The Vasa Museum is one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia. It is here that you will find in all its glory, the unique and well preserved warship Vasa from 1628, embellished with hundreds of wooden sculptures.
Sweden: Stockholm – Drottningholm Palace
Constructed in the seventeenth century, Drottningholm Palace is Sweden’s best-preserved royal palace. The palace has been the permanent residence of the present royal family since 1981. The rooms in the southern part of the palace are reserved for members of the royal family. In 1991 Drottningholm was the first Swedish attraction put on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
The name Drottningholm (literally meaning “Queen’s islet”) came from the original Renaissance building designed by Willem Boy, a stone palace built by John III of Sweden in 1580 for his queen, Catherine Jagiellon. This palace was preceded by a royal mansion called Torvesund.
The Queen Dowager Regent Hedwig Eleonora bought the castle throughout 1661, a year after her role as Queen of Sweden ended, but it burnt to the ground on 30 December that same year. Hedwig Eleonora engaged the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder to design and rebuild the castle. In 1662, work began on the reconstruction of the building. With the castle almost complete, Nicodemus died in 1681. His son Nicodemus Tessin the Younger continued his work and completed the elaborate interior designs.
Throughout the entire 18th century Drottningholm continued to serve regularly as a summer residence for the royal court. During the reign of Charles XIV John of Sweden (reign 1818–1844), the palace was abandoned. The King regarded it as a symbol of the old dynasty, and Drottningholm was left to decay. It was not until the reign of Gustav V that the palace and surroundings were reconstructed to their 18th-century appearance. In 1907, a major four-year restoration of the palace was begun to restore it to its former state, after which the royal court began to use it regularly again.
With our tickets purchased, we decided to focus on the interior of the Palace. There is one wing of the palace, over two floors that is open to the public, which includes salons, bedrooms, and banquet rooms. One of the good things about arriving as late as we did was all the tour busses had left and there were not large groups going around. It almost felt like we had the place to ourselves.
We loved the way these rooms were decorated in the Baroque style, everything was big and bold, and the colours used were vibrant. The large windows meant the light flooded in. It felt more homely and elegant than the State rooms we had visited in the Royal Palace in Stockholm. It is easy to see why the Royal Family used this as their residence. I don’t know whether the Royal Family were in residence during our visit but there was no sign of any security.
It didn’t take us long to look around, and I didn’t feel we were rushing too much. We still had time to explore the gardens. Drottningholm sits on the island of Lovön on Lake Mälaren (Lake Malar in English) which is the third largest fresh-water lake in Sweden. The Palace sits on the banks of the lake, giving it a splendid view from the front. The back is even more spectacular. Here there are beautiful formal gardens which expand out into larger parkland with trees and ponds. We left the Palace, going through a courtyard which passes by the church and the theatre building into the Baroque garden.
The Baroque Garden was created in the late 17th century at the initiative of Queen Hedvig Eleonora, under the management of palace architects Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. The garden is next to the palace, surrounded by four rows of lime trees. The architects took their inspiration from the newly planted palace gardens of France, where the ideal was strict, ordered, and symmetrical. The bronze sculptures in the park are cast copies of originals by the Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries.
In addition to the rows of lime trees, the Baroque Garden also includes the parterre de broderie closest to the palace, the slightly higher water parterre with its 12 smaller fountains and the Hercules fountain at the centre, cascades and bosquets, and as its backdrop the large bosquet known as the Star.
The Baroque Garden fell into disrepair during the 19th century but was restored in the 1950s and 1960s at King Gustav VI Adolf’s initiative.
From the formal layout of the Baroque garden, we headed to the English Park which was our favourite part of Drottningholm’s grounds.
When Gustav III took over Drottningholm in 1777, he wanted to introduce the latest trend in park design from England: the natural landscape park. Fredrik Magnus Piper, who had studied in England, was tasked with creating just such a park to the north of the Baroque Garden in 1780.
