3 MIN READ

Woman in striped shirt wearing reflective sunglasses at a Stockholm café — STOCKHOLM

Sometimes you need to step away to reset. Stockholm gave me just that. Long walks, small moments, simple pleasures. A reminder that solo travel has its own rhythm and that’s the one you set.

WHERE I STAYED

I stayed at Villa Dagmar in Östermalmstorg located right in the center. The design was thoughtful and elegant. Velvet chairs, checkered floors, soft light in every corner. Modern, but with that old-world ease. Every detail felt like it was placed with care. The staff struck that balance. Kind, discreet, never “doing the most”, just right.

Breakfast each morning was fresh, healthy, and light. Smoked salmon, eggs, fruit, and excellent coffee. Simple food that made you feel good. One night, I had an early dinner at their restaurant, Dagges. Quiet, relaxed, with other solo diners reading or scrolling just like me. The kind of place that understands solitude.

Woman reading a book while dining solo at Stockholm food hall

Within my first hour in Stockholm, I ran into my friend Johan from Geneva. One of those moments where we both blinked, unsure if we were actually seeing each other. We caught up quickly and he recommended Lisa Elmqvist for lunch. A 90-year-old seafood spot inside Östermalms Saluhall, surrounded by locals, counters full of Swedish delicacies, and the buzz of midday energy. I ordered fish & chips (go figure) and opened my latest book, All About Love by bell hooks. At some point, a stranger asked if they could take a photo of me reading. I said yes. It felt like part of the solo adventure.

WHERE I WENT

I walked a lot with no plan, just curiosity. One day I came across octagonal elegance, Hedvig Eleonora Church. I didn’t go inside, simply walking the outskirts felt grounding.

Historic Stockholm church facade with arched windows and morning sunlight

I crossed to Skeppsholmen Island on foot, taking in the waterfront, greenery and the quiet. At Moderna Museet, Stockholm’s modern art museum, I soaked in Maurizio Cattelan’s exhibition The Third Hand. It was provocative, ironic, dark, and playful all in one breath. Outside, sculptures by Picasso and Calder sat almost casually, as if they sprouted from the landscape. Then a quick bite at Bloom Café before my next adventure.

Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, was exactly what I hoped for. I didn’t know where the winding streets would take me, and that was part of the charm. I fell in love with the statues tucked into corners, the views that opened up above the city when I wasn’t expecting them. Locals and tourists mixing nicely. I caught the changing of the guards by accident. While the crowd hushed, the guards marched then a military band played. One of those moments that felt larger than it was.

The Royal Treasury was the one time I did the proper tourist thing. Bought a ticket, waited in line, followed the signs. Down in the vault, crowns, swords, and velvet cloaks sat behind glass. I moved slowly, trying to remember everything I’d once learned in costume history class. The silhouettes, the embroidery, the symbolism. Seeing them up close felt like a privilege. I was glad I went. History you could almost touch.

After a full day touristing, I ended up at Viva Fika Wine. A small, casual spot tucked into the old town. I figured hey it’s time for Swedish meatballs. In the true spirit of “fika”, which means taking a pause, that’s exactly what I did.

Later that evening, I stopped by the Stockholm Soho House for a mocktail. When I walked in, Hanna Kilgren from the team greeted me with such warmth. That kind of welcome means something when you’re traveling alone. I don’t recall her title, but she’s definitely someone who helps shape the place. She offered to show me around.

The space was incredible. Housed in a former church, with vaulted ceilings, stained glass, and design choices that somehow made it feel both grand and intimate. Hanna told me her grandmother had once been a parishioner there. That detail stayed with me.

She invited me to return for dinner at their restaurant, Cecconi’s, but I had other plans. A massage back at the hotel. A quiet, perfect end to the day.

WHAT I LISTENED TO

Mostly quiet. Footsteps, the sea, café murmurs, and my own thoughts.

WHAT I TOOK HOME

Stockholm gave me space. A bucket list city that lived up to it. History, design, the sea, good food, and room to think. Solo trips remind you that you don’t need anyone else to have a good time. You sit with your thoughts, move how you want, and nothing feels wasted. It’s a quiet kind of luxury I want more of.