Stockholm National Museum

With three days in Stockholm, you have time to soak in the city’s atmosphere, see its most famous sights, and even head out of town for a history- or nature-filled day trip into the surrounding countryside.

Two days in Stockholm allow you time to thoroughly explore the city—from the cobblestoned streets of Gamla Stan to stately Drottningholm Palace—and to get out onto the water that surrounds the city.

Spread across 15 islands, Sweden’s capital is a bustling city of cafes, galleries, and restaurants, but underneath lies a rich history of Viking tribes, warrior spirit, and Norse mythology. Here’s how to see the best of Stockholm’s Viking history.