Stockholm with kids
Complete guide + tips, costs and what to do
Stockholm with kids is one of those destinations you might not immediately put at the top of your list — but trust me: this city is surprisingly fun with kids. During our city trip, we discovered a perfect mix of culture, nature, and family-friendly activities. Think impressive museums, playing among Scandinavian houses, boat trips past thousands of little islands, and of course… fika (lots of fika 😉).
We visited Stockholm with our children aged 5 and 7, and it went surprisingly smoothly. The city is compact, clean, and very child-friendly. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or older kids, there’s plenty to do and everything feels safe and relaxed. In my opinion, Stockholm is perfect for a short city trip with the family.
What to do in Stockholm with kids
Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is without a doubt one of the most impressive museums in Stockholm — even with kids. This museum houses the Vasa, a gigantic warship that sank in 1628… after just 20 minutes of sailing. That’s exactly why the ship is so incredibly well preserved. After no less than 333 years on the seabed, it was brought to the surface and restored to 98% using original materials. And you can see it: it’s enormous, dark, impressive, and truly a wow moment as soon as you walk in.
Luckily, there’s also plenty for kids to do. There are scavenger hunts and interactive elements, so it doesn’t feel like a “boring museum.” Our kids were happily entertained here for hours, even though there’s basically just one ship — that says it all. The museum is easy to navigate with a stroller, and there’s a restaurant where you can enjoy a nice lunch.
We paid €36 for entry for the four of us and €27 for lunch.
👉 Age: from around 3 years old up to teenagers
Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is the old town of Stockholm and honestly: this is mainly fun for yourself… but with a bit of smart planning, it can definitely be enjoyable for kids too! The best thing to do here is simply wander around. Narrow streets, colorful houses, little shops — it feels a bit like walking through a fairytale. Let kids pick out a souvenir or give them a small “mission” (like finding the narrowest street in the city: Mårten Trotzigs gränd). Be sure to walk past:
- Storkyrkan (the cathedral)
- Stortorget (the most beautiful square in Stockholm)
- The Royal Palace of Stockholm
You can also go inside that palace. It’s partly a museum and quite interesting for older children (think crown jewels and grand halls), but don’t expect an interactive kids’ experience. More info can be found on the palace website.
Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace
At the Royal Palace, you can watch the Changing of the Guard daily, and our kids found it surprisingly fun. Soldiers, music, ceremony — it’s quite impressive. We arrived 15 minutes early and it was already crowded, so make sure to come on time if you want a good spot. Children are often allowed to stand at the front (luckily, ours were). The Changing of the Guard takes place around 12:15 PM on weekdays and Saturdays, and around 1:15 PM on Sundays and public holidays, and lasts about 40 minutes. Always check the website in advance for the exact times.
Nobel Prize Museum
This museum wasn’t on our plan at all… but turned out to be an unexpectedly fun stop. We ended up here because it started raining and we wanted to warm up. The museum is located in a beautiful historic building in Gamla Stan and tells the story of the Nobel Prize and its winners. For children, there’s a scavenger hunt and a small kids’ corner, so they can stay engaged. And honestly: when they received a chocolate Nobel Prize at the end, they were completely sold. We paid €30 for entry for the four of us.
Boat tour through the Stockholm archipelago
If you’re visiting Stockholm, you really shouldn’t skip the surrounding nature. The city is located in the middle of a vast archipelago with around 30,000 islands — and you truly appreciate it from the water. We did a boat tour of about 2 hours in the evening, and it was a real highlight. Small islands with red wooden houses, tranquility, water… and a beautiful sunset as a bonus. What also makes it great with kids: they can just sit, draw, or have a snack while you enjoy the view. We booked this tour via GetYourGuide.
