As I discovered on my recent Scandinavian escapades, Stockholm definitely cannot be conquered in a day. With so many vibrant museums, beautiful outdoor scenery and superb history, to do Stockholm in a day would be merely scratching the surface of a wonderful city. However, if your stay is brief and you wish to see a selection of Stockholm, may I suggest the following: 

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Breakfast on the run….

Unlike Australian culture, there isn’t as much of a massive market for early morning breakfast in Stockholm. I did find CykelCafe which does a breakfast buffet as well as acai bowls and some terrific salad bowls. But if you’re up for a day of wandering, just grab something to go from one of the local bakeries (healthy options are usually a sandwich on deliciously fresh bread or yogurt with granola). I really loved the rye bread at Brod & Salt and their avocado and feta sandwich on rye washed down with berry yogurt smoothie as perfect fuel for an active morning. 

  

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Walk down to the Fotografiska 

This was my favourite museum in Stockholm as I love photography (even if I’m not a professional at it!). There are two levels densely laden with photographic modern art on a particular theme / artist, as well as a cafe to rest your feet if needs be. I thoroughly enjoyed the Penn exhibition while I was there, with many recognisable works from his collaborations with famous celebrities and Vogue magazine. 

  

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Walk along the river to Galma Stan

This is the old part of town which was unfortunately ravaged by multiple fires over the ages. The old buildings and cobblestone streets haven’t lost their charm though, and it makes for a picturesque and charming wander. The shops are very tourist orientated and overpriced but still worth a window shop. 

 

 

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Visit the Palace

Time your visit so that you’re in Galma Stan at midday and make your way up to the palace for the Royal fanfare and magic that is the changing of the guard. Colour, music and men in uniform, exactly as expected but certainly no less enjoyable! 

 

 

 

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Hot Chocolate at Chokkoladekaffe

While you’re still in Galma Stan and near the palace, take the opportunity to grab a cup of hot chocolate at Chokkoladekaffe. When I say cup I really mean bowl. They also serve some delicious radiation all Swedish baked goods if you need a snack but save some room for later! 

 

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Visit the Palace and the Royal Armoury

Now that you’ve refuelled, you can take a tour inside the palace, or you can take the free option and visit the Royal armoury downstairs, filled with all the costumes and weaponry owned by the royal family over time. Make sure you visit the bottom level for the carriage collection which is rather extraordinary. 

 

 

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Walk back towards the city via parliament and the medieval museum 

The parliament building doesn’t necessarily require an inside look, but it certainly is a beautiful sight from the outside. The medieval museum is a little hard to find as its underneath the bridge that the parliament sits on, but it’s a cool museum if medieval history is your thing. 

 

 

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Visit Horvenhalle

Go to Hovenhalle food hall for the fish soup at Kajas Fisk BUT you must get in before about 4pm! This is the single best fish soup I have EVER had, and with the tempting offer of free re-fills, you’ll find it hard to leave room for dinner….

 

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Shopping at Mood 

Mood is not your average Westfield. Decorated with ample amount of foliage akin to Cloudland, it’s a fashion lovers dream and a surprisingly serene little spot to wander around. The clothes were all far out of my price range, but that didn’t stop me from having a look. 

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 Dinner at Pelikan

Time for a traditional Swedish beer hall! The high ceilings and wooden interior make pelican incredibly noisy, but the atmosphere is nothing but authentic. For starters, you must try the traditional pickled herring with dill potatoes. For mains the carnivores will love the massive pork knuckle or soft-ball sized meatballs, but I adored the mushrooms, spinach and brown butter vegetarian dumplings instead! 

  

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If you have extra time…..

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Skansen (picture featured at top of page)

Part Scandinavian zoo and part Swedish living history museum, this was one of my favourite activities while visiting Stockholm! Make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes as you’ll want to see everything while you’re there, and it makes for a beautiful day out if the weather permits.

If you time your visit correctly you may be lucky enough to witness feeding time at the animal enclosures, and if certainly makes seeing the wolverines, wolves, bears, lynx, moose, reindeers and aquatic animals when there’s food around! As an Aussie, these animals are not seen back home even in many of the zoos, so seeing a family of reindeer and a bunch of bear cubs having a swim was very cool indeed! The living history exhibits like the olden day bakery, pottery workshop etc were also a lot of fun, and you must stop by the petite cafe for some beautiful Swedish cakes and tea!

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Vasa Museum 

You wouldn’t believe that a 300 year old ship could be preserved so well, but it certainly makes for an interesting and beautiful museum. The detail on the boat is extraordinary and the exhibits about the excavation efforts and life on board the ill-fated boat are quite interesting. Very busy and packed with tourists though, but this is to be expected as it’s not something I’ve seen anywhere else I’ve travelled!

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Smorgasbord at Verandan – see the full post here! 

