When to Go to Sweden?
June to August is the best time to visit Sweden. As with most Scandinavian countries, the weather can get extreme, even if it is a little bit off-season, so it would be best to stick to mid-summer, despite most of the things being pricier and more crowded.
If you don't mind the weather and want to save costs, you can go in late April or early September. The weather might be colder with less sunlight throughout the day, but you will save some money and experience the city without as many tourists around you as in mid-summer.
How to Get to Sweden?
You can fly into Stockholm if you are coming from outside of the EU. For the best possible deal, I always browse the airfare comparison website, Skyscanner or Expedia, to find cheap flights for the trip.
If you are already in Europe and are on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few euros.
How to Get Around Stockholm?
Most of the attractions are concentrated in and around the Old Town, so you can cover every attraction I suggested here on foot.
To cover a greater distance in Stockholm, the metro is the way to go, with a single ticket costing only 44 SEK (5 USD). You can see the metro map here.
To get to other cities like Mariefred (where Gripsholm castle is located), you can take the train from Stockholm City Station, and you can travel almost anywhere in the country from there. You can book the train ticket here.
For Gripsholm, the train runs every hour between Stockholm and Läggesta Station. From Läggesta Station, there will be buses #302, 304, and 642 running hourly, which you can take to get to Gripsholm (the schedule may change depending on the season). The entire trip should take no more than 1.5 hours, one way. Google Maps works really well in finding the right train and schedule for you, so you can enter your destination there.
If you are coming from Helsinki via Viking Line cruise, you will be dropped off at the Stadsgården dock. Viking Line does provide a bus transfer from its dock to the Central Train Station for $7, and it will take around 15 minutes. You can buy the transfer ticket at the information desks on board the ship.
Daily Budget
This is a rather expensive destination, so careful budget planning is advised. On average, I spent around $55 - $80 USD per day per person, covering essential items such as food, accommodation, and transportation.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Sweden?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Sweden:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