Junibacken
This was truly the highlight for our youngest. Junibacken is a children’s museum entirely based on the stories of Astrid Lindgren (yes, the author of Pippi Longstocking). Everything here revolves around imagination, play, and experience. The biggest hit? The Pippi show. It’s in Swedish, but kids really don’t mind. There’s also a “story train” (a ride through fairytale worlds), play areas based on the books, and spaces for building and exploring. Perfect for kids aged 2 to 6, but older children will find it surprisingly fun too.
👉 Tip: Book your tickets and the show in advance. We originally wanted to go on Friday, but everything was already sold out.
Skansen
Skansen is one of those places where you can easily spend half a day (or longer). It’s a combination of an open-air museum, zoo, and park. You’ll find Scandinavian animals (such as moose and bears), a petting zoo for younger kids, old Swedish houses and villages, playgrounds, and small museums (for example about the Baltic Sea). For our daughter, this was truly the highlight of the trip. It feels spacious, green, and relaxed — perfect after a few days in the city.
Other fun things to do in Stockholm with kids
If you have more time (or better weather than we did 😅), these are also great options:
- Playgrounds: Stockholm is full of them. Think of Vasaparken, Humlegården, and Bryggartäppan
- Gröna Lund: an amusement park in the middle of the city
- Tekniska Museet: a fun science museum
- Monteliusvägen: beautiful views over the city
- Tom Tits Experiment: a large interactive science museum just outside Stockholm
Where to stay in Stockholm with kids
Stockholm isn’t a cheap city, so finding a nice and affordable place to stay can be quite a challenge. We stayed at Generator Stockholm, and it’s highly recommended if you’re traveling with kids. It’s centrally located, close to the main train station, and you can simply book a family room with a private bathroom — no hassle with shared spaces. What I especially liked: proper beds. In Scandinavia, you often see narrow fold-out beds for kids, but here we had a sturdy bunk bed — so much more comfortable. There’s also a cozy common area downstairs with games like table football and a pinball machine, which makes it fun for the kids too.
Other great options are STF Skeppsholmen, which is beautifully and quietly located near many museums, and Downtown Camper by Scandic, which is a bit more luxurious and really geared toward families.
Where to eat in Stockholm with kids
Eating in Stockholm is a treat, but honestly: it’s not cheap. Luckily, there are plenty of nice places where you can enjoy a relaxed meal with kids — from quick burgers to cozy restaurants and of course the Swedish fika moments.
Yushi
Yushi is one of those small, hidden spots you might easily walk past — but that you actually want to find. It’s a cozy place with a relaxed vibe and, most importantly, really great food. They serve sushi and other Asian dishes, all fresh and full of flavor. This isn’t a place with high chairs or an extensive kids’ menu, so it works best with slightly older children who are happy to eat along.
Restaurant Michelangelo
This restaurant feels a bit like a “fancier night out,” but without being uncomfortable with kids. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and classically Italian — and despite its somewhat upscale look, it’s surprisingly accessible. We shared a pizza, bruschetta, and garlic bread (the latter was especially great), and finished with desserts for everyone. Not a budget spot, but definitely a lovely place to sit down, relax, and enjoy a good meal.
Flippin’ Burgers
Sometimes you just want something easy — and that’s where Flippin’ Burgers is perfect. Think: American diner vibes, great burgers, fries, and a relaxed atmosphere. For kids, this is always a hit (fries + burger = success 😉), and honestly: it’s just really good for you too. A bit more fun and better than a standard fast food chain.
Fika: the Swedish break
In Sweden, everything revolves around “fika”: a coffee break with something sweet on the side. And trust me — this is truly one of the nicest things to do with kids in Stockholm. Sit down for a bit, warm up (or cool off), enjoy a treat… and then head out again. Perfect for the pace of a city trip with kids.
Café Chokladkoppen
This small café in Gamla Stan is one of those places where you instantly feel like you’ve found a good spot. It’s small, a bit cozy-chaotic, but that’s exactly what makes it so charming. The menu isn’t large, but what they offer is really good. We went for tea and cake — and the nut cake was honestly one of the best we had during the trip.
