City parks

There are many beautiful parks in the city. They're easy to get to and are always filled with interesting events and people. Grab a blanket and head off to an oasis in the city and relax with something to nibble on and enjoy the surroundings.

Humlegården

Humlegården ("the hops garden") was established during the reign of Gustavus Adolphus as a place to grow brewers´ hops. Later, it evolved into a kind of amusement park, with carrousels and dance pavilions. The lime trees lining the avenues probably date from the reign of Queen Kristina. In 1877, the Royal Library moved here, and today has huge underground archives. There are many statues, including figures of Carolus Linnaeus and the chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele.

Photo: Kungsträdgården Park & Evenemang

Kungsträdgården

This popular meeting place served as a kitchen garden for the court during the Middle Ages. It was long the sole province of royalty. The first Swedish arts and industry exhibition was held here in 1866. Kungsträdgården was also the scene of the "battle of the elms", when its elms were slated to be felled to make room for an underground station. Ultimately, they were spared the axe and the station was built a short distance from the park. Today, the park is home to an open-air stage, a winter skating rink and several restaurants and cafés . The northern section of the park was given a facelift in 1998. Among the statues are figures of Karl XIII (with the lions) and Karl XII.

Vitabergsparken

Vitabergsparken was laid out at the turn of the century, and contains within its precincts Sofia church (1906) and a number of historic wooden houses. It's also a hangout for anybody and everybody looking for some relaxation in the city.

Långholmen

This is an oasis in the city, an entire island of it's own and hidden from the hub-bub. You hop off at Hornstull subway station, then walk out onto Västerbron (the bridge) and follow it out to about the middle and take the small stairs on the right side down onto Långholmen. Walk around, find a spot and spend the rest of the day relaxing.