Plan for Stockholm Updated

I couldn't find a question in there anywhere, but I think you've got a good mix of activities.

A few additional things to consider if time and energy allow:

• Rent a bike and ride around Djurgarden. You'll cover more ground in less time and it's really just a lovely area.
• Take a ferry to Fjäderholmarna. I did this at the suggestion of a local I met on the train to Stockholm. It's a small island that's fun to explore, with a few shops and galleries and a restaurant or two.
• An excursion to Drottningholm. The palace and the grounds are both very beautiful, and the ferry ride there and back is scenic and relaxing.

Thank you for your suggestions. Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.

I did the RS Scandinavia last year and also arrived in Stockholm a couple of days early.

I like your choices of free time activities, especially Millesgarden and the Sandhamm cruise. Millesgarden is easy to get to by taxi and just a little bit more difficult by public transit. Well worth the visit.

I took the canal boat cruise to Sandhamm that left in the morning. Very cool cutting through the narrow waterways and villages to and from Sandhamm.

Another nice free-time visit is a walk along the Monteliusvagen near the Slussen T-Bana stop. Good place for sunset photos.

One mistake I made was visiting Skansen the afternoon I arrived in Stockholm. It's a long trip to Stockholm from the west coast via Amsterdam and I was too tired to fully enjoy Skansen. I probably would have enjoyed a boat tour more that day.

I did take the Arlanda Express train from the Airport to the central station. Very easy and comfortable, though a little more expensive than the bus.

Have a great trip

I ditto Monteliusvagen on Sodermalm. Great place for a walk, picnic or just sit to watch the sunset. I had some lovely conversations up there during the day as well, as it was my regular route. Also, Sodermalm has a nice old area up the hill from Slussen. There is also a photographic museum/gallery, Fotografiska, on the harbor overlooking Gamla Stan on Sodermalm.
If you liked the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson, i.e., The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. it might be fun to take that tour if you are tired of historical sites. (I haven't taken it so I don't know the quality...it just sounded kind of fun.)
I spent most of one day in Skansen as I loved it. Also, you can take the ferry from Slussen to Skansen and then the tram back for a change in scenery.
While the Arlanda Express is efficient, there are flat rate taxis from the airport, which are not too much more. Basically I was told that if you can't walk to your hotel from Central Station then the fixed price taxi is worth it. Your hotel would have information about that, I'm sure. In 2015 the fixed price was 380SEK, which was about $54.00 at the time, if I recall correctly. I love Stockholm. You'll have a great time. Wray

I really liked Drottningholm

The main comment that I have is that your first day is really packed. I think it is really ambitious to try to see Nordiska Museet, Skansen, and do the boat trip (more than 4 hours) all on your first day. I'd start with Skansen on your first day and then see if you have time for Nordiska Museet before your boat trip. If you don't, perhaps substitute one of the smaller museums that day. I'd also prepare to alter your timing based on whether, aiming to get Skansen in on the day with the best weather.

Millesgården is a good choice. I was underwhelmed by the Nobel Museum. On the other hand, the Historiska Museet has some pretty fascinating viking finds in the Gold room. However, with the various museums, I'd go with your own interests.

Is skyview the thing at Globen? It is a bit out of the way ... south of the city so the opposite direction of most of your sites. I don't think you will have time.

Thank you for your comments. I like to over plan a bit and then cut things when I am there. That way I will always have plenty to do but am comfortable dropping activities if necessary. I make sure to save time and energy for my top to do's.

We just took the RS Scandinavia tour in June and loved it! We traveled from Honolulu, we took the taxi from Arlanda to the tour hotel around $50. Would do it again.

The Historiska Museet is free and just down the street, a 10 minutes walk, from the tour hotel. Worth stopping by for half an hour to check out the Gold Room and Vikings swords. You can easily walk another 10 minutes and be at Skansen/Nordiska Museet. We were at Skansen for 3 hours and still didn’t see everything, an open air museum, zoo, flowers gardens, and some shops all rolled into one attraction. Nordiska Museet, was okay and has an entrance fee. Would recommend it if you like furniture, clothing, and/or jewelry. Spent hour/hour half there.

