Stockholm is one of Europe’s greenest cities, and it’s impossible to ignore the stunning nature close to the center of town. Within less than an hour, you can catapult yourself into the Stockholm archipelago — a group of beautiful islands and skerries that you could easily spend a week in. Without even leaving the city limits, you can also find countless parks in Stockholm.
The Swedish capital is a popular tourist destination for those looking to reconnect with nature, and not just people wanting to trace ABBA’s footsteps.
As you might expect from a city where you can easily find national parks in abundance nearby, inner-city Stockholm parks are relatively small communal spaces. Nonetheless, they’re still well worth lounging around on a warm summer’s day.
Some of the parks in Sweden’s largest city offer excellent views of the beautiful old town, whereas others are a little more lowkey if that’s what you prefer.
Here’s our guide to the best parks in Stockholm.
What is the largest park in Stockholm?
Before we look at various Stockholm parks, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions first. If we talk about the city’s largest park, that would probably be the Royal Park — known locally as Kungliga Djurgården.
Stockholm has a city national park, known as Ekoparken, which covers the areas of Djurgården, Solna, Skeppsholmen, and various other parts of the city. It’s the world’s first national park of its kind and initially received this term in 1995.
We will discuss many of the parks in this area in further detail later in the article.
Realistically speaking, you can class the entire island of Djurgården as a huge park on its own. It’s well worth visiting at all times of the year; summer is great for bike rides with scenic views, whereas you’ll find a snow-covered wonderland if you visit during the winter.
Djurgården is a popular walking route for both Stockholmers and tourists. If you want to make a loop of the island, you can expect your adventure to last a couple of hours if you don’t stop — but we recommend that you spend at least half a day enjoying the delights you’ll find.
Getting to Djurgården from the center of Stockholm couldn’t be easier. The number 7 tram runs from Stockholm Central Station to the island, and you can also catch various bus services. Alternatively, you can opt for the scenic route and catch a ferry from Gamla Stan; the journey takes around 10 minutes.
What is the most famous park in Stockholm?
If we were going to talk about the most famous man-made park, Gröna Lund is the undisputed winner. Although it isn’t as worldly as Copenhagen’s Tivoli amusement park, Gröna Lund is worth checking out regardless of whether you have children.
Gröna Lund opened in 1883 and is a hugely popular weekend outing for Stockholmers. Over one million people visited the park in 2019, and besides the rides, many people head here for various concerts.
Gröna Lund is on Djurgården, and the ferry from Gamla Stan stops right outside, though you can also enjoy a pleasant walk along the waterfront if you’d prefer.
As for more traditional, green parks, Drottningholms Slottspark — which surrounds Drottningholm Palace — is probably the most famous park in Stockholm. The grand building dates back to the 17th century and is one of the capital region’s most beautiful buildings, and the Swedish Royal Family has lived here since 1981.
The park around Drottningholm Palace is expansive, and if you’ve been to Oslo, you’ll notice a couple of similarities with Frognerparken; throughout the park, you’ll find various sculptures.
Drottningholm Palace has various gardens to split things up, including one inspired by England’s landscapes and another close to the Chinese Pavilion.
Getting to Drottningholm Palace from Stockholm’s city center isn’t too difficult. Get the 17 metro train toward Åkeshov from T-Centralen and exit the train at Brommaplan. Hop on the 176 bus toward Solbacka and stay on it until you reach Drottningholm.
What are the other parks in Stockholm?
Now that we’ve covered some of the most important questions you’ll probably ask about parks in Stockholm, we can look at the best of the rest. In this section of the article, you’ll find a wide range of green spaces that Sweden’s capital city offers.
Cornelisparken
Cornelisparken is one of the smaller Stockholm parks in this article, and it’s not far from the city center. You’ll find it in the lively Södermalm district, and it’s well-known for the beautiful wooden houses that line cobblestone streets.
The park is named after Cornelis Vreeswijk, a Swedish music icon who spent his early years in the Netherlands before moving to Sweden when he was 12. He has various songs in both Dutch and Swedish.
Cornelisparken offers some of the best free views of Stockholm’s Old Town, and it’s one of the best things to do in the city as a tourist; many have seemingly missed the memo in favor of Monteliusvägen, though.
