Stockholm's urban jungles: the best parks and gardens in Sweden's capital
Sep 21, 2021 鈥 8 min read
View of Monument Engelbrekt and the beautiful gardens of Stadshusparken,
A love of nature is deeply ingrained in the Swedish national character, so it鈥檚 unsurprising that the country鈥檚 capital ranks near the top among world cities in terms of green space. Covering 40 percent of 厂迟辞肠办丑辞濒尘鈥檚 area, the city鈥檚 public parks and gardens are diverse, ranging from tiny squares to Nationalstadsparken, the world鈥檚 first National City Park, established in 1995 and made up of several contiguous natural areas that together cover 27 square kilometers (nearly 10陆 square miles).
Any list of top parks in Stockholm is sure to be incomplete, but here are some highlights including both well-known classics and slightly off-the-beaten-path parks worth visiting for scenic views, recreation or specific attractions.
顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍
Part of Nationalstadsparken, 顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍 is 厂迟辞肠办丑辞濒尘鈥檚 green lung. A former royal hunting park, this large island east of the city center is home to many museums as well as abundant fields, meadows and woodlands, including one of 厂飞别诲别苍鈥檚 most northerly beech forests. Near the island鈥檚 eastern tip is Isbladsviken, once an inlet of the Baltic Sea but now a lake that attracts plentiful birdlife including swans, ducks, geese, herons and lapwings.
顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍鈥檚 many trails are easily explored on foot or on two wheels. Bicycles and maps are available at the 顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍 Visitor Center next to the 顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍 Bridge.
Waldemarsudde
On a small peninsula on the south side of 顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍 lies Waldemarsudde, the former home of Prince Eugen, the youngest brother of Gustaf V. A noted landscape painter and art collector, the prince left his property to the Swedish state when he passed away in 1947. His house is now an art museum.
The surrounding park has terraces, gardens and walking paths with fine views of 顿箩耻谤驳氓谤诲别苍 and the Baltic approach to Stockholm. Scattered throughout the grounds are sculptures purchased by Prince Eugen. Also on the property is an 18th-century Dutch-style windmill that was a favorite motif in the prince鈥檚 paintings. A caf茅 in the park serves lunch and snacks in summer.
碍耻苍驳蝉迟谤盲诲驳氓谤诲别苍
This small park at the heart of Stockholm began life as a royal kitchen garden in the 1400s and has evolved into one of the city鈥檚 most beloved gathering spots, with a rectangular pool, fountains, a giant chessboard, many caf茅s and restaurants, and a more formal garden section surrounding a statue of the warrior king Karl XII.
During the warmer months, 碍耻苍驳蝉迟谤盲诲驳氓谤诲别苍 comes alive with festivals and other events. In spring the Japanese cherry trees lining the pedestrian avenues on either side burst into glorious pink bloom. In winter there鈥檚 ice skating around the towering statue of another Karl (XIII) in the center of the park.
贬耻尘濒别驳氓谤诲别苍
Just off busy Stureplan, 贬耻尘濒别驳氓谤诲别苍 is an oasis within the 脰stermalm shopping and nightclub district. In 1619 Gustav II Adolf created a royal kitchen garden here to grow fruit, herbs, and the hops (humle) that gave the park its name. His daughter, Queen Christina, converted 贬耻尘濒别驳氓谤诲别苍 into a baroque garden with pedestrian avenues lined with linden trees. A later redesign added winding paths and trees from various parts of the world. Recreational facilities include a large playground and a youth center with a skateboard ramp, a playing field, a basketball court, and an outdoor gym.
Kungliga Biblioteket (the National Library of Sweden) dominates 贬耻尘濒别驳氓谤诲别苍鈥檚 southern end. In the center of the park, a statue of famed Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus stands on a high plinth surrounded by four female figures representing botany, zoology, medicine and mineralogy.
Observatorielunden
Observatorielunden is located just off 厂迟辞肠办丑辞濒尘鈥檚 busiest street, Sveav盲gen, but its hilltop location makes it feel much more removed, making it a nice spot for a picnic or just some relaxation. At the highest point stands the old Stockholm Observatory, built in the 18th century. It鈥檚 no longer in operation, but there are good views of Vasastan from the terrace, as well as a caf茅 famous for its waffles.
At the park鈥檚 northeastern edge lies Stadsbiblioteket, 厂迟辞肠办丑辞濒尘鈥檚 iconic city library with a famous rotunda. To its south, Sigrid Fridman鈥檚 1936 sculpture of a centaur stands on a precipice, seemingly ready to leap over the edge. Below, a reflecting pool surrounded by benches and willow trees dominates the park鈥檚 lower elevations along Sveav盲gen.
Vasaparken
This inner-city park is a popular spot for year-round recreation. Here you鈥檒l find grassy areas and walking paths shaded by large trees, as well as a minigolf course, a playground centered around an artificial rubber hill, basketball and p茅tanque courts, an outdoor gym and a dog park. In winter a playing field is converted into an ice skating rink.
Along the southern side of Vasaparken is a small garden designed to stimulate all five senses with seasonal plants including flowers, herbs, berry plants and bushes.
