide, I’ve shared my best tips for a solo trip to Stockholm, including the best things to do, where to stay and how to budget!

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Stockholm Solo Travel Essentials

• Where to stay: Den Roda Baten for a unique boat stay; Hotel Gamla Stan in Stockholm’s Old Town; City Backpackers for budget dorms.
• The best tours: Get to know Gamla Stan on an Old Town Walking Tour; taste delicious Swedish food on a food and walking tour; and hear terrifying tales on an atmospheric ghost tour.
• Essential sights: Gamla Stan (Old Town), Riddarholmen, Djurgarden
• Where to eat: Meatballs For The People, Flippin Burgers, Ostermalms Korvspecialist and Sthlm City Food Hall.

Why Stockholm is the perfect solo travel destination

Stockholm is always one of my top recommendations for a solo city break, for its compact size and friendly atmosphere. If, like me, you love to wander around beautiful historic streets, Stockholm’s old town is one of the most charming out there, with warm, rust-orange buildings and cobbled streets.

English is widely-spoken in Stockholm. Getting around is easy with a well-maintained public transport system, and the tourist areas are well-kept and clean. It’s also regarded as slightly cheaper for a city break than other major nordic cities such as Copenhagen. I was pleasantly surprised by how far my budget went on my trip to Stockholm.

Is Stockholm safe for solo travellers?

I felt completely safe as a solo female traveller in Stockholm, and didn’t encounter any situations which made me feel uncomfortable. As a society, Sweden has strong progressive values

While most of the city’s sights are in walking distance along busy routes, the public transport system is generally reliable and safe. Of course, like any city, you should take reasonable precautions with yourself and your belongings, but generally, Stockholm is a safe city for solo travellers.

Tips for staying safe in Stockholm

• Keep any valuables, your passport and cash secure in a cross-body bag or money belt.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Avoid walking on quiet, unlit streets at night.
• If you’re out for drinks, don’t leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers that you haven’t seen poured or opened in front of you.
• If you need to call for help, the emergency number in Sweden is 112. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – locals are generally friendly and English is widely spoken in Stockholm.

Budgeting tips for solo travel in Stockholm:

Although some things in Stockholm may be considered expensive for the average traveller, I found plenty of ways to explore Stockholm on a budget. I spent a total of £245.27 on my three-day Stockholm city break, including flights, two nights accommodation, and all meals.

My tips for a budget-friendly solo trip to Stockholm:

• Book as far in advance as possible to get the best deals on flights and accommodation.
• Stay in a hostel dorm to make your money go further. If you prefer a hotel, look outside of the Gamla Stan
• Take advantage of the wealth of free activities and museums in Stockholm.
• If you’re thinking about visiting multiple paid attractions, check out the Stockholm Pass, which starts at around £55 for one day and offers free entry to loads of places you’d otherwise pay for.
• Sign up for TopCashback (UK) to get money back on money you’re spending anyway – I’ve made over £300 so far!

How to get to Stockholm

Stockholm is served by three airports: Arlanda, Skavska and Vasteras.

Arlanda is the closest airport to the city centre. The Arlanda Express train takes 18 minutes and costs 340 SEK – you can also get the SL 40 local train, which takes twice as long but costs less.

Skavska and Vasteras are further out of town, around 100km from the city centre. Buses from Skavska and Vasteras Airports run based on flight schedules, and take around 80 minutes.

You can also get to Stockholm by train from many cities in northern Europe, or by bus travel.

Getting around Stockholm

Most of the time, I travelled around Stockholm on foot – it’s a compact city with good pavements, and most of the main sights are close together.

Stockholm also has a well connected Metro – which is worth travelling on for the subway art alone! A single ticket on Stockholm’s metro, buses, trains and trams is valid for 75 minutes and costs 42 SEK. This also covers most local ferries, so you can combine your transport with a waters-edge view of the city!

If you prefer to travel on two wheels, you can rent a bike to explore the city. Like many Nordic cities, Stockholm is very cycling-friendly

Places to stay as a solo traveller in Stockholm

On my solo trip to Stockholm, I booked a single room at Den Roda Baten. Mainly because it’s a boat. The rooms are basic, but they’re clean and comfortable, and you get the unique experience of spending the night on Stockholm’s waterways!

