Under $100: Stockholm

Stockholm, Sweden, is one of the most diverse capital cities in the world, where modern attractions meet historic charm for a truly inspired atmosphere. The city is spread across 14 islands, spotted with royal palaces, historic architecture and grand sweeps of parkland, forest and lakeshore beaches. A $100 day in this city would be about 834 kr, or Swedish Krona.

Cafe String © Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho | Flickr

Start your day with a kick at Sosta, an espresso bar that might as well be a portal to the heart of Italy. The coffee and espresso is simple, and extremely high quality. They don’t accept ATM cards, so be prepared with at least 10 kr for a single espresso. But for breakfast, head to Cafe String, where you can get an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffer for 80 kr. Pile on the French bread, egg, meats and cheese, fruits and veggies, pancakes and endless coffee.

Spend your afternoon wandering Gamla Stan, the “Old Town” of Stockholm and original city center, packed with colored townhouses, cobbled streets and specialty shops. Take a tour of The Royal Palace while you’re in the area, which includes a 45-minute walk through the treasury and royal apartments. The entrance fee is 150 kr.

Gamla Stan © Jonybigude | Dreamstime

For lunch, indulge in some vegetarian fare at Gro Restaurang. Sit next to the chef’s counter to watch your meal expertly prepared in action. You choose from a small selection of specialty plates, chosen new every day and you can also add meat like goat or Swedish sausage to your dish. Meals cost roughly 100 kr.

Ketchup Sandwich by Paul McCarthy (1970) in the Moderna Museet © Tomislav Medak | Flickr

When in Stockholm, you must set aside time to explore the Moderna Museet, or Modern Art Museum. They hold one of the world’s finest collections of 20^th– and 21^st-century art, with a photography exhibition dating back to 1840. Admission is 100/120 kr, or 160/180 kr for a combined ticket with Architecture and Design Center.

At dinnertime, you’ll want to nab a table at Soldaten Svejk, a pub-style modern European restaurant with generous portions. The food is a mix of Central European, Swedish and Balkan dishes, like evappi, schnitzel and raggmunk, and they include some rare beers on their draft list.