Discover Sweden, a Scandinavian gem blending stunning natural beauty with modern design and rich Viking heritage. From the cosmopolitan streets of Stockholm to the Northern Lights in Lapland, Sweden offers diverse experiences year-round.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Uppsala
Uppsala is Sweden's old ecclesiastical and university city, built around the tallest cathedral in Scandinavia and one of Europe's oldest universities. It works as a day trip because the historic core is compact and walkable from the train station, mixing a working cathedral, a university with 500 years of history, and Viking-age burial mounds on its edge. The pace is unhurried compared to Stockholm - more a town of students and clergy than tourists.
Highlights: Uppsala Cathedral -- Scandinavia largest Gothic church · Uppsala University Botanical Garden (Linnaeus Garden) · Gamla Uppsala burial mounds -- Viking royal burial site · Gustavianum University Museum
Vaxholm
Vaxholm is the gateway town to the Stockholm archipelago, reached by ferry across open water rather than by train. Its identity is built around the 16th-century fortress guarding the main shipping channel into Stockholm, and a small wooden-house harbour town that still functions as a working boat port. The appeal is the ferry crossing itself and the archipelago setting as much as any single sight.
Highlights: Vaxholm Fortress -- 16th-century sea fortress museum · Colourful wooden village centre · Local fresh shrimp lunch · Stockholm Archipelago boat views
Sigtuna
Sigtuna is generally described as Sweden's oldest still-existing town, founded around the year 980, and its main street still follows its original medieval layout. What makes it worth a day is the density of visible history in a small area: rune stones standing in the open street, the ruins of stone churches from the 12th century, and a wooden-building high street that has been continuously in use for a thousand years.
Highlights: Sweden oldest town, founded 980 AD · Runic stone trail through the village · Ruins of five medieval churches · Sigtuna Museum -- Viking age artefacts
Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred
Gripsholm Castle is a red-brick Renaissance castle built by Gustav Vasa in the 1530s on a small island at the edge of Lake Mälaren, and it still holds Sweden's national portrait collection spanning five centuries. The town of Mariefred beside it is small enough to see in an hour, but the classic way to arrive is by vintage steam railway from Läggesta, which turns the journey itself into part of the day.
Highlights: Gripsholm Castle on Lake Malaren -- Sweden best-preserved Renaissance fortress · National Portrait Collection (largest in Scandinavia) · Mariefred town -- peaceful 17th-century streets · Lake Malaren views
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm is the private residence of the Swedish royal family and Sweden's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, modelled loosely on Versailles but on a smaller, more approachable scale. The grounds hold three distinct attractions beyond the palace itself - a formal baroque garden, an 18th-century Chinese-inspired pavilion, and a court theatre still using its original 1766 stage machinery - which makes it dense enough for a full day without leaving the island.
Highlights: UNESCO World Heritage palace -- official residence of Swedish Royal Family · Best-preserved 18th-century theatre in Europe still staging performances · Baroque formal gardens · Chinese Pavilion
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Stockholm from $60 — archipelago boat tours, Uppsala heritage tours, and Drottningholm palace tours available through Stromma and Viator
- Private
- Car hire from $50/day. Best for exploring Dalarna, Skåne wine country, or the Bohuslän coast at your own pace.
- Public
- SJ trains and SL commuter trains serve Uppsala, Vaxholm ferry, and Sigtuna easily. Waxholmsbolaget archipelago ferries extremely reliable and scenic.
- Rental
- Car rental from $50/day through AVIS, Hertz, or Europcar. Essential for multi-stop day trips beyond train network. Winter driving requires experience.
Multi-day tours from Sweden
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from SwedenWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book SJ train tickets at least 1-2 weeks ahead for best Tidig prices — Stockholm-Uppsala costs $12-20 booked in advance vs $35 walk-up
The Waxholmsbolaget archipelago card covers all ferry routes — great value for island hopping over 2-3 days
Start early (first train out) to maximize time at destinations — Stockholm trains to Uppsala run from 5AM
Combine Sigtuna and Uppsala in one day — they're on the same train line, 10 minutes apart
Check museum opening days before going — many Swedish museums close Mondays