At my company, once you hit the 5-year mark, you’re eligible for something called a Recharge — basically a well-earned break to reset and refresh. Mine was due last year, but the timing just wasn’t right then. So I pushed it to this summer and used the chance to mix a bit of solo travel (first time ever!) with some family time, since my husband couldn’t take off for too long.
So here’s the first leg — 10 days on my own. A brand new experience for me, and something I’ll remember for a long time.
First Stop: Toronto (3 Days)
Started the trip in familiar territory — spending time with family and my little nephew in Toronto. Easygoing, warm, and grounding — just what I needed before setting off on my own.
Stockholm (3 Days)
I loved Stockholm. It’s elegant, creative, and has this quiet energy that really grows on you.
Things I did:
Stayed in Gamla Stan (the old town) — charming and cobbled, full of character.
- Walking tour, Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and City Hall
- Explored Södermalm for some hipster vibes
- Visited Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum, Skansen
- Took the Archipelago Tour
- Wandered around T-Centralen and King's Garden
- Metro station-hopping on the blue line — trust me, it’s like a moving art exhibit - Follow this for the metro stop details - https://rainbowtoursstockholm.com/en/stockholm-metro/
Food I tried:
- Swedish meatballs (of course)
- Princess cake (sweet and soft)
- Swedish cinnamon rolls — yum!
Final Stop: Copenhagen (3 Days)
Colorful, quirky, and effortlessly cool — Copenhagen has a personality of its own.
Things I did:
- Walked around Nyhavn, took a boat tour
- Explored Freetown Christiania — totally different vibe!
- Rosenborg Castle, Marble Church, and the Little Mermaid
- Walking tour again (love doing these in new cities)
- Evening at Tivoli Gardens — felt magical
- Hung out at Reffen, an open-air street food spot with amazing vibes
Food I tried:
- Juno Bakery (just go. Please.)
- Buka — loved it
- Reffen — endless choices and the atmosphere was top notch
General Travel Notes:
- No need to carry cash — cards work everywhere in both cities.
- You can get tax refunds on shopping, but it’s not super straightforward — factor in some time at the airport.
- Public transport is brilliant. I used metro, buses, ferries — all smooth.
- In Stockholm, I used a 72-hr digital pass on my phone — super handy.
- SL App for Stockholm - I got the 72 hour ticket in the app, and it was useful for all Metro, the Ferry and the bus.
- In Copenhagen, it’s a physical 72-hr card, but no swiping in/out required.
- In Copenhagen, I just took a 72 hour ticket from the machine, I did not have an app, and carried the ticket with me. There is no swipe in and out in Copenhagen metros.
- Extremely safe cities. As a solo woman traveler, I felt completely at ease.
- Heads up: both are expensive. Not gonna lie.
- If you’re looking for budget finds:
- Flying Tiger is like the Danish version of a dollar store.
- Netto is your go-to supermarket in Copenhagen.
Note: I didn’t explore beyond the city centers this time — so this post is all about Stockholm and Copenhagen themselves.
Thoughts on Solo Travel:
This was my first time traveling solo, and wow — it’s something else. I think your experience depends a lot on where you go. For me, I picked Stockholm and Copenhagen because I knew they were safe, well-connected, and friendly to travelers.
A few things that made a big difference
- Public transport is a game changer. No worrying about driving, parking, or planning too much
- AirTags in your luggage. Mine got lost, but because of the AirTag, I could track it and eventually got it back.
- A solid shoulder bag. I brought one that fit everything I needed for the day and sat comfortably. Lifesaver.
- Stay connected. I shared my location with my husband and a couple of friends throughout.
- I also had a local contact in both places — not mandatory, but definitely reassuring.
- Planning tip: Have a loose plan for each day. I didn’t do minute-by-minute planning, but I had a general outline which gave me structure without feeling boxed in.
- Do a walking tour on Day 1. You get a lay of the land, local tips, historical context, and recommendations from the guide. Totally worth it.
- I booked my walking tours through this app call Guru Walks.