搁氓濒补尘产蝉丑辞惫蝉辫补谤办别苍
At the north end of V盲sterbron (the Western Bridge), which connects Kungsholmen and 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘, lies 搁氓濒补尘产蝉丑辞惫蝉辫补谤办别苍, a grassy, tree-lined park with front-row views of Lake M盲laren. A popular venue for concerts, outdoor theater and other events, 鈥淩氓lis鈥 also has a variety of recreational facilities including jogging trails, a playground, a kiddie pool, an outdoor gym, a climbing wall, and p茅tanque and beach volleyball courts. Beneath Lilla V盲sterbron there are basketball hoops and a skatepark.
In summer 搁氓濒补尘产蝉丑辞惫蝉辫补谤办别苍 is a popular spot for picnics, sunbathing and dips in Lake M盲laren. In winter the park鈥檚 outdoor amphitheater is converted into an ice skating rink.
尝氓苍驳丑辞濒尘别苍
Once an infamous prison island, 尝氓苍驳丑辞濒尘别苍 is now full of people seeking escape from urban stress rather than from jail. Much of the island is parkland, with meandering walking paths, luxuriant vegetation and two popular swimming spots. The former prison is now a hostel and museum.
尝氓苍驳丑辞濒尘别苍鈥檚 eastern end provides stunning views across Lake M盲laren to Kungsholmen, Stadshuset and Gamla Stan. On the west side, there are pretty allotment gardens, as well as exposed cliffs and mixed parkland with more lake views. Along the south side, P氓lsundet, the narrow channel separating 尝氓苍驳丑辞濒尘别苍 from 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘, is lined with long rows of small boats. There are kayaks for rent near P氓lsundet's western end.
Skinnarviksparken
For panoramic views of Lake M盲laren, Gamla Stan, Stadshuset, Kungsholmen and V盲sterbron, head to Skinnarviksparken on 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘. The park鈥檚 western side has walking paths through landscaped areas with many trees, lawns and benches. The eastern section contains 厂迟辞肠办丑辞濒尘鈥檚 highest natural point, a rocky outcrop known as Skinnarviksberget, which tops out at 53m (just under 174ft). Its unobstructed vistas make it a popular picnic spot and one of the best places in Stockholm to catch a summer sunset.
The name Skinnarviksparken comes from the skinnare (tanners) who lived and worked in this area starting in the 1600s. The unpleasant smells from the tanneries meant that they had to set up operations away from populated areas. Several 18th-century wooden houses remain along Gamla Lundagatan and Ludvigsbergsgatan by the park鈥檚 southeastern corner.
Tantolunden
罢补苍迟辞濒耻苍诲别苍鈥檚 mixed elevations, abundant vegetation and diverse recreational opportunities make it a favorite park among 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘 locals. In summer, swimmers and sun worshippers flock to its beach, which has jetties, a jumping tower and a beach volleyball court. Other facilities include a minigolf course, a playground, an outdoor gym and a dog park. In winter, there鈥檚 good sledding on the park鈥檚 slopes.
One of the most delightful things to do in Tantolunden is to take a walk among the many allotment gardens with lush flower beds, vegetable patches and quaint little cottages.
Vitabergsparken
During the 18th and 19th centuries the now-trendy 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘 district was one of the poorest parts of Stockholm. Vitabergsparken was created in the late 1800s to give local factory workers access to a bit of nature. With varied terrain, broad lawns and plenty of trees it鈥檚 a popular spot for picnics and other activities. In addition to walking paths, there鈥檚 a dog park, a playground and a kiddie pool, as well as allotment gardens and a summer caf茅. In winter, the park鈥檚 hills draw sledding enthusiasts.
Several well-preserved 19th-century wooden houses remain in the streets around Sofia Church, which crowns the park鈥檚 highest point in its northwest corner.
Ivar Los Park
Named for the author Ivar Lo-Johansson (1901-1990), who lived across the street, this tiny park on the heights of 厂枚诲别谤尘补濒尘, west of Slussen, is a popular spot for adults and children alike. The charming playground has a rural theme, with wooden farm animals and playhouses designed to look like farm buildings. The grassy slope below is a popular picnic spot thanks to its panoramic view of Gamla Stan, Stadshuset and Lake M盲laren.
Hagaparken
Located on the western shore of Brunnsviken, just north of the city center, Hagaparken is a classic English landscape garden with lawns, woodlands and semi-open landscapes dotted with architectural features such as the Echo Temple, a Chinese pavilion and a Turkish kiosk. Gustav III commissioned the park and most of its structures, though some of his plans remained unfinished following his assassination in 1792.
Near the main park entrance stand 碍辞辫辫补谤迟盲濒迟别苍 (the Copper Tents), connected buildings with blue-and-gold facades designed to look like Roman campaign tents. Erected as housing for Gustav鈥檚 lifeguards, they now house a caf茅 and a free museum about Hagaparken. Behind 碍辞辫辫补谤迟盲濒迟别苍 with more than 700 tropical butterflies, as well as a 30-meter (over 98ft) aquarium tank with sharks and colorful fish.
Bergianska Tr盲dg氓rden
Trees, bushes, flowers and herbs from all over the world thrive in this botanical garden, which occupies a beautiful waterfront setting on the eastern shore of Brunnsviken. Exhibits include lush flowerbeds, vegetable and herb gardens, a fruit orchard and wetlands. Three rockeries represent mountains in Scandinavia, North America and Asia, with flora specific to each region. A rhododendron valley with more than 70 species blooms in late spring.
There are also two conservatories with plants from warmer climates, including the world鈥檚 largest species of water lily. There is a small admission fee to the conservatories but the park is free to access.
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