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Seeing Stockholm on a budget: The ultimate guide

Stockholm has a reputation for being a pricey place to visit, but it doesn’t have to be.

Published: 2 July 2018 14:58 CEST
Updated: 17 March 2021 11:27 CET
Seeing Stockholm on a budget: The ultimate guide
Photo: mikdam/Depositphotos

Sure, a beer in a bar often costs around 65 SEK ($7) and no-one ever described a taxi ride in Stockholm as a ‘bargain’, but there are ways to see the city without spending a fortune.

Here’s how you can get more bang for your buck (or kronor, in this case) next time you visit Stockholm.

Book Arlanda Express tickets now

Places to stay

If you’re looking for cheaper accommodation, don’t rule out a hostel; Stockholm has some wonderfully stylish, unique, and best of all, budget-friendly hostels to choose from. Check out The Red Boat Mälaren, STF Vandrarhem af Chapman and M/S Birger Jarl and tick ‘Stay in a floating hostel’ off your bucket list.

Photo: hespasoft/Depositphotos

The only thing cheaper than cheap, is free. If this sounds like your budget, give couch surfing a go and stay with a local. You could find yourself spending the night in a swish Stockholm apartment all for the grand total of zilch kronor. What’s more, you might make some new Swedish friends during your stay.

Getting around

So you’ve quickly and cost-effectively made it to the city on the Arlanda Express. Now it’s time to explore the city.

Stockholm is a city made for walking. Bring your walking shoes and pick up your free city map at the airport, Central Station, tourist centre or Swedish convenience store (Pressbyrån) and start discovering the streets on foot.  

 

If you suddenly discover your boots weren’t made for walking, hire a City Bike. With approximately 140 bike stands around the city, you can pick up a bike nearly anywhere. A 3-day access card will set you back just 165 SEK.

Stockholm’s public transport system is a little more expensive but well worth it if you want to travel as far and wide as possible. Quick, efficient and far reaching, you can purchase a 72-hour ticket for 250 SEK for adults or 165 SEK for students or pensioners and use Stockholm’s buses, trains, metro, trams and inner city ferries.

Book Arlanda Express tickets here

Things to do

So, you’ve found a place to stay and picked your favourite mode of transport, now for the sightseeing. The good news is that in Stockholm there is a variety of free attractions like the Medieval Museum, Modern Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal Armoury, ArkDes, the Swedish Parliament or the City Library, just to name a few.

Photo: steho/Depositphotos

Many other museums also offer certain times every week with free admission, so check their websites for details.

In Stockholm it is very rare to be more than 300-metres from a park or green area, even in the city centre. Popular spots include the island of Djurgården, famous with locals for open green spaces, waterways, parks and walking tracks. So pack a picnic and park yourself on Djurgården or at one of the many tranquil and picturesque inner city parks, such as Hagaparken, Humlegården or Kungsträdgården.

Start your trip to Stockholm with Arlanda Express

Touring the city

If you’re short on cash and still want to see all Stockholm has to offer with an experienced guide, free walking tours are available from various locations, seven days a week.

See where Greta Garbo had her first job in a local barber’s shop and learn about the events which led to the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ being coined on the city tour, ending with the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace.

Wander the cobbled streets of the Old Town (Gamla stan) while learning about the spine-chilling events of the Stockholm Bloodbath and taking photos of the famous architecture at Stortorget.  

Traipse the streets of the south island of Södermalm, discovering hipster hangouts and beautiful vantage points in the formerly rundown, working class area turned vibrant, artsy place you see today.

The Stockholm subway system is said to be the longest art exhibition in the world, spanning 110 kilometres, so check out the free guided tours that are offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Photo: JuliVasylegaBO/Depositphotos

While technically free, it is advisable to tip your guide a little at the end.

Eating and drinking

When you’re tired of supermarket food, try the Swedish tradition of dagens lunch. Many restaurants offer special daily lunch packages at competitive prices. It means you get to try some of Stockholm’s top restaurants at a fraction of their regular price. Make lunch your main meal and fill up on main course, bread, salad, coffee, tea and biscuits all for around 85-125 SEK.

If you’d like to combine your sightseeing with lunch, make your way to Kaknästornet, an old television and radio tower, now a restaurant and cafe. Make sure to book a table on their website and for 125 SEK you can ascend the tower at no extra cost and dine while taking in a panoramic view of Stockholm.

Photo: tupungato/Depositphotos

Drinking is notoriously expensive in Sweden, so if you don’t fancy selling a kidney to pay for a glass of wine, or heaven forbid, a spirit, be on the lookout for happy hours at bars or take a trip to the state-run liquor store, Systembolaget.

A word to the wise: Pre-plan your trip to the bottle shop. With strictly limited opening hours (which don’t include Saturday after 3pm or the whole of Sunday), you don’t want to be caught short!

