4 Days in Stockholm with Little Ones

Ah Stockholm, truly the most child-friendly city we have ever visited. We quickly developed a love affair with this city, from the beautiful views to the endless activities available for families, we day-dreamed about moving here.

There is an abundance of children’s attractions and museums with activities and exhibits. Distances are short and the public transportation system takes you everywhere you need to go. Buses are even free if you’re bringing a stroller (say whaaaat?!).

This is the land of nordic naps – where we saw several strollers parked outside grocery stores and apartments, allowing their little ones to nap outdoors. We loved the vibe here, it felt so welcoming to families. Stockholm is not just kid friendly, it understands that the grown-ups also need enjoy the experience, something a lot of cities lack.

When in the metro stations Dan would leave to find directions, and in his absence I would be approached by several people asking if I needed help and if I was okay (being alone with two kiddos).  As a mom, words cannot express my gratitude to these strangers who genuinely cared about our well-being. Bravo Stockholm!

We have compiled a list of the three A’s: Accommodations, Adventures, and Appetite!  If you have any questions about Stockholm or our trip please shoot us an email!

Accommodations

We stayed at Motel L Stockholm Alvsjo, about 2km away from Stockholm city center. Being a short walk from public transportation it was a great hotel for our family. It is also reasonably priced and comes with a great breakfast buffet – a win win for us!

We stayed in the Standard Triple Room – which was one of the most unique sleeping arrangements we have ever had. It worked well for our family, and the kids really enjoyed having a bunk bed above us in the evening.

The staff here were exceptional, always taking time to chat with our girls and ask how our day went. They also cracked a lot of jokes which my husband really appreciated!

Adventures

Gamla Stan – This is the oldest part of Stockholm, filled with medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. We enjoyed walking around here after we arrived, it feels like you are walking through Swedish history.

Royal Palace – The Royal Palace is the official residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden, with over 600 rooms. We enjoyed seeing the changing of the guard, the royal apartments, and the beautiful church inside. We did have a bit of an odd experience when walking up to the Royal Palace we were bombarded by a group of tourists that started photographing our children. When inside the Royal Palace we saw photos of the children, and I suppose our daughter had a resemblance which may be why that happened?

Stockholm Public Library – If you have an affinity for books and libraries, this is a fun quick stop to make. We enjoyed seeing the the 360-degree tower of books at the top!

Junibacken – A must visit with children! Step into the fairytales of Astrid Lindgren (Sweden’s most famous children’s author) in this interactive museum. Pippi Longstocking is here, as are Emil, Ronia, and the Brothers Lionheart. There is a storybook ride which you can go on endless times – we went twice and it was magical (albeit some of the stories are a bit harsh for kiddos, but ours did not seem to notice).

Grona Lund – This is a classic amusement park which is open during the summer month, we happened to visit on the last weekend it was open. There is a great children’s area which had a ride similar to dumbo, the teacups, and many more. There is a fee for admission, and then you must purchase tickets to go on rides (similar to a state fair). Our youngest rode her first “roller coaster” here and she screamed with so much joy, it is a memory we will always remember.

Vasa Museum – Located on the island of Djurgården, this museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged. The ship is quite amazing to see, our whole family found the story fascinating. You can do this museum rather quickly.

Skansen  – This is the world’s oldest open-air museum, and we had a BLAST. You could literally spend the entire day here, it is so vast (over 75 acres). There is a full replica of an average 19th-century town, in which craftsmen in traditional dress such as tanners, shoemakers, silversmiths, bakers and glass-blowers demonstrate their skills. There is also an open-air zoo here with bears, lynx, moose, reindeer, etc… Add in some play grounds, carnival rides (only open in summer), and picnic areas – you are all set for a day of fun with the family!

Tekniska Museet – At the National Museum of Science and Technology, our family explored exciting interactive exhibitions and experiments. Our little ones really enjoyed the giant playground inside. You can also see a room full of robots – some will amaze you, and to be honest some will kind of give you the creeps (way too lifelike!).

Water Boat Tour – We took the hop on hop off water boat with the Stockholm Pass, it was a great way to see the city by water and learn some history.

Apetite

Meatballs for the People – Because did you really go to Sweden if you didn’t have meatballs? We really enjoyed the food here, we got it to go and it was devoured by both kids and adults.

Oh Poke – We have a bit of an obsession with Poke Bowls and this place was SO good! It was just down the street from our hotel and we are still dreaming about these bowls. They have a fun swing bar and the bowls are loaded with tuna (when does that ever happen?!).

Stockholm Icebar – Located inside Hotel C, this is the world’s first permanent icebar. The interior is carved out of 40 tons of natural ice from the Torne River by ice sculptors from ICEHOTEL. The bar has has a constant temperature of -5°C, and your drinks are served in ice as well. The staff here is very nice, our oldest daughter slept through the experience (how, we have no idea) and we were able to bring her in a second time. Our youngest loved it and was dancing with the loud music having a great time.

Slingerbulten – A great place to try traditional Swedish Meatballs. This restaurant is located in a bustling shopping area worth seeing.

Tokyo Diner – It’s semi-hidden in a large market, but is very popular with locals. As mentioned, we love sushi/poke bowls so this was a great find for us! You get free miso soup with every order. Long line but moves quickly.