Stockholm in 2 Days: Royal Gamla Stan & Archipelago Ferry Cruising

Stortorget, 111 29 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Arrive early to admire the iconic 17th-century red and yellow merchant townhouses framing the square without the dense midday walking tour groups.

Kungliga slottet, 107 70 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Walk through the opulent State Apartments and Treasury; view the exterior baroque facade where the Royal Guards mount watch along the outer courtyard.

Mårten Trotzigs gränd, 111 29 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Squeeze through Stockholm's narrowest alleyway, measuring just 90 centimetres across at its tightest point, descending 36 stone steps toward the southern water edge.

Jakobsgatan 12, 111 52 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Settle in for a traditional Swedish sit-down lunch break; order a classic shrimp sandwich (räksmörgås) on rye bread paired with a lingonberry soda.

Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Step inside the climate-controlled hall to view the intact 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628; head straight to the fourth-floor mezzanine for the best view of the carved stern wood sculptures.

Scheduled Downtime

Strandvägen, Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Walk along the tree-lined harbour boulevard at golden hour, watching classic wooden yachts and vintage steamships moored along the water's edge.

Södra Blasieholmshamnen, 111 48 Stockholm, Sweden

💡 Board the classic Waxholmsbolaget ferry; sit on the upper open-air deck on the port (left) side to capture views of the Royal Palace and Kastellholmen as the ship casts off.

Fiskaregatan 18, 185 32 Vaxholm, Sweden

💡 Walk through the historic Norrhamnen harbour quarter to photograph the traditional pastel-coloured wooden fishermen’s cottages and private boat jetties draped with fishing nets.

KASTELLET 1, 185 99 Vaxholm, Sweden

💡 Cross the 200-metre water gap on the short electric cable ferry; walk along the massive 19th-century granite ramparts that once defended Stockholm from naval invasions.

Hamngatan 2, 185 32 Vaxholm, Sweden

💡 Settle in for a dedicated sit-down lunch break overlooking the harbour channel; order the Baltic fried herring with potato purée, lingonberries, and browned butter.

Batterigatan, 185 32 Vaxholm, Sweden

💡 Walk up the hillside park overlooking the Kodjupet strait to sit on the wooden benches; enjoy panoramic views across the island-dotted waters before boarding your return ferry to central Stockholm.