We randomly found pretty cheap tickets to Stockholm, and since we’ve been eyeing Sweden for a while, we snapped them up. It was a quick trip–only Friday through Sunday–and sadly, I ended up getting the flu the week before, so I was still recovering.

Since we both love winter, I wasn’t too fussed about going to Scandinavia in February, despite how shocked most Hungarians were when we told them where we going. (Sweden? In February? WHY?) Of course, we bought our tickets before Budapest got a few ice storms and ended up getting freezing, and before THE ILLNESS.

In retrospect, February might be a good time to find some sun in Europe.

Still, Stockholm knows how to do winter. With tons of museums, the port-city ambiance, cozy coffeehouses everywhere for fika, what the Swedes call a coffee (and cake/cinnamon roll) break, and colorful, tiny alleys, Stockholm is a joy to explore at any time of the year.

just a bit of flu face remaining…

In fact, even though it was flat gray the entire weekend, it ended up being warmer in Stockholm than in Budapest, so–we kind of did get a “warm winter break.”

Other highlights of our weekend?

Fika, of course–my favorite was Kaffekoppen , seen below.

Eating at Barrels Burgers & Beer and Djuret. Both of which I neglected to take any pictures at, oops. At Barrels I had a chicken burger that was the best I’ve ever eaten–but we did end up eating crammed in a tiny corner at the bar as it was so busy. It’s popular!

We made reservations at Djuret, which, loosely translated, means “the Beast.” I am a former vegetarian and still don’t eat a lot of meat, but Djuret has an animal-a-week menu, which is apparently one of the most sustainable ways to source meat. We had six amazing courses…and I tried powdered butter which is oddly good.

The Vasa Museum. I’m not always in a museum mood, but I loved the Vasa Museum. Probably because it’s the most unusual yet awesome museum, well, ever. The Vasa was a ship that sank in 1628, but since it was so well-preserved in the Baltic, they were able to bring it up and rebuild it.

A ferry ride between the islands! Since Stockholm is made up of fourteen different islands, getting out on a boat seems necessary, if you ask me. Since many ferries are included in your public transit pass, it couldn’t be easier!

Wandering the alleyways of Gamla Stan–Old Town–to our heart’s content.

I got a little snap-happy in said alleys (um, what else is new) so excuse me while I share a billion photos.

Would you visit Scandinavia in winter or do you follow the sun? 

Linking up with Wanderful Wednesday.

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