Things to Do in Stockholm

The King's Garden, also known as Kungsan, is a popular park in central Stockholm. It hosts open air concerts and other events in the summer and is home to an ice rink in the winter months. First of May demonstrations by Sweden's left-wing parties also take place in the park each year. The park's space can be divided into four distinct areas: the Square of Charles XII, Molin's Fountain, the Square of Charles XIII and the Fountain of Wolodarski.

The origins of the park date back centuries. A royal kitchen garden was gradually transformed into an enclosed pleasure garden in the 17th and 18th centuries. The walls of the garden were demolished in the 19th century and, in 1821, most of the garden was replace by gravel, creating the square now named for Charles XIII. Molin's Fountain was added in 1866, when it was the centerpiece of a Scandinavian art and industry exposition. The entire park was redesigned in 1990 to its present form and in 2004, nearly 300 new trees were planted and new pavilions and cafes were added.

The park is surrounded by notable landmarks, including the Stockholm Synagogue on the east side of the park and the Royal Swedish Opera, Saint James' Church, the Matchstick Palace and Sverigehuset (home to the tourist information center) along the west side.

With a history dating back to Viking times and a wealth of well-preserved medieval architecture, the picturesque city of Uppsala is a popular day trip from nearby Stockholm. The city is also home to the 15-century Uppsala University, and is the seat of the archbishop of the Church of Sweden. 

Uppsala's charming small-town atmosphere and close-knit attractions make it easy to explore on foot. As you stroll, admire landmarks such as the 15th-century Uppsala Castle, home to the Uppsala Konstmuseum; the grand Gothic Uppsala Cathedral; and Sweden's oldest university, which dates back to 1477. Other points of interest include the ancient burial grounds and stone churches of the Old Town of Gamla Uppsala, the Botanical Gardens, the Upplands Museum, and a museum dedicated to Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus. Due to the city's rich history, Viking history tours from Stockholm typically stop in Uppsala. 

Located just an hour from Stockholm, Uppsala is an ideal day trip from Sweden's capital. While guided tours typically offer round-trip transportation, it's also possible to arrive by car via the E4 highway. Buses and trains also depart regularly from Stockholm's city center and Arlanda Airport.

You can visit Uppsala year-round, but Sweden sees its most pleasant weather in the late spring, summer, and early fall. Shops and museums are typically open during regular daytime hours, while Uppsala's student population provides a bustling nightlife. 

The 30th of April is known as Walpurgis (Valborg, or Sista Abril) in Sweden and is celebrated as winter's absolute last gasp. Uppsala is known for its raucous Walpurgis Festival, which includes student floats running the Fyris river, herring lunches, the donning of the caps at Carolina Rediviva, and huge parties. It is well worth planning a visit to Uppsala around this event.

Located on the island of Lidingö in the Stockholm Archipelago, Millesgarden is a spectacular sculpture park and art museum created by renowned Swedish sculptor Carl Milles in the terraced gardens of his clifftop house. He built a fanciful mansion at Millesgarden in 1907 and spent many years adding to his sculpture collection before donating it to the Swedish nation in 1936. Milles died in 1955 and is buried there along with his artist wife Olga.

The works are beautifully displayed against an ever-changing backdrop of the sea, with statuary featuring in ornamental pools, on columns and in spouting fountains. Containing many stellar examples of sculpture from medieval to modern, the collection is cleverly interspersed Milles's own sinuous creations in bronze, including his famous sculpture, Hands of God.

Although the sculpture garden is the premier attraction there, the Milles's flamboyant, red-roofed family home is also open to the public, where Olga's paintings are displayed alongside original castings of Carl's sculpture. The design of the house is eclectic, with Pompeii-influenced frescoes and mosaics in the Red Room, ancient musical instruments in the Music Room and rooms full of valuable antiques. Temporary exhibitions of contemporary art can be found in the Art Gallery and the smaller Anne's House in the grounds is packed with furniture designed by Austrian-born architect Josef Frank.

