We kicked off our Stockholm trip with a very early start, catching the 07:05 flight from London Heathrow Terminal 5. Thankfully, the flight was incredibly quiet — there were fewer than 30 people on board — which made the whole journey feel calm and stress-free. The cabin crew were lovely too, which always helps when you’re up before dawn.

We landed at Arlanda Airport at 10:15 local time and were met with some surprisingly thorough questioning at immigration before being allowed through. From there, we hopped on the Arlanda Express into the city. Buying tickets was easy on the app on my phone. At around £35 for two of us, it’s not the cheapest option, but it’s fast, smooth and reaches speeds of up to 200km/h — a very efficient introduction to Sweden.

First Impressions of Stockholm

As soon as we arrived in Stockholm, it was clear we were in for a proper winter experience. Snow was falling heavily, transforming the city into a postcard-perfect winter wonderland. We grabbed an Uber to our hotel, Hotel Reisen, which is right in the heart of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s medieval old town.

Because it was New Year’s Day, the hotel was extremely busy, so we left our bags with reception and headed straight out to explore while our room was being prepared.

Wandering Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan dates back to the 13th century and is where Stockholm first began. Its narrow streets, tall colourful buildings and uneven cobblestones give it a real sense of history. With fresh snow covering the streets, it felt especially magical — and I was very glad we’d packed sensible walking boots.

When the snowfall became heavier, we ducked into a cosy restaurant called Lykta, which means “lantern” in English. Inside, the atmosphere was lovely and we were soon shown to a nice corner table. ABBA played in the background, including the song “Happy New Year”, which felt wonderfully appropriate.

We warmed up with a bowl of rich boletus mushroom soup and a glass of Swedish glögg, a spiced mulled wine traditionally enjoyed during winter. It was exactly what we needed and a welcome escape from the heavy snow.

Shops, Snow and Slippery Streets

Once the snow eased slightly, we continued down Västerlånggatan, one of Gamla Stan’s main streets. Historically a busy trading route, it’s now lined with shops and cafés. It was fun to browse — though the icy cobbles meant progress was slow and careful.

Eventually, we headed back to Hotel Reisen, checked into our room and took some time to relax after a long but lovely first day.

Evening Food and Cocktails

A couple of hours later, we headed back out for dinner and quickly found Under Kastanjen, a welcoming local restaurant serving traditional Swedish food alongside more modern dishes. It was right up my street.

I went for the Swedish meatballs, which were absolutely delicious — comforting, hearty and perfect after a snowy day of exploring.

We finished the evening back at the hotel with cocktails before heading to bed. Snow, history, cosy food and a beautiful old town — Stockholm couldn’t have given us a better first day.