More great fika spots
If you have time for more coffee breaks (highly recommended 😉), these are also great places to keep in mind: Café Pascal, Green Rabbit, Ritorno Bageri & Butik, Vete-Katten Kungsgatan, Fabrique, Sundbergs Konditori, and Flickorna Helin.
Sweet Burger Stockholm
Still have room for dessert (or just craving something sweet in between)? Then Sweet Burger is a fun stop. Think: over-the-top desserts, milkshakes, and sweet treats that kids will instantly love.
Practical tips for Stockholm with kids
Best travel time
Okay, let’s start with what we learned: don’t go during Easter 😅 We were really unlucky with the weather — cold, wet, and grey. The best time for a city trip to Stockholm with kids is from May through August. Temperatures are pleasant, the days are long (very helpful with kids!), and you can fully enjoy playgrounds and the water. Looking for something special? Winter also has its charm. Think Christmas markets, lights, and even snow. But: it’s cold and the days are short, so it has to suit you.
How long should you stay?
We stayed in Stockholm for 4 nights, and for us that was ideal. It gives you enough time to see the highlights, but also to take things slow. With kids, you often don’t want to rush around all day, so that extra time really helps.
Local transportation
We actually used Uber for almost everything — and it worked surprisingly well. Everything is fairly close together, and most of our rides only took 5 to 10 minutes. Price-wise, it wasn’t too bad either: expect to pay around €1 per minute. Important to know: Sweden is strict when it comes to child car seats. Not every Uber driver will take you without one, especially with younger children.
Public transport in Stockholm is also excellent. The metro (worth it just for the “art stations”), buses, trams, and ferries (also fun as an activity!) are all very well organized. You can often get a day or multi-day pass, which is convenient if you plan to get around a lot.
Is Stockholm buggy-friendly?
Yes — absolutely. Stockholm is a very easy city to navigate with kids. There are wide sidewalks and elevators at many metro stations. Even with a stroller, you’ll get around just fine here.
Good to know when visiting with children
A few more things that can make a difference during your trip:
- Playgrounds are everywhere — often free and surprisingly fun
- Museums are very child-friendly — often with scavenger hunts and play areas
- Meal times are flexible — kids are welcome everywhere
- Tap water is drinkable — bring a bottle and save money
- Supermarkets are convenient — for snacks, breakfast, or a quick lunch
- Fika = a lifesaver — take a break, grab coffee and something sweet (and then continue 😉)
What does a city trip to Stockholm with kids cost?
Our biggest expenses actually started before departure. We paid €830 for flights, including luggage, parking at Schiphol, and some snacks at the airport. For accommodation, we spent around €600 for four nights, which is a very reasonable price for Stockholm.
During the trip itself, we mainly spent money on food, activities, and transport. In total, we spent about €450 on food and drinks. Eating out in Stockholm isn’t cheap, but the quality is great and it really is part of the experience. For activities — such as museums, Junibacken, Skansen, and the archipelago boat tour — we spent around €300. That’s quite a bit, but these were also the highlights of the trip.
Transport was actually more affordable than expected. We used Uber for everything and spent about €190 in total. On top of that, we spent another €100 to €150 on souvenirs, snacks, and small extras along the way.
All in all, we ended up spending around €2,500 for four days in Stockholm with our family. That definitely doesn’t make Stockholm a budget destination, but it’s not outrageously expensive either. It’s comparable to cities like London or Paris — but it often feels calmer, cleaner, and more relaxed. And that, especially with kids, makes it well worth the money.
Book your trip to Stockholm with kids
Via Booking.com, you can easily find family-friendly accommodations in Stockholm, and the cheapest flights can be found on Skyscanner. For fun excursions, boat tours, and activities, you can check out GetYourGuide.com.
Still exploring options for a family-friendly holiday? On our homepage, you’ll find an overview of popular destinations for families.