To get to Cornelisparken, you can easily walk from the city center. Alternatively, you can get the metro to Slussen and take the 12-minute walk from there. Around Cornelisparken, you’ll find various other spots to view the beautiful Swedish capital from above.
Haga Park
Slightly outside the city center is Hagaparken, one of the locals’ favorite places to walk and hang out. The park is in Solna, an attractive neighborhood connected to Stockholm’s downtown by the metro and other public transport links.
Hagaparken is one of the Stockholm region’s largest parks, and you’ll find an aquarium — known as Haga Ocean — in the middle of it. The park also has a small castle, which bears a close resemblance to the one you’ll find in Frederiksberg Gardens if you go to Copenhagen.
During the summer, Hagaparken is pleasant for a bike ride — and it’s perfect for a stroll regardless of the time of year. The park has acres of paths, but you can also get lost in the forested areas if you’d prefer.
You can use your standard public transportation pass that would work for inner-city Stockholm to get here. To get to Hagaparken, you can get the commuter train or metro to Solna. From there, all you need to do is take the 18-minute walk before you’re in tranquility.
Långholmsparken
Långholmen is one of the Swedish capital’s best-kept secrets. The peaceful island is within touching distance of Stockholm’s city center, and you’ll find a sizable park that’s great for exploring if you’ve got a bit of extra time here.
Despite its convenient location between Kungsholmen and Södermalm — two of Stockholm’s most prominent neighborhoods — many tourists pass over Långholmen for other parts of the city (or elsewhere in Sweden).
As a result, you’ll have the place largely to yourself — except for the locals that join you.
Långholmen offers excellent views of Stockholm from the other side of the water, and you can have fun for days climbing over rocks and just being adventurous in general. You can also enjoy the view of Västerbron, which is one of the Swedish capital’s most famous bridges.
To get to idyllic Långholmen, you can cycle here in around 20 minutes from the city center if the weather’s good. Alternatively, you can hop on the metro to Hornstull (you’ll need the red 14 line headed toward Fruängen). From Hornstull, it’s an 11-minute walk.
Skansen Open Air Museum
Skansen isn’t technically a park, but you can easily classify it as one. This open-air museum is the most famous in Sweden, and it’s one of the absolute essentials for first-time visitors to Sweden’s capital city.
On top of that, it’s the oldest open-air museum on the planet.
You’ll find Skansen on Djurgården, so it’s perfect if you fancy combining that walk around the island with a bit of a cultural fix.
The museum is designed to represent Sweden in the olden days, and you’ll still find people dressed in traditional clothing — plus, of course, the typical wooden houses you’ll find dotted across much of the country.
To enter Skansen, you’ll need to purchase tickets. Entry to the museum costs 220 Swedish Kronor for adults, 200 SEK for students and pensioners, and 70 SEK for children up to 15-years-old. If you plan to stay in Stockholm for the long run, you can also purchase an annual pass. You can buy tickets here.
To get to Skansen, hop on the number 7 tram to Djurgården; you’ll find a stop outside the entrance. Alternatively, you can get the ferry or walk.
Vanadislunden
If you’re looking for a view over Stockholm’s rooftops while enjoying greenery on an early morning walk, you can do worse than heading to Vanadislunden. This area is well-known for its water reservoir, which you’ll find perched in the center of the park on top of the hill.
Vanadislunden is in the Vasastan neighborhood, one of Stockholm’s innermost suburbs. It’s along Sveavägen, one of the city’s busiest streets; Klarna, one of Sweden’s biggest tech success stories, has its headquarters on this road.
Unlike Skansen Kronan, you don’t need to pay to enter Vanadislunden. Getting here by public transport takes around 20 minutes from T-Centralen; you can get any of the 17, 18, and 19 lines.
The walk is approximately 25 minutes, though, and you’ll probably discover various hidden gems along the way — so we recommend that option instead.
Tyresta National Park
If you ever make Stockholm your home, you’ll realize that one of the best things about living there is how close you are to nature on the outskirts. It’s perfectly plausible to find a house that feels like it’s in a rural location, despite being one of the city’s suburbs — and Tyresö is one clear example of this.
