Djurgården in Stockholm – attractions, museums and our best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | Djurgården is one of the places in Stockholm that we constantly return to. Over the years, we have walked here, gone to museums, looked at art, rode carousels, looked for herons and discovered both well-known sights and much quieter corners. Here we collect our best tips for things to see and do on Djurgården.

Djurgården – a green oasis in the middle of Stockholm

Djurgården is special in many ways. It is home to some of Stockholm's most famous attractions, such as the Vasa Museum, Skansen and Gröna Lund, while you don't have to go very far to find yourself among old wooden houses, large oak trees and still water.

We live in Stockholm ourselves and have visited many of the museums and attractions on Djurgården over the years. But we also like to come here just to walk. It's exactly the combination we like – culture and entertainment on one side and nature and tranquility on the other.

The term Royal Djurgården encompasses a larger area than Djurgården Island itself. In this guide, we focus primarily on the part that most people mean when they say they are going ”to Djurgården” – the area including Skansen, Gröna Lund, the Vasa Museum, Rosendal and Waldemarsudde.

From royal zoo to entertainment and culture

The name Djurgården has historical roots. In 1579, Johan III had a royal animal farm established, including deer, moose and reindeer. The area was later used as a royal hunting ground, and Djurgårdsporten still reminds us of the time when the area was fenced off.

Over the centuries, Djurgården changed. During the reign of Gustav III, the area became increasingly associated with folk life and entertainment, and under Karl XIV Johan, Djurgården was further developed as a recreational area. In the 19th century, several of the activities that are still associated with Djurgården today were added, including Gröna Lund and Skansen.

Rosendal Castle was built during the reign of Karl XIV Johan as a pleasure palace, and to this day both the castle and the surrounding greenery remain in the middle of Djurgården.

Things to do on Djurgården – our best tips

It's easy to spend a whole day on Djurgården – or several. If you're here for the first time, the Vasa Museum and Skansen are two of the great classics. If you're traveling with children, Junibacken and Gröna Lund might be attractive, while art lovers can choose between Liljevalchs, Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde and Thielska Galleriet.

If you are more interested in nature and walking, you can instead leave the most visited parts and continue towards Rosendal, Isbladskärret and the quieter parts further out on the island.

And that's perhaps the best thing about Djurgården: you don't really have to choose between the big city and nature. Here you get a bit of both.

Museums on Djurgården

Djurgården is a real museum cluster, and we have visited many of the museums here over the years. Which one is best depends of course on what you are interested in.

Vasa Museum – a ship and a unique history

The Vasa Museum is one of Stockholm's major attractions, and we definitely think the museum is worth a visit – even for those who are not usually particularly interested in ships.

The regal ship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961, after more than 300 years at the bottom. Today, you can get impressively close to the enormous ship and at the same time learn more about the people, life on board and the Sweden where Vasa was built.

READ MORE: Visiting the Vasa Museum in Stockholm - info and tips

Nordic Museum – culture, life and traditions

The building itself makes the Nordic Museum worth noting. Inside the doors, it is about life in the Nordic region – cultural history, traditions, fashion, design, everyday life and how people have lived through different times.

This is a museum where the exhibitions change and where you can easily find something new even if you have been here before.

READ MORE: Nordic Museum in Stockholm - culture, design, traditions

The Viking Museum – meet the Viking Age

At The Viking Museum you can get closer to the Viking Age through objects, stories, environments and interactive features. There is also the Ragnfrids saga ride, where you take a dramatized journey through the world of the Vikings. When we visited the museum, it was called Vikingaliv, which is also reflected in the title of our older report.

READ MORE: Viking life - experiences at the Viking Museum in Stockholm

Wreck - Museum of Wrecks

The Baltic Sea is full of wrecks, and at Vrak it's about the stories that hide beneath the surface. The museum is located in the old galley sheds on Djurgården and uses digital technology to tell the story of finds and ships that remain on the seabed.

We thought it was an exciting museum, not least because it tells the story of a world that is otherwise quite difficult to access.

READ MORE: Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks on Djurgården in Stockholm.

ABBA The Museum – for the music lover

At ABBA The Museum, perhaps Sweden's most famous pop group takes center stage. There are stage costumes, objects and stories from ABBA's career, but also interactive parts where visitors can become part of the experience themselves.

READ MORE: The ABBA Museum in Stockholm - lots of nostalgia

Spirits Museum – Swedish drinking culture

Spritmuseum is a slightly different museum that deals with Swedish alcohol and drinking culture, with history, tastes, smells and temporary exhibitions. The museum is conveniently located in two old galley sheds by the water.

READ MORE: Liquor Museum in Stockholm - schnapps songs and tastings

Art on Djurgården

Djurgården is also an excellent destination for art lovers. Three of our favorites are located in very different environments.

Liljevalchs art centre

Liljevalchs is located near Gröna Lund and shows Swedish and international contemporary art. Liljevalchs is perhaps best known for the annual Spring Salon, but various exhibitions are shown here throughout the year.

READ MORE: Liljevalchs konsthall - art on Djurgården in Stockholm.

Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde

Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde is a combination of art museum, artist's home and beautiful setting. Prince Eugen was an artist himself and lived here, and for us it is almost as much the location as the art that makes the visit special.

There are also gardens, sculptures and views of the water. A walk here is nice even if you don't go into the museum.

READ MORE: Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde - art in a beautiful setting

Thielska Gallery

Even further out on Djurgården is the Thielska Galleriet, beautifully situated in a walled park at Blockhusudden. It houses a significant collection of Nordic art, mainly from the turn of the century.