Built to house the wreckage of the mighty Vasa warship, Stockholm’s Vasa Museum is now one of Scandinavia's most-visited attractions, drawing over one million annual visitors. Part of Sweden’s National Maritime Museums system, the Vasa Museum is located on the island of Djurgarden and remains the only place in the world where visitors can see a fully intact 17th-century ship.

Pre-book your tickets to ensure skip-the-line entry, opt for a guided tour to learn more about the fascinating ship and its ongoing restoration, or combine your visit with a sightseeing tour of Stockholm and experience other must-see attractions such as the old town of Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace. For those who prefer to explore independently, hop-on hop-off buses and boats stop outside the museum, and entrance is included for Stockholm Pass holders.

The museum is located on the western side of Djurgården Island in central Stockholm. The easiest way to get to the museum is by tram. From the city center, take the number seven tram towards Waldemarsudde. 

The Vasa Museum is open year-round, but it’s busiest during the summer months of July and August, when you should visit early in the morning if you want to avoid crowds. Outside those peak months, the late night opening on Wednesdays (until 8pm) is a good time to visit if you want to avoid tour groups. 

The star attraction of the Vasa Museum is the 226-foot-long (69-meter-long) warship Vasa, which sank in 1628 on her maiden voyage from Stockholm. Exhibitions allow visitors to view all six levels of the restored ship, and chronicle the building of the Vasa,  the passengers and events of its fateful maiden voyage, and the long task of restoring and preserving the historic vessel. There is also a spectacular painted model of the Vasa ship and a recreation of a 1620s Stockholm shipyard.

With its baroque facade, lavish Royal Apartments, and impressive treasury, the Stockholm Royal Palace is everything you'd expect from a regal abode. Although the Swedish royal family now resides in Drottningholm Palace, the Royal Palace still holds an important role, both as a historic monument and as the host of banquets and receptions.

Most sightseeing and walking tours of Stockholm include a photo stop at the Royal Palace, often timed to coincide with the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony. For those who prefer to explore independently, hop-on hop-off bus and boat tours stop outside the palace. Purchase a Stockholm Card to gain free entrance, along with access to a wealth of other Stockholm attractions.

 

The palace lies on the north end of Gamla stan, Stockholm's Old Town, on the island of Stadsholmen. Buses stop at Slottsbacken, just outside the palace, while the closest metro (Tunnelbana) station is Gamla stan, a 5-minute walk from the palace.

Stockholm Royal Palace is open year-round, but summer is the most popular time to visit , when it's best to visit early if you want to avoid crowds. Summer visitors can also enjoy the parade of the Royal Guard, King Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities, and the summer café.

Palace visitors can peek into the Royal Apartments, including the Bernadotte Apartments, the Banquet Hall, and King Carl Gustaf's Jubilee Room; marvel at the crown jewels in the Treasury; and browse the royal book collection in the Bernadotte Library. There are also several museums to explore, including the Royal Armoury, the Tre Kronor Museum, and King Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities (summer only).

Originally the home of Sweden’s Prince Eugen, Waldemarsudde in Stockholm may be the country’s most beautiful art museum. In addition to being one of Sweden’s best known landscape artists, the Prince amassed a massive collection of works by both established and unknown artists over the course of 60 years. Today, more than 3,000 of his own pieces and more than 3,000 other works are housed at Waldemarsudde, with his collection of Swedish art from the turn of the 19th century considered one of the best in Sweden.

Waldemarsudde is set in a 70,000 square meter park surrounded by the Stockholm Harbor on three sides. It consists of a castle-like main building known as the Mansion, the original manor home known as the Old House, a Gallery Building and an old linseed oil mill. The ground floor of the Mansion has been preserved as it was when the Prince was alive, while the upper two floors are now used for temporary exhibitions or for displaying the Prince’s art. The Gallery Building hosts temporary exhibitions as well.