Sweden, StockholmFebruary 28, 2024, by Lisanne Van Marrewijk

Going to Stockholm in winter? This is what you want to do, eat, drink

Weekend tip
Sweden, Stockholm, February 28, 2024, by Lisanne Van Marrewijk

Going to Stockholm in winter? This is what you want to do, eat, drink

Although Stockholm may not be the first city you think of when planning a city trip in winter (because: cold, dark, snow), it is also a magical period.

Yes, it gets dark at three o'clock. Yes, you'll want to put on an extra layer (or two) of clothing. But the city also treats you to crisp days with lots of sun in a clear blue sky.

The only question is: what do you do in a city where the temperature sometimes drops far into the minus and the sun sets early? We made a list for when you are in Stockholm on a winter day.

Breakfast with gröt

Breakfast with gröt

Sweden is the land of oats. This means that there is no better way to start your day than with a bowl of warm oatmeal, or: gröt. Especially on a cold, wintery day.

And if you start to hate oatmeal, then you have never eaten oatmeal in Sweden. Your bowl of gröt often comes with warm and/or fresh fruit, whipped yogurt, nut butter, herbs, lemon curd, seeds, granola and all kinds of other tasty toppings.

Our favorites for a breakfast with gröt:

  • Stora Bageriet
  • Café Pascal
  • Guest Café
  • Grain Café
  • BodyBuddy

Image via Stora Bageriet on Instagram.

Visit a museum

Visit a museum

There is nothing better than strolling through a museum when it is cold outside. Fortunately, you'll find plenty of that in Stockholm.

Our favorite museums in Stockholm:

  • fotografiska
  • Skansen
  • Vasa Museum
  • ABBA museum
  • Nordiska Museum

Image via Fotografiska Stockholm on Instagram.

Go for an extensive fika

Go for an extensive fika

There is little more Swedish than fika: a coffee break with something tasty. Especially in winter when you have been wandering around the city for a long time and need something warm and tasty.

It is not without reason that the city has countless bakeries where they sell all kinds of goodies, from Swedish bullars to so-called 'morning buns' of croissant dough.

Our favorite places for fika in winter:

Image via Socker Sucker on Instagram.

Tip: score a semla

Tip: score a semla

Are you in Stockholm in January or February? Then you will also see the semla, the special one, at all bakeries treat which they eat in Sweden on Fettisdagen (or known in the Netherlands as Fat Tuesday).

A semla is a cardamom roll with an almond filling and whipped cream. A classic that you definitely want to taste. The best semla? You eat it according to the connoisseurs at Lillebrors Bageri, Bergstrands Bageri or Café Pacal.

Image via Lillebrors Bageri on Instagram.

Warm up in a sauna

Warm up in a sauna

You can't leave Sweden without seeing the inside of a sauna, or 'bastu' in Swedish. Perhaps followed by a dip in the ice-cold sea water.

In the city center you will find Centralbadet en Sturebadet, two old saunas where you can not only relax, but also enjoy the splendor of a centuries-old sauna.

You will find it a bit outside the city (about a fifteen-minute drive). Hellasgården, a sauna surrounded by nature and where you can actually cool off in the open water. Be sure to reserve your spot in advance.

Go for a winter boat trip on the archipelago

Go for a winter boat trip on the archipelago

The archipelago is what makes Stockholm the special city that it is. In the summer the nearby islands are wonderful hide away away from the busy city life, but in winter it is great to view the islets from a boat.

Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. Stromma you can book your boat trip through the Swedish archipelago, even in winter. And while there's nothing like being on the water when the sun is shining, it's secretly just as beautiful in winter. More special or not.

Image via Stromma Stockholm on Instagram.

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