How To Visit Stockholm On A Budget

Here are all my top tips for how to visit Stockholm on a budget, a beautiful but expensive country in Scandinavia!

Stockholm, Sweden is an absolutely magical city in northern Europe.

It has all the best elements of a Scandinavian city, from the aromatic bakeries, to the frosty weather, to the picturesque Old Town streets.

I visited Stockholm during my third year of university while I was studying in London. Flights from London to Stockholm were super cheap, so myself and two friends set off on a 3 day trip.

Though the flights were cheap, Stockholm itself is not a cheap city to visit.

But it’s still very easy to enjoy expensive places like Stockholm on a budget if you prepare and do a bit of research.

I’m here to make that process easier for you!

Here is my guide for how to visit Stockholm on a budget.

Though I love to prioritise affordable destinations so my money stretches further, I sometimes visit expensive places as well!

Stockholm, along with places like Interlaken, London, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and destinations in the USA or Australia are all among the most expensive places I’ve visited.

But I’ve still managed to enjoy every place without churning through savings. So follow along to learn how to visit Stockholm on a budget!

Read my full list of 50 Budget Travel Tips for more ways to save money.

How to Visit Stockholm on a Budget – A Complete Guide

My guide to Stockholm on a budget includes the best time to visit, how to get there, where to stay, cheap things to do, and work exchange ideas.

These are all the things I personally research when I’m going somewhere new. I like to get a feel for these things, how much they cost, and how I can enjoy a city to the fullest without spending tons of money.

The currency in Stockholm is the Swedish Krona (SEK or kr). I’ll mention costs in USD or Euros in this article, but here are the current conversions for those interested.

1 AUD = 6.3 SEK
1 USD = 10 SEK
1 Euro = 10.8 SEK

What is Stockholm, Sweden best known for?

Stockholm is one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe.

The Scandinavian city is an archipelago of several islands, which provides scenic canals, waterfront views, and water activities.

Stockholm is also known for its seamless combination of old and new. Gamla Stan, its rustic Old Town, has the authentic cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and humble charm of a historic European town.

At the same time, Stockholm has a modern energy and is a hub for innovation. There is high-end shopping, sleek architecture, and upscale museums.

The city is also notoriously clean and safe.

cinnamon rolls in a bakery window — Stockholm is also known for its INCREDIBLE cinnamon rolls. Make sure you indulge in a few!

What is the best month to visit Stockholm?

The best month to visit Stockholm depends on what you’re prioritizing. For the best weather, visit in summer (June, July, August). For the cheapest prices, visit in winter (December, January, February).

We visited Stockholm in February, which is one of the cheapest and coldest months. The freezing temperatures, icy canals, and snow flurries made the city quite magical! And there were very few crowds.

So if you want cheap prices, just pack lots of warm clothing and visit Stockholm in winter.

Go in December if you want to experience the magical Christmas markets, and winter is also the best time to see the Northern Lights!

Summer is more crowded and expensive, but the weather will be much warmer for outdoor exploring.

You can also choose spring or autumn to enjoy the shoulder seasons. This is right in the sweet spot between the cold, cheap winter and the hot, expensive summer.

How many days do you need in Stockholm?

3 days is a great amount of time to spend in Stockholm, Sweden. The city is packed with things to do, but it’s all relatively close together.

You should easily be able to see Stockholm’s highlights on a 3 day trip.

If you have more time, you can explore more of Scandinavia outside the city. Go on a day trip to nearby viking towns or cruise around the Stockholm archipelago for a full day on the water.

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Getting to Stockholm on a budget

Getting to Stockholm might actually be the cheapest part of your trip. But it does depend on when you visit, and where you’re coming from.

How to get cheap flights to Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden has an international airport, so you can fly here from many destinations around the world.

However, it will likely be much cheaper to fly to Stockholm from elsewhere in Europe. So if possible, try to combine your visit to Stockholm with other destinations around Europe to score those cheap flights!

Here are some examples of what flights to Stockholm may cost from popular places in Europe (one way tickets)

London to Stockholm: 18 Euros in winter, 30-70 Euros in summer
Rome to Stockholm: 22 Euros in winter, 80-150 Euros in summer
Paris to Stockholm: 20 Euros in winter or early spring, 50-100 Euros in summer

You can find these cheap flights by using websites like Skyscanner, which helps you compare travel days and pick the cheapest flights!

Read my guide for finding the cheapest flights abroad to help make your travel more affordable.

Overland transport to Stockholm

If you are heading to Stockholm from somewhere nearby in Europe, you may prefer to take a bus, train, or boat.

Europe has an extensive and reliable public transport system. So it should be relatively easy to book your land transport to Sweden.

Here are the websites I would normally use to find buses, ferries, or trains in Europe:

Websites like Rome2Rio also compare different transport methods.