The Inner Experience of Traveling Alone
There’s something beautifully quiet about solo travel. You see something stunning — a sunset, an artwork, a moment — and you don’t have anyone to nudge and say, “Look at that!” It’s just you and the moment.And that’s kind of the magic. You’re fully present, a little in your head, a little in awe. You learn to enjoy your own company.
- Get comfy eating at a restaurant alone (headphones help).
- Be open to spontaneous moments — I randomly joined two girls practicing a dance in Gamla Stan and it turned out to be one of my favorite memories!
- Carry a selfie stick. Yes, it’s a hassle. But totally worth it to capture your memories without constantly asking strangers.
- Always stay aware of your surroundings.
- You wake up, and you know you have the whole time to yourself.
- If your someone who loves to connect with people and chat most of the times, then I kinda filled that gap by connecting with a few friends and family over whatsapp.
- And most importantly — just soak it all in.
Detailed Blog( Mainly for my memory)
I left for the airport feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation—leaving the kids behind, the recent air crash in India, and the idea of flying solo across multiple legs had me uneasy. But I was also excited to meet family in Toronto.
Preetam, my neighbor, dropped me off, and that small gesture meant the world—he even came all the way inside to help with check-in, which helped settle my nerves. After check-in, I grabbed a coffee from Equator Coffee but skipped lunch. I also realized I’d forgotten to pack an AirTag but decided to let it go.
Once on board, I was served a fruit and cheese platter and oats—simple, filling, and perfect. I watched Gulmohar, a heartwarming movie with beautiful performances. Next, I watched The Three of Us starring Shefali Shah—another moving film. A great way to start my trip.
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| Start of travel with lots of hugs |
Upon landing in Toronto, I breezed through immigration and met my cousins Anand, Abi, and Chesta right outside. The car ride home was full of chatter. At home, I was welcomed warmly by Cheriachan, Cheriamma, Achu, and the absolute star—baby Aviraj! After some herbal tea and catching up, they set up an air mattress for me, and I ended the day speaking to Sree and Pappu and replying to messages and calling it a night.
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| cousins! |
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| My uncle and aunt |
Day 2: Family Time & Grocery Adventures
The household woke up early around 6:30 am. I made instant coffee for everyone and spent most of the morning playing with Avi kuttan. Later in the day, We opened the gifts I had shipped earlier—everyone loved them, especially because the central theme of all gifts was the new addition to the family.
Abi and Chesta gave me a tour of their impressive apartment complex—gym, party room, kitchen, and more. Later, Anand and I went for a grocery run that turned into a half-day mission! We visited Indian stores in Mississauga, then a mall to fix Anand’s sandal, Costco, and Walmart. We reached home to some yummy Rajma and rice which we gobbled up quickly which Chesta had made.
I decided to make pav bhaji for the evening as Chinnan and family were coming. I prepped the bhaji and made tea for everyone. In the evening, Chinnan’s family visited. I met Chinnan’s daughter for the first time. It was a food-heavy day—idli and sambar in the morning, rajma and rice for lunch, pazhampori and egg puffs in the evening, and finally pav Bhaji. To walk it off, Abi, Chesta, and I went for a long walk in the night and clocked in over 10,000 steps.
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| cousins re-union |
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| late night walks |
Day 3: Gym, Biriyani & Movie Time
Slept in a bit and spent the morning with Avi, followed by herbal tea. Holding Avi is my favorite part of the whole Toronto experience. It brings back memories of me holding my two children as they were born. After checking messages and catching up with home, I hit the gym for a quick workout.
Back home, I was welcomed by the smell of delicious biriyani, courtesy of Cheriachan.
After lunch, we watched Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam—a gripping Mammootty film. I dozed off midway, but later resumed it and truly appreciated his performance.
After some filter coffee, I did a bit of research on Stockholm with Cheriachan and Cheriamma.
We ended the night with a walk and watched Abi and Chesta’s wedding video—such a lovely way to close the day. It was fun to see all the dances and watch both sides dance and especially Abi, Achu, Cheriamma, Thankalla and everyone else dance.
