Sweden in May feels like someone hit the reset button on the country. After months of short, dark days, the Scandinavians emerge into 16–18 hours of daylight, outdoor cafés fill up the moment temperatures nudge past 15°C, and the entire country collectively exhales. It's one of the best windows to visit — warm enough for comfortable exploration, light enough to pack your days absurdly full, and just early enough in the season that you'll beat the summer rush.

This guide covers what to see in Stockholm and Gothenburg, how to make the most of Sweden's extraordinary late-spring daylight, practical tips for getting around, and how an eSIM keeps you connected across the country without the headaches of roaming charges or hunting for local SIM cards.

Why May Is the Sweet Spot for Sweden

Sweden's tourism season runs roughly from June to August, when prices peak and popular spots get crowded. May is the shoulder season that gives you nearly all the benefits of summer without the downsides. Temperatures in Stockholm average 10–18°C — cool mornings, pleasant afternoons, and evenings where you can sit outside with a jacket. Rain is possible but less frequent than in summer, and the air has that crisp Nordic clarity that makes everything look sharper.

The real showstopper is the daylight. By mid-May, Stockholm gets over 17 hours of sunlight, and in the north, the midnight sun is already taking hold. Even in the south, twilight barely darkens — the sky shifts from golden to pale blue and back to golden without ever going fully dark. It fundamentally changes how you travel. You can finish dinner at 8 PM and still have three hours of warm light for a walk along the waterfront.

Flights and hotels are noticeably cheaper than June and July. Many museums and attractions have already switched to summer hours, ferries to the Stockholm Archipelago are running, and outdoor markets are opening. The only downside? Some far-northern attractions and mountain trails may still have snow. But for city-focused and coastal travel, May is near-perfect.

Stockholm: 3–4 Days of Nordic Charm

Gamla Stan: The Medieval Heart

Stockholm's Old Town, Gamla Stan, is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Narrow cobblestone streets wind between ochre and rust-colored buildings dating back to the 13th century. Start at Stortorget, the main square where the Nobel Museum sits, then get deliberately lost in the alleys. You'll stumble onto tiny antique shops, the narrowest street in Stockholm (Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, just 90 cm wide), and quiet courtyards hidden behind heavy wooden doors.

The Royal Palace is here too — one of the largest in Europe with over 600 rooms. The daily Changing of the Guard ceremony happens at 12:15 PM and is worth catching at least once. Below the palace, the Royal Armoury houses centuries of royal costumes and coronation carriages.

Djurgården: Museums and Waterfront Walks

The island of Djurgården is Stockholm's cultural playground. The Vasa Museum is the headliner — it houses the Vasa, a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised nearly intact from Stockholm harbor 333 years later. It's one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia and genuinely jaw-dropping in person.

Next door, the ABBA Museum is more fun than you'd expect, with interactive exhibits that let you sing and dance alongside holograms of the band. Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum, recreates 150 years of Swedish life with historic buildings, workshops, and a zoo featuring Nordic animals like moose, lynx, and brown bears. In May, Skansen's gardens are in bloom and the outdoor sections are at their best.

Walk or bike along the waterfront path from Djurgården back to the city center — it's one of Stockholm's most beautiful stretches, with views across the harbor to Södermalm's cliffs.

Södermalm: Hipster Stockholm

South of the Old Town, Södermalm is Stockholm's creative neighborhood. It's where you'll find independent coffee roasters, vintage clothing shops, small galleries, and some of the city's best restaurants. The SoFo (South of Folkungagatan) area is the epicenter — walk along Nytorgsgatan and Skånegatan for the best café-hopping.

For the best free view in Stockholm, head to Monteliusvägen, a cliffside walkway on Södermalm's northern edge. At sunset (which in May means around 9 PM), the panorama across Gamla Stan and City Hall is stunning.

Get a Stockholm Pass (available for 1–5 days) if you plan to hit multiple museums. It includes entry to 60+ attractions, hop-on-hop-off boats, and the airport bus — easily worth it if you visit 3+ museums.

Stockholm Archipelago: 30,000 Islands

One of the most underrated things about Stockholm is that 30,000 islands lie right outside the city. In May, the archipelago ferry services resume their summer schedules, and you can hop on a boat from the city center and be on a quiet, pine-covered island in under an hour.

Popular day trips include Vaxholm (the gateway island with a historic fortress), Grinda (nature walks and kayaking), and Sandhamn (a sailing hub with beaches and a charming village). For a longer excursion, Möja and Utö offer overnight stays in tiny island guesthouses. Bring layers — it's always a few degrees cooler on the water.

Gothenburg: Sweden's West Coast Foodie Capital

Sweden's second city deserves more attention than it gets. Gothenburg sits on the west coast, about 3 hours from Stockholm by high-speed train, and has a completely different vibe — more laid-back, more maritime, and arguably better food.

Haga: Cozy Neighborhood Charm

The Haga district is all cobblestones, wooden houses, and legendary cinnamon buns. Swedish fika culture — the sacred daily coffee break — reaches its peak here. Café Husaren is famous for serving the biggest kanelbulle (cinnamon bun) in Sweden, roughly the size of your head. Walk through on a May morning when the sun is hitting the pastel-colored facades and you'll understand why Gothenburg keeps winning quality-of-life rankings.

Feskekôrka and Seafood

Gothenburg's fish market, Feskekôrka (the "Fish Church," named for its church-like architecture), is the place to try west coast seafood. Shrimp sandwiches, oysters from nearby Bohuslän, smoked salmon, and fish soup are the staples. In May, the seasonal langoustine and crab are at their best. The city regularly appears on lists of the best food cities in Europe, and seafood is the reason.

