Djurgården – an award-winning island!

Many people know that Royal Djurgården is one of Scandinavia’s top attractions and a unique place in the world. But did you know that it also has many awards under its belt? Many of its attractions, museums and restaurants have won all kinds of awards. 2024 has also brought several new awards, demonstrating the quality of our fantastic destinations, and the destination has once again received the global organisation Green Destinations Platinum Award for the destination’s joint sustainability work.

2025 Place Brand Impact Story Award Winner

We are so proud that Royal Djurgården is the 2025 winner of the Place Brand Impact Story Awards – a prestigious award that highlights brands that not only represent a place, but also actively drive its development in a sustainable direction. The award is organised by The Place Brand Observer, a global place branding knowledge hub, and destinations around the world compete for the award.

Here is part of the motivation:

‘This is an impressive story of collaboration – bringing together 62 attractions to jointly promote and communicate their core values in four key focus areas. If ever anyone needed proof that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, Djurgården is the answer.’

Best Thrill Ride in Europe 2024

Celebrating 140 years in 2023, Gröna Lund has been an important part of Stockholm for generations. Although it preserves a rich history, it is still always a step into the future with modern and thrilling rides! The park has always been at the forefront of rides as well as concerts, haunted houses and more that they offer visitors. In September this year, they won Thrill Ride of the Year for the Icarus attraction which opened in 2017. With a total height of 95 metres, a drop angle of 90 degrees and a speed of 90km/h, it’s easy to see why it was the winner of the European Star Awards and why Swedish innovation and experiences are at a high international level. Learn more about Icarus and the Thrill Ride award here.

Cultural Heritage Prize 2024

When Artur Hazelius founded the Nordic Museum, he wanted to preserve and make Nordic cultural history accessible, so when the museum wins the Cultural Heritage Prize over 150 years later, we are not surprised! The jury’s statement reads in part: ‘In recent years, the museum has gained wings through important exhibitions such as “The Arctic”, beautiful exhibitions such as “The Paris of the North” and most recently through the powerful and acclaimed “Nordic People”. The Nordic Museum is not only one of Stockholm’s foremost museums, but the whole country’s, and we can only say a well-deserved congratulations and we look forward to another 150 years!

Swedish Design Prize 2024

On 17 October, it was time for the Swedish Design Awards 2024 where we didn’t just have one winner, we had two!

The Ethnographic Museum won the XL Design – Stand / Outdoor 2024 category for the exhibition ‘We are Seediq’! Opened in 2023, the exhibition highlights the Seediq indigenous people of Taiwan and has told their story through a visual experience. Visuals are used to invite visitors and highlight history, culture and society in an inspiring way. The award citation says: ‘Inspired by patterns from historical artefacts, the graphic design intertwines the present and the past.’

Även Nordiska museet vann Svenska designpriset 2024! I samband med förra årets 150-års-firande gjorde de om hela sin grafiska profil och en totalrenovering utav hemsidan. Den har nu uppmärksammats med en vinst i kategorin Heldigitalt Webbsida 2024, dessutom av både jury och peoples choice. Motiveringen lyder: “En kraftfull formgivning och behaglig interaktivitet som respekterar historiskt arv men ändå väcker upptäckarlust och förmår agera fond åt en rad vitt skilda temporära uttryck.”

Läs mer om Etnografiskas och Nordiskas priser här.

 Platinum Award  2024

After reaching the top spot in 2022, Kungliga Djurgårdens Intressenter has worked strategically and purposefully together with its 62 members – Sweden’s most visited museums, restaurants and other actors in the visitor industry on Djurgården. A review of around one hundred criteria shows that the work already recognised has been further developed. To be awarded the Platinum Award, at least 90 per cent of these criteria must be met – something Djurgården has successfully achieved once again, this time by a wide margin.

Royal Djurgården’s stakeholders, representing 62 members, have together developed the destination with a focus on circular and resource-efficient solutions. Collaboration between museums, restaurants and other visitor destinations is emphasised as a key factor for success.

Djurgården has also strengthened its global position by hosting the GSTC 2024 World Congress, with participants from 57 countries, and actively contributes to the development of international sustainability standards.

Dezeen Award – Best Culture Project 2024

The Wisdome extension to the Swedish Museum of Technology in Stockholm won the prestigious Dezeen Awards and is recognised as the Best Culture Project 2024 for its spectacular wooden structure.

The Dezeen Awards recognise the world’s best architecture, interiors and design each year. The jury said: ‘This project is a marvellous example of architectural innovation that harmoniously integrates with its context. By redefining expectations of planetarium design, it creates a welcoming presence at street level while maintaining an impressive interior volume. The project beautifully balances boldness and subtlety, creating a remarkably inviting atmosphere.’

As well as prizes, there has also been some fantastic nominations!

• Museum of Wrecks : European museum of the year + Golden Ear (22/10)
• National Museum of Science and Technologie : Grand Tourism Prize 2024
• Royal Djurgarden Visitor Centre:  The award for excellent hospitality, read about the nomination here