Lidingö combines coastal landscapes and nature reserves with museums, historic sites and designated routes for hiking and running. To plan your visit, it is worth first deciding what you would like to focus on: culture, nature by the water or a sporting route? The options also vary in scale—from a nature trail about 600 metres long to the 30-kilometre Lidingöloppet running route.
Coastal Trails and Nature Areas
The nine-kilometre Elfviksleden leads from Lidingö Centrum to Elfviks udde and passes through the Långängen–Elfvik Nature Reserve. Elfviks gård is also located in this protected area. Its attractions include a working farm and a park by the sea; visitors can see goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep and horses. Every year, the Lidingö Hembygdsförening holds a Bellmansfest at the farm.
The Kappsta Nature Reserve offers a different landscape: a deciduous woodland clearing with botanical features and a rocky coastline along Lilla Värtan. Kilometres of hiking trails run along the Lidingö coastline there, with several places where you can swim. Kottlasjön is also part of the Långängen–Elfvik Nature Reserve. The Naturstigen offers another example of a nature trail: it opened in 2007, is about 600 metres long and passes through a species-rich, lushly vegetated grove landscape.
Cultural Sites and History
Millesgården is a museum with a sculpture park. Carl and Olga Milles created the site as their home and artist’s studio. Lidingö kyrka is the oldest surviving building on the island. The present church was built in 1623 at the presumed site of a small medieval wooden chapel dedicated to Saint Anna. At the Lidingö Museum, a permanent exhibition traces Lidingö’s development from 8000 BC to the present day.
A cultural walk from Mölna to Gångsätra takes just under two hours at a normal pace. It also offers the opportunity to visit Skärsätra gård. Fruit wine was produced at the farm in the early 20th century. These historical connections complement the museums and buildings with places that reveal Lidingö’s past in different ways.
Getting Around Lidingö
Lidingöbanan is a train line in the south of the island, running between Ropsten and Gåshaga. You can travel to and from Lidingö by commuter boat; check the timetable before your journey. A waterside hiking trail runs along the southern shore of Kyrkviken. Gåshaga has a waterfront promenade with places to swim.
For nature watching, a recently built pier below Ekholmsnäsbacken has two gathering points with views of Kyrkviken that are suitable for birdwatching. Ekholmsnäsbacken is Lidingö’s ski slope; Sweden’s longest natural toboggan run is located beside it. You can choose between the various trails and places according to your interests, as they do not all offer the same kind of outing.
Running and Seasonal Experiences
The 30-kilometre TCS Lidingöloppet route alternates between flat meadows and gravel paths, uphill trails and steep climbs. The classic course is open for training around the clock; the final ten-kilometre section is lit every day until 22:00. As this information concerns training, check the course details before your run. The Lidingöloppet has been held every year on Lidingö on the last weekend of September since 1965.
These different time and distance details can help you decide: the cultural walk is described as taking just under two hours at a normal pace, the Elfviksleden is nine kilometres long and the classic running route is 30 kilometres. If you are looking for a hotel on Lidingö, this focus can be a useful starting point for planning your stay—whether you want to spend most of your time at cultural sites, on coastal trails or enjoying sporting activities.
For the main travel overview: Lidingö.