Day 4: Goodbyes & Off to Stockholm
Woke up early to make kadala curry, which turned out great. Cheriamma made puttu to go with it. Spent time with Avi and checked in for my next flight. I also set up the AirTag I’d picked up.
Abi and I squeezed in one last gym session. Then I made bhindi fry while the others cooked chicken and rice.
We ate, packed, and took turns playing with Avi. After heartfelt goodbyes, Abi and Anand dropped me off at the airport.
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| Goodbyes |
Checked in, took the shuttle to the terminal, and waited at the gate. I chatted with Sree and saw the kids briefly. I got a small keychain to hang on my purse to remember my Toronto leg by.
Watched Ocean’s 11 onboard and had oatmeal before dozing off.
Day 5: Lost Luggage & Stockholm Woes
Landed in Iceland for my transfer to Stockholm, only to find my luggage hadn’t made it by checking the air tag. It still showed in Toronto airport. I hoped it was a system delay, but at Stockholm airport, my worst fear came true—it was indeed lost.
I filed a report and boarded the Arlanda Express to the city.
Navigating from Stockholm Central to my hotel was a bit tricky with no clear signs for the metro and lugging hand baggage alone. Finally I found the right entrance to metro and got down at Gamla Stan. The station was only a short walk from my hotel.
The hotel was quaint and vintage—perfect for a solo traveler. Instead of enjoying this moment of solo travel, my exact feelings during this time was a bit of frustration at the lost luggage, and anxiety on how my next three days will be planned out with this additional shopping that I need to do.
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| My room- Gamla Stan |
I ventured out to find toiletries and essentials, using ChatGPT to guide me, though I initially walked in the wrong direction. A kind couple helped me find a street which had most shops and a small mall. Before shopping, I grabbed a bite and coffee—I was starving. It was not the best sandwich or coffee I had, but it was the first meal in a completely new country, alone, and instead of feeling excited, that one moment I kinda saw myself holding my tears. I think it was because I realized I had no clothing, don't know how much I need to spend on all these clothings, and most importantly where to exactly find them.
But I soon, snapped myself out of that moment because I did not have a choice, and got into shopping mode.
My first stop, a small shop for some essentials, then my second stop was to grab some essential make up, and then I got into this mall called Ringen and I found a lingerie store, and also a store that sold women’s clothing. After trial and error I got my dress for the next day, and day after, and then went to this mall called Ahlens which apparently is the big mall there, got myself a hair straightner. With all of this, and generally grieving my lost luggage, I took the metro back to Gamla Stan.After a brief break at my hotel, where I called and spoke to my cousin and family in Sweden, I went out for a walk.
That evening, I explored Gamla Stan. It was charming and lifted my mood a little. I walked as the sun set and saw the orange hues.
I explored couple of side streets to get the lay of the land. I also found the roof terrace in my hotel which was also very cute.
I was exhausted—physically and emotionally. Being alone, jet-lagged, and dealing with missing luggage was overwhelming. I stayed up late coordinating with the airline, barely sleeping.
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| Gamla stan |
Day 6: Walking Tour, Vasa Museum & Frustration
Started the day with more baggage drama. Then, I had a great hotel breakfast—marmalade, hot chocolate, smoothie, cereal, and a pastry. Took pictures from the rooftop before heading to Gamla Stan for a walking tour.
The 2-hour tour was fantastic and helped me get my bearings in the city. The tour guide also gave me some tips on some thrift stores. I had lunch—authentic Swedish meatballs—then returned to the hotel for a quick rest and battery recharge.
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| Very tasty chocolate ball |
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| Stockholm postcard |
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| Trying meatballs. |
Later, I visited the Vasa Museum—absolutely stunning and worth every minute. Called Icelandair again. Still no bag. Frustrated, I asked my cousins in Toronto to visit their office directly.
