Stockholm Activities

Activity neighborhood
Djurgården, Stockholm
Djurgården is one of the fourteen islands that comprise the city of Stockholm and is the former Royal Game Park (the grounds were teeming with wild deer, elk, and reindeer until the 18th century). Packed with museums and monuments (like the must-see Vasa Museum), this is the perfect place to walk off jet lag, or spend a few hours on bike or foot exploring the trails along the water's edge. There are spots for ice cream and coffee throughout (including a café housed in miniature castle by the park's entrance), though do not miss lunch at Rosendals Trädgard, which sits in a greenhouse smack in the middle of the park's organic garden. (You can pick your own produce, too.) While there are tables and chairs scattered throughout, locals typically take their food picnic-style out on the lawns.
Kajplats 19, Strandvagen, Östermalm
The Swedes are particularly skilled at giving just about everything, from their buildings to their food, a sustainability edge. GoBoat is the city's environmentally focused picnic boat company, developed to enable tourists and locals to take full advantage of the water that surrounds and divides Stockholm (really, fourteen separate islands connected by bridges). The family-sized navy motor boats themselves are made of recycled plastic, run on solar-powered batteries, and have sturdy wooden tables and benches built right in. Pack up a picnic (shop for the best sandwiches and fixings at Ostermalms Saluhall), choose your route, and enjoy lunch with a side of some of the best views this part of the world has to offer—the perfect activity whether you're traveling with the kiddos or not.
Sockenvägen 492, Enskededalen
A Unesco World Heritage site, this non-denominational cemetery, designed by Swedish architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz, is (irrespective of your beliefs) incredibly emotive. Spend an afternoon walking through the grounds and notice how the cemetery's architects have used the natural landscape to create different perspectival effects depending on what section you're in. Especially moving is The Children's Garden, surrounded by stunted tree's intended to represent the young lives lost. Skogskyrkogården translates to The Woodland Cemetery, and aside from the few chapels and sculptures that dot the grounds, the landscape is dominated by huge towering pine trees (that weirdly seem to all be the same height). Photo credit to Susanne Hallmann.
Hantverkargatan 1, Kungsholmen
Stockholm's grand city hall is considered the Swedish capital's most iconic building. This sentiment is understandable given that eight million red bricks were used in its construction, which took a whopping twelve years (1911-1923). The tower feature is close to 350 feet high and offers incredible panoramic views of the city; for the vertigo-prone, the lower levels of the building, decorated with beautiful artworks by Swedish artists, do not disappoint. One of several ceremonial halls and political assembly rooms, The Golden Hall (also home of the annual Nobel Peace Prize banquet), is this building's most beautiful space, with walls covered in mosaic murals by artist Einar Forseth depicting the city's best-loved landmarks.
Stockholm Subway Art
Stockholm's subway system is home to sixty-eight miles of painted and embellished tunnels—essentially, it's the world's longest art exhibit. This project, which began in the '50s, is a true embodiment of the very Scandinavian belief that even the most mundane, functional activities (like commuting) can be made more enjoyable with beautiful design—living art that can be experienced by everyone in the city, every day. Many of the murals have social and political themes—some of the best stations to visit are Solna Centrum (the mural is dedicated to deforestation and rural depopulation) and Kungsträdgården (nicknamed The Christmas Station due to the festive red-and-green color scheme). Simply purchase a subway ticket and either map out a route or ride aimlessly through the tunnels to take it all in.
Stromma Boat Cruise
Svensksundsvägen 17, Skeppsholmen
Stromma has an unrivaled selection of classic, turn-of-the-century boats, perfect for a day spent gliding through Stockholm's archipelago. With close to thirty-four thousands islands—some small scraps of rock, some large, uninhabited, densely forested landmasses, and some like mini cities with hotels and summer homes—there's plenty of visual variety to keep you entertained whether you choose to sail for a few hours, or go on a full-day excursion. Stromma's cruisers (which are also available for private hire should you wish to do a totally custom tour), can fit numbers as low as ninety or as high as three hundred. The boats themselves date from the early 20th century, with each one offering the option for a formal sit-down luncheon or dinner on board.
The Royal Palace
Slottsbacken 1, Gamla Stan
While the Swedish royal family no longer reside in this six-hundred-room palace on the lake (they now live in Drottningholm Palace just outside the city), the Royal Palace still brings plenty of drama and splendor. It is the polar opposite of the typically restrained Scandinavian aesthetic; here, the architecture and lavishly decorated 18th-century reception rooms and banquet halls are Italian Baroque through and through, which means plenty of gold and ornate stucco details. Watch the changing of the guard in the morning and explore the palace’s five museums detailing all aspects of Swedish royal life—past and present—from costumes, armor, and coronation carriages to jewelry and antique thrones.
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