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At the end of November when temperature in Sweden drops to below zero I decided to escape my Slovak routine by having little getaway in Swedish capital – Stockholm. Stockholm consists of 14 islands which are connected by 57 various bridges. Let this article be useful to all those heading to Stockholm who are looking for an affordable experience.
FLIGHTS & STOCKHOLM AIRPORT
I booked the flight tickets for me and my friend few months in advance for €50 per person via Ryanair. Getting from Arlanda airport in Stockholm is pretty easy and you have various options. The most expensive one is also the fastest one and that´s by train (one way ticket between €30 to €40 per person). The direct bus Flygbussarna costs around €11 and the ticket can be bought via its app. Taxi costs around 50 euro.
And the cheapest way is to buy a public transport ticket (72-hour ticket costs 330 Swedish crowns = 29 euro) and you can use this ticket for an airport bus 579 heading to Märsta station and from there you can take a direct train to the City Centre stop T-Zentrale.
WHERE TO EAT IN STOCKHOLM
Stockholm with population of 1.6 million people offers a wide range of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. The most traditional meal is considered to be Swedish meatballs which can be also bought in a famous Swedish Ikea shop. It looks like a fast-food chain (for instance like McDonald) but we tried it twice and it was delicious. Three course menu with traditional Swedish appetizer, meatballs and chocolate cake cost only 9 euro at Ikea shop. Unbelievable!
In the old town Gamla Stan we visited one super cute Café Schweizer where we indulged in hot chocolate for 5 euro each. On the South Island we also visited a local bistro to try traditional Swedish cinnamon bun in a traditional “fika” style for €3 only.
WHAT TO SEE IN STOCKHOLM
We spent three full days in Stockholm and managed to do proper sightseeing. We visited couple of nice squares covered by fresh snow, we admired beautiful architecture of various buildings in and out of the historical old town Gamla Stan. My recommendation is definitely to visit a Vasa museum with an entrance fee around €15 to explore a ship wreck which was sunk under the water for 333 years and it is beautifully preserved! You can also buy ticket online HERE.
I also recommend to take a ferry trip (included in the price of the public transport ticket) which can take you all around the islands and from which you can enjoy the views over Stockholm. Mentioning the views, while on the South Island get to the viewpoint “Skinnarviksberget” from where you can admire day or night views over whole Stockholm for free. In the old town of Stockholm you can also observe an original ancient rune, the narrowest street of the city and take a ride in a historical tram which runs only at the weekends in winter time.
There are many other options for various museums such as ABBA the museum, Fotografiska museum, Skansen and Nordic ZOO, Nobel Prize Museum, … Options are endless …
CURIOSITY OF STOCKHOLM
While sightseeing, don´t skip the square next to the most beautiful metro station King´s garden called “Norrmalmstorg” which gave a birth to a psychological term “Stockholm syndrome”. In 1972 a Swedish famous criminal Clark Olofsson entered a bank on Norrmalmstorg square and kept few people as hostage who by the end of their capture started to feel empathy and even love towards Clark, thus Stockholm syndrome – a psychological condition of a victim who empathizes with their captor or abuser.
I highly recommend to watch a Netflix TV show called “Clark” which depicts the whole life of Clark Olofsson and explains the whole Stockholm syndrome.
OUR BUDGET FOR STOCKHOLM
We didn´t even try too hard to stay on a budget in Stockholm but as we stayed two nights at a place of our couchsurfing host in Solna area (10 min by metro to the city enter), our host gave us great tips on how not to spend too much money. Firstly, the airport ride was in the price of the public transportation ticket (we wouldn´t have known that without our CS host). Secondly, super cheap meal options in Ikea store. Thirdly, prices of coffee or hot chocolate or grocery are truly comparable to the prices in Bratislava these days. Damn it, Bratislava has become truly expensive!
Flights: €53
Bus ticket to&from Vienna airport: €23
Stockholm public transport: €29
Museum entrance: €15
Meals: €35
Souvenirs: €20TOTAL = €175
Our stay in Stockholm was pretty affordable mainly from two reasons. We prepared our breakfasts and dinners at home with our CS host so we were able to eat all together. Secondly, we didn´t pay anything for the accommodation as we were staying at a place of our couchsurfing host. But even so, the accommodation would add up extra €50 – nothing terrible. Therefore, Stockholm being the metropolitan biggest city of such expensive country doesn´t have to be so expensive at all.
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