Sree called to remind me to enjoy and have fun, instead of worrying so much about luggage. I was still emotional about my luggage loss and vented out to Sree. But again, what he said was true and to the point. So I decided I will let go and move on as much as I can.
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| Vasa Museum |
That night, I visited a few shops including a thrift store and H&M, then relaxed in Kungsträdgården with ice cream. Exhaustion hit me hard, and after another round of calls to the airline, I finally crashed—at 6 AM.
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| Kungsträdgården |
Day 7: Dancing, Princess Cake & Finally—My Bag!
Woke up at 12:30 PM and realized I had missed my morning boat tour. Booked a 3:30 PM one instead. Grabbed a slice of princess cake—it was super sweet but a must-try! I had a quiet moment enjoying it.
After this, I walked to two beautiful cathedrals. On the way, i happened to walk into a space thinking it was an exhibition and I saw a couple of girls dancing in a garden. They invited me to join, and I ended up learning their choreography and teaching them Bharatanatyam. It was such a joyful and unexpected moment. I captured a video of this dance for my memory.
Took the boat tour and met a lovely couple—Ken and Susan (he works at Bloomberg).
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| Fun loving locals with whom I danced! |
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| Princess cake |
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| Cathedral |
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| Archipelago tour |
Later, explored a stunning subway station with artistic murals and sculptures. After this, I went to Uniqlo to complete my shopping in no hopes of finding my bag. Then came the best news of the day—Icelandair found my bag! To celebrate, I had dinner at Pastis—amazing wine, a great salad, delicious pasta, and a perfect dessert. What a turnaround. And a dinner alone was not bad. With some good food in, I reflected on the wonderful day I had.
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| Kungsträdgården station |
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| Pastis Restaurant,Gamla Stan |
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| Metro Art |
Day 8: Stockholm Finale – Culture, Views & Subways
Woke early to maximize my last day. Walked to two beautiful viewpoints in Södermalm with panoramic views of the city. Then visited Stockholm City Hall—its architecture was truly grand. I took a guided tour here. This is where the Nobel price banquet happens.
Took a ferry to the island with the ABBA Museum and Skansen.
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| Sodermalm view |
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| City hall |
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| Abba Museum |
The ABBA Museum was super interactive and fun—karaoke, dance floors, and exhibits. Skansen gave a glimpse of old Swedish life. I got a pair of mugs from here.
Got a call from the airport—my luggage had arrived! Took the ferry back to Gamla Stan, did a quick tour of the Royal Palace (loved it more than Versailles—elegant and not overwhelming), then rushed to the airport to pick up my bag via Arlanda Express.
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| Skansen |
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| Skansen |
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| Stockholm Royal Palace |
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| United with my suitcase |
Returned to the city, did a Uniqlo return, just in time and realized Sweden has a tax refund system for tourists—which no one told me about earlier. Bit annoyed but let it go after a pep talk from Sree.
Ended the night exploring Stockholm’s artistic metro stations—a true hidden gem. Wrapped up with a lovely Italian dinner and packed for the next leg.
Day 9: Hello, Copenhagen!
Left early for my flight to Copenhagen. Took a cab to Arlanda Express, reached the airport, and faced another round of luggage reshuffling—my suitcase was overweight again. Managed it and boarded the flight on time.
Landed in just an hour, and thankfully, my luggage arrived! Took a cab to the hotel and checked in smoothly. Did an early check-in and napped for an hour before setting out.
Copenhagen immediately struck me as clean, charming, and full of character—reminded me a bit of Amsterdam. Navigated the metro and headed to Nyhavn, the postcard-perfect waterfront. It was just as vibrant and beautiful as it looks online.
Tried smørrebrød for the first time at a local restaurant—it was okay, but rye bread isn’t really for me. Took in the harbor views, and later booked a boat tour that gave a lovely overview of the city’s architecture and history.
Took a coffee break and spoke to Sree and the kids before exploring more. My selfie stick was quite handy here!
