SWEDEN (Stockholm, Malmo, Ystad, Lund)

Sweden left us smitten with its unmistakable charm. Stockholm is one of the most impressive historic European capitals we’ve visited. We arrived early in the morning on an overnight cruise from Helsinki and spent two days exploring the city, though we easily could have stayed longer—there’s so much more to see and discover.

Our brief itinerary:

Day 1: Stockholm - Arrival, Old town, Sodermalm
Day 2: Stockholm - Boat tour, Vasa Museum, Skansen, Karlaplan
Day 3: Malmo, Ystad, Stone Ales Stenar
Day 4: Family visit to Denmark
Day 5: Old town Malmo, Lund

Tips and Tricks:

• Could spend more time in Swedish Lapland (south)
• There are a few national parks you could visit.
• Multi day Bike tours are popular (even for families with kids)

Day 1 — First Steps Into Stockholm

We reached Stockholm early in the morning, sailing in on an overnight cruise from Helsinki that drifted through calm waters and tiny islands at daybreak. After checking in at the Sheraton—perfectly located for exploring the city—we walked to City Hall, the iconic red-brick landmark where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held. Tickets needed to be pre-booked to see the hall and go up the bell tower, so we secured a slot for the next day and continued toward the old town. On the way, we stopped at Riddarholmen Church, the medieval burial place of Swedish monarchs, its dramatic spire rising sharply above the waterfront. Lunch was at a cozy Italian restaurant before we wandered to the Parliament House and then the Royal Palace, whose sprawling museum complex deserves several hours to fully appreciate. 

Old town

From there, we slipped into Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved old town, its narrow lanes, golden-hued buildings, and charming boutiques creating the perfect backdrop for exploring the Nobel Prize Museum—modern, insightful, and genuinely fascinating. We walked back to the hotel along bustling Drottninggatan before heading out again in the evening for Indian street food. As the sun softened, we made our way to Södermalm and climbed up to Skinnarviksberget, a rocky hilltop famous for its panoramic sunset views. After taking in the glowing skyline, we walked leisurely along the river, enjoying the peaceful water and the city lights as we made our way back.

Here is our walking map.

Day 2 — Boats, Museums, and the Best of Central Stockholm

We started the morning with pastries and coffee at Café Skipperborg Bageri before boarding our boat tour. Piku was thrilled, and the ride offered a relaxed, scenic introduction to Stockholm’s island-dotted geography. Afterward, we walked through the elegant Karlaplan area and had lunch at Eataly, a lively and upscale spot surrounded by stylish boutiques and tree-lined streets. From there, an Uber brought us to the Vasa Museum, which was absolutely breathtaking—the nearly intact 17th-century warship towers over visitors, its ornate carvings and massive hull frozen in time. 

Vasa Museum

After soaking in the Vasa’s history, we continued to Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum. Wandering through the recreated 18th-century Swedish village felt like stepping back in time, complete with traditional farmsteads, craft workshops, and even a small zoo that Piku really enjoyed. Later, we returned to City Hall for our pre-scheduled climb up the bell tower—tickets we had wisely purchased the day before—where the timed entry ensured a smooth ascent and sweeping views of Stockholm’s rooftops and waterways. Dinner was at Tamarind Indian in the Östermalm district, an easy walk from our centrally located hotel. Afterward, we headed to the station to catch our pre-booked train to Malmö, settling in for the five-hour journey with our packed snacks as the countryside faded into night.

Day 3 — Malmö Winds and Southern Sweden Charm

Ystad

We arrived in Malmö past midnight, relieved to find our hotel just steps from the station. Morning brought strong gusts—Malmö is famously windy—but after breakfast we picked up our rental car and headed south toward Ystad. This seaside town was like something from a storybook, full of pastel half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and a quiet charm that reminded me of Bruges in Belgium. In the town center stood an old church, beautifully aged and perfectly anchored in the heart of the village. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Garden Steps and later grabbed coffee at Maria Caffét, each place adding to the town’s cozy, small-European vibe. Our next stop was Ales Stenar, often described as Sweden’s version of Stonehenge—a formation of 59 massive boulders positioned in a ship-like outline on a cliff overlooking the sea. The short hike from the parking lot was breezy but manageable, and the windswept views were spectacular. We returned to Malmö for an evening stroll around the old town before settling in for dinner at Art of Spices. 

Ales Stenar

Day 4 — A Family Day in Denmark

This day was dedicated to visiting family in Odense, Denmark. Normally it’s a simple pair of short train rides—Malmö to Copenhagen, then Copenhagen to Odense—but fate added some adventure when a broken rail line forced us into a complicated multi-hop route. Even with the delays and an extra two hours spent in transit, we eventually reached Odense, where Piku reunited with her cousins, making the whole effort completely worthwhile. The day became a heartwarming pause in our travels, filled with family time and the comforting familiarity of shared stories.

Day 5 — Malmö Moments, Bridges, and a University Town

Lund University

Our final morning began in Malmö’s Central Square, where we admired the historic church, the fountain, and the cheerful civic bustle around the old town. Lunch, unfortunately, was a letdown at Green Chilli—easily the worst “Indian” food we’ve had. In desperate need of redemption, we walked to Urban Turban, which thankfully revived both our spirits and appetite. From there we visited Hollandia Bakery—elegant, refined, and known as one of Malmö’s finest—where we treated ourselves to cake and coffee for my birthday Fika. Later, we drove out to the Öresund Bridge viewpoint to admire and photograph the iconic engineering marvel that stretches toward Denmark, part bridge and part underwater tunnel.

Our last stop of the trip was Lund, a beautiful university town with medieval churches, leafy squares, and charming academic buildings. Although many shops were closed for Midsummer, the historic cathedral, old university structures, fountains, and green parks gave us plenty to explore. It felt like stepping into a centuries-old campus still alive with stories, and it was easily one of the prettiest university towns I’ve visited. 

Good bye Sweden

Birthday Fika