My husband’s grandmother is half Swedish, and to our kids, this is a big deal. They complain about being “only American” while their friends lay claim to being Irish, Italian, Greek, etc. Having a Swedish great-grandmother means they can “be” something, and they have been dying to visit their “homeland” for years.

We caved into “kid pressure” and took them on a Scandinavian tour to Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland, and have since visited Norway and Finland.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Sweden?

That depends on the trip you want. Summer is the easiest time for island visits, long days outdoors and road trips. Winteris the season to head north if you hope to see the northern lights or visit the Icehotel.

We took our family trip in March. Stockholm’s museums and old town were wonderful, but some attractions the kids wanted to visit were closed. I’d happily visit the cities in spring again; I would choose a different season if the archipelago were the main reason for the trip.

Before booking, check the dates for any amusement park, ferry or island stay you’re counting on. Sweden in March and Sweden in July can feel like two very different vacations.

Sweden is Cooler than you think! (Our experience)

Why Sweden Surprised Us

I have a confession: I wasn’t especially excited about Sweden. I thought Scandinavia in March would be cold and expensive, and I worried there wouldn’t be enough to keep the kids busy. The guidebooks I read didn’t do much to change my mind.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. The kids loved Skansen, all of us were amazed by the Vasa, and some of our favorite memories came from stopping in small towns along the road. By the end of the trip, I wished we had given Sweden more time.

We later found out just how much we had missed when I returned to explore the Stockholm archipelago.

However, 8 days to do two large countries was a stretch, and I would only recommend it if your kids are as good in the car as mine have become because we set out to do a great European Road Trip.

But we love stopping in small towns along the way and feeling like we are seeing a country. Here is what we loves along the way.

 

Best Things to do in Gothenburg, Sweden

Best Things to Do in Gothenburg

Gothenburg was our first taste of Sweden on the road trip, and it felt more relaxed than Stockholm. The kids especially remember Feskekörka, the fish market they loved looking around despite the smell. If you’re visiting with children, Universeum and Liseberg are also worth considering, but check their opening dates before planning your day.

There are lots of free things to do in Gothenburg too!

Explore Universeum

If your kids need a break from sightseeing, Universeum is Gothenburg’s science center, with an aquarium, rainforest and hands-on exhibits. It’s a good choice for a rainy day or a family that enjoys spending several hours exploring at its own pace. Check the current exhibits and ticket options before you go.

Visit Liseberg Amusement Park

Liseberg is the Gothenburg stop I’d put on the list for a family that loves rides. Before you build a day around it, check the park’s calendar: opening dates and available attractions vary by season. We traveled in March, so I learned quickly that an amusement park on your wish list doesn’t necessarily mean an amusement park you can visit.

 

Gotheburgs Fish Church (Feskekorka)

Feskekörka isn’t a church—it’s a fish market that got its name from the building’s shape. My kids loved looking at all the seafood, even if they hated the smell! It was a fun, distinctly Gothenburg stop that didn’t require a whole afternoon. Allow about 30 minutes to look around, or longer if you stay to eat.

Plan on 30 minutes.

Best things to do in Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a breathtaking city! It is surrounded by water and is the neatest, cleanest city I have ever seen. I had heard from several people that it was a modern city without a lot of charm, but that was not my experience at all. Gamla Stan was as charming as any old European city, the museums were first-rate, and we found plenty to do with the kids.

We had only a day and a half in Stockholm, and I wish we had stayed longer. I would give it at least two full days—and another if you want to get out into the archipelago.

The Vasa Museum

The pictures do not do this place justice! The Vasa is a Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage just outside Stockholm in 1628. She was recovered from Stockholm’s harbor more than 300 years later.

The highlight of the museum is the Vasa herself. The entire museum has been built around the ship, and different levels let you see details you would miss from the ground floor. If you can only do one thing in Stockholm, do this! Everyone in our family was in awe.

Plan on one to two hours.

 

Explore Gamla Stan

The old parts of cities are always my favorites! I love a cobblestone street and a statue or two, and Gamla Stan gave me plenty of both.

Stortorget, the large square in the middle of the old town, is a beautiful place to get a drink and people-watch. If your kids like to feed—or, realistically, chase—pigeons, stop here for a while.

You can also visit the Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm Cathedral and the Royal Palace. None was going to excite our younger children as much as wandering around, so we split up: one parent visited a museum while the other stayed outside with the kids.

