With a population of nearly one million residents, Stockholm is Sweden’s most populous city.

It’s also the country’s capital and is located on a particularly beautiful stretch of Baltic coastline that’s dotted with a myriad of islands.

The city is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, like the Royal Palace and Parliament, but it also features contemporary art, food, and music scenes that make it a popular destination with the young, hip, and bohemian crowds.

Outdoor recreation activities abound too, and there are plenty of guided tour options that explore the surrounding countryside that are perfect for those looking to put distance between themselves and the city’s hustle and bustle.

1. Christmas Spirit Walking Tour

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Spending Christmas in Stockholm is a wonderful experience for those with flexible holiday schedules.

In November, the city comes alive with lights, decorations, and hearty carolers spreading holiday cheer.

On this Christmas spirit walking tour, guests and their guide will celebrate the season by exploring the Old Town area in the late afternoon as the sky begins to fade over the city.

Participants will learn about Swedish Christmas traditions and sample mulled wine and gingerbread cookies.

Tours begin in the late afternoon, last about 75 minutes, and require ample amounts of moderately paced walking.

Dress warmly and wear waterproof shoes if you have them.

2. Royal Bridges and Canal Cruise

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Surrounded by canals, inlets, islands, and historic bridges, Stockholm is a city that’s worth exploring from the water.

On this cruise, guests will board their tour boat by the Royal Palace in Old Town, after which they’ll depart on an exploration of the archipelago around the city center.

While onboard, guests will have panoramic views of some of Stockholm’s premier attractions, like the vibrant buildings of Gamla Stan, the Royal Game Park on Djurgarden Island, and the chic streets of the Södermalm.

Boats include free Wi-Fi, clean bathrooms, and a café.

Audio guides in more than a dozen languages are available as well.

3. Stockholm Vegetarian, Vegan, and Raw Food Tour

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The Södermalm neighborhood is one of the city’s trendiest culinary destinations.

Featuring an impressive mix of traditional and contemporary restaurants and cafes, it has become an epicenter for raw, vegan, and vegetarian eaters who prefer not to cook at home.

Along with their guide, tour participants will experience some of the best food the city has to offer while learning about culture and history and rubbing elbows with locals and international visitors.

Restaurants feature a number of influences, including Asian, Middle Eastern, and of course, Scandinavian.

Tours last four hours, meet at a central location, and begin late morning.

4. Stockholm Highlights 2-Hour Segway Tour

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Touring a historic city like Stockholm on a newfangled contraption like a Segway is a great way to see the sights and experience the great outdoors without exerting too much physical effort.

After meeting their guide and getting an idea of how to use their Segway safely, tour guests will make their way past many prominent attractions, like the Royal Theater, Opera House, and Parliament building.

Participants will benefit from their leader’s insights along the way. For first-time visitors, it’s a great opportunity to get familiarized with the city’s layout and discover things you’d like to explore on your own later.

5. ABBA the Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket

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Unabashed dancing queens who find themselves in Stockholm are always ecstatic to discover that there’s an entire museum dedicated to ‘70s Swedish super-band ABBA.

With these valuable skip-the-line tickets, guests will waltz past the crowds on busy days and revel in the museum’s collection of ABBA-related paraphernalia.

Items on display include gold records, flashy original costumes, recording equipment, and musical instruments actually used by the band.

Guests are free to show themselves around at their own pace. With so much to see and do, there’s really no need to waste money hiring an expensive and overly talkative tour guide.

6. Best Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour

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At seven hours long, this best pub and nightlife tour is more a marathon than it is a traditional crawl.

Stockholm boasts a fun nightlife that features a nice mix of locals and tourists, and pub crawls are great ways to let loose and distance yourself from the older crowd.

Stops include three bars and one club, and guests will be accompanied by two guides for the entire evening.

Happy partiers enjoy complimentary shots or cocktails at each location, free admission, and discounts on beer, wine, and hard cider.

It’s a good idea to eat before the tour begins to make sure you last the entire seven hours.

7. Red Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Boat

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Whether by boat, bus, or both, hop-on-hop-off tours are great options for those intent on seeing Stockholm’s sights without spending an arm and a leg.

The buses and boats operate on a regular schedule through the city’s varied neighborhoods, and along its islands and canals as well.

Tickets are good from 24 to 72 hours, depending on which package you choose. The price includes complimentary audio guides available in ten different languages.

Hop-on-hop-off tours allow guests to experience iconic attractions like the Royal Palace, City Hall, and several trendy dining and shopping districts at their own pace.

