Date Ideas in Stockholm: 10 Things to Do as a Couple
Looking for a date in Stockholm that isn't just dinner and a glass of wine? Here are ten things we'd do ourselves, with options for both winter and summer. Some of them are free. One of them is ours, and we'll say so up front: we run Quezzle, an escape room at Döbelnsgatan 12. The list would look about the same without it.
One thing first. The best dates usually give your hands or your head something to do. Then you don't have to sit across from each other hunting for things to talk about.
1. Solve an escape room together
You get locked in a room and have 60 minutes to get out. It sounds nerve-racking, and for the first minute it is a bit. Then you forget about it and start talking, pointing and guessing wrong together. With us it costs 900 SEK for two people, and all five rooms work for two. First date? Pick Faraos Grav, our easiest room to get into. If you'd rather challenge each other, Bank Heist is the hardest one we have. More about how it works for couples on our escape room for two page.
2. Watch the sunset from Monteliusvägen
A short walking path high up on Södermalm with a view over Riddarfjärden and City Hall. It's free, and in winter the sun sets early, so it fits nicely before dinner. Bring something warm to drink.
3. Fotografiska in the evening
The photography museum on Stadsgårdskajen stays open late, so you can go after work. The exhibitions give you something to talk about, and the bar on the top floor has one of the best views over the water in town. A good second date.
4. The Djurgården ferry and a walk on the island
The ferry from Slussen is included in a regular SL ticket, so it's a cheap little boat trip. Get off on Djurgården and walk. In the warmer months you can have coffee at Rosendals trädgård, and in winter the island is quiet and almost empty.
5. Ice skating in Kungsträdgården
In winter there's a rink right in the city centre, and you can rent skates on site. If one of you is bad at skating, it only gets more fun (and you have an excuse to hold hands).
6. Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen
The permanent collection is free. Walk around for an hour, say what you honestly think about the art, then finish with a walk around Skeppsholmen. You learn quite a lot about each other that way.
7. Sauna at Centralbadet
The art nouveau bathhouse on Drottninggatan isn't far from us. Sauna and pool, and no phones. Maybe not for a first date, but a good idea once you've been seeing each other for a while.
8. A film at Bio Rio
An old neighbourhood cinema at Hornstull with a bar. The cinema is a classic date for a reason, but it has one problem: you don't talk for two hours. Have a drink before, so you have something to talk about afterwards too.
9. Boat to Fjäderholmarna (summer)
Boats leave from the city in summer, and the trip takes fifteen to thirty minutes depending on where you board. Rocks and seafood, and the feeling of being far away while you're practically still in town.
10. Take an evening class for two
Cooking, pottery, wine tasting or dancing. Plenty of places in Stockholm run evening classes for beginners. It works for the same reason an escape room does: you're both doing something new at the same time, and neither of you is better at it than the other.
Which date suits you?
A first date should be short and have a clear end point. An hour in an escape room, or Fotografiska and then a drink, is about right. You can stretch the evening if it clicks, or head home without it getting awkward.
If you've been together for a while, pick something neither of you has done. A sauna, a class, or a hard escape room where you see how the other person acts when the clock is ticking. It might get a bit competitive. That's fine.
Double date? Escape rooms work well with four. More people hunting for clues, and for four people it costs 1,440 SEK in total with us.
An evening in Vasastan: our suggestion
Book a room for around six. The game takes 60 minutes and you're out shortly after seven. From here it's a short walk to the restaurants around Odenplan and Rörstrandsgatan, so you don't need to go anywhere. Prices for every group size are in our price guide.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do on a date in Stockholm in winter?
Ice skating in Kungsträdgården, Fotografiska in the evening, a sauna at Centralbadet or an escape room. All of it is indoors or close to the centre, so the cold won't ruin anything.
Are there free date ideas in Stockholm?
Yes. The sunset from Monteliusvägen, Moderna Museet's permanent collection and a walk on Djurgården cost nothing.
Is an escape room a good first date?
Yes, if you pick an easier room. You get something to do right away, and it's easier to talk afterwards. With us it costs 900 SEK for two.
How long does an escape room take?
The game itself is 60 minutes. Arrive ten minutes early so the game master can go through the rules.