How to Travel to Stockholm from Canada on points

You can easily travel to Stockholm from Canada on points.

Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, stands as a captivating travel destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and contemporary allure. Steeped in historic charm, the Old Town (Gamla Stan) enchants visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, vibrant buildings, and iconic landmarks like the Royal Palace. The city’s cultural richness unfolds in its diverse museums, such as the Vasa Museum, ABBA: The Museum, and the Nobel Museum, offering glimpses into Sweden’s maritime legacy, musical prowess, and contributions to science and literature.

Situated across a series of islands, Stockholm provides breathtaking waterfront vistas, with opportunities for boat rides, island exploration, and leisurely strolls along the water. Beyond its historic allure, the city embraces modern design and architecture, seamlessly integrating the contemporary with the traditional. Outdoor enthusiasts can revel in the city’s parks, like Djurgården, while the warmer months offer a plethora of outdoor activities and water sports.

The culinary scene in Stockholm is a delightful fusion of traditional Swedish fare and international cuisine, with local markets and fine dining establishments catering to varied tastes. The city’s safety, cleanliness, and efficient public transportation further enhance the overall travel experience. While Stockholm’s cost of living may be relatively high, the city’s wealth of attractions, efficient infrastructure, and a harmonious blend of old and new make it a compelling and rewarding destination for those seeking a memorable travel experience.

Unfortunately, the cost of traveling to Stockholm is expensive, and many Canadians simply view a vacation to this beautiful Swedish city as out of their price range.

Fortunately, here in Canada, we have access to travel programs that can reduce the cost of your Swedish vacation by upwards of 80%, leaving more money in your pocket, and more freedom to experience some of the world-class excursions that Stockholm offers. 

In this post, we’ll show you how you can travel to Stockholm from Canada on points, and the different ways to earn and use your travel points to ensure you’re getting MAXIMUM value on your redemption.

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OUR THEORETICAL VACATION

For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll be booking a 5-night, 6-day vacation focusing on a stay in downtown Stockholm.

Our theoretical stay will be 5 nights at the Hotel Skeppsholmen, a 4 Star hotel operated by Marriott.

We’ll show an itinerary for 1 individual. If you are traveling with someone, your traveling companion can use the same credit cards suggested below to earn even more points.

FLIGHT CASH VALUE

Below, we can see the cash value of an economy, and business class ticket to Stockholm from Canada’s 3 major hubs (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal).

Note: prices are subject to change

HOW TO TRAVEL TO Stockholm FROM CANADA ON POINTS

FLIGHT OPTION #1a: FLY TO stockholm FROM CANADA ON POINTS WITH AIR CANADA USING AEROPLAN

Your Complete Guide to Aeroplan

Aeroplan (and Air Canada) is the most popular travel currency in Canada, so it only makes sense that we determine the amount of Aeroplan points required for our flight to Stockholm

Aeroplan leverages dynamic pricing, meaning redemptions show a range of points for Air Canada flights. More popular flights cost more.

Air Canada operates seasonal (summer) flights from Toronto & Montreal to Stockholm

FLIGHT OPTION #1B: USING AEROPLAN PARTNER AIRLINES TO FLY TO Stockholm FROM CANADA ON POINTS

While dynamic pricing can be terrible, the good news is that Aeroplan has a number of partner airlines that only require a fixed number of points.

All Aeroplan partner flights to Europe are subject to this award chart:

While this seems like an easy way to redeem your points, there are a limited number of award seats made available by partner airlines, and certain airlines only release economy-class award space.

THERE ARE A FEW PARTNER AIRLINES YOU CAN LEVERAGE FOR YOUR TRIP TO Stockholm

Lufthansa Airlines

Lufthansa operates flights from Montreal, Toronto & Vancouver to Stockholm, connecting through Germany

Lufthansa Airlines leverages the Aeroplan partner carrier award chart above, which in most cases means a cheaper flight. This is great for Economy class tickets with Lufthansa.

Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award space for business class flights 14-20 days in advance of the flight. While waiting for award space to open up may be difficult when planning a vacation, it usually provides the best use of your points in terms of value

Lufthansa Airlines also flies out of a number of US Cities en route to Stockholm:

• Boston
• New York
• Philadelphia
• Washington
• Detroit
• Chicago
• Atlanta
• Dallas
• Austin
• Houston
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• San Fransisco
• Seattle

Other Aeroplan Partners You Can Take to Stockholm

• Scandinavian Airlines flies directly to Stockholm from Toronto & Montreal. Flights do not occur in the winter months, and award seats can be tough to come by at times. This would represent your most direct route to Stockholm via Aeroplan’s partner airlines
• Swiss flies out of Montreal to Zurich and on to Stockholm
• Austrian Airlines flies out of Montreal to Vienna, and on to Stockholm
• United Airlines flies out of Toronto to the Eastern United States, and on to Stockholm

WHICH CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO FLY TO Stockholm FROM CANADA ON POINTS WITH AEROPLAN

Whether you’re flying economy or business class, you’ll need to focus on collecting Membership Rewards and Aeroplan points. There are 2 credit cards that we’ll be focusing on to get you to Stockholm.

Note: credit card signup bonuses vary over the course of the year. Please check for the latest signup offer

1. THE AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM CARD

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio

The $799 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 70,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
  • 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase between months 14-17 of cardmembership
• Earn Rate: 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel, groceries & dining
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 annual travel credit
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
  • $200 annual dining credit
  • $100 Nexus rebate
  • Instant Gold status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honors
  • Special discounts for cardholders
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $799 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 100,000 Membership Rewards is a great sign-up bonus, more than enough to get you to Stockholm

Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $799 (minus the $200 travel credit & $200 annual dining credit) annual fee is worth spending after year one.

Read our full review here

You can also earn Membership Rewards through a number of other personal credit cards including: 

• American Express Gold
• American Express Cobalt 
• American Express Green Card

2. TD AEROPLAN VISA INFINITE 

You can earn Aeroplan points with co-branded credit cards. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a great way to earn FREE Aeroplan points.

The cost for the card is $0 for the first year, and then $139 annually, & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
  • 20,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points on renewal after spending $7,500 in the first year
    • Total of 40,000 Aeroplan points
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on food, beverage, gas & travel
  • 1 Aeroplan point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $1,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $5,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • First bag free on Air Canada flights
  • Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights
  • $100 NEXUS credit
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 you spend on the card

Read our review of the card

While this card isn’t as strong as some of American Express’ top cards, we live in a world where AMEX isn’t accepted at many retail locations in Canada. As a result, it’s good to have a solid visa in your wallet as well. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite provides a great, FREE way to earn a large amount of Aeroplan points, and it can be a great backup to the high annual fee cards in the market. the 40,000 Aeroplan points will get you a free economy ticket with Air Canada.

You can read which other cards offer Aeroplan points here

FLYING TO Stockholm WITH AEROPLAN – FINANCIAL SUMMARY

The average value of 1 Aeroplan point is 2.1 cents per point. We will hope to receive a higher value when redeeming with Aeroplan points.

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$1,290		$9,044
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	37,300	3.31 cents/point	206,200	4.36 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	2.84 cents/point	70,000	12.71 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$1,336		$7,688
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	32,000	3.97 cents/point	197,500	3.97 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	3.00 cents/point	70,000	10.79 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$1,304		$7,895
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	32,000	3.87 cents/point	197,500	3.96 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	2.92 cents/point	70,000	11.09 cents/point

As you can see, the best option to fly to Stockholm from Canada on points is to leverage Air Canada’s partner airlines, especially if you can source a business-class ticket.

FLIGHT OPTION #2: FLY USING AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE MILES

In the world of points redemptions, you need a certain level of flexibility. Sometimes, you’ll be planning a vacation only to find out that there is no award availability on a particular flight, or that the number of points needed has increased drastically (especially in the case of Air Canada’s dynamic pricing).

That’s why it’s great to have another option. 

We mentioned above the value of transferring your American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Thankfully, Membership Rewards can also be transferred to Air France/Flying Blue miles at a 1:0.75 ratio. 

KLM & Air France have flights to Stockholm out of Vancouver Toronto and Montreal which connect through Amsterdam & Paris respectfully.

