Unusual Things To See And Do In Stockholm

From scampering across rooftops to kayaking through the heart of the city, Stockholm is a city that offers visitors plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as ones that are just plain cool. The only problem? Making sure you’re in Stockholm long enough to take it all in.

Take a rooftop tour

At just over 43 metres above the busy streets of Stockholm, a rooftop tour may not be for the faint at heart (or those with vertigo) but it’s one of the coolest experiences the city has to offer. It takes place in – and on – the old Parliament Building, and includes not just breathtaking views but also a lot of history and background on the city.

Kayak the city

Swim the city

The water surrounding Stockholm is so clean that you can jump right in and not come out with any rashes or strange diseases. The picture below, at Stockholm’s City Hall, shows one of the most popular spots to swim, but you can swim pretty much anywhere. For better or worse, clothing is optional but the absolute greatest news is that you can also drink the water. It really is that clean.

Explore a nuclear reactor

The KTH R1 Experimental Performance Space is a creative meeting space found 25 metres underneath Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology’s Vallhallavägen campus. The reactor hall is exactly as it was when it was operational, between July 13, 1954 and June 6, 1970. Well, without that pesky radiation. Stephen Hawking has visited and while your phone won’t work this far below ground, call ahead to book.

Take a ghost tour

Stockholm Ghost Walk is one of the most interesting ways to tour Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan). The 90-minute tour features knowledgeable – and very funny – guides and is filled with fun facts and an incredible amount of history. Sure, there are some animated theatrics but somehow it adds to the fun.

Grab a cultural coffee

Stockholm’s Culture House (Kulturhuset) offers up exactly what you think: culture by the bucketload. What most people don’t know is that there is an excellent café/bar on the rooftop, complete with beehives and what Culture House itself calls ‘romantically brutal punk rock’. There are often special events here, such as film premieres and live music.

Dance under a bridge

Trädgården might just be the coolest club in town. Located under Södermalm’s Skanstull Bridge, the club is open on weekend nights only, until 3am, and only when the weather is warm. There’s a festival vibe to this club: you drink from plastic cups and oil barrels serve as cocktail tables. Popular doesn’t begin to describe how overrun this place can get, so arrive early to secure a spot.

Visit the scene of an assassination

Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot on a cold winter night in 1986 as he walked home from the cinema with his wife. The shocking assassination changed Sweden; he wasn’t accompanied by any bodyguards and the shooting took place on a busy Stockholm street. Conspiracy theories abound to this day, and people often leave roses on the plaque placed in the sidewalk at the spot where he was shot, at the corner of Sveavägen-Tunnelgatan in central Stockholm.

Take a private bike tour

Stockholm is filled with places to rent bikes, and of course, even has the obligatory city bike scheme, but one of the best ways to not just see but also learn about the city is to book a private bike tour. Tours run from two to three hours, include a stop at a classic Swedish café, and can be conducted in nearly any language you’d like.

Watch a classic film

Stockholm’s Film Institute (Filmhuset) regularly screens classic as well as obscure films in their two state-of-the-art cinemas. The films range from black-and-white Buster Keaton (with a live piano player) to 1980 horror classic The Shining. Grab a drink and a bite to eat in the bistro beforehand, because the crowd here is made up of serious film connoisseurs – no talking or munching loudly on popcorn.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.