Many of my reader friends already know that Stockholm is an expensive place. Those who have not step foot into Sweden, if you are going there, please know that, Stockholm or the whole Scandinavia is one expensive trip. Hostels or hotels, food or transport, tourist attractions or museums, each and everything is going to cost you. Even the Stockholm cathedral with its beautiful architechture does not offer free entry,in contrast to other places in Europe, where churches are usually open to all. So, it is not bad to get some great things to do in Stockholm for free.
1. Free walking tour :
There are several free walking tours in Stockholm. Generally, each company has two tours, one to the modern city and another to Gamlastan (the old town). Originally I planned for the old town tour, but I never reached to Stockholm in my planned time, that is another story. But if you are interested, I would love to share my research. I liked the profile of New Free tour Stockholm. Here the young students work as guide, the old town tour starts at 1 o’clock everyday and the modern city tour starts at 10.30 in the morning. The meeting site is quite well known, Gamlastan T bana, i.e. outside the Gamla stan subway /metro station. There is no prebooking, just show up at the right place at right time. My friend Helen went to another tour, where the modern city tour is at 10 am and the old town tour is at 4 o’clock in the evening. Though free, the guides work solely on your tips. So, you can pay a little, still you are in gain. If a family or couple is going, then for 2-4 people you are paying what is worth one ticket of standard guided tour, so you are saving money for rest of the three people.
2. Sjöhistoriska museet/ National Maritime museum, Sweden
Stockholm is the home for 80 Museums. And usually when you are visiting the city, you have 2-3 days in hand. So, it is physically impossible to see all the museums in one trip. So why not opt for the free ones first? The national maritime museum is your first stop if you are into ships and boats. The entry is free, and the museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10-5. Best way to go to the museum is by bus 69, it has the stop called sjöhistoriska museet. To know more about the museum see my post on Sjöhistoriska museet.
3. Museum of natural history / Naturhistoriska riksmuseet
This is a beautiful museum in another end of the city, connected by bus 50. It is a big museum, with extensive collection displaying the animal kingdom as a whole, fossils, human evolution, wildlife of Sweden, weather and the inorganic resources of earth.Permanent exhibition is free. If you want to visit the shows in Cosmonova, that however has a paid ticket. Good news is students have discount in Cosmonova. If you have time for only one museum in Stockholm, I would suggest this one. For more info and photos of the museum, stay tuned for my coming post on Naturhistoriska riksmuseet.
4. Armémuseet/ Army museum
When I visited Stockholm this time, I planned for this museum to visit on tuesday evening. It used to be free on tuesday evening 5-8pm. I did not reach Stockholm tuesday as planned, but as I ‘ve already told you, that story I am going to tell in a future post 😀 At the same time while doing my trip planning I noticed it is going to be free for all from February 2016. And while I am drafting this post, it is already February and I saw the website ….yes, in my next visit I am going here for free !!!! It is free for all now everyday. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 11-17. You can go by metro, Kungsträdgården T bana or Östermalmstorg T bana both are in walking distance.The museum features Swedish history, from 1500 to the present day, among fascinating historical objects and realistic scenes, living conditions for soldiers, their families and the general population.
5. Nordiska museum on Wednesday night
Once you are in Sweden, it is natural you will be interested in their food, culture, customs and lifestyle. To know it all, you have to visit the beautiful Nordiska museum. The rich culture of Sámi, the indigenous people of North, are preserved in the 4th floor along with the folk arts. Other floors vividly offer you a visual treat of the Swedish way of life. But all these you can see for free only on Wednesdays, from 17 to 20 pm. Actually, it is sufficient time to have a rapid look in all sections. So, catch tram 7 and get off at Djurgarden. For more about the museum, stay tuned for my coming post on Nordiska museet.
6. Tekniska museet/ Museum of sciense and technology, Stockholm on Wednesday night
If you are travelling with your kids, it is an ideal place to visit. It opens all day from 10-17, except Wednesday when it is open till 20pm and these extra three hours on Wednesday i.e. from 5-8 o’clock in the evening. Otherwise you can get 15% discount if you are booking online tickets all other days of a week. Again you have to take bus 69, very useful bus, goes many of the museums, remember it. The museum shows the history of technology, discuss it’s relevance today and what it can mean to us in the future.The museum also has an unique model railway built in the early 1960s. Very educative for the children who can learn from about 55,000 objects and artefacts, each telling something about the development of technology, over several centuries.
7. Street music at Kungsgatan
You can enjoy the symphony of nordic music in the streets of Stockholm. If you wish you can pay any amount you like to the artist, but even if you won’t, no body will demand. While roaming around the shopping streets of Kunsgatan, Hotorget or Slojdgatan and sometimes in konserthus , you can just stop here sometime, where the instruments are played, and young artists presents their best performances to amuse you for free..