Plan on two to four hours to explore the streets, grab a bite and window-shop. Add more time if you want to go into the museums.

 

Visit Skansen: A Big Hit for Kids

A traveling with kids must!

If you don’t know what an open-air museum is, don’t fear; neither did I. For those of you in the U.S., I would compare it to a cross between a petting zoo, a small amusement park, and a historic village.

There were many across Scandinavia and not enough time to do them all. All the locals we spoke with insisted the kids would love Skansen, and they were right.

My kids enjoyed the animals the most. They saw wolves, bears, seals, monkeys, and more. I loved that I could duck into some historic homes while my husband took them around to see the animals. We also saw primitive Swedish homes, walked through a few gardens, and rode a tram.

The center part of Skansen has picnic tables and food to buy, so you don’t have to pack one. This was my kids favorite thing to do in Sweden.

Tips for visiting Skansen

• It’s a short hike from the Vasa Museum or the ABBA Museum and is stroller-friendly but very hilly.
• To avoid the long lines buy the tickets ahead of time here and walk right in!

Plan on 4-5 hours with your kids at Skansen.

 

Grona Lund

If you still have some fun left in you after Skansen and want your kids to sleep well the that night, head to Grona Lund, an amusement park in the same area of town. To my kid’s chagrin, it was still closed in late March, but it looked fabulous for older and younger kids.

 

Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm

The Nobel Museum chronicles the achievements of Nobel prize winners and their contributions to society. You can learn about their lives, what influenced them, and how their work has continued to influence the world. While this may not be your kid’s favorite place, it isn’t a large museum, and you can get through it within an hour.

 

Swedish Archipelago: How To Experience it Easily

We ran out of time for the islands on our family road trip, and I always felt like we had missed a big part of Sweden. I finally went back and spent time in the Stockholm archipelago, visiting Grinda, Sandhamn, Bullerö and Utö.

What surprised me was how different the islands felt. Sandhamn has a lively harbor and village, while Bullerö is the place I would choose when I want to get away from everything. Grinda is lovely for a walk and a meal, and Utö has plenty of room for a family to spend time outdoors. I also stayed on Värmdö at Siggesta Gård, where the woods and animals made it feel like we had left the city far behind.

If you’re visiting Stockholm, I would make time for at least one island. You don’t need to see several in a day—pick the one that sounds like your kind of place. Check ferry schedules before you go, especially outside summer, and give yourself time to enjoy the island once you get there.

This is one of the most scenic and uniquely Swedish things you can do.

Visit the Grocery Store

Definitely a strange attraction but a favorite whenever we travel internationally. My kids love going to the grocery store and trying new foods. The big hit in Sweden was boxed yogurt in mango or raspberry. (The brand is Arla.) I think the kids each ate/drank a box a day!

Other favorite foods were raspberry marmalade and bread, peppered salami, tiny shrimp, and pastries.

 

 

Off the beaten path in Sweden

Sweden has tons of beautiful towns and scenery. We loved going on a road trip through Sweden so we could stop whenever we saw something that tickled our fancy.

 

Castle ruins

We ran into various ruins on our drive from Gothenburg to Stockholm, but our favorite one was right outside Granna (a town famous for candy canes). We pulled right off the freeway just past Granna and explored to our hearts’ content. The kids were sick of the car at that point, and it was a great boredom buster.

 

Kungsleden Hiking Trail

Kungsleden, or the King’s Trail, runs through the mountains of northern Sweden. It is a trip to plan around hiking, rather than a quick detour from Stockholm or Gothenburg. You can walk a section without committing to the entire route, but check the season, trail conditions and available places to stay before setting out.

I haven’t hiked it myself, but I would put it on the list for travelers who want a more outdoors-focused Sweden trip.

Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi

In northern Sweden, the Icehotel is both a place to stay and a place to see rooms created as ice art. There is a winter hotel that is rebuilt for the season and a separate year-round ice experience, so check which one you’re booking. Jukkasjärvi is near Kiruna and belongs on a Swedish Lapland trip, rather than an itinerary based in Stockholm.

Tyresta National Park

Tyresta National Park is a protected forest and lake area just outside Stockholm. The park is a great place for hiking, with over 50 kilometers of trails to explore. Visitors can see ancient trees, cliffs, and even spot some of the park’s resident wildlife. There’s also a visitor center with exhibits on the park’s history and ecology.

