My insider tips for Sweden & Copenhagen: where we stayed, what we ate, and the clothes to pack for the cities and a separate Swedish Lapland winter trip.
These are the stays, meals and museum stops I would share with a friend planning Stockholm and Copenhagen, plus our winter stay at Arctic Bath in Swedish Lapland. They are different parts of the trip, not a six-day route. Allow separate travel time for the city-to-city journey and the winter extension.
Stockholm: Hotel Diplomat, Dinner and Museums
We stayed at Hotel Diplomat in Stockholm, and we also had dinner at the hotel. The dinner photos below are from that meal. Its restaurant still serves dinner on Strandvägen, with views over Nybroviken.
Schmaltz was another dinner I really liked. It is a small bar and deli near Östermalmstorg, so I would check the booking options rather than assume there will be space.
The Royal Palace belongs on the Stockholm sightseeing list. Check the official visitor page before going, as royal events can close parts of the palace.
I loved Fotografiska. We saw the hip-hop exhibition on our visit and had a great lunch with the city and water views from the top floor. That particular exhibition has ended, so check the current exhibitions and the restaurant or bistro lunch hours for your dates.
We went to Tennstopet for New Year’s Day lunch. It is a historic option for traditional Swedish food, but I would make this one optional rather than build the trip around it.
Copenhagen: Hotel Sanders and the Meals I Remember
We stayed at Hotel Sanders and had dinner in the lobby restaurant, Sanders Kitchen. The whole fish, steak, fries and green beans in this photo are from that dinner, not from Barr.
Barr was so good for dinner. The bone marrow was amazing, and everything we had was good. Menus change, so check what is being served when you book. Esmée was another Copenhagen dinner stop from our trip.
Breakfast at GRØD in Torvehallerne was great, and I appreciated the gluten-free options. These are my breakfast photos from that visit. If gluten is a medical concern, ask staff about the current ingredients and preparation rather than assume every dish is gluten-free.
For a traditional Danish lunch, we went to Restaurant Schønnemann. It specializes in smørrebrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich, and is a lunch stop rather than a dinner plan.
I also loved the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and lunch at its café. The museum is in Humlebæk, outside Copenhagen, so give it its own outing instead of squeezing it between city meals. The café has views across the Sound and the sculpture terrace. Check the museum and café hours before making the trip.
Arctic Bath: Our Swedish Lapland Winter Stay
Our winter stay was at Arctic Bath in Harads, Swedish Lapland. Dogsledding, snowshoeing, horseback riding in the forest and ice fishing were part of our Arctic trip. This is a separate winter stay, not an autumn afternoon outside Stockholm.
My packing tip: email the hotel before you go about the extra-insulated coats and snow pants. They provided that outerwear for guests on our visit. Confirm your sizes, what is available now and what each activity includes before deciding what to leave at home. The hotel’s current activity pages include dogsledding, forest horseback riding and ice fishing, with availability depending on the season and conditions.
Arctic Bath has seasonal closures. Its current Small Luxury Hotels listing notes closure from early October to late November and from mid-April to mid-June; confirm your dates directly with the hotel. Arrange activities through the hotel in advance rather than assuming every winter experience runs every day.
Stockholm Layers for City Walks
- For Stockholm city walks, I would wear a thermal top, a merino sweater, warm trousers and an insulated coat, with wool socks, gloves, a scarf and a hat that covers the ears. Choose insulated waterproof boots with grip for the actual pavement conditions. The knit and tailored coat below are style layers, not a guarantee of enough warmth or weather protection on their own. A water-repellent fashion ankle boot is not the same as an insulated winter boot.
Stockholm Layers for Museums and Dinner
- For the Royal Palace, Fotografiska and dinner, start with wool trousers and a turtleneck or knit, with a thermal layer underneath when needed. Keep the warm coat, scarf, hat, mittens and winter boots for the journey. A loafer can be an indoor dinner shoe if you have room to change; it is not my sightseeing shoe for snow or ice.
Packing for Arctic Bath in Winter
- For Arctic Bath activities, pack a moisture-wicking wool or synthetic base-layer top and long johns, warm wool socks and a fleece or wool mid-layer. Add the hotel-confirmed Arctic outerwear, insulated snow pants, winter boots, warm mittens, a hat and neck protection. Do not replace that activity kit with a city coat, fashion lace-up boot or cashmere scarf. Dogsledding and ice fishing can involve long periods sitting still; have the hotel confirm the full kit for each activity and conditions. Avoid cotton base layers for the Arctic.
Copenhagen Layers for Walking and Dinner
- For Copenhagen’s winter walks, I would wear thermal layers, a warm sweater, trousers and an insulated windproof and waterproof outer layer. Add a scarf, hat, gloves and waterproof winter footwear. Pack for damp wind around the harbor, not just the number on the weather forecast. The scarf below is a style layer; the trench is only an optional extra, never the winter outerwear plan.
Copenhagen Layers for Markets and Breakfast
- For GRØD breakfast, Torvehallerne and indoor stops, a sweater dress with thermal tights or leggings works under the proper winter coat. Keep the crossbody bag small and easy to carry. Wear weather-ready winter boots outside; suede fashion boots are an optional indoor choice, not a slush or ice solution. For Louisiana, use the same outdoor kit and leave room in the day for the trip outside Copenhagen.
A Tailored Nordic Dinner Look
- For Sanders Kitchen, Barr, Esmée or a Stockholm dinner, I would pack one warm-trouser-and-knit outfit or a sweater dress, then change a scarf or jacket rather than pack a new outfit for every meal. A blazer and silk scarf are indoor finishing pieces. Keep the insulated coat and safe winter footwear for the journey. Linen trousers do not earn space in this winter packing list.
Winter Packing Checklist: Cities and Arctic Bath
Stockholm and Copenhagen: thermal top and bottoms; two useful knits; warm trousers; one dinner outfit; an insulated weather-ready coat; wool socks; winter boots with grip; hat, gloves or mittens and scarf. Pack an indoor shoe only if you will actually change into it. Check the forecast and pavement conditions before leaving the hotel. Traction depends on the conditions, not a fashion boot’s appearance.
Arctic Bath: wool or synthetic base layers; fleece or wool mid-layers; spare dry socks; hotel-confirmed insulated activity outerwear, boots and mittens; hat and neck protection; comfortable hotel clothes; a swimsuit for the spa; and the medicines, chargers and toiletries you need. Confirm equipment, sizes and any loan or rental terms before deciding what not to pack. A hotel outerwear loan does not mean you can arrive without your own inner layers.
Keep Toiletries Simple
Bring the skincare and makeup you already use, plus lip balm and sunscreen. Cold outdoor days call for comfortable, protected skin, not a second suitcase of beauty products. Keep medicines and the toiletries you need in hand luggage, within your airline’s liquid rules.
Want More Travel + Style Inspiration?
Check out these existing, real posts on ShoppingandInfo.com for in-the-moment style and destination inspiration:
- Discover 6 Hermès Beauty Products Worth Trying Now
- The Best New Birkenstocks to Pack for Fall Travel
- Sézane Style: Parisian Vibes at an Affordable Price
