Vasa Museum blew both of us away, neither of us expected a shipwreck to be that moving to stand in front of. Drottningholm Palace afterward gave us a slower, gentler afternoon among beautiful gardens.

Strolling through Gamla Stan under the long summer twilight with my husband felt like something out of a film.

Standing inside the Vasa Museum was unforgettable, but Gamla Stan at midday in July was shoulder-to-shoulder tourists and not the intimate old town we'd pictured. Early mornings there were far better, so plan around the crowds.

Scenery and history are lovely but our hotel check in took nearly an hour with no clear explanation, which was a frustrating start after a long flight. The rest of the week made up for it though, especially the archipelago cruise.

Royal Palace and Gamla Stan together make for a wonderful half day of history and charm. Stockholm as a city is on the pricier side for casual meals, something to budget for beyond the package cost.

Drottningholm's gardens hand in hand with my wife were the quiet romantic afternoon we didn't know we needed.