In this article, we take you on an island-hopping tour that focuses primarily on Stockholm’s nature. But don’t worry: in addition to parks, forests and bathing spots, almost every island also offers enough history, culture and culinary delights to get you acquainted with the city.
Stockholm is the perfect candidate for our outdoor city guide series: hardly any other city makes the transition between concrete jungle and coniferous forest so easy. The capital of Sweden is built on 14 islands – if that isn’t material for a city trip of a special kind!
Stockholm has long attracted people with its special combination of cultural life and closeness to nature. Living here means a high quality of life, both for culture addicts and outdoor fans. The advantages of a big city merge with those of nature here.
We take you to a few of the most beautiful islands (or neighborhoods) and show you how you can break up your city trip to Stockholm with typical Swedish outdoor activities.
Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget
An ideal introduction to the city is Monteliusvägen on the northern shore of the trendy and residential district of Södermalm. From this walkway, you have a fantastic view of the island of Riddarholmen, which is full of historical sights, Stockholm City Hall and Lake Mälaren. Not far away, Skinnarviksberget rises above the rooftops of Stockholm and is a popular meeting place for picnics and enjoying the sunset – or taking a breather among all the historical gems you can discover in the district.
Up for Sweden in winter? How about winter trekking in Sweden? – A micro-adventure on the Tjustleden long-distance hiking trail.
Södermalm is one of Stockholm’s central islands. Here you will find many historic buildings, hip restaurants and cafés and the photography museum, which is well worth a visit. Södermalm (often shortened to “Söder”, much to our amusement) is also perfect for wandering around and letting yourself drift: a coffee here, a designer boutique there and the next postcard-pretty street is waiting for you.
Gamla Stan (Old Town) is also not far away – you’ve already spotted it on Riddarholmen. Here you will find the Royal Palace, the cathedral, many of the most important museums and an enchanting cityscape characterized by artfully restored buildings.
Djurgården National City Park and Långholmen
The island of Djurgården, with its landscaped gardens and tranquil forests, is close to the city center but nonetheless very green. Here, too, you can easily lose yourself for a few hours and get to know Swedish nature without having to bring a tent and water filter with you. The island is also home to the Gröna Lund amusement park with roller coasters and other amusements. So if you’re not in the mood for city history and old buildings for a day, Djurgården is the place to go.
Another urban nature retreat is the island of Långholmen, which lies between Kungsholmen and Södermalm. This is where city dwellers meet to swim, paddle, jog, sunbathe on the rocks or go for a walk.
Hellasgården and Lida
Hellasgården is a huge outdoor paradise south-east of Stockholm where you can go hiking, jogging, mountain biking, paddling or, if you stay right next to the leisure center, even do yoga. In the cold season, a large sauna also attracts Stockholmers. A big advantage is the distance to the city center: You can be in the middle of Södermalm in just 15 minutes by bus from the Slussen stop.
As an alternative to Hellasgården, but also a little further away, is Lida Friluftsgård to the south of the city. The incomparable Swedish nature also awaits you here. The famous 1000 km long-distance hiking trail Sörmlandsleden runs right through it. In winter, cross-country ski trails are groomed here.
Birka
Birka is a must-do for travelers to Stockholm, and not just for Viking fans. The ruined city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is nestled in beautiful natural surroundings on the island of Björkö. In Birka, you can discover the ruins of Sweden’s first city from the eighth century (!). It’s worth taking part in one of the guided tours included in your ticket to learn more about the life and history of the Vikings. There are also almost always exciting events taking place in Birka – take a look at the website to find out what is currently on offer.
The journey alone is worthwhile. You can either take the ferry from Stockholm across the beautiful Lake Mälaren (travel times vary greatly between 15 minutes and two hours, so be careful when booking) or you can come with your own boat – there is a pier for private boats!
In summer, you should also bring your swimsuit: The island of Björkö also has shores and small beaches from which you can go swimming in the lake.
You can find more interesting information about a trip to Sweden at visitsweden.com.