If you love the outdoors, this is one of the best things to do in Sweden.

More Places to Visit in Sweden

Our trips focused on Stockholm, the archipelago, Gothenburg and the towns between them. If you have more time—or are planning a second trip—these are three very different directions to consider.

Visby and Gotland

Visby is a medieval walled town on the island of Gotland. I love old towns, so this is high on my list for another Sweden trip. Gotland needs time of its own; it isn’t one of the islands you can casually add to a Stockholm archipelago day.

Malmö and Skåne

If you’re traveling between Copenhagen and Sweden, look at Malmö and the surrounding Skåne region. It makes more sense on a southern Sweden trip than as a detour from Stockholm.

The High Coast

For a trip focused on hiking and scenery, consider the High Coast in northeastern Sweden. Its coastline and forested trails offer a different experience from either the city or the archipelago, but it deserves several days rather than a rushed stop.

Where to eat in Sweden with kids

Due to high food prices in Sweden, we ate out very little. We tended to grab a hot dog or pastry for lunch and eat what my kids call “grocery store dinner” at night. Grocery store dinner is the food they wanted to try at the grocery store.

We did splurge on one meal in Stockholm at:

Osterlangaatan 17

This restaurant is located in Gamla stan and is what I would consider a higher-priced restaurant in the U.S. but seemed to be mid-range in Stockholm. They didn’t have a kid’s menu, but they made my little one plain pasta with Parmesan. The other boys were happy to eat off the adult menu, and the portions were huge.

The dining highlights were the baked beef ribs (I am still dreaming about these!), the tacos, the char, and the deep-fried cheese.

*The restaurant had high chairs, and I saw several small children eating there.

 

Grillska husets brodbod

This bakery in Stortorget is a great place to get coffee and pastries. The kanelbullar (Sweden’s traditional cinnamon snail with large sugar pieces on top) are especially good here. We also got a prinsesstarta to eat at our Airbnb. If you haven’t watched the episode of The Great British Bake Off, where they make a princesstarte, watch it before you go!

Sweden Travel Tips

Is it possible to do Stockholm in one day?

We had a day and a half in Stockholm, and I wish we’d had at least one more full day. We saw the highlights, but I wanted more time for museums, neighborhoods and the waterfront. We didn’t get out to the archipelago on that family trip; I finally made it there on a later visit.

How can I afford to go to Sweden?

Scandinavia is indeed expensive, but we made our family trip work by eating out carefully and spending our money on the attractions we most wanted to see. We often bought lunch at a bakery or made what my kids called “grocery-store dinner” at our lodging.

We also traveled in March, when we found flights and accommodations that worked for our budget. Compare dates if you’re flexible, and consider staying a little outside the center—but check what you’ll spend getting back and forth before booking.

Driving and parking in Stockholm

We rented a car because we were driving through Sweden as a family, and I loved being able to stop in little towns whenever we wanted. For that kind of trip, a car gave us flexibility.

If you’re staying in Stockholm, I wouldn’t rent one just for sightseeing. The city has public transportation, and parking adds another thing to manage. You can also travel between Stockholm and Gothenburg by train if you don’t want a road trip. If you do drive into Stockholm, check parking rules and any charges for your rental car before you go.

Getting to Sweden

We flew into Copenhagen and drove to Sweden, but you can also fly to Stockholm or Gothenburg. Or you could take the ferry from Helsinki!

 

How We Got the Kids Excited About Sweden

• Read Pippi Longstocking or watch the movie. My kids are always much more invested in a place when they know anything about the country.
• Do a little research on how to pronounce Swedish words. They have different vowels than we do, and it’s nice to be able to pronounce the towns you are visiting. The rules are simple and just take a little practice.
• Take your kids to Ikea and get them to pronounce the products’ names correctly. Sounds weird but it was super fun! Also pick up some meatballs to see if your kids will like something to eat in Sweden. There wasn’t a single restaurant we visited that didn’t have meatballs.
• We got by easily with English, but learning to say tack (‘thank you’) was still worth it
• Learn more about Sweden by doing our Travel the World from Home program
• Or visit our Visit Sweden at Christmas post.

I went to Sweden worried that we wouldn’t have enough to do. By the end of our family trip, I was wishing for more time in Stockholm and more stops along the road. I eventually went back for the archipelago we had missed, and I’m glad I did. If you’re planning your first trip, leave room for the big sights and for the places that make you want to slow down.