Sweden marries medieval lanes and cutting-edge design with forests, islands, and sea. Founded in the 13th century, Stockholm grew into a Baltic powerhouse—its Old Town (Gamla Stan) still laced with cobbles and gabled facades. Gothenburg, a 17th‑century port planned by Dutch engineers, looks west to the North Sea and the granite isles of the Bohuslän archipelago.

Expect royal palaces, the peerless Vasa warship, and café tables piled with kanelbullar (cinnamon buns). Add ferries threading between car‑free islands, seafood lifted straight from cold waters, and a design sensibility that keeps even tram stops handsome. History lovers can trace Viking runestones; food travelers can graze markets and try gravlax, meatballs, and Västerbotten cheese pie.

Practical notes: cards are accepted everywhere, tap your way around on modern transit, and English is widely spoken. Dress in layers—weather flips fast by the water. For trains and flights, book early to save; for restaurants like Sturehof (Stockholm) or SK Mat & Människor (Gothenburg), reservations are wise.

Stockholm

Spread across 14 islands, Stockholm is equal parts royal pomp and waterfront serenity. Ferries act like buses, museums live on their own green island (Djurgården), and fika—coffee with something sweet—is a daily ritual. Start in Gamla Stan for storybook streets, then branch to Södermalm for viewpoints and indie design.

Top sights include the Royal Palace, Stortorget square, the Nobel Prize Museum, and the world‑class Vasa Museum with its 17th‑century ship raised from the seabed. For atmosphere, stroll Strandvägen’s waterfront, then cross to Djurgården’s gardens.

• Stay in Stockholm: Browse stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Favorites: Grand Hôtel Stockholm (historic waterfront icon), Generator Stockholm (stylish budget near Central Station), Scandic Skärholmen (value with easy transit).
• Getting to Stockholm: Search flights to ARN/BMA on Omio (typical intra‑Europe fares $60–$200; intercontinental often $400–$900). Trains from Copenhagen (~5 hrs) or Oslo (~5.5–6 hrs) via Omio Trains.

Day 1 — Arrival, Gamla Stan, and a cozy Swedish welcome

Afternoon: Arrive and transfer to your hotel. If you prefer a pre‑booked ride, consider a private airport transfer: Stockholm- Private transfer to/from Arlanda Airport and city. Drop bags, then wander Gamla Stan. Pop into Storkyrkan (the medieval cathedral) and pause in Stortorget square for a first look at the colorful townhouses.

Evening: Ease into Sweden with fika at Vete‑Katten (1928 patisserie known for cardamom buns) or Drop Coffee in Södermalm for third‑wave beans. For dinner, try Pelikan (classic beer hall serving Swedish meatballs with lingonberry and pressgurka), or Sturehof for seafood platters and buttery toast Skagen. Nightcap at Pharmarium, a cocktail bar in an old apothecary overlooking Stortorget.

Day 2 — Djurgården museums, Vasa, and a Swedish food walk

Morning: Stroll leafy Djurgården. Grab breakfast at Rosendals Trädgård’s garden café (seasonal greenhouse bakes) or Café Saturnus (legendary, plate‑sized kanelbullar). Walk the canal path and keep an eye out for royal deer.

Late Morning: Dive into Sweden’s most astonishing artifact with a guided visit to the Vasa Museum: Vasa Museum Guided Tour, Including Ticket & Guide. You’ll learn how a top‑heavy warship sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and how it was raised 333 years later.

Afternoon: Eat your way through Swedish culinary history on a guided tasting: The Nordic Food Walk Stockholm. Expect bites like Västerbotten cheese, gravlax, game sausages, and fika treats—often with a stop in Östermalms Saluhall, the city’s handsome food hall.

Evening: Book dinner at Hantverket (seasonal Swedish plates designed for sharing) or Lilla Ego (creative neighborhood bistro—plan ahead). If you’re in the mood for music history earlier in the day, the ABBA Museum adds pure fun between bites.

Day 3 — Archipelago cruise, Södermalm views, and gallery glow

Morning: Coffee at Fabrique (sourdough bakery) then make for Nybroviken quay. Board a narrated boat into the islet‑spotted Stockholm Archipelago: Stockholm Archipelago Cruise with Guide (2.5–3 hrs).

Afternoon: Tram or ferry to Fotografiska for cutting‑edge photography exhibitions and stellar harbor views from the café. Explore Södermalm: Mosebacke Terrace for panoramas, then Götgatan’s boutiques.

Evening: Dinner at Sturehof (brasserie energy, oysters, fish) or Tradition (hearty classics like pytt i panna). Cap the night at TAK rooftop for skyline views or a calmer wine bar like Tyge & Sessil near Stureplan.

