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Food tours in Stockholm: what to eat and which tour to book
Swedish food is built on what keeps through a long winter: pickled herring, cured salmon (gravlax), crispbread, potatoes, lingonberries and dill. Stockholm adds the archipelago's fish, a strong bakery culture and the daily ritual of fika, coffee with a cinnamon bun (kanelbulle) or cardamom bun. Classic home cooking (husmanskost) means meatballs with mashed potato, cream sauce and lingonberries, fried herring, and toast Skagen piled with shrimp. The covered food halls — Östermalms Saluhall, Hötorgshallen and Söderhallarna — are the easiest places to taste a lot in one go, and the weekday lunch deal (dagens lunch) is the cheapest way to eat a proper meal in an expensive city.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Swedish kronor (SEK; very roughly 11 kronor to the euro). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Stockholm
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swedish meatballs köttbullar | Small beef and pork meatballs with cream sauce, mashed or boiled potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber (pressgurka). | Traditional restaurants serving husmanskost in Södermalm, Gamla Stan and the food halls; also on many dagens lunch menus. | roughly SEK 180–280 (€16–25) a plate in a restaurant; less at lunch |
| Cinnamon and cardamom buns kanelbulle / kardemummabulle | Soft knotted or rolled buns with cinnamon or cardamom and pearl sugar, eaten with coffee at fika, the Swedish coffee break. | Bakeries and cafés everywhere; Södermalm and Vasastan have many independent bakeries. | roughly SEK 35–55 (€3–5) a bun; SEK 35–50 for a coffee |
| Pickled herring sill | Herring pickled in sweet vinegar, mustard, onion or dill, served with boiled potatoes, sour cream, chives and crispbread; the centrepiece of the midsummer and Christmas tables. | Traditional restaurants, the food halls and fishmongers; a sill plate (sillbricka) is a common lunch. | roughly SEK 150–250 (€14–23) for a herring plate |
| Fried Baltic herring stekt strömming | Small Baltic herring fillets fried in butter, usually served with mashed potatoes, lingonberries and melted butter, or in a soft flatbread wrap. | Traditional restaurants and seasonal herring kiosks in the centre, including around Slussen; check where they currently stand. | roughly SEK 100–200 (€9–18) |
| Shrimp toast toast Skagen | Fried or toasted bread topped with shrimp mixed with mayonnaise, dill and lemon, crowned with fish roe. A classic starter. | Traditional restaurants and the food halls. | roughly SEK 180–260 (€16–24) |
| Cured salmon gravlax / gravad lax | Raw salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill, sliced thin and served with mustard-dill sauce (hovmästarsås) and potatoes or bread. | Fish counters and restaurants in the food halls; traditional restaurants. | roughly SEK 160–250 (€15–23) as a plate |
| Hot dog from a kiosk korv / tunnbrödsrulle | Grilled or boiled sausage in a bun, or rolled in thin flatbread (tunnbröd) with mashed potato, shrimp salad and onions — a tunnbrödsrulle, the late-night classic. | Korvkiosker (sausage kiosks) around the city, especially near transport hubs and nightlife. | roughly SEK 40–90 (€3.50–8) |
| Cream bun (seasonal) semla | Cardamom bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream, eaten from about January until Lent, traditionally on Shrove Tuesday (fettisdagen). | Every bakery and café in season. | roughly SEK 45–70 (€4–6.50) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Östermalms Saluhall
Stockholm's grand food hall from 1888, reopened in its restored building in 2020, with fishmongers, butchers, cheese counters and sit-down restaurants serving Swedish classics. Upmarket prices.
Hötorgshallen
Underground food hall below Hötorget square, with fish, meat and deli counters and small restaurants, including Middle Eastern and Asian stalls. The fruit and vegetable market runs on the square above.
Söderhallarna, Medborgarplatsen
Food hall on Södermalm with delis, bakeries and casual restaurants, close to the bars and cafés of the island.
Södermalm (SoFo and around)
The southern island with many independent cafés, bakeries, natural-wine bars and restaurants, especially south of Folkungagatan (SoFo) and around Mariatorget.
Gamla Stan
The old town, with cellar restaurants serving traditional Swedish food and cafés around Stortorget. Atmospheric but busy with visitors and priced accordingly.
Food tours in Stockholm compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm: Food Tour | 4 hours | from €97 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Stockholm: Christmas Traditions & Food Small Group Tour | 2 hours | from €40 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Stockholm: Guided Food Tour with Tastings | 2.5 - 3 hours | from €85 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Stockholm: Old Town Food Tour of 7 Locals Favorites Tastings | 3 hours | from €108 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Stockholm Christmas Walking Tour: Lights, Market & Tastings | 2 hours | from €27 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
| Stockholm: Guided Swedish Food Walking Tour in Södermalm | 3.5 hours | from €115 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Stockholm: Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Tours of Stockholm
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €97 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 209 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Food Wine Guide
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet your guide at the main entrance of Östermalms Saluhall, the entrance facing Nybrogatan street (It is the entrance where there is a statue of a leg. See images for reference).
