Stockholm’s archipelago stretches 80 kilometres east from the city into the Baltic Sea. There are opportunities for swimming, fishing, kayaking and cycling. You can also enjoy traditional Swedish cuisine in the fresh sea air. Together with the region’s forests and cultural sites, this makes for a destination where water, nature and history each have their own character.
Island trails and forest landscapes
Visitors who want to explore Stockholm on foot will find a variety of landscapes and trails. The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is 270 kilometres long and passes through more than 20 islands. Every section is accessible by public ferry. If you’re planning a hike, it’s best to check the timetables for the sections you’ll be travelling.
A special island route awaits in Ängsö National Park: it can only be reached by boat, with scheduled services from Stockholm or Furusund in spring and summer. Easy-to-walk trails lead through meadows and woodland around the island. Herb-rich groves and unspoilt forests provide a home for many birds. As the island can only be reached by boat, it’s worth checking the timetable before your visit.
Nature can also be experienced in many different ways throughout Stockholm County. The region has nearly 370 nature reserves; their number may change over time. Activities there include hiking, picking berries, paddling, skiing and swimming. Tyresta National Park offers a different focus: its trails cover 55 kilometres, and the park also includes primeval forest and forest lakes. Some of its mighty trees are up to 400 years old; rare lichens, wood-decay fungi, mosses and beetles are also part of the park’s natural environment. The main entrance at Tyresta by has a visitor centre, accessible toilets and parking. The national park also has fire pits and wind shelters.
Green spaces near the city
The Royal National City Park combines a historic landscape with parks, buildings, forests, open land and beaches close to Stockholm city centre. Large parts of the park can be reached by bus, metro or boat, and walking and cycling trails run through the area. This offers a different contrast with nature than the islands: here, landscapes and parkland meet buildings and the proximity of the city centre.
Drottningholm Palace Park is open year-round and can be explored as a succession of different garden designs. A walk takes you through a formal garden dating from the late 17th century, on to an English-style park begun about a century later, and then to the more intimate bosquets from the 1760s at the Chinese Pavilion. In addition to the palace and gardens, the royal estate includes the Palace Theatre and the Chinese Pavilion.
Theatre, archaeology and city history
The Drottningholm Palace Theatre retains wooden stage machinery that is still operated by hand, along with around 30 preserved stage sets. Each summer, its programme includes opera, theatre and dance performances, concerts, guided tours and events connected with the 18th century. For specific performances, check the relevant dates.
Stockholm’s cultural sites also tell stories of other eras. Birka and Hovgården lie on the islands of Björkö and Adelsö in Lake Mälaren and are exceptionally well-preserved archaeological sites from the Viking Age. Visible remains include a trading town, a royal estate, a harbour, defensive structures and prehistoric burial grounds. Skogskyrkogården, meanwhile, is an outstanding early 20th-century cemetery. Its design combines vegetation with architectural elements, and the Woodland Chapel is also closely integrated into its surroundings.
For more cultural discoveries, Skansen brings cultural history, nature and animals together in one place. It is the oldest open-air museum in Sweden and the world. The Vasa Museum offers guided tours centred on one of the world’s best-preserved 17th-century ships. It is located on Djurgården in Stockholm and can be reached by tram, bus, car and ferry. The museum visits offer contrasting experiences: the Vasa focuses on a single historic ship, while Skansen brings cultural history, nature and animals together.
Discover more destinations: Björkö, Norrtälje, Haninge, Värmdö, Österåker, Nynäshamn, Boo, Djurhamn, Drottningholm, Upplands-Bro, Enhörna, Stockholm, Sigtuna, Yxlan, Vallentuna, Solna, Danderyd, Järfälla, Södertälje, Botkyrka, Huddinge, Lidingö, Nykvarn, Nacka, Sollentuna, Sundbyberg, Täby, Tyresö, Upplands Väsby, Vaxholm and Ekerö.
For the main travel overview: Sweden.