Tyresta is one of the largest forested areas in Sweden, and it’s proof that you don’t need to travel to Lapland for stunning scenery — though we certainly wouldn’t object if you chose to do that.
At Tyresta National Park, you can find acres of routes to hike — along with several beautiful lakes to sit down and enjoy a picnic at. During the summer, picking berries is a local pastime among the locals — just make sure that you don’t choose anything poisonous!
To get to Tyresta National Park from the center of Stockholm, you can get a combination of metro and local bus services. If you’ve got a driving license, you might find that driving is a more efficient option; the journey by car takes less than 40 minutes.
Skinnarviksparken
Another park in Stockholm that offers stunning panoramic views of the city is Skinnarviksparken. You will also find Skinnarviksberget — the highest natural point in Stockholm.
Skinnarviksparken is a hugely popular area for locals to picnic when the weather’s good, and it’s an excellent place to watch the sun come up and go down. You’ll find various spots to sit and lay on the grass, along with multiple benches dotted across the park.
If you want, you can also bring a foldable chair for a comfortable view of the Swedish capital. Getting here isn’t too challenging; it’s a three-minute walk from Zinkensdamm metro station. Zinkensdamm is only six minutes by metro from T-Centralen; you can take either the 13 or 14 line.
Stadshusparken
Stockholm’s city hall is one of the Swedish capital’s most recognizable buildings. You can see it from almost everywhere along the waterfront; it’s also visible from pretty much every vantage point in the city. And if you go through its pretty archways, you’ll find a small park close to the waterfront.
Stadshusparken is pleasant to walk around regardless of the weather, and you’ll find various stairs to grab a seat on if you want to admire the view. Across the water, you’ll get a scenic glimpse of Södermalm and Riddarholmen — so it’s worth remembering to bring your camera.
To get to Stadshusparken, take the metro to Rådhuset and walk. Alternatively, you can easily walk from Stockholm Central Station; cross the bridge toward the city hall and go through the archways.
The park is open from 08:00 to 18:00 during the winter and 08:00 to 20:00 in the summer.
Nyckelviken Nature Reserve
Nacka is one of Stockholm’s most desirable suburbs, and you’ll find plenty of modern apartments in this part of the city. The district is also known for its proximity to nature, and Nyckelviken Nature Reserve is the perfect example of this.
Nyckelviken Nature Reserve offers quaint walks alongside beautiful lakes, with particularly pretty colors during the autumn. You’ll find plenty of spots for a picnic, in addition to a farm where you’ll find several animals — including cows and sheep.
You’ll also find an outdoor gym in the nature reserve if you fancy getting a sweat on — but you don’t want to do so at a commercial gym closer to the city center.
To get to Nyckelviken, you’ll need to get a local bus. If you’re in Nacka, you can walk to the reserve without too many problems.
Vasaparken
Suppose you don’t have enough time to experience nature on the outskirts of Sweden’s capital. In that case, you’ll find plenty of other Stockholm parks that we haven’t already mentioned closer to the city center.
One of the smaller ones on our list is Vasaparken, which you’ll find in the Vasastaden neighborhood.
Vasaparken is a popular place to play football, socialize with friends, or read a book; it’s one of the most visited parks among Stockholmers when the sun comes out.
Inside Vasaparken, you will also find a playground where you can let your little ones run around for as long as they want. Meanwhile, the outskirts of the park have several restaurants and cafés if you fancy grabbing something to eat or drink.
Getting to Vasaparken doesn’t pose any major issues if you’re coming from the center of Stockholm. You can cycle here in 10 minutes, and it’s only 22 minutes away by foot. Alternatively, you can get the metro from T-Centralen to Sankt Eriksplan in 13 minutes and walk for an additional four.
Grubbensparken
One of the most underrated parks in Stockholm is Grubbensparken, which you’ll find in the quiet Kungsholmen neighborhood.
The largest appeal for coming here is the beautiful architecture that goes around it in a ring, making it a great spot for photography that’ll take your Instagram game to the next level.
