Winter’s long, cold and dark grip on Sweden has finally loosened up and has come to an end. Its departure marks the arrival of the time when Stockholm’s other face begins to surface. The city offers many activities and attractions, but if you ever get tired of the commotion that goes with it there are many places where nature can be the calming surroundings you yearn for.
The many lakes are freed from their icy shackles and parks can at long last boast their lush and green vegetation. In the second of two parts – here are some of the best outdoor spots in Stockholm that you can enjoy the long sunny days of spring and summer.
Ulriksdals slottspark – Ulriksdals wärdshus
The royal castle garden in Ulriksdal offers the best of the Swedish outdoors. Erected during the 1600s this castle and its park has both housed royalties and hosted their coronations. Its vast fields and carefully planted trees fits the bill if you want to barbeque and enjoy some beverages out in the fresh air with some friends or just by yourself. Nearby is also a garden where you can buy yourself a snack, host events or just take a stroll.
Rålambshovsparken – Kungsholmen
Rålambshovsparken is located within a five minute walk from Fridhemsplan subway station and quite literally offers it all. It has a beachvolleyball area, a lane for playing boule with an associated bar and its enormous grass fields allow for activities such as throwing frisbee, football, brännboll, kubb and picnics. Beside the park is a lake stretching one if its sides and during the summer Friskis & Svettis offers free outdoors training. A true sanctuary for the outdoors junkie. Other than the activities are some noticeable sculptures present for those interested in arts.
Hagaparken – Haga, Solna
This vast English-influenced park in Haga was created by Gustav III’s initiative after his visit to Campagna Romana in Italy and is filled with majestic pavilions and temples of different inspirations. It size and many different spots has made it a popular escape for the people of Stockholm that are looking to enjoy the city’s nature. The heavy English influence and its prime condition even led the British Garden Society in England to claim it’s the best example in the world of an English park which is reason enough to give it a visit.
Djurgården – Djurgården, Stockholm
Not as much a specific park as it is a district, taking a stroll through Djurgården is sure to fill your outdoors needs. Fantastic architecture surrounds this beautiful part of Stockholm and within it are the many gigantic oak trees that have survived a couple of centuries, with some even claimed to be 1000 years old. Running through the scenery is Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen, a well channel that provides that little extra charm when taking a walk.
Kungsträdgården – Norrmalm
Smack in the middle of the city lies Kungsträdgården, a symbiosis between modern city and nature and is a popular meeting point. The Japanese cherry blossom trees makes for a mesmerizing view during the summer, surrounding the pond at the middle. In addition to the view there are many bars and cafés around and during August there’s usually the “Ung08”-festival, a free four day culture event, though mainly aimed for teenagers it’s worth checking out.
