We left the house at the crack of dawn to catch an early coach from Victoria to Stansted. While taking a taxi is definitely the fastest option, the coach is a great way to save money. A taxi ride from our home to Stansted would have set me back over £50 each way, but the return coach ticket only cost £33.10—a much more budget-friendly choice!
Transfer time: 1 hour and 45 minutes.
How Did I Score Cheap Flights to Sweden?
Skyscanner is my go-to travel tool—I’m on that website almost daily, hunting for the best deals. Back in August, I managed to snag flights to Västerås for just £45.40, and I booked right away. I even tipped off my best friend, and she ended up booking the same flights!
To keep my costs down, I picked up some bags from Decathlon that are perfectly sized for Ryanair’s hand luggage allowance. This way, I can avoid extra fees and keep my flights as affordable as possible.
I booked our hotel through Hotels.com, primarily for their fantastic rewards system. I was looking for a place close to the airport and stumbled upon the Comfort Hotel Västerås. For a three-night stay, the total came to £349, which I happily split with my bestie. This way, we could enjoy a convenient and comfortable stay without breaking the bank!
Our room was quite basic but comfortable, featuring a double bed, a sofa bed, a TV, a desk, and a lovely bathroom. I was a bit surprised to find no tea or coffee-making facilities, but it wasn’t a major issue. The price included breakfast, Wi-Fi, and access to the gym, which added great value to our stay.
The hotel is conveniently located just 20 minutes from the airport and right next to the train station, making it perfect for our public transport needs during our stay. We also had a supermarket and a McDonald’s nearby, which is always a lifesaver when travelling with kids.
Day 1
Upon our arrival at the hotel, the staff kindly stored our luggage in a secure room accessible only to them, giving me peace of mind knowing that our belongings were safe.
After settling in, we hopped on an hour-long train ride to Stockholm Central. Little Miss travelled for free, while a single ticket for the adults cost around £12. We spent a few hours wandering around, and even stumbled upon an Ikea, where we enjoyed some delicious meatballs and mashed potatoes. We didn’t pack our day too tightly, but we still had a lovely time exploring.
When we returned to the hotel, I was really impressed by how seamless the check-in process was. Everything was self-service, and I even got to create my own key card—how cool is that?
Day 2
We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, which seemed to be complimentary for all guests, before catching a bus to Leo’s Lekland. This massive soft play centre is a hit with kids, but it does come with a hefty price tag! Entry for Little Miss set me back nearly £19. I thought it was worth it for a day of fun, but I might feel differently if I had multiple children to pay for!
Next, we hopped on the bus to another IKEA for more of those delicious meatballs and mashed potatoes. Little Miss can be quite picky, so it’s always a safe bet to choose a place where I know she’ll enjoy the food. Plus, it’s budget-friendly, which is always a nice bonus!
The plan for the day was to head into central Stockholm, but we waited too long to buy our train tickets, and unfortunately, the times we wanted were all sold out. I made sure to reserve our tickets for the following day, though!
Top Tip: Buy your train tickets at the ticket machine to avoid any service fees. You can also have the screen translated into English for added convenience.
Day 3
We kicked off the day with another delicious breakfast at the hotel.
We purchased our return train tickets to Stockholm Central the night before for about £25. If you’re taking multiple kids into the city, those costs can add up quickly, so it might be worth considering a hotel in central Stockholm for convenience.
Our first stop was Junibacken, and it turned out to be one of the best days out we’ve ever had! The venue offers a plethora of magical activities inspired by the stories of Astrid Lindgren and other beloved children’s authors. You don’t need to be well-versed in Swedish children’s literature to appreciate this experience. It’s completely interactive, and I believe kids aged 12 and under would have a fantastic time exploring all it has to offer.
Next, we took a bus to Tekniska Museet (The Swedish National Museum of Science), which has been the best museum we’ve ever visited! I really wish we could have spent the entire day there, but we were feeling exhausted and hungry. The exhibitions are all interactive, making it perfect for families travelling with children. Almost all of the displays had English translations, although it seemed that the audio portions were primarily in Swedish. This wasn’t a major issue, though, as the hands-on experiences were engaging enough for everyone to enjoy!
Day 4
It was time to head home! We started the day with breakfast and then returned to our room to relax before check-out at 12 PM. With our flight scheduled for 4:05 PM, we knew we wouldn’t have time for much else.
There were plenty of other activities we could have explored, but time was not on our side. This just means we’ll have to return to Stockholm! For those looking for family-friendly activities, be sure to check out the Visit Stockholm website for a great list of things to do with kids. Additionally, here’s a fantastic list of attractions in Västerås.
If you’re planning a visit, you might also want to consider a Go City Stockholm pass to save money on various attractions.
A big thank you to Visit Stockholm for providing us with entry to Junibacken and Tekniska Museet—AD.
We had a wonderful time in Sweden and can’t wait for our next adventure. Next stop: Belgium!