Note: Air France also flies out of Ottawa & Quebec City

Note: KLM also flies out of Calgary & Edmonton

WHICH CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO FLY TO Stockholm FROM CANADA ON POINTS USING AIR FRANCE/KLM

1. THE AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM CARD

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to KLM/Flying Blue at a 1:0.75 ratio

The $799 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 70,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
  • 30,000 MR points upon making a purchase between months 14-17 of cardmembership
• Earn Rate: 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel, groceries & dining
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • $200 annual travel credit
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
  • $200 annual dining credit
  • $100 Nexus rebate
  • Instant Gold status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honors
  • Special discounts for cardholders
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $799 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 100,000 Membership Rewards is a great sign-up bonus, more than enough to get you to Stockholm with Flying Blue

Read our full review here

HOTEL OPTION #1: MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS

Marriott Bonvoy points are the easiest hotel currency to collect in Canada. They also have the benefit of being a transfer partner of American Express. If you want to use points for your hotel stay, this is the easiest way to do it

If you’re traveling on points for an extended period of time, it’s you should leverage Marriott’s “Fifth Night Free” promotion, which can go a long way in enhancing the value of your vacation. 

4 nights paid for with points = 5th night free.

If your goal is to use Bonvoy points for the entire duration of your hotel stay, staying 5 nights enhances your redemption by 20%. It’s something you should seriously consider if you’re going the points route

Below we can see the cash & points value of a 5-night stay at the Hotel Skeppsholmen

WHAT CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO STAY 5 NIGHTS IN Stockholm ON POINTS

1. THE AMERICAN EXPRESS MARRIOTT BONVOY CARD

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card is Marriott’s sponsored card in Canada. 

Sign up here

The annual fee of $120 (reduced to $60 if you sign up through Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 50,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $1,500 in the first 3 months
• Earning Rate: 
  • 5 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 2 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $500,000
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance 
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • 15 Elite qualifying nights & instant Silver status within Marriott’s loyalty program
  • Annual free night, up to 35,000 points

Read our full review here

2. AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS EDGE

The American Express Business Edge card offers a strong signup bonus, along with strong everyday earnings.

The cost for the card is $99 ($24 with a $75 rebate through Great Canadian Rebates), & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 45,500 Membership Rewards upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 1,000 Membership Rewards each month in which you spend $3,000
  • 10 Membership Rewards on office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of cardmembership (up to 10,000 points)
    • Total of 67,000 Membership Rewards
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on eligible food & drink (groceries not included), office supplies, electronics & gas
  • 1 Membership Reward for everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • You can be insured for eligible items charged to your American Express Business Edge Card for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft
  • Automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year 
• Perks
  • Occasional discounts on select products

Read our full review here

2. American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is another great way to earn Membership Rewards.

The $250 (Reduced to $125 with a $125 rebate with Great Canadian Rebates) annual fee is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 5,000 MR points each month you spend $1,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel, grocery, drugstore & gas stations 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000 (15 days of coverage)
  • Car Rental Insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $1,500
  • Trip Interruption Insurance – up to $1,500
  • Flight Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Hotel Burglary Insurance – up to $500
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance – up to $500
• Perks
  • $100 Annual Travel Credit
  • Special discounts for cardholders, which are sent via email
  • $100 Nexus Credit
• Lounge Access
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (4 passes)

Here are a few considerations you should make for your trip:

1. One of the best (and cheapest) ways to fly business class to Stockholm is with Lufthansa Airlines (or Aeroplan’s other partner airlines). Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award availability for business class seats 14-28 days before departure. It can be stressful/difficult for people to wait until the last minute to book a flight. If you’re one of these people, you can always book a refundable economy ticket (either with cash or points), see if any business class seats open up on a Lufthansa flight, and then subsequently cancel your refundable ticket. 

2. If you have Aeroplan elite status, this would be a great opportunity to leverage your e-upgrade credits for an Air Canada flight (if you can’t get on a partner airline), as the cost of business class Air Canada tickets can be extremely high given Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing. 

