A local’s guide
The Best Tours in Stockholm — From a Swede Who Still Visits Every Summer
Archipelago cruises, Viking adventures, food tours, bike rides, and walks through Gamla Stan. The Stockholm tours worth your time — and the ones I’d recommend to friends visiting Sweden.
I was born and raised in Sweden and have visited Stockholm more times than I can count. I was there again the last few summers, and every visit reminds me why Stockholm is one of my favorite cities in Scandinavia. Built across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, Stockholm combines history, culture, nature, and waterfront views in a way few capitals can.
Most first-time visitors focus on Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, the ABBA Museum, and the Vasa Museum—and while those attractions are absolutely worth seeing, the experience people often remember most is getting out on the water. Stockholm’s archipelago, made up of thousands of islands, is what truly sets the city apart from other European destinations.
Last summer, I joined an archipelago cruise with visiting friends from the US, and it quickly became one of the highlights of the trip. Seeing Stockholm from the water gives you an entirely different perspective of the city and helps you appreciate why locals spend so much time on boats during the summer months.
A good tour helps you see more, learn more, and discover places you might otherwise miss. Whether you’re interested in Viking history, Swedish food, biking between islands, or simply exploring the city’s beautiful neighborhoods, there’s a Stockholm tour that’s worth adding to your itinerary.
Below are the tours I actually recommend, organized by type. I’ve included who each tour is best for, what to expect, and my personal favorites. If you’re short on time, jump to the comparison table below.
Short on Time? Start Here
If you’re visiting Stockholm for the first time, these tours are a good place to start:
Best Stockholm Tours — Quick Comparison
| Tour Type | Duration | Best For | Price Range | Crowd Level | Top Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⛵ Archipelago Boat Tour | 2–4 hrs | First-time visitors, couples, photographers | $30–$80 | Medium | View Tours → |
| 🚶 Walking Tour | 2–3 hrs | History lovers, first-time visitors | $25–$60 | Medium | View Tours → |
| 🚲 Bike Tour | 2–3 hrs | Active travelers, city explorers | $35–$75 | Low–Medium | View Tours → |
| ⚔️ Viking Tour | Half Day | History buffs, repeat visitors | $70–$150 | Low | View Tours → |
| 🥐 Food Tour | 3–4 hrs | Foodies, couples, solo travelers | $60–$120 | Low | View Tours → |
| 🌲 Nature Tour | Half–Full Day | Outdoor lovers, families | $70–$140 | Low | View Tours → |
| 🛶 Kayak Tour | 2–4 hrs | Adventure seekers | $50–$100 | Low | View Tours → |
If it’s your first time in Stockholm, I would personally book an archipelago cruise and a walking tour of Gamla Stan. Together they provide the perfect introduction to Sweden’s capital and showcase both the city’s fascinating history and stunning waterfront setting.
Browse all Stockholm tours on GetYourGuide:
Best Tours in Stockholm Sweden
Best Stockholm Archipelago Boat Tours
The city encompasses 14 islands and an extensive archipelago. With 57 bridges, there are plenty of harbors, shores, and water areas to explore. Beautiful islands that you can reach by ferry or tour boats. There are many options when it comes to exploring the Stockholm waters. Here are a few to consider.
🏆 Best For First-Time Visitors
If you’ve never been to Stockholm before, this is the tour I recommend most often. You’ll see the city from the water, experience the famous archipelago, and understand why locals spend so much of their summer on boats.
Perfect for: First-time visitors, couples, photographers, families
Explore the most popular Stockholm boat tours:
Best Stockholm Walking Tours for First-Time Visitors
If you join a 3-hour highlights tour of Stockholm, you can expect to see some of the beautiful waterfront, old town, and the major attractions like the Concert Hall and the Royal Castle.
Walking around the city, listening to your guide sharing stories from the past and today will enrich your visit. A private guide or small group will allow you to ask questions, not only about the tour but in general about Stockholm and Sweden. They happily share their favorite places to hang out, restaurants to eat, and ongoing events while you are there.
🚶 Best for First-Time Visitors & History Lovers
If it’s your first visit to Stockholm, I almost always recommend starting with a walking tour. The city’s history comes alive when you stroll through Gamla Stan’s narrow alleyways, hear stories of Swedish kings and Vikings, and discover places you might otherwise walk right past.
One of the best parts of a walking tour is getting local recommendations for restaurants, neighborhoods, and hidden gems to explore later in your trip.
Perfect for: First-time visitors, history buffs, solo travelers, and anyone who enjoys exploring at a slower pace.
Check Availability – Stockholm Walking Tours:
Best Stockholm Bike Tours to See More of the City
To cover larger areas of Stockholm biking is a great way to do that. A bike-friendly city with specific bike lanes makes it easy to get around and see the highlights of Stockholm. Cross many of the bridges when biking from island to island. Listening to your guide that shares stories of the town. On most bike tours, you will see the Parliament building, the old town, the Royal Castle, Strandgatan with the Royal Dramatic Theater, and Djurgården.
