My Three Highlights in Stockholm

Midsummer, Ikea, elks – these are probably the first things that classically pop into your head when you think of Sweden. But Sweden has much more to offer than that. 

I was a few days in the Swedish capital Stockholm and was allowed to get to know the city with all its facets closer. Not without reason Stockholm is often called “Venice of the North”. Here there is a lot of nature paired with big city life and modernity combined with tradition. 

My very personal three highlights that I was able to experience in the few days Stockholm, I tell you in this post. 

Gamla Stan – the Old Town of Stockholm

If you visit Stockholm, you should not miss the Old Town. The historic center is one of the main sights of Stockholm, as the most important buildings of the city are located here. 

The central point is Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm, located just behind the Royal Castle. Stortorget is known for its beautiful house facades. 

In Stockholm’s sweet little old town, impressive buildings and sights line winding medieval alleys. A definite must-see. 

By the way, Gamla Stan translates as “the old city”. 

The Skansen Open Air Museum 

Skansen was founded in 1891 and is the oldest open-air museum in the world and another very popular Swedish destination. It is a journey into Sweden’s past. The history and traditions of the country are told here. 

Plan a whole day for the visit, there is a lot to see! The open-air museum is located on Djurgården. The best way to get there is by streetcar – but of course it also depends on where your accommodation is located. 

The open-air museum offers almost 150 original buildings reconstructed from all over the country. It shows different Swedish landscapes as well as history and different social classes in Sweden. 

In addition, there is also an animal park, where Nordic native animals such as wolves, lynxes, bears or even moose live. 

Skansen was an absolute highlight for me personally and a must-see! 

Swedish Specialties: Kanelbullar and Max Burgers 

And finally, I’d like to talk about a slightly more unusual highlight: Swedish food. 

Right at the front: Kanelbullar – or rather: Swedish cinnamon buns. In the few days I spent in Sweden, I ate several copies of this Swedish specialty. Which was not difficult, because you can find them on every corner in Stockholm. 

By the way, Kanelbullar can also be part of the Swedish “Fika”, which the Swedes understand as a coffee break with cake, cookies and/or Danish pastries. 

The Swedes seem to be quite fond of their cinnamon buns in general, as there is even a special holiday for the sweet pastry. On 04 October is Kanelbullens Dag! 

I’m definitely going to check out a recipe and make these sweet little cinnamon buns myself at home. They were just way too delicious to pass up! 

Another personal highlight was the fast food chain “Max Burgers”. Yes, that’s right – a fast food chain. 

The fast food restaurant has its origin in Sweden and as far as I know, there is none in Germany yet. I’m actually not a fan of fast food chains at all, but this chain has convinced me. 

There are high-quality burgers here – at least compared to other big fast food chains – and I love the diverse selection of vegan options. Plus, Max Burgers was already praised in 2019 for its work with climate-positive products. 

In addition, the burgers can be ordered digitally via a screen, which I found quite practical. I liked that very much! 

That was a small excerpt from my short trip. Stockholm is a really beautiful, for a big city but very quiet city, where tradition and modernity are combined really excellent.

PS: In case you’re wondering where I stayed during my trip: I was lucky enough to be able to stay with a friend who had done her semester abroad in Sweden. That was pretty convenient, of course. 

If you have any good tips for places to stay in Stockholm for my next trip, feel free to let me know in the comments!