3. If you’re focused on solely flying business class, you can book an Air France/KLM award flight up to a year in advance. As you can see from the Air France /KLM table, it is in your best interest to book the discounted (50,000,000 points) award flight. This will require some flexibility, as these discounted award flights are not offered daily

4. If are satisfied with economy bookings, the American Express Platinum and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite will be all that you need to fly to (and from) Stockholm.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY TABLE 

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee (with GCR rebate)
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	40,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	50,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Gold	60,000 Membership Rewards (72,000 Bonvoy Points)	$125
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$209

Flying economy, you can fly to and from Stockholm from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Hotel Skeppsholmen all for 209 + taxes & fees.

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee (with GCR rebate)
American Express Platinum	70,000 Membership Rewards (70,000 Aeroplan Points)	$799
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	40,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	50,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
American Express Gold	60,000 Membership Rewards (72,000 Bonvoy Points)	$125
Total		$733

Flying business, you can fly to and from Stockholm from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Hotel Skeppsholmen all for $1,008 + taxes & fees.

CONCLUSION

A journey to Stockholm promises a harmonious blend of historical enchantment and modern allure, making it a truly captivating destination for travelers. From the medieval charm of Gamla Stan to the contemporary design scattered across the archipelago, Stockholm offers a diverse tapestry of experiences.

The city’s museums unfold the pages of Sweden’s rich history, while its outdoor spaces and waterfront views provide a picturesque backdrop for exploration. The culinary scene, marrying traditional Swedish flavors with international influences, adds a delectable dimension to the travel experience. Stockholm’s commitment to safety, cleanliness, and efficient public transportation further elevates the overall journey.

While mindful of the relatively higher cost, the city’s wealth of attractions and seamless fusion of old-world charm and modern sophistication make it an undeniable gem for those seeking not just a destination, but an immersive and unforgettable adventure.

By leveraging travel programs like Aeroplan, KLM/Flying Blue & Marriott Bonvoy, you can fly, and spend 6 days in Stockholm for $1,000 or less. This can be a dream vacation, without the crazy travel costs.

WHAT TO DO IN Stockholm

Stockholm offers a plethora of activities and attractions for visitors. Here are some highlights of things to do in the city:

• Explore Gamla Stan (Old Town): Wander through the narrow cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s charming Old Town. Discover historic buildings, quaint shops, and visit the Royal Palace.
• Visit Museums: Stockholm is home to various museums catering to different interests. Explore the Vasa Museum, dedicated to a 17th-century warship, or immerse yourself in Swedish culture at the Nordic Museum. The ABBA Museum and the Skansen open-air museum are also popular choices.
• Royal Palace: Tour the official residence of the Swedish monarch, the Royal Palace. Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony and explore the various rooms and museums within the palace.
• Djurgården: This island offers a mix of green spaces, museums, and attractions. Visit Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum, or enjoy the thrill of amusement park rides at Gröna Lund. Djurgården is a great place for a leisurely stroll or bike ride.
• Boat Tours: Explore Stockholm’s archipelago with a boat tour. These tours offer stunning views of the cityscape and islands, providing a unique perspective of Stockholm.
• ABBA: The Museum: Music enthusiasts can delve into the world of ABBA, one of Sweden’s most famous musical exports. Interactive exhibits and memorabilia make this museum a fun and nostalgic experience.
• Culinary Delights: Indulge in Swedish cuisine by trying traditional dishes such as meatballs, herring, and gravlax. Visit local markets like Östermalmshallen or sample international flavors in Stockholm’s diverse restaurant scene.
• City Hall (Stadshuset): Marvel at the architecture of Stockholm’s City Hall, known for hosting the Nobel Prize banquet. Guided tours provide insight into the building’s history and significance.
• Nature and Parks: Enjoy the outdoors by visiting parks like Djurgården or taking a stroll along the waterfront. During the warmer months, you can engage in outdoor activities and picnics.
• Shopping: Explore the city’s shopping districts, including Drottninggatan and Bibliotekstan, for a mix of high-end boutiques and trendy shops.

Remember to check for any specific travel advisories or updates related to attractions, as conditions may change.

Here’s a video of how you can spend your time in Stockholm by Youtuber Trailblaze Travels

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