🚲 Best for Active Travelers
Stockholm is one of the best cities in Scandinavia to explore by bike. With dedicated bike lanes and beautiful waterfront paths, you’ll cover far more ground than on foot while still experiencing the city up close.
Biking between islands and neighborhoods gives you a unique perspective of Stockholm’s parks, bridges, and waterfronts that many visitors never get to see.
Perfect for: Active travelers, families with older children, and visitors who want to see a lot in a short amount of time.
Stockholm Biking Tours Top Picks:
Best Viking Tours Near Stockholm
To get the best Viking related experiences, going on a tour that takes you outside the city into the countryside, exposing you to real Viking culture, is your best bet. The historic town of Sigtuna, built during the Viking Age, with runic stones, an old main street, and church ruins, is well worth a visit if you enjoy history. You not only get the Viking experience but also get to enjoy some of the Swedish countryside.
⚔️ Best for History Lovers
Sweden’s Viking history extends far beyond museums. These tours take you to authentic runestones, ancient settlements, and the historic town of Sigtuna, founded during the Viking Age.
Perfect for: History buffs, families, repeat visitors, and anyone fascinated by Viking culture.
Check Availability for Stockholm Viking Tours:
🍺 Continue the Viking Experience at Aifur
After exploring Viking history outside Stockholm, consider continuing the experience back in the city at Aifur, a Viking-themed restaurant and tavern in Gamla Stan owned by Swedish Eurodance artist E-Type (Martin Eriksson).
Located in Stockholm’s Old Town, Aifur is designed to transport guests back to the Viking Age. Expect candlelit dining, communal tables, staff dressed in period clothing, and traditional mead served in rustic mugs. The menu features Nordic-inspired dishes including game meats, sausages, fish, and hearty stews.
I’ve found that it’s one of the most memorable dining experiences in Stockholm, especially if you’ve spent the day exploring Viking sites and runestones in the countryside.
Tip: Aifur is extremely popular with both visitors and locals, so reservations are highly recommended, particularly during the summer months.
Best Stockholm Food Tours and Fika Experiences
Swedish meatballs might be your favorite, but these food tours go well beyond “just” meatballs. Enjoy food samples from traditional Swedish dishes, visit different restaurants, food markets, and eateries depending on the excursion. If you are lucky, they might even make a stop at a “sweet” spot for some fika.
🥐 Best for Foodies & Curious Travelers
Swedish cuisine is much more than meatballs. A food tour is one of the best ways to experience local flavors, discover hidden eateries, and learn about traditions like fika—the beloved Swedish coffee break. From fresh seafood and cinnamon buns to modern Nordic cuisine, these tours offer a delicious introduction to Swedish culture.
Perfect for: Food lovers, couples, solo travelers, and anyone who believes the best way to understand a culture is through its food.
Stockholm Food Tours Top Picks:
Away from the City to Enjoy Nature
The city is beautiful, but there is something to be said about Swedish nature. With Allemansrätten the right to roam, you have endless opportunities to explore nature and what it has to offer. Getaway for the day hiking, skating, show shoeing, skiing depending on your interest and season. Here are a few of our suggestions to enjoy Swedish nature.
🌲 Best for Nature Lovers
One of the things I love most about Stockholm is how quickly you can escape into nature. Within a short distance of the city center, you’ll find forests, lakes, hiking trails, and quiet islands that feel a world away from urban life.
Perfect for: Outdoor enthusiasts, families, photographers, and travelers looking for a break from city sightseeing.
Kayak Tours in Stockholm Waters
Another alternative to viewing Stockholm from the water is to do a kayak tour. Leisurely, paddling around the islands while enjoying the view of Stockholm shores, buildings, and sites. Your guide will point out the highlights, share stories, and assist with everything regarding the kayaks. Kayaking is a fun and adventurous way to explore the nature of Stockholm.
Stockholm Kayak Tours:
Stockholm Neighborhoods to Explore
Old Town – There are many different neighborhoods to visit in Stockholm, the most famous one, and a must-see area is the Gamla Stan, the Old Town of Stockholm. With colorful houses, narrow alleys, and cobblestone streets, you’ll learn more about the history of the town. In this area, you will also find the Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum (where you can learn more about the Nobel Prize and its winners), and Storkyrkan Cathedral.
Djurgården – Another area of Stockholm to explore is Djurgården. Home of open-air museum Skansen, the VASA ship museum, the amusement park Gröna Lund, and the ABBA museum. Take the ferry, tram, or bus to the island to enjoy the parks, nature, and many museums. My favorite way to get to Djurgården is to walk along Strandvägen, passing the Royal Dramatic Theater and crossing the Djurgårdsbron.
Tours are fun and educational, and I hope that you find the perfect excursion for you and your travel party for your next Stockholm visit. I think these are some of the best walking, biking, and boat Tours in Stockholm, Sweden. What kind of tours do you prefer when you travel? What’s a must-see for you in Stockholm? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Ready to Explore Stockholm?
From cruising through the archipelago to walking the cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm offers some of the most memorable experiences in Scandinavia.
As a Swede who’s visited Stockholm many times, these are the tours I’d confidently recommend to friends and family visiting for the first time.