Let me tell you about 12 different city walks and guided visits to enjoy in Stockholm as a tourist. There are both theme-based visits about art, gastronomy, architecture or on the roofs of some buildings and city walks in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, or the hipster island of Södermalm, to the south of the city.
1. Guided Visits to the Art at Stockholm’s Underground Stations
One of the most successful guided visits in Stockholm are the Art Walks on the underground. 90 out of 100 subway stations in Stockholm are either decorated with art pieces or the whole station is an art piece. Swedes and Stockholmers are very proud of them. That’s why they want to show them to foreigners and tourists visiting by organizing these free Art Walks. The only thing you need is a valid subway ticket or your own travelcard valid for Stockholm’s Public Transportation System.
Free Guided Visit to The Art at Stockholm’s Underground Stations
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
Starting point for the Art Walks is at T-Centralen underground station by the SL-Center office which can be reached by the entry at Sergels torg square. Visits in English are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 3 PM from June 1 to August 31. From September to May they are only available in Swedish.
During the one-hour long walk you will get to some of the stations nearby but you will also get tips about other remarkable stations so that you can visit them by yourself. My tips: Kungsträdgården, T-Centralen, Rådhuset, Solna Centrum, Tensta on the blue line; Hötorget, Thorildsplan, Bagarmossen on the green line and Tekniska Högskolan and Stadion on the red line.
2. Guided Visits to Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm’s City Hall can only be visited on a guided tour. English is always available and Spanish and other languages just during the summer. Visiting the City Hall and its most interesting spots like the halls where the Nobel dinner takes place or the dancing hall for guests after the dinner takes only 45 minutes.
Check the schedule and all the information related to visiting Stockholm’s City Hall here.
Stockholm’s City Hall
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
3. Free Tours in Gamla Stan
Free Tours Stockholm offers guided visits in Stockholm in English and Spanish since 2010. The visit in Gamla Stan lasts for about two hours starting at Sergels torg square and finishing near Slussen just at the other side of the island where the Old Town is located. You will cross the famous Stortorget square and the guide will tell you all the gory details about the bloodshed that happened many years ago. There will be time to visit a runestone and Stockholm’s narrowest alley.
Free Guided Tours in Stockholm
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
There are another tours available in English like one at the very heart of the city and another one on the island of Södermalm. Check here the schedule for their guided visits. After concluding the visit you can contribute some money if you feel it was worthy. The truth is that it is a worthy tour.
If you are visiting Stockholm during Christmas they offer guided tours in Gamla Stan with a duration of over an hour. There you will learn about the Christmas celebrations in Sweden while you discover the Old Town while holding your own lantern light.
4. Food Tour in Stockholm
If you love eating and drinking and don’t mind spending on food there are gastrotours available in Stockholm. This tour is a 4-hour long walk looking after the restaurants that left a footprint on the culinary scene of Sweden. Six or seven tasting stops which make a whole meal taking you from the famous Swedish meatballs to internationally renowned fish soups. For dessert, a taste of chocolate served at royal weddings in Sweden. And of course, lakrits – in a smoked variety – not something you eat everyday. Price around 850 SEK (85€/$96.50/£73.50). You can book it here.
I myself have not tried this food tour but I was able to recommend it to a foodie journalist and he was delighted. If you are into gastronomy it might be a thing worth trying.
5. Stockholm From The Roofs
Rooftop hiking at 43 m height in what once was Sweden’s Parliament is not something people do every day. This tour is a unique experience but not for those scare of heights. Price around 595 SEK (60 €/$67.50/£51) per person.
Rooftop Hiking in Stockholm
Photo: Tuukka Ervasti / imagebank.sweden.se
6. Guided Visit to Stockholm’s Public Library
One of architect Gunnar Asplund most famous buildings, Stockholm’s Public Library located at central Sveavägen street, can be visited on a guided tour. Every Friday from June to September at 2 PM. The tour lasts for 1.5 hours and is available in English. Price 100 SEK (10,50 €/$11.35/£8.65). Can be booked online at Stockholm’s City Museum website.