Day 4 — Full‑day Viking history and the old university town of Uppsala

Lift the lid on rune stones, burial mounds, and Sweden’s earliest towns on this immersive countryside day out: Viking History, Runes & Countryside 9h Tour to Sigtuna & Uppsala. You’ll visit Sigtuna—Sweden’s oldest town—walk Uppsala’s cathedral precinct, and decode runic inscriptions with a guide before returning to the city for a relaxed evening meal.

After returning, keep dinner easy: Blå Dörren (cozy tavern near Slussen) or Fem Små Hus (vaulted rooms in Gamla Stan) for a candlelit finale in the capital.

Gothenburg

Sweden’s second city charms quietly: canals from its Dutch founders, trams rattling past brick warehouses, and a seafood scene famed across Scandinavia. Locals meet in Haga’s wooden houses for coffee and enormous “Haga‑style” cinnamon buns.

The coast is the star—car‑free southern archipelago islands like Styrsö and Vrångö are just a tram‑and‑ferry ride away, all granite outcrops, sea air, and red‑painted cottages. In town, expect inventive New Nordic cooking, relaxed wine bars, and parks that feel like living rooms.

• Stay in Gothenburg: Compare options on VRBO or Hotels.com. Consider central stays near Avenyn for nightlife, or Haga/Linné for cafés and indie shops.
• Getting from Stockholm to Gothenburg: Take a morning high‑speed SJ train (~3–3.5 hrs, often $20–$60 if booked early) via Omio Trains. Buses take ~6 hrs via Omio Buses.

Day 5 — Train west, Haga lanes, and seafood supper

Morning: Depart Stockholm by train after breakfast; watch forests and lakes blur into west‑coast skerries (~3–3.5 hrs on Omio Trains). Check in and stretch your legs.

Afternoon: Explore Haga’s 19th‑century wooden houses. Coffee at Café Husaren (famous for giant buns) or da Matteo (home‑roasted beans). Browse Haga Nygata’s boutiques for wool, ceramics, and Swedish outdoor gear.

Evening: Celebrate Gothenburg’s seafood. Book Fiskekrogen (classic seafood, shellfish towers) or Sjömagasinet (waterside fine dining). For something intimate with natural wines, try Natur; for Michelin‑starred Nordic cuisine, SK Mat & Människor focuses on seasonal West Sweden produce.

Day 6 — Southern archipelago day: ferries, flats, and salty air

Morning: Tram to Saltholmen, then hop the public ferry to Styrsö (no cars, just bikes and seabreeze). Wander to Stora Rös hill for views of the skerries. Coffee and cake at Öbergska’s garden café in Styrsö Bratten (seasonal).

Afternoon: Continue to Vrångö for beaches and birdlife. Pack a simple picnic from a city bakery or grab fresh shrimp sandwiches (räkmacka) at a quayside café. Swim if it’s warm—or simply rock‑hop and watch sailboats slip past.

Evening: Back in town, casual dinner at Kafé Magasinet (greenhouse‑like courtyard, pizza and salads) or Toso (pan‑Asian plates that play well with groups). Finish with a drink at Bar La Lune (small, excellent wine bar) or enjoy canal views along Kungsportsplatsen.

Day 7 — Art, gardens, and departure

Morning: Pick one before departure: Göteborgs Konstmuseum (Nordic masters and Munch), the iron‑and‑glass Palmhuset in Trädgårdsföreningen park, or Universeum (great if traveling with kids). Snack on a final räkmacka or cinnamon bun for the road.

Afternoon: Depart Gothenburg by train or flight—book via Omio (flights) or Omio Trains. If you’re ferry‑bound, check Omio Ferries for regional sailings along the coast or to Denmark.

Optional Stockholm experiences if you have extra time

• Open‑air history at Skansen, then a canal‑side lunch at a Djurgården café.
• Subway art safari: hit T‑Centralen (blue vines), Kungsträdgården (ruins), and Solna Centrum (emerald forest and crimson sky).
• Hop‑on, hop‑off bus & boat if you prefer minimal walking: Stockholm Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Boat.

Where to eat and drink — a few standouts to bookmark:

• Stockholm: Sturehof (seafood brasserie), Pelikan (Swedish classics), Hantverket (inventive small plates), Rosendals Trädgård (garden café), Vete‑Katten (heritage bakery), Fotografiska Restaurant (seasonal, panoramic views).
• Gothenburg: Fiskekrogen and Sjömagasinet (seafood institutions), SK Mat & Människor and Bhoga (Michelin), Natur (natural wine + seasonal dishes), da Matteo (coffee and sourdough), Café Husaren (giant buns).

One more great archipelago option if you love boats and classic craftsmanship: Stockholm Archipelago Tour by Classic Wooden Boat with Guide (1h45m) for a shorter, stylish glide.

In a week you’ll have sampled the best of Sweden: Stockholm’s island‑laced elegance and Gothenburg’s sea‑salted spirit. With museums, markets, archipelago ferries, and unforgettable meals, this itinerary balances culture and coast beautifully.