Stockholm Sweden
Sweden

454 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

MSC Cruises (103 Cruises)

msc magnifica cruise ship

MSC Magnifica

3223 Passengers
95128 tons
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msc splendida cruise ship

MSC Splendida

4363 Passengers
137936 tons
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Oceania Cruises (39 Cruises)

Ponant (22 Cruises)

Princess Cruises (79 Cruises)

Cruise PCL Princess Caribbean ship

Caribbean Princess

3140 Passengers
112894 tons
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Cruise PCL Princess Regal Ship

Regal Princess

3560 Passengers
142299 tons
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (24 Cruises)

Seabourn Cruise Line (20 Cruises)

Seabourn Quest.

Seabourn Quest

32000 tons
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Silversea Cruises (21 Cruises)

Viking Ocean Cruises (76 Cruises)

Viking Saturn.

Viking Saturn

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Stockholm, Sweden | Cruise Port & Travel Guide

Fourteen islands, fifty-seven bridges and a capital that seems to float between lake and Baltic Sea: Stockholm is best approached by water rather than by any road. Arriving in the early morning, through the archipelago and its thousands of islets dotted with red cottages, already ranks among the great memories of a Nordic cruise. Depending on the ship, docking is at Stadsgården, facing the old town, or at Frihamnen, a few kilometres northeast of the centre.

Gamla Stan, the medieval core

Founded in the thirteenth century, Gamla Stan packs onto its island a maze of ochre and saffron lanes that converge on Stortorget, the square with narrow, colourful façades that is home to the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize Museum. The Royal Palace, one of the largest in Europe with some 600 rooms, dominates the north shore; the changing of the guard takes place there with great fanfare at midday, plumed helmets and brass gleaming in the sun. In the neighbouring cathedral, a carved wooden Saint George has been slaying his dragon since 1489. And the curious will seek out Mårten Trotzigs gränd, a 90-centimetre-wide alley, the narrowest in the capital.

Djurgården, the island of museums

A ferry links the medieval shore in a few minutes to Djurgården, a former royal hunting ground that has become the island of museums. The Vasa draws crowds there for a simple reason: this warship, which sank in 1628 on its maiden voyage and was raised in 1961, remains 98 percent preserved, mast to mast, in striking half-light. A few steps away, Skansen has gathered farms, churches and workshops from all over Sweden since 1891, with moose and bears in its animal park, while the ABBA museum gets nostalgic fans singing. A whole day would not exhaust this single green island, where Stockholmers also come simply to picnic under the oaks.

On the water and along the quays

Stockholm is best understood from its bridges and landings. A river shuttle is all it takes to cross from one shore to the other while the dark-brick City Hall glides by, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every December; its tower, crowned with the kingdom's three golden crowns, can be climbed for a full panorama over the islands. The Söder Mälarstrand quays and the Södermalm cliff, just above Stadsgården, offer other viewpoints, with cafés and vintage shops in the bohemian streets of SoFo as a bonus.

Planning your day

From Stadsgården, the old core can be reached on foot in about twenty minutes along the water, a pleasant walk in itself. From Frihamnen, buses and taxis reach the centre in a quarter of an hour; the island of museums then lies halfway, which suggests starting with the Vasa before the crowds. A well-planned day lets you take in a major museum, the medieval lanes and a fika break, that Swedish institution of coffee with a cinnamon bun, without rushing or sacrificing the pleasure.

Getting around

FeatureGood to know
Stadsgården20 to 30 minutes on foot from Gamla Stan
Frihamnen4 to 5 km from the centre; bus 76 and taxis
Vasa MuseumOn Djurgården; go early to avoid the crowds
City ferriesFrequent connections between the old town and the island of museums
Local breakFika: coffee and cinnamon bun, everywhere in town

The floating capital

On departure, the ship retraces its route through the archipelago and its some 30,000 islands and skerries, and each islet seems to wave one last goodbye. Few major capitals are this quiet: here, the water soothes everything it reflects, even hurried passers-by. As they sail away, many are already listing what they will see on their next visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Stadsgården, facing the old town, or at Frihamnen, four or five kilometres northeast of the centre, depending on the ship. From Stadsgården, Gamla Stan is a 20 to 30 minute walk along the water. From Frihamnen, bus 76 and taxis reach the centre in about fifteen minutes.
From Stadsgården, yes: the walk to the old town follows the water and is worth doing for its own sake. From Frihamnen, no — you need the bus or a taxi, but the museum island lies halfway, which argues for starting with the Vasa.
Because it is the busiest museum in the city. The Vasa is a warship that sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage and was raised in 1961; she survives 98 per cent intact, mast and all, in a striking half-light. Arriving at opening time avoids the crush.
A web of ochre and saffron lanes converging on Stortorget, the square of narrow coloured façades that houses the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Museum. The Royal Palace, one of Europe’s largest with some 600 rooms, dominates the north side. In the cathedral nearby, a carved wooden Saint George has been slaying his dragon since 1489.
Yes, around midday: plumed helmets, brass and a full band in front of one of Europe’s largest palaces. It is the liveliest moment in Gamla Stan, and it is worth planning for rather than stumbling upon.
Far more than one day allows. A former royal hunting ground, it holds the Vasa Museum, Skansen — which since 1891 has gathered farms, churches and workshops from across Sweden, with moose and bears in its animal park — and the ABBA Museum. A ferry gets you there from the old town in minutes.
One major museum, the medieval lanes and a fika: that is what a well-run day allows without rushing. The Vasa first, early, then Gamla Stan, then coffee with a cinnamon bun. Trying to do everything is the surest way to see nothing.
Yes. The dark brick city hall, where the Nobel banquet is held each December, carries a tower crowned with the kingdom’s three golden crowns; the climb delivers a full panorama over the islands.
On the Södermalm cliff just above Stadsgården, and along the Söder Mälarstrand quays. The district adds cafés and vintage shops in the bohemian SoFo streets, which makes it the best option for passengers landing at Stadsgården with limited time.
Mårten Trotzigs gränd, in Gamla Stan: 90 centimetres wide. It is a curiosity you have to hunt for between two lanes, and it delights children as much as photographers.