Stockholm: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: do not exchange physical Swedish kronor cash because Stockholm is almost 100 percent card-only ("Kontantfri"), tap your contactless bank card directly on SL metro gates and commuter boats, pack flat shoes with grip for Gamla Stan's medieval cobbles, and book Vasa Museum and Fotografiska slots online during summer.

How Stockholm's central islands fit together

One third of Stockholm's city area is water and another third is green parkland. The historic island of Gamla Stan (Stadsholmen) sits right in the middle of the current where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic. Immediately north of Gamla Stan across short bridges lies the modern commercial core of Norrmalm (home to Stockholm Centralstation and Sergels Torg) and affluent Östermalm to its east. Directly east of Östermalm across a narrow bridge sits the royal green museum island of Djurgården, while south of Gamla Stan across the Slussen lock rises the large cliff-edged island of Södermalm.

Sweden's "Kontantfri" (cash-free) reality

Sweden uses the Swedish krona (SEK), not the euro, and is the most cashless society in Europe. Across Stockholm you will see signs reading Vi är kontantfria or Endast kort ("Card only"). Bakeries, market stalls, museums, Arlanda airport trains, SL buses and ferries do not accept banknotes or coins at all. A contactless Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card (or Apple Pay and Google Pay) covers every single expense.

Queue tickets, Systembolaget and tipping

Swedes value orderly personal space; in pharmacies, bakeries and service counters, always pull a small numbered paper slip (könummer) from the dispenser by the door and wait for your number. Full-strength wine, beer and spirits for takeaway are sold exclusively at state-run Systembolaget shops (which close on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday), though restaurants and bars serve alcohol daily. Service is included in all bills; rounding up 5 percent at dinner is appreciated but optional. More in our Stockholm etiquette guide.