So if you’re debating on taking a bus, train, or flight, this website will compare them all and you can choose the cheapest one.

You can also make your transport a scenic experience! Try an overnight cruise from Helsinki, Finland to Stockholm. Or an overnight cruise from Tallinn, Estonia to Stockholm.

Where to stay in Stockholm

Once you arrive in Stockholm, I would recommend staying in a hostel for the cheapest accommodation.

Choose somewhere near the Old Town so you can walk to the best attractions. And choose a place with high ratings!

Generally the more expensive the hostel is, the better the amenities are.

Here are some of the top hostels in Stockholm that I would choose.

City Backpackers Hostel – Dorms from $10 USD per night, 9.5/10 rating
Castanea Old Town Hostel – Dorms from $26 USD, 9.5/10 rating
Generator Hostel – Dorms from $23 USD, 8.6/10 rating

If you’re traveling as a couple and would prefer a private room, many hostels in Stockholm offer private rooms. Or you can search Airbnb or Booking.com for affordable hotels.

view of colorful stockholm on a budget — There are hostels all over Stockholm, which are the most affordable accommodation option.

Best Things To Do In Stockholm On A Budget

Once you’ve planned your transport and accommodation in Stockholm, it’s time to explore.

Though Stockholm is a pretty expensive city, there are plenty of free or cheap things to do.

Consider getting a Stockholm Pass, which gets you discounted entry to some of the city’s top museums and attractions.

Save money with a Stockholm Pass

Sightseeing

Sightseeing was personally my favorite thing to do in Stockholm. This city is so incredibly scenic!

The Old Town in particular, known as Gamla Stan, is the most beautiful place in Stockholm. We wandered around here for hours and never got bored.

There are winding cobblestone streets, brightly colored buildings and churches, magnificent archways and bridges, and more.

Even when you venture outside the Old Town, the never-ending canals and grand architecture make Stockholm an amazing place for sightseeing.

Cost: Free

gamla stan buildings in old town stockholm on a budget — All of Stockholm is beautiful, especially the Old Town.

Cafes

Scandinavia has a strong cafe culture, probably to escape the bitter cold weather that lingers for most of the year.

Everywhere you go in Stockholm, you can find cozy cafes just begging you to wander inside and escape the cold.

Break up your sightseeing with a few cafe visits! Sip on a hot coffee and indulge in some fresh Swedish pastries.

The cinnamon rolls in particular are a must-try. They are one of the most popular Swedish treats, and their buttery, fluffy sweetness will not disappoint.

Cost: 3-5 Euros for a coffee or a pastry

Canal tours and water sports

Stockholm’s canals are part of the reason why the city is so stunning.

Endless waterways break up the city into lots of islands, where the cityscape is reflected in the glassy water.

Canal tours and sightseeing cruises are a fun way to get a new perspective of the city views! They are also pretty cheap, so it’s a great budget activity to add to your Stockholm itinerary.

If you want something a little different, you could also try water sports like kayaking.

Cost: Around 20-40 USD for a cruise, Kayaking is 30 USD self-guided or 100 USD for a guided kayak with snacks

boats on a canal with trees and a bridge in sweden — Cruising around Stockholm’s canals is a fabulous way to sightsee!

Museums

There are some amazing museums in Stockholm as well. If it’s a freezing cold day, venturing into the warmth of a museum is always a welcome idea.

My favorite museum in Stockholm was the Fotografiska, a contemporary photography museum.

ABBA The Museum is another popular spot where you can go through interactive exhibits about the famous Swedish band.

See historic ship replicas and maritime culture at the Vasa Museum. Or learn about the history of Nobel Prize winners at the Nobel Prize Museum.

And there are some classic options like the Swedish History Museum and the National Museum which showcases fine arts.

Cost: Most museums are between 10 – 20 USD

Can I see the Northern Lights from Stockholm?

Seeing the Northern Lights from the city center of Stockholm is pretty rare, so I’d recommend combining your Stockholm trip with an excursion to the Swedish Lapland in the north.

Catch a cheap domestic flight from Stockholm to places like Kiruna. Then book a Northern Lights Tour up there.

Book a Northern Lights Tour in Sweden!

Work exchange in Sweden

A great way to save money while traveling in Sweden is by doing a work exchange.

You can work in exchange for free accommodation, which is extremely handy in an expensive country like Sweden.

But the best part of a work exchange isn’t even the affordability. You will get a unique cultural experience!

Work exchanges let you live with locals and other travelers, creating bonds that may last a lifetime. You can eat local food, learn about the culture, and spend longer in one place.

Some work exchanges in Sweden include:

Save $10 on your Worldpackers work exchange membership with my promo code GABBY