The Cinderalla boat ride out to Sandham was pretty good but the boat ride is a little long. The sceney from Vaxholm to Sandamn the last hour or so is all the same. If I had to do it again, I would just take the ferry to Vaxholm and call it good. We also took the boat to and from Drottningholm, which was also good.

With regards to Day 3 – The tour just walked by the Royal Palace and Armory. Lunch on our own was an hour, so you might be able to squeeze in this in during that time or come back in the afternoon/or add to Day 2 and maybe see Millegarden in the afternoon on Day 3?

On Day 3 in the evening, there was an optional excursion to the Ice Bar, about 10 of us went, $40? for admission and two drinks. Kind of touristy but made for a nice Facebook post that got a lot of likes.

The City Hall Tower isn’t included with the tour. We went before the tour started, arrived at 8:30 am and was first in line when they opened at 9 am. After a little hike to the top of the tour, nice views of Stockholm.

Thank you Shaun.

For some reason I was thinking that the Royal Palace was included in the tour walk of Gamla Stan. It isn't. So... will have to do some rearranging. There isn't going to be enough time to do all of these things. I am going to stick with the dinner cruise because that will take place in the late afternoon when the sites are closing and I may be too tired to be walking around by then.

I am wishing for another day in Stockholm but not enough to give up my post tour days in Ystad.

I am thinking about getting a Stockholm pass with travel. It covers all of the above sites (not Skansen). Take a list with all of things I would like to see and then decide on the spot. I could also spend a little or a lot of time at each site depending on how it grabs me as the admission price will be covered for all.

The best of all problems to have...deciding what to do when I am in Stockholm!

Vandrabrud,

A couple of years ago we purchased the Stockholm Card over the Internet to pick up at the visitor's center at the airport. A 72 hour card could be purchased for the price of a 48 hour card by entering IKEA into the discount code box. Do not know if it still works, but it was definitely worth the price for everything we did arriving early and then during our free time on the tour.

Thanks Ron,
I am definitely going to try the IKEA thing. I am glad that you used the pass and found it useful.

So, I have rethought my plan for Stockholm.

I purchased a 3 day Stockholm pass with travel for $120. All of the following are covered except Skansen.

I will add a Boat Tour to Drottingholm Palace, Chinese Pavilion, and Court Theater once I drop my bags.
Laura, you mentioned in another thread about taking a bus back to Stockholm, I think I will do this to save time. Do you know how long the bus ride is?
That afternoon I will go to Nordiskmuseet and Skansen (open til 8 pm)
I am planning for no jet lag (have been fine in the past) and if I am tired will cut Skansen.

Day 2 will go on the Good Morning Stockholm boat tour that starts at 8:30.
Then to Millesgarden. (Lunch here.) Then to Nobel Museum and Medeltidmuseet if I feel like it.
Meet tour at 4 pm

Day 3
Try to see Royal Armory during lunch break after Gamla Stan guided walking tour.
Vasa Museet with tour
Move the Stromma cruise to this evening and go to Vaxholm instead of Sandhamn

Day 4
Go early to climb the City Hall Tower prior to tour (thanks for the tip!)

Back up activities: Historiska Museet, HOHO bus/boat
Still the frustrating thing is places open late (10:30-11:00) and close early (5 pm)

For the bus from Drottningholm (actually, bus to Brommaplan and then transfer to tunnelbana), check the schedule on http://sl.se. The trip is probably 30 to 40 minutes, the bus comes more frequently than the boat, and you can use your SL pass.

Thanks Laura.

From sl.se

Drottningholm » Millesgården

176 Gå 19 Gå 13 Gå 201 Gå Gå 238

Am I going to be able to figure this out on the ground? Is there an app for transportation in Stockholm so I can follow along on my phone easier than trying to use the website?

The app that I have is called "Res i Sthlm" for Iphone.

Alternatively, try the English language version:
http://sl.se/en/
If you click on the "+" after you enter the journey, you will see the details. For example, "176" will expand to "Bus 176 towards Mörby Station 12:06 Brommaplan".

Drottningholm and Millesgården are pretty far apart and you will have multiple connections.

About the app ... I now see that I have two apps on my phone for Stockholm transit. There is also an SL app for iphone called "SL - Journey Planner and Tickets".

Great. Found a similar Android app.

I can read more Svenska than the average American, but the English version helps a lot.