Stockholm, Sweden's stunning capital, spans 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, creating a city of breathtaking waterways, medieval history, and state-of-the-art design. As Scandinavia's largest city, it blends royal palaces and Viking heritage with a thriving food scene and world-class museums.
Local currency: Swedish Krona (SEK).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Stockholm.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $33-43 (350-450 SEK) dorm bed
- Budget
- $70-114 (750-1,200 SEK) private room
- Midrange
- $114-238 (1,200-2,500 SEK)
- Luxury
- $238-762+ (2,500-8,000+ SEK)
Food
- Street
- $5-9 (50-95 SEK) — tunnbrödsrulle, bakery pastry
- Local
- $11-14 (115-145 SEK) — dagensrätt lunch deal
- Midrange
- $24-43 (250-450 SEK) — sit-down restaurant
- Fine
- $86-333+ (900-3,500+ SEK) — tasting menu
Transport
- Bus
- $4 (42 SEK) per trip
- Taxi
- $9-14 (95-150 SEK) short city ride
- Airport
- $32 (340 SEK) Arlanda Express; $11 (119 SEK) airport bus
- Daytrip
- $10-33 (105-350 SEK) depending on distance
Activities
- Museum
- $13-22 (140-230 SEK) — Vasa Museum, Nobel Museum
- Sites
- $6-15 (60-160 SEK) — churches, palaces
- Tour
- $24-48 (250-500 SEK) — guided tours
- Excursion
- $19-57 (200-600 SEK) — archipelago day trips
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Stockholm costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$616 for 7 days (accommodation in hostel, dagensrätt lunches, free museums, SL transport)
Midrange traveller
$1,295 for 7 days (mid-range hotel, restaurants, paid museums, SL transport)
Luxury traveller
$2,940+ for 7 days (luxury hotel, fine dining, premium experiences, taxis)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy an SL Access card (20 SEK) and load a 24-hour (175 SEK) or 72-hour (350 SEK) pass — unlimited public transport
Eat the dagensrätt (dish of the day) at lunch — typically 115-145 SEK with bread, salad and a soft drink included
Visit Nationalmuseum and Moderna Museet — both free for world-class art collections
Stock up at ICA, Lidl or Willys supermarkets for breakfast and snacks
Stay in Vasastan or Södermalm rather than Gamla Stan for lower hotel prices
Book accommodation 2-3 months in advance for summer to get the best rates
Travel in May or September — shoulder season prices are 20-30% lower than peak summer
Use the Waxholmsbolaget ferry within Stockholm County — covered by SL cards to many archipelago stops
Many museums offer reduced entry or free Sundays — check ahead
Download the SL app to buy transport tickets — no surcharge unlike kiosk purchases
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Nationalmuseum (National Museum)
Free entry to Sweden's premier art and design collection — over 700,000 works
Moderna Museet
Free permanent collection of modern and contemporary art by Picasso, Matisse and Swedish masters
Gamla Stan walking tour
Self-guided exploration of Stockholm's medieval old town with zero admission
Changing of the Guard
Free daily ceremony at the Royal Palace at 12:15 (weekdays) and 13:15 (weekends)
Djurgården parks and waterfront
Free access to the green museum island's parkland, cycling paths and waterfront promenades
Hagaparken
Free exploration of the Royal National City Park with meadows, mature oaks and royal pavilions
Stortorget and Gamla Stan
Free wandering through Stockholm's most photographed medieval square and alleyways
Fjällgatan viewpoint
Free panoramic viewpoint over the city from Södermalm's cliffside street
Skinnarviksberget
Free hilltop view — Stockholm's highest natural point, loved by locals for sunset picnics
Strandvägen promenade
Free waterfront walk along Östermalm's grand boulevard with bobbing wooden boats
Free walking tours
Tip-based free walking tours of Gamla Stan depart from Stortorget at 10:00 and 14:00 daily
ArkDes (Architecture Museum)
Free entry to Sweden's national architecture and design museum on Skeppsholmen