The English Park consists of two ponds with canals, islands and beautiful bridges, large lawns, groves, and tree-lined avenues. Pathways meander throughout the park, which also has walkways with views and panoramas across the countryside.
We spent two hours at Drottningholm which didn’t feel too rushed, at least I didn’t feel that way, but there were areas of the grounds we didn’t get to explore, such as the Chinese Pavilion.
Planning your visit to Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Castle is located on Lovön in Ekerö municipality, approx. 10 km outside Stockholm.
Map of Drottningholm’s castle area (pdf)
Pdf, 2.2 MB, opens in new window.
Visiting address Drottningholm
Public transport
Subway to Brommaplan and then bus to Drottningholm.
Plan your trip at sl.se
Link to other website, opens in new window., in the ‘Search trip’ function select station/place/address : Drottningholms Slott, Drottningholm.
Castle excursion by boat
Castle excursion with Strömma canal company, from Stadhuskajen to the world heritage Drottningholm. You travel on a ship from the turn of the last century, booked via www.stromma.se
Link to other website.
Cycle path
Cycle path exists from Stockholm city to Drottningholm.
Motorway
E4/Södertälje
Follow signs for Stockholm. Follow road 275 towards Vällingby. At Brommaplan follow the signs for Drottningholm.
Alternatively, follow the sign towards Ekerö by Hallunda. Ferry to Jungfrusund. Follow Bryggavägen to Ekerö C, then right road 261, Drottningholmsvägen.
E4/Uppsala
Follow road 279 past Kista. Turn right onto road 275 towards Vällingby. At Brommaplan follow the signs for Drottningholm.
E18/Oslo
Follow road 275. At Brommaplan follow signs for Drottningholm.
From Stockholm City
Follow route 275, Drottningholmsvägen towards Vällingby. At Brommaplan follow the signs for Drottningholm.
Visitor parking is available next to Drottningholm Palace Theater and Drottningholm Castle. Also parking for buses and the disabled. At Karusellplan, approximately 300 meters from the castle, there is additional parking on a gravel surface. From 1 July 2018: Fee SEK 15/hour, parking time maximum 6 hours. Parking for the disabled and tourist buses is free.
Getting around Stockholm
Stockholm Public Transport, SL, is responsible for buses, underground trains, commuter trains, trams, and certain ferry lines in Greater Stockholm.
A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes, costs 42 SEK (26 SEK for senior citizens and children/teenagers/students up to the age of 20), and can be purchased at SL’s customer service shops, through their app, or directly at the turnstiles and on buses using a credit card. It’s also possible to buy 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day and 30-day tickets. A parent with a stroller gets to ride for free on any of Stockholm’s buses.
It’s not possible to pay cash for tickets on buses in Stockholm. Failure to show a valid ticket during a control will result in a 1500 SEK penalty fee.
Eating out for vegans in Stockholm
There was a time when vegetarian restaurants were few and far between in Stockholm, and ordering the vegetarian option meant getting a meat dish – sans meat. Things have changed.
Today, you’re guaranteed to find exquisite vegetarian and vegan alternatives on any menu. And not only in one of Stockholm’s great plant-based restaurants or cafés.
- Delivore – Vegan café and lunch restaurant, serving plant-based snacks, sandwiches, and sweets. Delivore is part of the vegan grocery and food store Goodstore.
- Fern & Fika – Plant-based café and lunch restaurant in the Hornstull-area. Has bowls, daily soups and stews, and a variety of sweets, cookies, and cakes.
- Växhuset – Växhuset serves a plant-based, seasonal tasting menu. The restaurant is adjacent to the Trädgården/Under Bron nightclub, under the Skanstull bridge on Södermalm.
- Mahalo – Breakfast -and lunch restaurant serving plant-based dishes. Bowls, pancakes, sandwiches, chili, and more. Has several locations in Stockholm.
- The Green Queen – Seasonal sister restaurant to the popular summer bar Mälarpaviljongen on Kungsholmen. Offers a plant-based menu from late spring/early summer to late summer.
