In July 2026, I stopped in Stockholm for a day while on a 9-day Baltic cruise. Stockholm blew me away, and frankly, I was overwhelmed! There is so much to do in this vibrant Scandinavian city and I left itching for more. While one day in Stockholm is enough to cover the highlights, I will definitely be back here for a longer land-based trip to dive deeper. There are so many things still on my “to-do” list! If your time here is limited, here are the top things to do during your one day in Stockholm!
Read More: Full Review: 9-Day NCL Sun Baltic Cruise
Gamla Stan Highlights
If you only have one day in Stockholm, make Gamla Stan your first stop, and where you spend a good chunk of time! Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, has so much to offer. Get there early in the morning to enjoy wandering the streets without the crowds. My favorite part of Gamla Stan to enjoy without people was Stortorget, the historic town square. The bright, colorful, flat buildings and cobblestone streets make for such a vibe. There are cafes and restaurants that will be just opening their doors so grab a cup of coffee and watch the world wake up.
Take a slow stroll over to Kungliga slottet (the Royal Palace). Here you can watch the guards pace back and forth protecting the palace. The changing of the guards happens each day at 12:15 pm (except on Sundays when it is at 1:15 pm) and lasts about 40 minutes. Also nearby is the Nobel Prize Museum, which is interesting to see. The best street to take a long stroll down is Västerlånggatan, which is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, and life. Mårten Trotzigs Gränd is the most narrow street in Stockholm and is another fun street to walk down (or up, since it’s quite literally a staircase!). Gamla Stan isn’t large, so I’d recommend just wandering around for a few hours!
Fika Break
When in Sweden, fika! Fika is both a noun and a verb, and is simply the intentional act of taking a break during the day over a coffee and sweet treat. But it isn’t just about the caffeine boost, it’s about being social too. There are tons of little cafes around Stockholm and Gamla Stan for a fika break, but I couldn’t resist stopping in at Fabrique! There are several locations around Stockholm and they are all quaint and cozy cafes serving up all the traditional treats. I opted for a cappuccino and cinnamon kanelbullar. The perfect break in the day!
Ferry Ride to Djurgården
One of the very best ways to get around Stockholm is by ferry! Not only are they quick and cheap, but they’re incredibly scenic! From Gamla Stan, take the #82 ferry from the Slussen stop. You can buy your tickets right at the station by tapping your card or phone. It couldn’t be easier! Once onboard, don’t get too settled. Grab a spot outside if you can for the quick ten-minute ride over to Allmänna gränd. On the ride, you’ll get views of Gamla Stan, the island of Skeppsholmen, and Gröna Lund. Once you arrive, it’s a quick walk to all the highlights on the island: the amusement park, Skansen, Vasa Museum (more on that below), ABBA Museum, The Viking Museum, and more!
Vasa Museum
Absolutely no trip to Stockholm is complete without a visit to the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum)! The Vasa ship is absolutely incredible to see up close and is a symbol of Swedish pride and resilience. You can read all about the ship’s history here. It really was even more remarkable than I imagined! The museum has a ton of exhibits, movie screenings, and information to learn more about (albeit, the very short) life on board. I spent about an hour here and found it was plenty of time to see the ship from all different angles, see the different exhibits, and learn the history. What really set me back time-wise was the line to buy tickets! Learn from my mistakes and buy your tickets in advance by clicking here!
Kungsträdgården & Parliament House
After a long day of exploring, make your way to Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden). These gardens are beautifully manicured in the summer months and are a perfect place to rest and, quite literally, smell the roses. There are plenty of benches, small vendors to grab a drink or snack, and even some local musicians playing their instruments. It was such a vibe. Just a short walk away is the Kungliga Operan (Royal Swedish Opera). The opera house is only open for tours on Saturdays and are done in Swedish. If your one day in Stockholm happens to fall on a Saturday, it’s something to consider (but with Google Translate up and ready!). Otherwise, the grounds outside the opera house and beautiful and also worthy of your time. Just across the Norrbro bridge is Riksdagshuset (Parliament House). Another stunning building (one of many in Stockholm) to photograph and admire!
Subway Art
The biggest thing I didn’t get a chance to do during my one day in Stockholm is experience their subway art. If I had just an hour or two more to explore the city, this is definitely how I would have spent my time! Fourteen subway stations across Stockholm are uniquely designed by local artists into complete works of art. Grab an unlimited metro card and bop around on trains to see as many as you can! A few that I was itching to see were Kungsträdgården (designed like a red and green checkerboard), T-Centralen (with white and blue Greek-style leaves), and Stadion (rainbows with fluffy white clouds). An official guide can be found here. Don’t forget your camera!
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