Royal Djurgården is the perfect place in Stockholm to experience nature, culture, food and lots of other fun stuff! As a working tourist information officer here at Royal Djurgården Visitor Center, I am lucky enough to experience much of what the island has to offer. Below are therefore some of my tips on things to do.
For those who intend to visit the museum, I recommend trying to plan your day to be able to get there in good time. Because it is during the morning, before lunchtime and later in the afternoon that many museums have the least visitors. In this way, it is easier to enjoy the stay without having to crowd with lots of people.
Museum for children
Museiparken includes a large selection of museums suitable for all ages. It is especially a great place for children as all the museums there usually offer fun and educational activities adapted for younger ages. The Police Museum can be found here and once inside is the exhibition Polis, polis. There, children are allowed to sit in the driver’s seat of a real swedish police car aswell as a police motorcycle, turn on the blue light, gas and talk on the police radio. There are also films and narration about how the police here in Sweden used to work in the past. Outside the entrance to the museum is also the traffic area, it is a place where children can learn about traffic rules in a playful way during the summer with the help of pedal cars. In the Museiparken there is also The National Sports Museum of Sweden, a place that depicts Swedish sports from ancient times to the present day. There are physical challenges to take part in, exhibitions to look at and of course there is Konsthall 16. It is Sweden’s first art hall that depicts the meeting between sports and art. In addition to being an interesting and educational place, The National Sports Museum of Sweden is also free, perfect for a spontaneous visit.
Museum beyond the ordinary
Here on Djurgården there are several art museums, one of my absolute favorites is The Thiel Gallery which you can find out on beautiful Blockhusudden. The house is located in a nature-filled place and offers a fantastic view out to the water. There is the cozy Café Monika Ahlberg, which sells tasty pastries, sandwiches and lunches. Which makes it the perfect place to recharge the batteries before or after the visit inside the museum. Once inside, you are greeted by unique art collections consisting of paintings and sculptures from a number of prominent artists. The exhibition that appealed to me the most was Stilla Natur created by Oskar Bergman, unfortunately the last day to see it was August 20. That said, it’s worth a visit regardless.
In addition to The Thiel Gallery, I also recommend a visit to The Museum of Spirits at Djurgårdsstrand for the opportunity to experience the REDISCOVER art exhibition. It is a colorful exhibition consisting of glitter, disco music and strong colors. It includes around 90 artworks from the Absolut Art Collection. The exhibition is a way to see how much influence the Absolut brand has had with the international beverage industry. Of course, the museum also provides other exciting exhibitions. Including their main exhibition Dryckeslandet Sweden, the visitor gets to experience scenarios, films, scents and music and the art of creating alcohol. What would be a better fitting end for a visit at The Museum of Spirits if not with the opportunity to take part in their beer tasting or spirit tasting.
For those interested in history, The Viking Museum is located next to Spritmusem. The museum consists of exhibitions that all tell an important part of how Nordic Vikings lived during the Viking Age. It is a unique museum that does an excellent job of letting visitors learn more about the people that lived under the infamous Viking helmets, and whether what is portrayed on film and television really matches what the Vikings actually looked like. To end the visit, enjoy The Viking Ride, which is takes the passengers on a exiting journey through 10th century Europe and the life of a viking family.
The Sculpture Park
Djurgården is a must visit for the beautiful nature and peaceful paths alone. Near the Folke Bernadotte Bridge is the PREKS Sculpture Park. Here you can go for a relaxing walk and at the same time discover the fantastic sculptures that are placed around the area. These are of course free to visit and lets you discover the artistic side of nature. There are currently four permanent sculptures, the latest named Osagd created by Charlotte Gyllenhammar was added in May. Every day until September 1, free guided tours are offered, collection takes place at the PREKS information kiosk next to Folke Bernadotte’s Bridge.
Restaurants
After a fast-paced day at Djurgården, I think it can be nice to sit down and enjoy a good meal. There is a large selection of different restaurants here, including some of Stockholm’s most historic such as Wärdshuset Ulla Winbladh and Villa Godthem. These are perfect for those looking for traditional foods. Food is also offered at almost all the museums on the island. Some try to do the little extra, such as the resturant ELD at The Viking Museum, which serves traditional Swedish home cooking with a twist. Djurgården is also home to the Michelin-awarded AIRA, which was awarded its second star this year. A must visit for the foodie!
Written by Benjamin Ilehag, tourist information summer 2023.
For the younger visitors there is also a new less frightning experience to try – The Witch’s Trail. Those that wander down the train will encounter suprises such as glittering lights, shadows and pumpkins with terrible dental hygien. The Small Area of Gröna Lund (Lilla Området) is suitable for young visitors and families that have less of a tolerance for scary things but still enjoy the magical feeling of Halloween.
In 2022, Spritmuseum celebrates ten years at Royal Djurgården. They are celebrating this by allowing a younger generation of art educators working at Spritmuseum to pick out their favourites from the Absolut Art Collection. The result is REDISCOVER, an exhibition which fills the room floor to ceiling with almost 90 artworks. The exhibition is on display until September 24.
