Before visiting Sweden for the first time, I had a bucket list that comprised of a few items: Visit the ABBA Museum, eat at IKEA, and visit the Kreditbanken building that is now an Acne Studios. But after exploring through museums and trying numerous Swedish meatballs, I’ve put together a list of 10 items that ultimately made my “Top 10” list. Spoiler alert, IKEA didn’t make my list! Read on below:
1. Visit a Swedish candy store
We went to Caramella (pictured below) first but there are so many candy stores all around Stockholm. As you might expect, the stores are stocked with jars of all different sweets—chocolate, hard candies, sours, gummies, nonpareils and more. Many grocery stores also had a smaller version of this, and I specifically noticed the smaller wall of candy jars in Coop and 7-Eleven. My favorites were the sour candies that looked like really large, flat gumdrops.
2. Archipelagos tour by boat
The Stockholm archipelago is comprised of 30,000 small islands, and going on a boat tour is a great way to see the main ones, and explore beyond the city center and Old Town. I booked my experience the tour through Get Your Guide, and my group had a lovely morning on the water. It’s a good half-day experience and a great way to orient yourself to the city.
3. Visit The “Stockholm Syndrome bank” (Now an Acne Studios)
The term “Stockholm Syndrome” was coined in 1973 after the events that occurred in the in Kreditbanken building in Norrmalmstorg Square. The bank in question, which was the site of the first crime to ever be broadcast live on television, still stands. However, it’s now an Acne Studios flagship store, so you can shop while observing the old bank interior, which still remains.
4. The ABBA Museum
Here you’ll learn all about the career arcs of the individual ABBA members, their journey in the studio together, and experience some iconic moments caught on video. The exhibit is full of their old costumes, and you even have a chance to dress up and perform as the fifth member of ABBA on stage! For those who are more camera-shy, there is also an option to karaoke in the recording studio (or you can do both!).
5. The Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace
You can also watch the changing of the guard, which is free. It occurs every day at 11:30am. It’s very festive with the music (sometimes they play ABBA songs!) and flag performances. When I went there was a crowd, but it wasn’t jam packed and people in the front would take a few pictures then leave so it was easy for me to move up to the front. I snapped a few pictures then left to the shade. (It was also very sunny that day, and there is no shade unless you stand further away under the surrounding columns.)
There are so many rooms to explore in the Royal Palace, and admission gets you access to three main area: the Treasury, the Tre Kronor Museum, and the Royal Apartments.
6. Vasa Museum
This museum is the Stockholm’s most visited, and after visiting I can understand why: Where else would you get the chance to see a 400-year-old warship that looks (almost) as good as new? It’s so well-preserved, and you can find yourself face-to-face with all the details carved into the ship, as well as the backstories behind some petty imagery over the toilets. This museum is the pride of Stockholm, and when I met a few locals at a bar, they jokingly told me that “Taylor Swift is the most exciting thing to happen to Stockholm since the Vasa!”
Anywhere on the Djurgården Museum Island is worth visiting, though the Vasa is the most famous. It’s pretty iconic to see such an old vessel so well preserved.
Other museums to visit while you’re in the area: Skansen, ABBA The Museum, the Royal National City Park
7. Old Town (Gamla Stan)
The historic city center of Stockholm is a must see, if just for a walk through. The Royal Palace is in this area as well. Since the streets are all cobbled, I highly recommend comfortable and sturdy shoes! There are tons of shops and every street is so picturesque.
8. Boat hostel or bar
Shipping is an important part of Stockholm’s history, and there are many unique ways to experience boat life. There are some stationary vessels along the water that have been turned into restaurants, bars, and even hotels! If you’re looking for an immersive overnight experience, Hotel Rygerfjord is a hostel complex that spans two boats.
9. Swedish bakeries
Cinnamon Buns, Cardamom buns, princess cake… the possibilities are endless! The picture below is our spread from Cafe Vete-Katten, and they had unlimited refills on tea coffee—the perfect way overcome jetlag and begin a day of exploring. My friend and I ordered a cinnamon bun, princess cake, and a raspberry pastry to share. The next picture shows cardamom buns, which is the first time I ever had one! It was delicious.
10. Swedish meatballs! (and other cuisine)
I originally intended to visit IKEA specifically to try the Swedish meatballs on their home turf and compare it to what I experienced in the US. I was curious…would selections vary regionally?
Upon arrival, the store itself was pretty much the same as an IKEA in the States (how many ways can you stage and sell furniture?) So it doesn’t win any points for novelty, but the kid’s meal that I ate was satisfactory! The only variation I noticed was in the cinnamon rolls, which had a rock-like sugar instead of the drizzled frosting they have in America. Thus, my initial curiosity expanded into a larger goal of trying more Swedish food, the kind I couldn’t have experienced in IKEA… like fish soup! (and other types of Swedish meatballs).
More information about the meatballs can be found in the Tiktok below:
About why IKEA didn’t end up making my “Top 10” list: As an American, my only awareness of Sweden developed through shopping at IKEA to furnish my childhood bedroom, my dorm room, and then my first apartment. I’d spent so much time there that the wall mural image of the Icehotel next to the utensils in the food court is burned into my memory, long before I had any desire to visit Sweden (it’ still on my bucket list!).
Looking back, I think it’s amazing how the products I bought and the stores I visited (and the food I subsequently ate) could form a perception of another place on the other side of the world. It made me so happy to finally get to experience this place I only knew about through limited shopping experiences. Of course, there is so much more of Sweden I don’t know, but these 10 items gave me a better idea! So while I appreciate Swedish food and loved my few days in Stockholm, I have IKEA to thank for that initial introduction. Here’s to learning about different cultures everywhere we go!
Robinspo 
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