Stockholm: Christmas Traditions & Food Small Group Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by XperienceSthlm
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €40 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 141 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Stockholm: Guided Food Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Scandic Tours
- Length
- 2.5 - 3 hours
- Price
- from €85 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 85 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Samples of local cheeses and meats Reindeer and Moose and Bear OH MY :) Swedish Skagen seafood Tradiional Sedish Metballs and more.... Visit to östermalms Foodhall Hötorgshallen market Visit to Gamla Stan the Kings Ga…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- We will be standing right out the front of the main entrance in the square and look for the guides with Scandic tours on the uniforms
Stockholm: Old Town Food Tour of 7 Locals Favorites Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €108 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 75 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Stockholm Christmas Walking Tour: Lights, Market & Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Rainbow Tours Stockholm
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €27 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 74 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Expert Guide Alcohol-free glögg (mulled wine) Traditional sweets Reusable hand warmers Tips for the guide (optional)
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
- Starts
- Sergels torg, Stockholm, Suecia
Stockholm: Guided Swedish Food Walking Tour in Södermalm
On GetYourGuide · run by Food Tours Stockholm AB
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €115 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 37 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Stockholm is mainly the korvkiosk (hot dogs and tunnbrödsrulle), herring kiosks, food trucks in summer, and the counters in the food halls. It is the cheapest way to eat in the centre apart from dagens lunch.
Sit-down meals
The best value is dagens lunch, a weekday set lunch (roughly 11:00–14:00) that usually includes salad, bread, water and coffee for a fixed price. Dinner is much more expensive and starts around 18:00–19:00, earlier than in southern Europe. Many restaurants are card only and do not accept cash.
Cooking classes
Cooking and baking classes in Stockholm often focus on Swedish classics such as meatballs, cinnamon buns or a smörgåsbord. They are offered less often than in southern European cities; check dates ahead, especially outside summer.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | SEK 400–600 (€35–55) (bakery breakfast, dagens lunch, kiosk or food-hall dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | SEK 800–1,200 (€70–110) (fika, lunch and a restaurant dinner with a drink) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | SEK 2,000+ (€180+) (a tasting menu with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Excellent: vegetarian and vegan options are standard on Stockholm menus, many restaurants offer a vegetarian dagens lunch, and plant-based meatballs are common. Supermarkets and cafés label vegan products clearly.
Halal: Available, especially in the suburbs with large Middle Eastern and North African communities and in kebab, falafel and Middle Eastern restaurants in the centre. Traditional Swedish dishes often contain pork, including meatballs; ask.
Gluten-free: Very good: Sweden has high coeliac awareness, and 'glutenfri' options are common on menus, in bakeries and in supermarkets. Crispbread and buns usually contain wheat or rye unless marked.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Gamla Stan restaurants with tourist menus and high prices for mediocre meatballs and herring. Compare prices with a dagens lunch elsewhere, or eat traditional dishes in the food halls or Södermalm.
- Bars and clubs with mandatory coat-check fees (garderob) on top of entry and drinks. This is normal in Stockholm, especially in winter; budget roughly SEK 30–50 for it.
- Bottled water ordered by default when free tap water would be fine. Ask for 'kranvatten' (tap water); Stockholm tap water is excellent and often free.
- Card terminals offering to charge in your home currency at a poor rate. Always choose to pay in SEK.
Top tours & activities in Stockholm
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Stockholm?
Tipping is not expected: service is included and staff are paid properly. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% at a sit-down dinner for good service is appreciated but optional. At cafés and counters, tipping is unusual. Card machines may show a tip option; it is fine to skip it.
What is dagens lunch?
Dagens lunch is the weekday set lunch served by many restaurants, typically from about 11:00 to 14:00. For roughly SEK 125–175 (€11–16) you get a main course, usually with salad, bread, water and coffee. It is by far the cheapest way to eat a proper meal in Stockholm. Menus are often posted outside or online each morning.
Can I pay with cash?
Sweden is close to cashless. Many cafés, restaurants and kiosks accept only cards or mobile payment and display 'kontantfritt' (cash-free). Bring a card that works abroad and contactless payment on your phone. A small amount of cash is rarely needed.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Stockholm is expensive. On a budget, about SEK 400–600 (€35–55) a day covers a bakery breakfast, dagens lunch and a kiosk or food-hall dinner. With fika and a restaurant dinner with a drink, expect roughly SEK 800–1,200 (€70–110). Tasting menus start around SEK 1,500–2,500 per person before drinks.
Where can I buy alcohol?
Drinks stronger than 3.5% alcohol are sold in shops only at Systembolaget, the state-run chain, which has limited hours and is closed on Sundays. Supermarkets sell only low-alcohol beer. Restaurants and bars serve alcohol, but prices are high. You must be 20 to buy at Systembolaget and 18 to be served in bars.
What is surströmming and should I try it?
Surströmming is fermented Baltic herring sold in tins, famous for its very strong smell. The new season traditionally starts in late August, and it is eaten outdoors in thin flatbread with potatoes, onion and sour cream. It is a northern tradition rather than an everyday Stockholm food; a few restaurants serve it in season, so check before you go.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.