Do you consider Stockholm to be one the most expensive cities in the world? It’s not the reason to skip it! Get to know how you can travel to it without breaking your budget! There is no denying that Stockholm is really expensive in comparison with other European cities. But by following a few simple rules, you can cut your expenses without much effort and make your visit to this city much more affordable. 
Stockholm is one of my favorite places in the world. I like the historical beauty of this city, its natural beauty of archipelago and nice people. Lots of parks, cafes and bars make Stockholm one of the greatest destinations in the world. If Stockholm didn’t suffer from severe arctic winter, it would be the most awesome city for me.
- Walk!
As any other city in the world Stockholm has lots of free walking tours. They will take you around the old city (Gamla Stan) and acquaint you with its history. They also provide a tour of the main contemporary city center. Each tour lasts for several hours.
- Save money on food
While groceries prices are comparable to most major cities in the world, having a lunch in Stockholm is incredibly expensive. I try not to dine out as much as possible as a result. Here are a few tips of how to cut your food budget:
- Groceries in Stockholm cost around $63 per person per week, which is a great value when the average cooked meal is around $15-30. It’s much cheaper to cook your own food than to eat out at cafes. By the way, the majority of the hostels offer free pasta, so taking advantage of this perk can cut down your food budget ever more.
- Don’t visit sit-down restaurants. If you still wish to eat out, try to stick to the small outdoor stalls you can find in the street. You can get hotdogs $3, burgers $10 or even Thai food $10. It’s a good idea for saving your money. Moreover, skip anything on Drottinggatan (the city’s main shopping street) and in Gamla Stan. Both places are too overpriced.
- Try the lunch buffets. Situated at the local restaurants they’re also another budget way to eat out, costing around $15. Lunch buffets are popular option with locals and are dotted around the city. You can ask the staff where you’re staying to guide you to the closest buffet. Hermans is one of my favorite. Though vegetarian, the food is always tasty, and you won’t care about the lack of meat.
- Refill your water bottle. A bottle of water costs $3 in Stockholm. But tap water in the city is safe to drink, so just fill a reusable bottle. Moreover, you help to save the environment.
- Go to the free parks
The parks in Stockholm are free of charge, and in winter, you can enjoy free ice skating. It’s also possible to wander Gamla Stan and Sodermalm and just enjoy the beauty of the city. My favorite parks are Gardet, Djurgarden, Ralambshovsparken and Langholmen. They provide huge open spaces and are good for lots of outdoor activities.
- Check free museums
Museums in Stockholm are quite expensive (around $15 per visit), but you can visit a few of them which are free or at least suggest free hours. They include Modern Museum, The Woodland Cemetery and National Library of Sweden. Check also with the local tourism office to see if any of the museums offer free hours or exhibits. There’re lots of free art exhibits and events that take place in city, and they will have a list of them.
- Alcohol destroys your budget
Alcohol is expensive in Stockholm. If you want your money last a bit longer, cut down drinking alcohol. Don’t buy wine (too overpriced) and skip the clubs (overpriced), instead stick to beer, it’s the cheapest alcohol you can get in Stockholm. Try to drink during the happy hours when beer costs $5. If you don’t wish to get wasted, buy your liquor at the Swedish government’s liquor store called Systembolaget. Prices are lower here.