Other tips for managing Stockholm while pinching pennies would be to go to some of the set menu prix-fix lunches that abound, or to a lunch buffet like Ortagarden’s huge vegetarian spread (85 kronors) which is very good and then just pick up a few snacks for dinner. A goldmine is the Naturbageriet in the old town that has many varieties of bread but also serves specialties like spinach pie and delectable, mainly vegan deserts. These filling treats are the perfect to-go meal and after you devour them just stop at a nearby café for a drink and to savor the evening sun.

When you want to have a nice meal head down to Sodermalm where the prices are a little less steep and trendy restaurants are sprouting up all over in this formerly working class neighborhood that has seen a surge in restorations and renovations. I had a very nice meal of poached salmon with shrimp and tagliatelle pasta at Gusto Italian an upscale restaurant in Sodermalm for 125 kronors.

Remember that the prices in Stockholm are comparable to most other western European cities, so don’t miss out on this beautiful, friendly, cultured city.

Details:

Stockholm Card: http://www.stockholmtown.com/

Stockholm a la Carte: http://www.destination-stockholm.com/

Langholmen Hotel and Hostel: http://www.langholmen.com/indexEn.html

City Backpackers Hostel: http://www.citybackpackers.se/

Ortagarden, Nybrogatan 31

Naturbageriet, Stora Nygatan 6 or Krukmakargatan 27

Gusto Italian, Swedenborgsgatan 13

©Christina Kay Bolton