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Spirit Museum 

Despite the many negative reviews on Trip Advisor, I actually really enjoyed this museum! I found the Absolut art exhibition quite interesting albeit small, particularly how they have changed the label at times for various causes. As a food blogger, I thought the main exhibition was quite fun, particularly the tidbits about Swedish drinking culture and getting to smell the different ingredients used to flavour alcohol. I didn’t eat or drink at the bar here, but the street outside makes for a very pleasant walk on a summer day as well.

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I started my most recent adventure by flying into Oslo. I had never been to Scandinavia before although it had long been on my bucket list. Oslo seemed like a fantastic starting point to travel between Norway, Sweden and Denmark due to ease of transport and it has certainly lived up to this. 

Oslo is an expensive city for fresh food, but as this is due to their weather climate and lack of many fresh produce items, this is somewhat understandable. It’s location on the port however does lend itself to terrific seafood, and there’s no denying the brilliance of freshly baked Norwegian bread. 

It is one of those beautiful cities that doesn’t quite compare to anywhere else I’ve ever been. A rich Scandinavian history nestled between the stark contrast of lush fjordic greenery and an industrial revolution in progress makes Oslo a city that should be on every keen travellers to-see list. 

If you’re unfortunately time-poor in Oslo, my plan would be as follows: 

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Breakfast at Little Prince

Do not judge a book by its cover with this delightful cafe only a short walk central station. While it may look like your regular bakery, their freshly baked rolls come literally overflowing with filling. If you’re game to try things the super sized Scandic way, try the rye roll with the prawns, egg, salmon two ways, hollandaise and lettuce.  Huge in size and flavour, it’s guaranteed to keep you full until well after lunchtime. 

Swing by Hansens Bakery to pick up a baked snack for later – You won’t be hungry at this stage but the store is conveniently located on the same street as Little Prince, hence the suggestion. Anywhere that serves brownie in entire cake form gets a culinary nod in my books! May I suggest the princess cake though, as a Scandinavian traditional sponge cake with authentic marzipan and lingonberry jam is something we seldom find back home. 

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Visit the Military Museum

A short walk away from breakfast, this is a fantastic free museum that covers Norway’s involvement in various world conflicts, from, medieval to modern day. Think plenty of costumes and weapons, plus a tank, an ambulance and even a UN helicopter from the 1960s.

  

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Visit the Ashersus Fortress

Conveniently located next to the military museum, the fortress is also a free exhibition and provides some stunning views of the fjords from the battlements. Guided tours are available and the guards will even let you have a photo with them. 

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Visit the Nobel Peace Museum

Again located close by, the Nobel Peace Museum is a tribute to all the previous recipients of the prize, as well as to Nobel himself (a fascinating thought that the inventor of the Peace Prize was also the inventor of dynamite). One room serves as a photo exhibition for the current winner’s cause, while the remaining rooms offer interactive displays about previous recipients as well as the general history of the prize and various aspects of international conflict (from Israeli Palestine to the rift between Norway and Sweden). 

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Walk along the Akker Brygge

An old shipping company turned fashionable lunch area, the pier is the perfect place to shop and people watch over the afternoon. Some of the restaurants are exorbitantly priced here but there are also some hidden gems like salad bar. I also highly recommend the tasting plate at Louise Restaurant where you can try a selection of old-school Norwegian delicacies including salmon, reindeer and whale. If you’re going to join the locals and grab an ice cream, walk down to Paradiso and see what all the fuss is about (it’s delicious!). 

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Do a boat tour of the fjords 

If you’re short on time but want to visit the fjords, what better way than by sailboat! A company by the pier offers 2 hour sailing cruises that take you around the fjords in a majestic 30ft sailboat, with sightseeing information in English along the way. You can purchase drinks on board if you think the stunning views deserve a toast, or you can choose the dinner time cruise and enjoy a Norwegian style prawn feast on the way. 

 

 

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Visit the palace

A pleasant walk from the Akker Brygge, the palace gardens are open to the public, and are the only ones in Europe to do so. Even without going into the palace for a tour, the gardens are beautiful and well worth a wander. 

 

 

 

 

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Dinner at Elias Sat and Mat

You may not be feeling quite so hungry at this stage, but I thoroughly recommend Elias Sat and Mat (which is only 600m from the palace). A modern take on traditional Norwegian food, you can try the likes of mussels in saffron sauce and reindeer stew, and they have a reputation for their delicious side of spinach bread. They also do traditional Norwegian dessert and I suggest trying the lingonberry mouse for something a little different.

 

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Soon after arriving in Copenhagen, you will realise why Denmark was voted the world’s happiest country. How could you not be blissfully elated when surrounded by classical old buildings, a focus on green living, an ample supply of bicycles and lots of friendly locals? 