If boat life isn’t your style, here are some of the best hostels and hotels in Stockholm for a solo stay:

The best hostels in Stockholm

• City Backpackers was voted the best hostel in Sweden 2019 on Hostelworld.
• I’ll always root for Generator Hostels, and Stockholm’s is conveniently located near Central Station.
• For a homely, relaxed atmosphere in a small hostel on a quiet street, check out Castanea Old Town Hostel.

Hotels in Stockholm for solo travellers

• The stylish Skandic Klara offers single rooms within easy walking distance of the city centre.
• The 4* Hotel Gamla Stan is one of the more affordable Old Town hotels, with elegant decor across three 17th century buildings.
• For a 5* stay, Hotel Diplomat is an impressive 1911 Art Nouveau building with views over Nybroviken bay. Single rooms are available.

Essential sights to see on a solo trip to Stockholm

AKA the fun part! I loved exploring Stockholm’s sights and attractions, and these are some of my favourite things to do on your own in Stockholm:

Wander through Gamla Stan

The area of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historic Old Town can be found on Stadsholmen Island at the centre of the city. It also incorporates the surrounding islets of Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Strömsborg. One of the most well-preserved medieval old towns in Europe, discover winding streets, colourful buildings, and centuries-old architecture.

Top sights to see in Gamla Stan:

• Stortorget: Stockholm’s main old town square, home to cafes, shops and the Nobel Museum.
• Storkyrkan: The city’s main cathedral, with a baroque facade and medieval interior.
• Mårten Trotzigs Gränd: At just 90cm wide, this alleyway holds the record as Stockholm’s narrowest street.
• Royal Armoury Museum: A royal history museum featuring carriages, costumes and personal artefacts.
• Riddarholmen Church: One of the city’s oldest buildings and the final resting place of Swedish monarchy.
• Parliament House: The seat of Swedish government, occupying almost half of the Helgeandsholmen islet.
• Medieval Museum: Discover Swedish life in the Middle Ages at this fascinating museum.

Dive into royal history at the The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is, as the name suggests, the official residence of Swedish monarchy. Official royal events take place at the palace, which has over 600 rooms.

Entry to the Royal Palace includes:

• Royal Apartments: Visit the ceremonial areas used for gala dinners, cabinet meetings and royal receptions.
• Guest Apartments: Used to house important diplomatic visitors from around the world.
• Hall of State: Formerly used by the King to host the parliamentary opening ceremonies.
• The Treasury: Home to Sweden’s most valuable artefacts.
• Tre Kronor Museum: An exhibition on thee original palace, destroyed in 1697.

Visit a museum (or three) in Djurgarden

The Royal Island of Djurgarden is located within Stockholm’s Royal National City Park, and it’s a lovely place to walk around in nature within easy reach of the city centre. It’s also home to some of the city’s most fun museums:

• Stockholm’s ABBA Museum is, unsurpsrisingly, an immersive museum dedicated to all things ABBA
• Nordiska Museet explores day-to-day living across the past 500 years.
• Immerse yourself in Viking age life at the Stockholm Viking Museum.
• Skansen is the world’s first open air museum, featuring recreations of historic buildings and a small zoo.

Explore Stockholm’s archipelago

The city of Stockholm is built on an archipelago of a total of fourteen islands, plus thousands more islets and rocks. Spending some time on the water is the best way to get a taste of this unique island city.

I took a 90 minute city archipelago sightseeing tour to cruise Stockholm’s waterways with a live tour guide. If you prefer being in charge of your own vessel, a kayaking tour is a more active way to make your way around the city’s islands!

Ride around on the world’s longest art gallery

The underground is a great way to get around Stockholm quickly – but did you know, it’s also the best place to see free art in the city? Since 1957, artists have been commissioned to develop Stockholm’s metro stations, making it the world’s longest art gallery. Checking out the diverse and expansive station designs was an absolute highlight of my trip, and a great activity to undertake solo.

You can join a guided tour, or go DIY with my self-directed Stockholm metro guide!