Three days is enough to see the essentials of Stockholm without running yourself ragged: the old town of Gamla Stan, the museums on Djurgården, the views from Södermalm and, if you have time, a boat trip out to the archipelago. This itinerary is the same one we suggest in our Stockholm PDF travel guide, with some extra tips on transportation, accommodation and budget.

Before you start: how the city is laid out

Stockholm is spread across fourteen islands connected by bridges, so it's easier than it looks. For a first trip, these are the neighborhoods to keep on your radar:

• Gamla Stan: the old town, with cobblestone streets, the Royal Palace and the cathedral. It's the most touristy area.
• Norrmalm: the modern downtown, with the central station, department stores and shopping streets like Drottninggatan.
• Södermalm: the most bohemian and creative neighborhood, with vintage shops, cafés and nightlife. It has the best views of the city.
• Östermalm: the upscale neighborhood, with luxury shops, restaurants and the Östermalms Saluhall food hall.
• Djurgården: a green island full of museums (Vasa, Skansen, ABBA) and the Gröna Lund amusement park.
• Vasastan and Kungsholmen: quiet residential areas, perfect for strolling and grabbing coffee like a local.

Day 1: Gamla Stan, City Hall and Södermalm

Morning: Gamla Stan

Start the day in Gamla Stan, the historic heart of Stockholm. Wander its streets, vintage shops, small galleries and cafés. Visit the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) and don't miss the changing of the guard. Very close by are Stockholm Cathedral and Stortorget, the square with the colorful facades, where the famous "Stockholm Bloodbath" took place in 1520.

Midday: lunch in Gamla Stan and up City Hall

Have lunch at one of the cozy restaurants in the old town or at one of its bakeries. Then head over to City Hall (Stadshuset), in Kungsholmen. You can climb its tower for an amazing view of the city. This is where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year.

Afternoon: Norrmalm

Cross over to Norrmalm to check out shops and department stores like Åhléns City, and pop into the Hötorgshallen food market. If you're into culture, the Nobel Prize Museum (in Gamla Stan) tells the story of the laureates and their impact on the world.

Evening: Södermalm

Have dinner in Södermalm and end the night at one of its bars, the best place to catch live music or grab a drink. Before dinner, if it's still light out, head up to Monteliusvägen, the lookout with the best views of Gamla Stan and Lake Mälaren.

Day 2: museums and nature on Djurgården

Morning: Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum

Spend the morning on Djurgården. Start with the Vasa Museum, home to the 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged more than 300 years later. It's the one museum you can't skip. Afterward, walk over to ABBA The Museum, which is super interactive and fun even if you're not a huge fan.

Midday: Rosendals Trädgård and Skansen

Have lunch at the café in Rosendals Trädgård, a garden with an organic café inside a greenhouse, where much of the food comes from its own garden. It's one of our favorite plans in the guide. In the afternoon, visit Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum, with traditional Swedish houses and Nordic animals like moose and reindeer.

Afternoon: modern art or biking

If you like art, Moderna Museet (on the neighboring island of Skeppsholmen) has works by Picasso and Warhol, plus contemporary Swedish art. If you'd rather do something more relaxed, rent a bike and ride around Djurgården, or stop by the Nordic Museum, which tells the story of Swedish culture.

Evening: Östermalm

Have dinner in Östermalm, the neighborhood with the most upscale restaurants. If you want to go out, Stureplan is the center of Stockholm's nightlife.

Day 3: Fotografiska, Södermalm and the archipelago

Morning: Fotografiska and Nytorget

Start at Fotografiska, one of the most important contemporary photography museums in the world. Its café has beautiful views over the water and is ideal for breakfast or brunch. Then explore Södermalm by bike or e-scooter (with Voi or Dott) up to Nytorget, the trendiest part of the neighborhood, full of cafés and vintage shops.

Midday: Urban Deli and Stadsmuseet

Have lunch in Södermalm, for example at Urban Deli, right on Nytorget. Afterward, visit the Stockholm City Museum (Stadsmuseet) to understand how the city came to be.