The Gothenburg Archipelago

Gothenburg's archipelago is smaller than Stockholm's but more accessible. Ferries run frequently to car-free islands like Styrsö, Brännö, and Vrångö. The vibe is casual — rent a bike, swim off the rocks (brave souls only in May), eat shrimp on the pier, and catch the last ferry back. It's the kind of day trip that makes you seriously consider moving to Sweden.

Beyond the Cities: Day Trips Worth Taking

Uppsala

Just 40 minutes north of Stockholm by train, Uppsala is Sweden's oldest university town. The massive Uppsala Cathedral (Scandinavia's tallest church), the university's 500-year-old botanical garden, and the Linnaeus Garden — where Carl Linnaeus developed his classification of living things — are all walkable from the train station. It's an easy half-day trip that pairs well with a morning in Stockholm.

The West Coast Bohuslän Trail

North of Gothenburg, the Bohuslän coast is a UNESCO-worthy landscape of smooth granite islands, fishing villages painted in reds and whites, and some of the best kayaking in Northern Europe. Marstrand, a small island dominated by a 17th-century fortress, is the most popular day trip and reachable by bus and ferry in about an hour.

Getting Around Sweden

Sweden's public transport is excellent and punctual. Between cities, SJ high-speed trains connect Stockholm to Gothenburg in about 3 hours and Stockholm to Malmö in 4.5 hours. Book early on the SJ website for the best fares — last-minute tickets can be three times the price.

Within Stockholm, the Tunnelbana (metro) is both efficient and famous for its art — over 90 of the 100 stations are decorated with sculptures, mosaics, and murals, making it one of the world's longest art galleries. Buy a 72-hour SL Access card for unlimited travel on metro, buses, trams, and ferries within the Stockholm region.

Taxis are expensive (a ride from Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm can cost 500–600 SEK / €45–55). Use the Arlanda Express train instead — it takes 20 minutes and costs about 300 SEK if booked online. For Gothenburg, the Flygbussarna airport bus is the most economical option.

Sweden is almost entirely cashless. Cards are accepted everywhere, and many places (including some buses) don't take cash at all. Make sure you have a contactless card or mobile payment set up before arriving.

Staying Connected: eSIM for Sweden

Reliable data is genuinely useful in Sweden. You'll need it for SJ train tickets (the app is easier than the website), SL transit cards, Google Maps navigation, restaurant reservations, ferry schedules, and translating the occasional Swedish menu. Stockholm and Gothenburg have excellent 5G coverage, and 4G extends well into rural areas and along most highways.

Your options for getting online: pay your home carrier's international roaming rates (typically expensive), buy a local prepaid SIM at a store (requires finding a Telia or Tre shop and dealing with activation), or simply activate an eSIM before you leave home and have data the moment you land.

eSIMzip's Europe 39-Country Plan

Sweden is covered by eSIMzip's Europe 39-country plan, meaning a single eSIM works across Sweden and 38 other European countries. If your trip includes a layover in Copenhagen, a ferry to Helsinki, or a side trip to Oslo, you're covered without swapping plans or buying additional SIMs.

For a typical 5–7 day city trip covering Stockholm and Gothenburg with regular maps, messaging, social media, and some video calls, 3–5 GB is usually enough. If you're streaming, working remotely, or spending a lot of time on video, go for 10+ GB.

How to Set Up Your eSIM

The process takes about five minutes. Purchase your plan on eSIMzip, scan the QR code with your phone's camera, and the eSIM installs as a secondary data line. Your existing physical SIM stays active for calls and texts on your home number. When you land in Sweden, switch your data to the eSIM line and you're online immediately — no store visits, no paperwork, no waiting.

Install your eSIM before you leave home while you still have WiFi. That way it's ready to activate the moment your plane touches down at Arlanda or Landvetter.

May Weather & Packing Tips

Stockholm in May averages 10–18°C during the day and 5–8°C at night. Gothenburg is a degree or two cooler on average, with more wind off the coast. Rain is possible but rarely heavy — expect occasional showers rather than all-day downpours.

Pack layers: a light down jacket or warm fleece for mornings and evenings, a waterproof shell for rain, comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones punish anything flimsy), sunglasses, and sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen — the May sun is stronger than you'd expect at 59°N, and with 17+ hours of daylight, cumulative exposure adds up. Bring a sleep mask if you're light-sensitive — Swedish hotels don't always have blackout curtains, and the sky barely darkens in late May.

Budget Expectations

Sweden is expensive but not as brutal as Norway or Iceland. A mid-range daily budget for one person covering accommodation, food, transport, and activities runs about €120–€180 per day. Hostels and budget hotels start around €60–€90 per night in Stockholm. A restaurant lunch is typically 120–180 SEK (€10–€16), and a nice dinner is 250–400 SEK (€22–€35). Coffee and a pastry at a café is about 80 SEK (€7).

Save money by taking advantage of Sweden's excellent supermarkets (ICA, Coop, Hemköp), packing lunch for day trips, using public transit instead of taxis, and visiting the many free attractions — Moderna Museet (modern art), Fotografiska (photography), and most churches are free or donation-based.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Swedish Spring Awaits

May in Sweden offers the rare combination of long days, mild weather, manageable crowds, and that particular Scandinavian quality of light that makes every photo look like it was professionally edited. Whether you're wandering Gamla Stan's medieval lanes, eating your way through Gothenburg's seafood scene, or island-hopping in the archipelago as the sun refuses to set, it's a trip that rewards the traveler who comes just slightly ahead of the crowd.