Stockholm’s Public Library
Photo: Simon Paulin / imagebank.sweden.se
7. Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Tour
It has been a while since Stieg Larsson novels were popular but they still keep attracting new readers all over the world that later make it to Stockholm eager to visit the streets, restaurants, cafes and other spots mentioned in the books. Lonely Planet said that Millennium Tour in Stockholm was the best literary walk in the world. Not bad!
Bellmansgatan Street in Södermalm Where Millennium Tour Will Take You In Stockholm
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
The Millennium Tour is arranged by Stockholm’s City Museum and scheduled on Saturday at 11:30. From July to September there is another one on Thursdays at 6 PM. When buying your ticket you will get the info about the starting point.
If you want to do a tour on your own there is a map of the route available at Medeltidsmuseet and it costs around 40 SEK (4,5 €/$4.55/£3.50).
8. ABBA City Walk
This is a city walk on the footsteps of ABBA in Stockholm. If you are a big ABBA fan and so are your friends then you can book it. The tour is private and made for groups up to 30 people. Also available in Spanish. Price is 2900 SEK (290 €/$330/£250) for the group. If you are 30 people then it’s not such a big deal but a really affordable way to get to know Sweden’s most famous pop band.
9. Guided Visit to Skogskyrkogård Cemetery
The Wooden Cemetery, Skogskyrkogård, in Stockholm is one of the three Unesco locations in the city. You can visit the cemetery on your own for free but from July to September on Sundays at 10:30 there is a guided tour for a 100 SEK (10 €/$11/£8.65). It is really a beautiful place to visit that will change your mind on what a cemetery is.
Greta Garbo Tombstone at Skogskyrkogård
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
10. Guided Visit Running in Stockholm
Whether you are or aren’t a runner a good way to get to know the city, its islands, the different sights and how to get from one part to the other is by taking a running tour of Stockholm.
Running in Stockholm with Run With Me Stockholm
Photo: Israel Úbeda / sweetsweden.com
I ran through Riddarholmen, Gamla Stan, Skeppsholmen and back and thought that it would be a great way for a newcomer to get a glimpse of the city and how to get around. Since then I’ve been recommending it.
11. Meet the Vegan Stockholm
Vegans, vegetarians and raw food lovers will delve into the wide vegan culture present in Sweden and Stockholm. A two-hour long and 3-km long walking route that will take you to selected restaurants on alternative Södermalm island. Different tasting spots will fade your hunger away. Price: 600 SEK (60 €/$68/£51) adults and 400 SEK (40 €/$45/£35) children from 3 to 12 years old. Book The Stockholm Vegetarian Food Tour here.
12. Visiting Stockholm’s Most Interesting Spots and The Vasa Museum
If you are just staying in Stockholm for a few hours because of a flight or cruise stop-over at Stockholm’s cruise port you might be interested to do a quick 2.5-hour long guided tour through Stockholm’s most interesting places and enjoy a visit to the Vasa Museum without queueing. The price is 545 SEK for adults (54€/$62/£47) and 410 SEK (41€/$31/£35.50) for seniors and students. Children pay 275 SEK (27 €/$31/£24). Check the details and book here.
The Vasa Museum in Stockholm
Photo: Israel Ubeda / sweetsweden.com
Check These Other Guided Tours in Stockholm
There are many other tours and visits to do in Stockholm. These are some …
Remember also that you have a lot of different Boat Trips and Daily Excursions by Boat in Stockholm and The Archipelago that are very affordable if you Buy Your Sightseeing Card Stockholm Pass. Check my article to buy it with a discount. If you are looking for more ideas for sightseeing in Stockholm check these 24 Things To Do For Free in Stockholm. Leave me a comment below if you have any doubt or question and I will try to help you.