Afternoon: Skogskyrkogården or a boat to the archipelago

You have two very different options. The first is Skogskyrkogården, a woodland cemetery that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its architecture and landscape are stunning, and it's perfect for a peaceful walk. The second is to take a boat to one of the islands in the Stockholm archipelago, like Vaxholm. Many boats are part of the public transit system, so getting around is really easy.

Evening: last dinner

Say goodbye to the city with dinner in Södermalm or on one of the terraces in Östermalm.

How to get from Arlanda Airport

• Arlanda Express: a fast train to Central Station in about 18 minutes. It leaves every 15 minutes. It's the fastest option, but also the most expensive.
• Flygbussarna buses: about 45 minutes to downtown. They're cheaper than the Arlanda Express.
• Commuter train (Pendeltåg): about 40 minutes to Central Station. It's cheaper, although there's a surcharge for the airport station.
• Taxi, Uber or Bolt: about 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Uber and Bolt prices vary with demand.

How to get around Stockholm

The subway (Tunnelbana) is the fastest way to get around. It has three lines (green, red and blue), and you can pay by tapping your contactless card or phone on the reader, or buy tickets in the SL app. A single ticket costs about 43 kronor and is valid for 75 minutes. If you'll be using transit a lot, look into the 24- or 72-hour tickets. The same ticket works on buses, trams and some boats.

Don't miss the subway as an attraction in itself: it's called "the world's longest art gallery." In the guide we recommend stations like T-Centralen, Stadion and Solna Centrum.

Stockholm is also a very bike-friendly city, and for short trips there are Voi and Dott e-scooters.

Where to stay in Stockholm

• Norrmalm: the most convenient area if you're arriving on the Arlanda Express and want everything close by. From the guide: Hobo, Downtown Camper, Miss Clara or Bank Hotel. On a tight budget, there's Generator Stockholm and City Backpackers, very close to Central Station.
• Södermalm: for us, the neighborhood with the most atmosphere to stay in. From the guide: Hotel Rival (on Mariatorget), Nofo and, on the cheaper side, Rygerfjord (a boat hotel) and the Zinkensdamm hostel.
• Östermalm: elegant and quiet, with lots of restaurants. From the guide: Ett Hem and Story Hotel Riddargatan.
• On the water, across from Gamla Stan: if it's a special trip, the Grand Hôtel and Lydmar Hotel (on Blasieholmen) or Hotel Skeppsholmen (on the island of Skeppsholmen).

The guide has the full list of hotels sorted by price.

Tips for your trip to Stockholm

• Cash is barely used: bring a card or pay with your phone. Swish, the payment app Swedes use, only works with a Swedish bank account.
• Do fika: the coffee break with a cinnamon or cardamom bun is sacred. You'll find our favorite spots in fika in Stockholm: the best cafés and what to order.
• Save on food: the Karma app offers food from restaurants and cafés at a discount at the end of the day. Food halls like Östermalms Saluhall, Hötorget or K25 are good options for a varied meal.
• In summer: take the chance to swim right in the city (Långholmen, Smedsuddsbadet or Tanto Strandbad), catch an outdoor movie at Rålambshovsparken or spend the day in the archipelago (Vaxholm, Sandhamn or Grinda).
• In winter: Christmas markets in Gamla Stan, ice skating in Kungsträdgården, cozy museums and the sauna-and-cold-plunge tradition, for example at Centralbadet.
• Travel insurance: we always recommend traveling with a policy that covers you in any situation, like IATI Seguros.

If you have more days

With a fourth day, we recommend Drottningholm Palace, home of the royal family and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or a more remote island in the archipelago, like Sandhamn or Grinda. And if you're combining the trip with Denmark, here are the 10 must-sees in Copenhagen.

Everything we've covered here, and much more (restaurants by type of food, more than 30 hotels by price, markets, secondhand shops, fitness classes and the plans we'd do ourselves), is in our Stockholm PDF travel guide, with every spot saved in Google Maps so you can use it from your phone.