The best time to visit Stockholm
Annual temperatures in Stockholm fluctuate from -5.3°C (22.5°F) in the coldest months to 21.9°C (71.4°F) in the warmest. A closer look at the meteorological data reveals that the highest average temperatures register in July at 21.9°C (71.4°F), followed closely by June and August, reaching highs of 20.7°C (69.3°F) and 20.4°C (68.7°F) respectively. In contrast, the cooler months of January and February record average lows of -5°C (23°F) and -5.3°C (22.5°F).
The patterns of yearly rainfall and number of rainy days in Stockholm consist of moderate to precipitous levels. Starting from 27mm (1.06″) in February to a peak of 65mm (2.56″) in July, the city experiences its highest rainfall during the summer months. The number of rainy days also sees an increment from 6 days a month during April and May, to 10 days a month from November through January.
The best time to visit Stockholm
Ideal visiting conditions in Stockholm prevail from June to August. During this period, temperatures ascend, reaching a comfortable range from 15.7°C (60.3°F) to 21.9°C (71.4°F). Combining these pleasant temperatures with the peak daylight hours ranging from 17 to 18.5 hours and abundant sunlight of up to 9.7 hours, summer offers tourists ample time to explore Stockholm’s charming archipelago and vibrant city life.
Additionally, the sea temperature rises significantly from 7.5°C (45.5°F) in May to 18.8°C (65.8°F) in August, encouraging water-based activities and beach visits. Nevertheless, the visitation during the peak of summer should anticipate higher than average rainfall, with July noted for the year’s highest rainfall of 65mm (2.56″) over nine days.
The worst time to visit Stockholm
For those less resistant to cold, the period of December to February could be a challenging time to visit Stockholm. During this period, average temperatures tumble to a range from -5.3°C (22.5°F) to -0.6°C (30.9°F), accompanied by reduced daylight hours, reaching as low as 6.2 hours during December. Limited sunshine, a scant 1.1 hours in December, further contributes to the stark winter days. Additionally, the sea temperatures drop to a cold 1°C (33.8°F) – 1.9°C (35.4°F), hindering any maritime activities.
Where to stay in Stockholm
1. Mid Range: Queen’s Hotel by First Hotels
On Stockholm’s main shopping street, Drottninggatan, this hotel has rooms with flat-screen TVs. Free tea and coffee are available at the front desk. Stockholm Central Train Station is only a 10-minute walk away.
Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms at Queen’s Hotel. Each room has a writing desk and cable TV, and some also include a sofa and views of the peaceful inner courtyard.
With its crystal chandeliers and antique furniture, the hotel lobby creates a charming atmosphere. Guests can relax on the sofas or use the free internet computers here.
2. Luxury – Hotel Diplomat Stockholm
Set in an impressive 1911-era Art Nouveau building on upscale Strandvägen boulevard, Hotel Diplomat offers great views over Nybroviken Bay, spa and fitness room access and a restaurant with summer terrace. WiFi is free.
Diplomat’s modern interior was designed by renowned architect Per Öberg and combines classic elegance with contemporary design. Each room features blackout curtains, a generous workspace and quality Dux beds with premium linen. All include luxury toiletries and a smart TV with Chromecast.
The in-house restaurant uses fresh, local produce to create classic Swedish dishes with a Mediterranean twist. The waterfront terrace is an ideal spot to take in the waterfront views during summer.
3. Budget -Generator Stockholm
Featuring a hip lounge, several social spaces and a bar with Nordic-inspired cocktail drinks, Generator Stockholm is located in the Norrmalm district of Stockholm. At this hostel, you can choose dormitory rooms or private guest rooms.
Each private guest room features a private bathroom with shower, and dormitory rooms share private bathroom facilities. All rooms have a city view. Free WiFi is available at this hostel.
A restaurant, cafe and 24-hour reception are also featured at Generator Stockholm.
Drottninggatan Shopping Street is a 6-minute walk from the hostel, while Sergels Torg Square is 0.7 mi away. Stockholm Central Station is just a 10-minute walk away.
More to Explore
