I've rashly promised to take dd to Sweden for a weekend...anyone been?? Hopeless at organising!

[Prenelope]

Dd is 18 and just finished A levels. She's been learning Swedish on Duolingo for around 2 years as a hobby and when she was stressed and tired with revision I promised to take her to Sweden for three days in her gap year.

So now I'm thinking Copenhagen might be nicer than Stockholm and then getting the train across into Malmo and Lund. Or of course we could just fly to Stockholm. We lile museums - particularly anything to do with psychology!, eating out and people watching.

Any advice welcome!

In my view Stockholm is as nice as Copenhagen. There is plenty to do there. The Vasa museum is really interesting.

Go on to extreme day trips on Facebook. Lots of info there

We took our teenager to Stockholm for a weekend at his request. It's a fab city for a mini break.... We went to the vasa museum and the ABBA museum and gronaland the theme park in the evening which was great fun. Shopping was good too. Throughly recommend for a weekend break

I'm not on Facebook!

Oh thank you. Hadn't considered a theme park!

And if you like eating out and people watching having fika-a coffee and a bit of cake/cinnamon bun- is very common in stockholm with loads of lovely places

Did a Malmö trip recently - stayed in Malmö (cheaper than Copenhagen) but flew into Copenhagen airport. There is a direct train from the airport so easy. Did a day in Malmö, then a day in Lund and then moved to a Copenhagen hotel. There were other possibilities for day trips as well. Used revolut for payment, didn't use cash at all. And the Skanes app for public transport - very easy to use.

I haven't visited Stockholm but I have visited Malmö.

The city buses etc are great, you need an app called Skanetrafikan. You can fly into Copenhagen and get the train directly over the bridge into Malmö - I managed landing on the runway to arriving in Malmö in about 50 minutes last time. There's a special ticket to cover the bridge and if you buy two tickets on the same phone you get a 25% discount.

The food in Malmö seems very international - it has a massive international community (my lack of Swedish caused no issues though that doesn't sound like it will be a worry for you). I didn't take any cash and everything was payable by card though I didn't buy anything at e.g. a market.

I loved visiting while the sea was warm enough to swim in - they have a fab sauna/sea combo which is worth a visit and some lovely piers you can dive off and swim in.

It has a couple of museums but I can't say I have made the most of those and if you want lots of museums I suspect you may be better off with a different city.

I've not been to Lund but hoping to visit sometime soon.

I live in Sweden. I wouldn't go to Malmo if she wants to speak Swedish. I've lived here for 20 years and don't understand a word of 'Skånska'. Stockholm Swedish will be easier to understand.

I lived in Lund on my year abroad. There are some pretty university buildings and it’s nice to cycle around the cathedral and eat at airman’s cafe.

That is a great piece of advice as she definitely wants to practice her Swedish.

So maybe Stockholm only then. I was thinking of October but not sure if that's a good time to visit.

Vasa Museum, Skansen, Old Town (Gamla Stan) and most importantly a boat trip around the Archipelago (if going in warmer months). Lot's of cafe's for fika, you are never far from a cinnamon bun that is for sure!

Stockholm is beautiful and great for people watching, I might be biased as am Swedish (in UK) though!

Stockholm is great, loved the boat trip and museums. We also stayed in Upsalla, 30 minutes by train from Stockholm, university town, very pretty , lots of eateries by the river, lovely park, lake to swim in, interesting botanical gardens, small enough to walk around.

Go to Stockholm. Nice city, lots to do. Why would you organize a trip to Copenhagen for someone who wants to go to Sweden and use their Swedish?! Malmö would also not be in my top ten list of places to visit in Sweden… A weekend break in Stockholm will be fun, there’s lots to do and nice places for lunch/ dinner.

As a Brit living in Sweden I would say Stockholm is better if she wants to speak Swedish while she is here, I would recommend getting a city pass, it includes the hop on hop off buses (and boats at certain times of the year), and entry to most museums, I think the main one it doesn’t include is the Abba museum.

And yes Stockholm Swedish is probably more like what she is used to from Dualingo. Be aware that most Swedes will jump at the chance of speaking English though but will appreciate any attempts at Swedish of course.

Just been to both Stockholm and Copenhagen (sleeper train from Stockholm to Malmo and over the bridge was great fun). I love them both but definitely go for Stockholm if your DD wants to practice her Swedish! Look up Vasa, Skansen, Djurgarden, Gronaland if you like rollercoasters (right next to Vasa), Gamlastan. Eat on the waterfront boat restaurants. If you like interior design pop into Svenskt Tenn (v expensive but unique design style). If you have time I love Millesgarden sculpture park.

I think it was partly the idea of getting the train across. But I've discounted that now!

Any fun bars where an old woman and her daughter might have a nice evening??

Hi! I’m living in Sweden at the moment. I’d go for Stockholm or Gothenburg over Malmo. Both have got everything you want in a big city break and the flights are extremely cheap. You could easily do shopping and cool coffee place, big museum, theme park, bar in the evening. Drinking out is really very expensive but other stuff eg travel, museums, coffee is sort of London prices. If you’re in Sweden you ought to plan a spa/massage or (better) a sauna trip or sauna and plunge (“kallbadhus”). Most hotels will have sauna and pool and even if you aren’t staying overnight then city hotels are a good bet also for very nice big breakfasts and/or for a drink in the evening.

I used to frequently visit parts of Sweden for work, and agree that Stockholm is a fantastic place for a weekend away, I love it. @ItReallyDoesntMatterAnymore has nailed it regarding recommendations. The Vasa museum is great.

There are loads of restaurants in and around the Old Town and water front. And there used to be a big boat moored up there that was actually a bar. Be prepared for lots of outdoor cafe/bar seating with patio heaters and blankets if chilly. There is a strong European cafe culture

The copenhagen-Malmö idea is fun but my suggestion would be Malmö first since the other way around is a little underwhelming (ie malmö can come off looking a little shabby …) Agree that Stockholm is easier if she’s learning Swedish! But Malmö is friendlier so potato potayto… Stockholm is gorgeous and if you’re lucky weather in October is nice. You could be unlucky, no way of being sure. I’m no good at suggesting things to do, but I follow an Instagram account with restaurant tips that is very persuasive. Seldom go into Stockholm though myself but keep meaning to try some places out when I go! https://www.instagram.com/seconddinner_sthlm/
No ideas for bars, sorry…

A sauna is a great idea. Thank you.

We went to Stockholm for the Eras tour and had an amazing time. We were only there just over 24 hours but wish we could have stayed longer.

We did the Abba museum which was good fun, and had amazing cinnamon buns. We have also been to Copenhagen but I actually preferred Stockholm.

I'm Swedish and living in Stockholm. I think Stockholm is the best option here as there is so much to do and the Swedish spoken is easy to understand if she's been doing Duo Lingo. People in Malmö really do have a very strong accent and it would be really hard for her to understand.

The theme park is closed during the autumn/winter but it does open up for Halloween and and it's really fun and quite scary. You can get your tickets here: https://www.gronalund.com/en/halloween.

The Vasa museum is great and it's near the theme park. The Paradox Museum is fun: https://www.paradoxmuseumstockholm.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoaGxWXoYsAyPGN1XqSoZiKrfcq3U&gclid=CjwKCAjwoJa2BhBPEiwA0l0ImMA6V4w7QxMY7R6QDs0oHsgMTBHlczwMm5BxqAAcGWzYn3BY-3AamBoCXh0QAvD_BwE.

You might like to have a drink or two at the ice bar: https://hotelcstockholm.se/icebar-stockholm-by-icehotel/