The first piece of advice I would give to anyone staying in Stockholm for more than 2 days and looking to save money is to invest in a Stockholm Card. This card can be bought at the tourist information office and will allow you to enjoy free public transportation and entry to over 70 of the city’s museums and attractions. It costs SEK 375 for 24 hours, SEK 495 for 48 hours, and SEK 595 for 72 hours for adults. If that still seems a little expensive to you, then you should consider just heading to the free sights and museums which include the National Museum, Army Museum, National Maritime Museum, Historical Museum, and Royal Coin Cabinet, as well as the city’s Cathedral which is free from May to August. If you are a holder of the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) you are eligible for discounts on all kinds of tourist attractions and even meals out in restaurants and travel deals in travel agents.

As for cheap accommodation in Stockholm, it is not particularly easy to come by but there are definitely cheaper and more expensive areas that you can book in. As you may expect, Gamla Stan is the most popular with visitors for its central location and picturesque appearance, and it is therefore the most expensive neighbourhood in terms of tourist accommodation. An alternative is Sodermalm. Sodermalm is in the southern part of central Stockholm and is full of alternative restaurants and bars and slightly more affordable hotels. It is a little further away from the tourist attractions but that really doesn’t have to be an issue as the city is pretty small and the public transport is very efficient.

Hopefully, with these tips in mind you can enjoy a fun holiday in Stockholm without your budget suffering too much!

Stockholm is ideal for a short getaway as most of the places of interest to tourists can be reached on foot, so you can get a taste for a lot of what the city has to offer in just one day. The historic centre, Gamla Stan is by far the most popular tourist attraction thanks to its stunning medieval buildings, winding streets and intriguing galleries, boutiques and cafes. It is possible to find cheap accommodation in Gamla Stan and it makes a great base from which to explore the rest of the city. Towering over this tiny island you will find the Royal Palace which is also well worth a visit.

In a lot of ways, travelling to Stockholm feels a little like travelling to the future; a place where extremely trendy people enjoy a healthy life style of good food, fresh air, cutting edge cultural venues and a generally very efficiently run society. Immigration is always growing in Stockholm (for obvious reasons) and this gives modern Stockholm a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel too, making it all the more interesting and easy for foreigners to visit. Most Swedish people speak fabulous English, so there is no language barrier as such, and if you are struggling to understand sign posts in the street, just stop one of the notoriously polite locals and ask for a little help. Budget hotels in Stockholm are surprisingly easy to come by, which is a relief as, if there is one thing that Stockholm is not – its cheap!

Visit Stockholm for some inspiration from the Swedish on how to live the good life!