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| Nyhavn |
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| smørrebrød |
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| Boat tour |
After that, I walked to Freetown Christiania, a hippie district filled with colorful murals and artsy vibes. now this area can feel a bit sketchy especially in the evening time that I had gone. So I found a mom and son walking and I just decided to walk with them for a bit instead of doing the full thing solo.
After sometime, I ventured solo again taking pics of this town.
Returned to Nyhavn to exchange a souvenir, then headed back to the hotel. A hot shower and sleep brought the day to a close.
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| Freetown Christiana |
Day 10: Castles, Churches & Kind people
Started the day with a hearty hotel breakfast before heading out for a 2.5-hour walking tour. It was packed with insights into Copenhagen’s history and helped orient me well.
After that, I visited The Frederik's Church (Marble Church) and climbed up to the dome for panoramic views.
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| Oldest building in Copenhagen |
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| Frederik's Church |
Then rushed to Rosenborg Castle for a guided tour. Explored the treasury and opulent rooms—it felt like a slice of Danish royalty.
Stopped at a nearby bakery Buka, which also came with recommendation, for a pastry and coffee, then called Sree to catch up. I loved the pastry, but also a bit too much pastry the last few days for me.
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| Rosenberg Castle |
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| Buka! |
Later, headed out to meet a couple (family friends) for the first time. Though we hadn’t met before, they were warm and welcoming. Did laundry at their place, went for a walk near the Carlsberg Museum, and enjoyed a delicious home-cooked biryani dinner. They even dropped me back at the hotel—so thoughtful. Took a few quick calls and ended the night.
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| With friends!! |
Day 11: Bakeries, Art & Reffen Vibes
Woke up by 7:30 and Ubered to Juno Bakery, known for its cardamom buns. Waited in line for 30 minutes—but it was totally worth it. The cardamom bun and almond croissant were divine.
Walked to GRØD to try their famous oatmeal, but I was too full and didn’t enjoy the coffee much—ended up wasting most of it.
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| Juno Bakery Cinnamon Bun!- So tasty |
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| Almond Croissant |
Next stop: The Little Mermaid statue. Took a combination of metro and long walk to get there. Snapped a few pics, took a restroom break, and walked back. Visited The Royal Danish Library, a.k.a. The Black Diamond. A sleek, modern building and a quiet oasis to pause and reflect. Exhausted by then, I took a cab back to the hotel and napped for 2 hours.
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| The little mermaid |
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| View from the Danish Library! |
In the evening, went to Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second-oldest amusement park. Walked around, enjoyed the atmosphere, and did some people-watching. From there, figured out the route to Reffen, an open-air food market by the water.
Reffen had such a cool, youthful vibe—lively music, lights, and food stalls from all over the world. Had chana with rice, green juice, and pani puri. Ended up chatting with a few undergrad students at a shared table—sweet kids.
Walked around, took in the vibe, and headed back. Packed up and made some calls before turning in.
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| Tivoli! |
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| Reffen - Street food market |
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| My hotel in the sunset. |
Day 12: Flight to Iceland & A Warm Welcome in Reykjavik
Slept only a little, but managed to wake up, get ready, and head to the airport in a cab. As usual, had to reshuffle luggage again due to weight, but eventually sorted it out.
Slept through the short flight and arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland!
Collected my luggage, hopped on the Flybus to the BSI terminal, then took a local shuttle to my apartment.
Was able to check in early, get settled, freshen up, and dash out just in time for the walking tour of Reykjavik.
The tour was fantastic—laid-back, informative, and gave a great introduction to the city’s culture, landmarks, and quirky history.
Met a lovely couple—Deepa and Sathish—during the tour, and we spent the rest of the day together. Grabbed lunch at an Indian restaurant (though a small bowl of paneer and rice cost $50!).
Visited Hallgrímskirkja church, admired the view, and then stopped at a cafe for some unique rye bread ice cream and hot chocolate. This I loved.
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| Start of walking tour |
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| So many colorful buildings |
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| Inside Hallgiskirkja |
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| I think everyone knows this church :) |
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| Harpa |
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| With Deepa and Satish |
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| Sun voyager |
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