Shopping

Sweden takes flea markets to a new level. Especially during the summer months, you will find a flea market or loppis on nearly on every corner. Swedes love their vintage finds so much that sometimes whole streets will be blocked off for huge pop-up flea markets, with people selling out of stalls and car boots. If you’re looking for some vintage records or some authentic ABBA-esque clothes from the 70s, you’re likely to find some hidden gems here.

Travel from Arlanda to Central Station with Arlanda Express

Nightlife

There’s something to suit everybody when it comes to night-time activities. Comedy buffs can enjoy free standup in English at Big Ben on Södermalm; Parkteatern offers a variety of free musical and theatrical performances in beautiful outdoor settings, or you can stumble into many bars around Södermalm to listen to free live music.

Insider tip: Buy a green card at the amusement park Gröna Lund and for just 270 SEK you gain access to the park and a series of concerts by some of the world’s most famous artists. This year alone there have already been performances by Macklemore, Icona Pop, Marilyn Manson and Queens of the Stone Age.

Photo: scanrail/Depositphotos

Don’t miss a moment of sightseeing. Get to Stockholm’s city centre as fast and easily as possible by booking your airport transfer with Arlanda Express, the quickest route between Arlanda Airport and downtown.

This article was produced by The Local Creative Studio and sponsored by Arlanda Express
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TRANSPORT

How to save money at Sweden’s airports

Sweden is not a cheap country by any means, and the extra charges at airports can make travelling feel even more costly. Luckily, there are ways to make trips to Swedish airports more affordable.

Published: 11 July 2024 08:30 CEST
Updated: 13 July 2024 06:26 CEST
How to save money at Sweden's airports

Sweden has become increasingly expensive over the past few years, in line with the cost of living crisis, inflation and rising food prices affecting much of Europe.

These significant price increases make the high costs at Swedish airports even more noticeable, leaving many travellers, already burdened by inflation, feeling the pinch.

Luckily, there are ways to make your stay at Swedish airports more affordable.

Bring your own food – or buy it before getting to the airport

When travelling through a Swedish airport, according to the official information on the Sweden’s Transport Agency’s website, you are allowed to bring solid food through security and onto the plane.

However, if the food is considered a liquid, restrictions will apply. Liquids include foods such as jellies, creams, drinks, soups, and dishes with both solid and liquid components (like meat and potatoes with sauce or pickled cucumbers). This rule applies even if the food is frozen.

Use this information to prepare your own meals (sandwiches are a good option for longer flights, while snacks may do the trick for shorter ones) or buy food before you get to the airport.

Both will lead to saving a lot of money compared to airport food prices.

Cutting (transport) costs on your way to the airport

Sweden’s major airports have express services that make getting there quick and efficient, but these can be a tad expensive.

Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives.

For example, in Stockholm, you can take the non-express commuter train instead of the Arlanda Express or combine a train plus bus option.

Both options cost less, though they do take longer (the express train trip lasts around 20 minutes, while the cheaper alternatives will take around 40 minutes).

For a detailed guide to your transport options if you want to skip the Arlanda Express (or if it isn’t running), check out The Local’s guide on the topic here.

Do your research before getting there

All of Sweden’s busiest airports are operated by the state-owned company Swedavia, which makes it easier to check out your dining options in advance.

Knowing where to find the cheaper and more expensive eateries can help you plan better.

You can find an overview of available restaurant, bar, and cafe options on a per airport and per terminal basis, as well as their opening hours, on the company’s website.

For Arlanda Airport, check here. For Landvetter, here.

Keep in mind that the most affordable options might be before security.

Are lounges worth it?

While suggesting you spend money on a lounge might seem counterintuitive, it can sometimes be a cost-effective option. You’ll just need to do some simple maths to determine whether it’s worth it.

A meal and a drink at a Swedish airport could easily cost a few hundred kronor.

Lounges, which typically include buffet food and drink options, might offer better value for money, if you’re planning to buy food in a restaurant at the airport rather than bringing your own with you. They also often have shower facilities, office spaces including printers, and children’s areas, which may make the cost worth it depending on your journey and whether you’re travelling with family or not.

For the SAS international lounge at Arlanda, the cost is usually around 350 kronor when purchased in advance online and slightly higher if bought at the lounge reception on the day of your visit​.

Note that if you are a frequent flyer or have certain credit cards, you might have access to lounges for free or at a discounted rate, using points to pay for some or all of the fee.

Don’t buy the first thing that seems cheap at the airport – a better deal might be waiting outside

Many items found in airport stores and duty-free shops are available outside the airport, and often at better prices.

While duty-free items are tax-free, you might still find better deals by shopping around elsewhere (in fact, this is often the case for both food and drinks).

Resist the temptation to buy stuff that seems cheap at the airport unless you’re absolutely sure you’re getting a fair price. You can always do a quick Google search before you buy to see if you can get it cheaper somewhere else.

You will likely save more by purchasing it outside the airport.

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