8. City panorama
You can see city panorama from different site in stockholm, like Sky view or Käknas tower, but you have to pay for them. On the other hand, you can have the view for free as well.The highest natural point Skinnarviksberget in central Stockholm is a favorite place among the locals and the visitors. The views are stunning – across Kungsholmen, Gamla Stan, the Stockholm Town Hall, and other points of interest. The park beneath the hill has a small playground and an open-air café where you can enjoy a light lunch or an ice cream in one of the hammocks. But the best time to enjoy the park is perhaps summer. Still instead of paying hundreds of SEK in sky view, here you can get the city panorama for free.
9. Photographer’s paradise: Vasaparken, Långholmen and Fjällgatan
If you want to click some breathtaking photos of Stockholm, these are your destinations both in summer and winter. All are well connected by bus, do some google search for direction before you are heading for a photography day in Stockholm.
10. Enjoy your hostel: free sauna, free iceskating and free pasta
I do not know where you are going to stay, but tea, coffee and pasta are free in few hostels in Stockholm. I stayed in City backpackers’, which is regarded as one of the best hostels of Stockholm. Though it is not the best hostel I stayed in my life, the good points are they are clean, offers free sauna in the evening from 19-20-45 for girls and offers free 2 hour ice-skating. I regret I cannot skate, but perhaps many of you do, so it can be a good option.But be careful about the heating here, it went off at night. Some staff are very nice, while some are quite rude. I hope you get the best ones. In the kitchen, along with free pasta, you will find oil, salt and things in left over fridge like mayo, sauce, soft drinks etc for free. So, hope now you are going to have a great stay in Stockholm, and post some picture for me. Good luck 😀
©thegreyeye.wordpress.com, 2016-21. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.
I am a tour guide and find your comments about FREE tours very helpful and informative
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Thank you very much. Where is the place of your work
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I am the bilingual tour guide of beautiful historic Penzance.
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Wow, that is so great
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You’re a very good guide. These tips are very useful for someone who want to visit Stockholm but have not too much money. And the places are really beautiful 🙂
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Thanks mopana, I am thinking of leaving medicine and become a travel writer 😄😃😊
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Don’t do this. First finish medicine and then do what you want. I know is a joke :))
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I have finished medicine, don’t worry 😊
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The first and last px are really neat.
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I agree on you on those free walking and the only responsibility you have at least two euro for the tip and I really enjoyed my stay in STOCKHOLM too.
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LOVE the photography on this post, so beautiful! – Hilary from Writingsandworship.com
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Thanks Hilary, hugs 😊
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You can mail me for guest post 🙂
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Great list, thanks for sharing! I was just in Stockholm last Sunday. Wish I could have read this post before 😉 Had my own travel guide though (a friend who lives there) and we walked from Södermalm to Gamla Stan, Norrmalm and Östermalm. Even though it is not free, I definitely recommend taking the boat from Gamla Stan to Djurgarden and the museum “Fotografiska” on Södermalm (which costs about 12 Euro). Stockholm is such a beautiful city!
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I had the boat ride in Summer, so did not go for it this time. Thanks for reading. I find stockholm very beautiful too.
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You can read the boat journey here : https://thegreyeye.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/stockholm-by-water/
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Glad that You found so much of interest for free in Stockholm. Since the first of Febraury those museums are free. No illustrating photos but a complete list: http://www.gratisistockholm.nu/showObjects.aspx?categoriesId=4
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Thanks. Next time I ll try the rest. Actually, I got to stay only one day, our train was stuck in luleå, reached Stockholm 26 hours late
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Reblogged this on Travel, Photography, Pets and Cooking.
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Great post!!!! Would love to visit one day!
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Thank you 😊
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Great travel information, loved the photos…This should help me make my travel plans for this year.
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Thank I
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Thank you
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That hostel sounds amazing! And I love the city panorama. I can’t wait to visit Stockholm this summer!
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Hope this helps
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Great post – very useful! I’ve not been to Stockholm yet, but it’s on my list! 🙂
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Thank you michaela, I hope you find it useful when you visit there 😊
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I’m going there in April;) thanks for the tips!
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Hope it helps 😊
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Great post! Haven’t been to Sweden, but would love to go someday. I’ll have to tuck this away for future use. thanks.
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Thank you too for reading it 😊
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This is a great post! I’m going to Sweden this summer so these tips are very handy, thank you!
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You are welcome, post some nice photos for me 😊
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I only had 7 hours or so in Stockholm as we arrived by cruise ship. But after our Baltic cruise, I said that was the stop I hoped to return for more time.
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Thanks for sharing. Stockholm is a place I hope to visit some day. 🙂
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Thank u for reading ..
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs. I’m a “two bit” Swede myself (1/4), with my paternal grandmother pure Swedish. It’s so nice to see my “homeland ” thru your eyes, and to travel the world with you as well. You have a wonderful site and take glorious photos!! Thank you!! Steve
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Thank you Steve, I am living in Sweden now and love this beautiful part of the world! Scandinavia is truly unique
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