In contrast to the rest of my Scandinavian trip, I found food reasonably priced but clothes much more expensive, which at least saved my wardrobe from extra padding. Copenhagen is another one of those cities that is hard to see in its entirety in a day or two. However, I suggest the following as part of any good jam-packed trip around the capital: 

• Breakfast at Grød in Norrebro – Grød is an epic porridge bar, and as such is both a tribute to this Danish tradition and an experiment in the colour, texture and flavour of the humble grain. Serving variants of porridge including oats, chia, gluten free grains, congee, barley risotto and granola in both sweet and savoury varieties, Grød proves that the humble oat can be enjoyed at any time of the day! I visited three times in my four days in Copenhagen and can attest that it was hard to choose a favourite between the pea barley risotto, the skyr yogurt with house granola, and the gluten free porridge with every topping they have. I fell so much in love that I  even purchased their stunning porridge cookbook for back home.
• Explore Norrebro – a quirky and relatively tourist free district of Copenhagen, Norrebro has only recently transformed into a cosmopolitan suburb thriving with stylish houses, cute boutiques, quirky cafes and vintage thrift stores. The Main Street () is great for some inexpensive vintage and secondhand stores, which is in contrast to Copenhagan’s otherwise expensive clothes shopping (particularly when paying in AUD). Other gems include Istid liquid nitrogen ice cream (with vegan cookie dough on the menu!), Ro Chocolade chocolate store and Brus microbrewery for their bar food (all of which featured on the amazing Foods of Copenhagen Tour!). 
• Walk across bridge to Rosenberg castle and gardens – even if you don’t brave the crowds and visit inside the castle, the outside is an impressive site. It was the gardens that got my attention though with its stunning and immaculate display of flowers, perfectly groomed hedges and sculptures (cause for an Instagram field day, no filter needed!). The inside of the castle costs $25AUD but the gardens are free to visit.
• Pass by Torvehalle for lunch – We all know that I absolutely LOVE food halls as they are often cheaper, with wider variety and with a great cross section of cuisine native to the country itself. Torvehalle is another brilliant example of this, with everything from fresh meat  and fish to flowers, fresh fruit, wine, cheese, baked goods, luxe chocolate, pantry items and even a mini Grød cafe! Definitely try a fancy smørrebrød while you’re here, and you can’t leave without trying some traditional Danish cheese. 
• Walk down to the round tower and climb it – a chance to walk off the cheese from lunch and admire a spectacular view of Copenhagen that extends all the way out to Sweden on a clear day. The tower has no stairs (making it friendly on the knees!) but instead a sloping ramp that twists around the tower 7.5 times. Along the way you’ll find the bell tower room and an unexpectedly magnificent modern art museum. For $5AUD entry, it’s worth it for the view alone. 
• Stroll down the osterbro – this is the main shopping street in Copenhagen and more of a tourist destination than anything else. You’ll find your usual culprits like H&M etc here, but there are some great little cafes in the side streets off the main drag.
• Walk down to the visit Christiansborg palace and its kitchen – this palace has been burned down so many times that the ruins have its own exhibition area in the current building. The palace is magnificent and although the visit to the rooms and the kitchen will cost $30AUD, it is well worth it. The reception rooms are stunningly beautiful and straight from the pages of a fairytale (particularly the library which you could swear was from Beauty and the Beast). The copper filled kitchen is also a great exhibition detailing the making of a kings feast (including many of the sights and smells involved!). 
• Continue walking down to Nyhavn for some great photos – I was forewarned from a mate that this area is more touristy and totally agree, but it definitely makes for some great photos! Like all good tourist destinations, the area used to be inhabited by sailors and their prostitutes, but now it’s filled with ambient colours and a vibrant atmosphere that only large numbers of people enjoying the hassle and bussle of life can create. Avoid the cafes as they are overpriced, but there’s plenty of icecream stores to keep your appetite at bay until dinner. 
• Jump on a boat and do a canal cruise – there are a few companies that operate out of the canal in Nyhavn with most operating for an hour. The cruise guides you through the canals and into the main harbour, and includes sailing under a number of the low set bridges (which in high tide require legitimate ducking!). The tours are given in English, Danish and one other language and are a good  way to see The Black Diamond, The Little Mermaid statue etc. 
• Finish with dinner at Copenhagen Street Food – walk across the bridge from Nyhavn onto Papion, the paper island, and you’ll find Copenhagan’s answer to the fashionable and delicious multicultural street food movement. Everything from vegan to Italian to pan-Asian to burger porn and cocktails are found here, and it’s a great spot to grab a few different things and sit on a deck chair in the sun over the harbour. 

Hej / Hallo / Halla!

I was recently fortunate enough to take some much-needed annual leave and travel through Norway, Sweden and Denmark. While I stuck to the capital cities due to being short on time, it was a journey I would recommend to anyone wanting to explore an amazing part of the world.

You can read all about my adventures in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen by clicking the links (which also included a traditional Smorgasbord of epic proportions!).