8. Stockholm Archipelago 1-Hour Tour by RIB Speed Boat

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Regardless if you’re in the tropics or a northern locale like Sweden, rigid inflatable speedboats (RIBs) are just downright fun ways to see lots of amazing scenery in a relatively short time.

After meeting their skipper at a convenient location on the Blaiseholmen Peninsula, guests will don their lifejackets and waterproof gear and set out on an exhilarating cruise of the coastline around the city.

Highlights include Stockholm National Museum, Gröna Lund Amusement Park, and lots of views of undeveloped marshes and islands.

Due to the bumpy nature of speedboats, tours are recommended only for those of at least moderate fitness.

9. Old Town Walking Tour

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Following in the footsteps of Stockholm’s founders is easier than you might think for those who take advantage of this Old Town walking tour.

Old Town is not only full of historically significant attractions, but it’s very pedestrian-friendly too.

That means it’s a fun way to spend 90 minutes for those who prefer walking to being crammed onto a stuffy tour bus.

Tour attractions include the majestic Riddarholmen Church, the statue of Stockholm’s founder, and amazing views of Lake Mälaren.

Tours meet in a central location and are a great way for newly arrived guests to get an overview of the city’s attractions in under two hours.

10. Nordic Food Walk

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The Östermalmshallen is Stockholm’s oldest central market, and it’s also the starting point of this four-hour Nordic food walk tour.

Guests and their knowledgeable local guide will explore a number of centrally located neighborhoods, learn about Swedish culture, and sample lots of traditional and contemporary food favorites.

Along the way, there will be ample time to meet vendors, ask questions, or just take a quick break and enjoy the sights.

When it’s all said and done, participants will have sampled everything from fresh seafood and homemade chocolate to fresh baked goods and cured meat.

Tours are offered twice daily, in the morning and in the afternoon.

11. Guided Vasa Museum Tour

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Despite spending more than 300 years at the bottom of the sea, the Vasa is a surprisingly well-preserved ship that now rests in a museum in Stockholm.

The ship was originally built in the early 17th century and gives visitors interested in nautical history a unique glimpse into the area’s maritime past.

The Vasa Museum is one of Stockholm’s most popular attractions. On this guided tour, guests will spend two hours exploring it from top to bottom.

The museum features interactive exhibits and fascinating historical accounts and is a perennial favorite of families traveling with little ones.

Tours are offered in the morning and afternoon.

12. Snowshoeing in the Wild

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Few outdoor winter activities are more exhilarating and calorie burning than snowshoeing.

Sweden’s winter landscapes are nothing short of awe-inspiring, and it doesn’t take long after leaving the city to find yourself immersed in large tracts of snowy landscape.

Before setting out, guests will get a crash-course in proper snowshoeing techniques, after which they’ll head into the wild.

Tour activities include learning about local history and culture, identifying animal tracks in the snow, and enjoying hot drinks and a traditional lunch by a bonfire.

Round-trip transportation to and from Stockholm and all the gear you’ll need are included.

13. Subway Art Guided Tour

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Stockholm is home to one of Scandinavia’s hottest and trendiest underground art scenes; in this case, the ‘underground’ refers to the subway system.

Graffiti on subway walls isn’t anything new; in fact, you’ll find it all over the world.

But in Stockholm, it’s more art than it is vandalism. This guided subway art tour is a great way to experience it up close and personally.

After rendezvousing with their friendly guide, guests will descend into the subway system to learn about and marvel at amazing works of art, some of which date back to the ‘50s.

Tours last two hours and are available in multiple start times.

14. Private Photography Class and Tour

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Especially for those who’ve never visited, Stockholm features an array of photo-worthy attractions.

Though it’s possible to see and photograph them on your own, for amateur shutterbugs looking to make the most of their time, a guided photography class and tour may be just the ticket.

The city is full of fantastic architecture, prominent historic attractions, and stunning natural beauty that makes for great shots.

This private, small-group tour is run by an experienced photographer who will impart his knowledge of camera techniques, composition, and lighting to ensure that each guest captures their intended images in the best possible way.

15. 5-Hour Medieval Churches Tour

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Experiencing Sweden’s preserved medieval churches is a great way to get out of the city for a few hours and delve into the area’s religious past.

On this guided medieval churches tour, guests and their experienced local guide will explore a number of preserved churches in the hinterlands around the city that date back beyond the 12th century.

Churches include old-world craftsmanship like ornate wood carvings, masonry, and stained glass. Many are in near original condition.

Tours include round-trip transportation to and from your accommodation in Stockholm. Though there will be time to stop for lunch and refreshments, those are not included in the tour’s cost.