In the center of Grubbensparken is St. Eriks Chapel, which is a relatively small church that you can easily mistake for being a house on its own. The park has a selection of benches to sit down on if you want to escape the “busy” downtown for a few minutes.
To get to Grubbensparken, you can walk for around 20 minutes from the center of Stockholm. Public transport takes around the same time when you factor walking into the equation; take the metro to Rådhuset Station and continue the remainder of your journey on foot.
Vitabergsparken
In the area of hipster Södermalm known as Sofo, you’ll find Vitabergsparken — which is one of the Swedish capital’s most quaint parks. It’s right next to Sofia Kyrka, and one of many reasons you’ll find it attractive is for the lovely red houses that you’ll find close to the church.
Vitabergsparken is perfect for a casual stroll on a Sunday morning, and it’s equally as pleasant if you want to sunbathe on a warm summer’s day. You can also enjoy a view over Stockholm, though admittedly, it isn’t as significant as what you’ll find at the likes of Skinnarviksparken.
To get to Vitabergsparken from the center of Stockholm, you can enjoy a pleasant 50-minute walk that takes you through the wondrous Old Town that everyone visiting Sweden’s main city loves.
The faster option is public transport; several lines run to Slussen, and you can also get the metro to Skanstull — which is closer to the park.
Axel Landquists Park
Also in Södermalm is Axel Landquists Park, which is a small playing area for children. You’ll find a sandpit, plus places to sit down if you want to observe your children and let them play.
Axel Landquists Park is also a popular area for people to walk through when getting from one point to another. Nearby is Meatballs for the People, a popular place to get numerous variations of tasty Swedish meatballs.
To get to Axel Landquists Park, take the metro or bus to Slussen and walk.
Ivar Los Park
Another must-see park in Stockholm is Ivar Los Park; if you’re looking for a place with a view, this is arguably an even better option than Skinnarviksparken.
Ivar Los Park is in Södermalm and right next to Monteliusvägen, which is the most popular lookout spot in Sweden’s capital with tourists. At Ivar Los Park, you can grab a patch of grass and enjoy something to eat while taking in the view of Downtown Stockholm.
Alternatively, you can soak up a bit of sun when it comes out.
To get to Ivar Los Park, take the metro to Slussen.
Rålambshovsparken
One of the lesser-known parks among tourists is Rålambshovsparken, which you’ll find in the Kungsholmen neighborhood. It roughly translates to “Raw Lamb’s Hoof Park”, but it’s a little more pleasing on the eye than that.
Rålambshovsparken is a good, old-fashioned public area where you can find a place to sit and spend a relaxed afternoon in the Swedish capital. From the waterfront, you can peek towards Långholmen and Västerbron; it’s also ideal for cycling.
To get to Rålambshovsparken, take the metro to Thorildsplan and walk for just under 10 minutes.
Karlaplan
Rounding up our Stockholm parks article is Karlaplan, a tiny oasis of trees right in the heart of Stockholm. Like Grubbensparken, it’s designed in a ring format — and you will find plenty of benches to grab a seat and enjoy some time to yourself.
In the center of Karlaplan, you’ll find a fountain that completes the idyllic look and feel of this area. The park’s exteriors are surrounded by pretty domestic architecture, making the area well worth exploring for half a day — if not more.
Karlaplan is in Stockholm’s upscale Östermalm district, and getting here from the city center isn’t difficult. You’re only seven minutes away from T-Centralen by metro; riding your bike will take you 10 minutes, and it’s half an hour away by foot.
Parks in Stockholm are abundant
Stockholm is a prime example of Nordic cities’ close connection to nature. Stockholm parks are plentiful, and you’ll find something that fits your needs — regardless of whether you want something more lowkey or an adventure in nature parks that could easily belong in a more rural part of the country.
Urban planners have done an excellent job at laying out the Swedish capital, and with every man’s right to roam, you’ve got plenty of places to explore on foot.
Parks in Stockholm are glorious year-round, but they especially come to life during the short summer.
And if you’re looking for a place to stay, Stockholm has plenty of hotel options.
Another popular activity in the capital (and elsewhere in Sweden) is kayaking, so why not check out our article on the topic and plan your trip?
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
