Six stunning parks you can't miss in Stockholm
Stockholm is practically a synonym for outdoor living, with parks and green spaces making up more than a third of the city. But how many of The Local's top pick of parks have you been to?
Watch The Local's video of six stunning parks in Stockholm here:
1. Kungliga Djurgården
Djurgården island became the world's first National City Park in the 1990s, gaining special protection thanks to its unique nature, culture and recreation offerings right in the middle of a capital.
Visitors come here to walk around the 27 square kilometre large park or take a guided tour of the Rosendal Palace. The royal residence has been preserved to maintain the same look it's had since it was built in the 1820s when King Karl XIV Johan, moved in.
2. Rålambshovsparken, Kungsholmen
The park that locals call ‘Rålis’, is said to be inspired by Hyde Park in London and seeks to be a playground for visitors and residents alike, offering spots to play boule and volleyball as well as a skatepark, a cafe and an outdoor gym. There's also plenty of space where you can simply relax and work on your tan while enjoying stunning views of the eastern part of Lake Mälaren.
3. Observatorielunden, Vasastan
This small but pretty park leads you up a hill towards a magnificent view over the city. It’s the last trace of an esker (a long mound) that was formed when the last ice sheet receded from Sweden about 10,000 years ago. On the top of this hill is an observatory built on the initiative of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Here you can also find Stockholm’s prime meridian, which determined the time across the nation before Greenwich Mean Time was introduced as the World's Time Standard. Plus don't miss café Himlavalvet, known for its delicious waffles.
4. Tantolunden, Södermalm
Tantolunden is one of Stockholm’s largest inner city parks. Here, you’ll find colourful mini-summer houses and people gardening in their own small yards as welll as the popular Tanto Beach along with a palm tree or two on the waterfront. It’s close to some of the hippest cafés and restaurants in the city in the busy Hornstull and Mariatorget neighbourhoods. Or you can stick around to play mini golf or enjoy the occasional outdoor movie night.
5. Humlegården, Östermalm
Humlegården is right next to the buzzing Stureplan area packed with restaurants, hotels and expensive shops. Yet it still offers delightfully green and peaceful spot to relax in. You can also enjoy a fika or cocktail at the Humlan restaurant in the park’s southeast corner. Humlegården also has something special for those seeking a cultural kick: a monument of Swedish botanist Carl von Linné, surrounded by a pretty flower garden containing 21,000 plants. The National Library of Sweden is right next to the park too.
6. Hagaparken, Solna
If you’re a fan of the Royal Swedish family, you have to pay a visit to Hagaparken. It’s hard to get a glance into Crown Princess Victoria’s gated home Haga Palace, but you can sometimes spot the sheep wandering around her yard. The building was refurbished in the 1930s and is where King Carl XVI Gustaf was born. Besides the Palace, there are other places to visit including a number of outdoor dining areas where previous royals used to host parties and the Butterfly House Haga Ocean attraction which includes one of Scandinavia’s largest shark aquariums.
By Elin Jönsson
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Watch The Local's video of six stunning parks in Stockholm here:
1. Kungliga Djurgården
Djurgården island became the world's first National City Park in the 1990s, gaining special protection thanks to its unique nature, culture and recreation offerings right in the middle of a capital.
Visitors come here to walk around the 27 square kilometre large park or take a guided tour of the Rosendal Palace. The royal residence has been preserved to maintain the same look it's had since it was built in the 1820s when King Karl XIV Johan, moved in.
2. Rålambshovsparken, Kungsholmen
The park that locals call ‘Rålis’, is said to be inspired by Hyde Park in London and seeks to be a playground for visitors and residents alike, offering spots to play boule and volleyball as well as a skatepark, a cafe and an outdoor gym. There's also plenty of space where you can simply relax and work on your tan while enjoying stunning views of the eastern part of Lake Mälaren.
3. Observatorielunden, Vasastan
This small but pretty park leads you up a hill towards a magnificent view over the city. It’s the last trace of an esker (a long mound) that was formed when the last ice sheet receded from Sweden about 10,000 years ago. On the top of this hill is an observatory built on the initiative of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Here you can also find Stockholm’s prime meridian, which determined the time across the nation before Greenwich Mean Time was introduced as the World's Time Standard. Plus don't miss café Himlavalvet, known for its delicious waffles.
4. Tantolunden, Södermalm
Tantolunden is one of Stockholm’s largest inner city parks. Here, you’ll find colourful mini-summer houses and people gardening in their own small yards as welll as the popular Tanto Beach along with a palm tree or two on the waterfront. It’s close to some of the hippest cafés and restaurants in the city in the busy Hornstull and Mariatorget neighbourhoods. Or you can stick around to play mini golf or enjoy the occasional outdoor movie night.
5. Humlegården, Östermalm
Humlegården is right next to the buzzing Stureplan area packed with restaurants, hotels and expensive shops. Yet it still offers delightfully green and peaceful spot to relax in. You can also enjoy a fika or cocktail at the Humlan restaurant in the park’s southeast corner. Humlegården also has something special for those seeking a cultural kick: a monument of Swedish botanist Carl von Linné, surrounded by a pretty flower garden containing 21,000 plants. The National Library of Sweden is right next to the park too.
6. Hagaparken, Solna
If you’re a fan of the Royal Swedish family, you have to pay a visit to Hagaparken. It’s hard to get a glance into Crown Princess Victoria’s gated home Haga Palace, but you can sometimes spot the sheep wandering around her yard. The building was refurbished in the 1930s and is where King Carl XVI Gustaf was born. Besides the Palace, there are other places to visit including a number of outdoor dining areas where previous royals used to host parties and the Butterfly House Haga Ocean attraction which includes one of Scandinavia’s largest shark aquariums.
By Elin Jönsson
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