We combined our visit with a boat trip, which is a nice way to make the journey itself part of the excursion.

READ MORE: Thielska Galleriet on Djurgården - and a boat trip
READ ALSO: Art in Stockholm - 12 art experiences

Skansen – animals, history and Swedish traditions

Skansen is one of those places that is almost several attractions in one. It is the world's oldest open-air museum, founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, and features historic buildings and farms from different parts of Sweden.

There are also Nordic animals, various activities and crafts, and Swedish traditions such as Midsummer and Christmas are celebrated throughout the year. Skansen is large, so if you really want to discover the area, you can easily spend a large part of the day here.

We have of course been to Skansen many times over the years. It is also the kind of place that changes with the seasons and can therefore be fun to return to.

READ MORE: Visiting Skansen - an open-air museum in Stockholm

Gröna Lund – entertainment, concerts and Halloween

Amidst Djurgården's old houses and museums lies Gröna Lund, Stockholm's classic amusement park. Here you will find carousels and rides, as well as concerts and other events.

We have visited Gröna Lund during Halloween, when the entire area is transformed with pumpkins, decorations, haunted houses and varying degrees of spooky fun. It is a completely different experience than a regular summer visit.

READ MORE: Halloween at Gröna Lund – horror, spooky fun and tips for your visit

Junibacken – fairy tales and Astrid Lindgren's world

Junibacken is primarily a destination for families with children and is based on Swedish children's literature, with Astrid Lindgren's stories playing a central role.

Here you will find, among other things, the Story Train, a theater and environments where children can step into the world of stories. Our guest writer Anna has visited Junibacken with her grandchildren and tells more about the experience in her own report.

READ MORE: Junibacken Stockholm with the grandchildren

Walking on Djurgården

You don't need to buy a single entrance ticket to appreciate Djurgården. On the contrary, one of our favorite things to do here is simply to walk.

The further away from the museums, Skansen and Gröna Lund you get, the more the environment changes. The traffic and crowds disappear and are replaced by water, large trees, birds and green spaces. In some places it almost feels strange that you are still in the middle of Stockholm.

Djurgårdsstaden – charming old quarters

Behind Gröna Lund lies Djurgårdsstaden, a small area with low wooden houses, narrow streets and a completely different feel than the big attractions right next door.

The area began to develop in the 17th century in connection with activities for seafarers, and much of the buildings date from the 18th century. It is not large, but well worth the small detour if you are on Djurgården.

We like the contrast: one moment you're standing among carousels and visitors at Gröna Lund, and just a few minutes later you're walking among old wooden houses.

Beckholmen – shipyard environment in the middle of the idyll

From Djurgårdsstaden you can continue across Beckholmsbron to small Beckholmen. There are large dry docks and a long history of shipping and shipbuilding.

When we first walked here, we were fascinated by the contrasts. Huge ships could be moored for repairs, while the red houses and the tranquility gave a feeling of being far from the big city. It is still one of those slightly unexpected corners of Djurgården that we are happy to recommend.

Rosendal Castle and Rosendal Garden

Amidst the greenery lies Rosendal Castle, which was built in the 1820s as a pleasure palace for Karl XIV Johan. The area around Rosendal still tells the story of the royal part of Djurgården's history.

Also nearby is Rosendals Trädgård, with orchards, greenhouses, café, bakery and farm shop. We have been here ourselves in connection with a culinary event, and the environment is a big part of the experience. Rosendal is also a good stop during a longer walk across Djurgården.

Isbladskärret – birdlife and nature

Continuing further out, Djurgården changes even more. At Isbladskärret there is a rich birdlife and, among other things, a large heron colony, which was established here in 1989 after previously breeding at Skansen. During parts of the year, Scottish Highland cattle also graze in the area to keep the landscape open.

We've been here looking for herons, and it's hard to imagine a greater contrast to city life just a few kilometers away.

READ MORE: Isbladskärret on Djurgården - a favourite in Stockholm

Further out on Djurgården

If you have plenty of time, you can continue further out. Waldemarsudde and Thielska Galleriet can be destinations along the way, and at Blockhusudden you feel far from central Stockholm.

It is also here where you really understand how much more Djurgården is than the big attractions at Djurgårdsbron.

Eat and drink coffee on Djurgården

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes on Djurgården, both independent and connected to museums and other attractions. We have eaten at Villa Godthem, a classic Djurgården restaurant in a beautiful old setting. We have also eaten at Tyrol, connected to Gröna Lund.

At Rosendals Trädgård there is a café and bakery, and as I said we have been here in connection with a food event. It can be a nice stop during a walk, not least because you also get to experience the garden environment itself.

However, we wouldn't plan a Djurgårdsdag too heavily on restaurants. There are many options along the way, and several museums have their own cafes or restaurants.

A day on Djurgården – our suggestion

If this is your first time visiting Djurgården, we would start by walking across Djurgårdsbron and choosing one of the major museums, such as the Vasa Museum or the Nordic Museum. Then continue to Skansen and spend a few hours there. Finish with a walk through Djurgårdsstaden and along the water – or with Gröna Lund if entertainment is what appeals to you.

Don't try to squeeze in five museums in the same day. Djurgården will be more enjoyable if there is also time to just walk around and look at the surroundings.

Have you already seen the classics?

Then we would do a completely different Djurgårdsdag. Start in Djurgårdsstaden and make a detour to Beckholmen. Then continue through the greenery towards Rosendal and on to Isbladskärret. If you still have the energy in your legs, you can continue further out on Djurgården, perhaps towards Waldemarsudde, Thielska Galleriet or Blockhusudden.

It's a much quieter side of Djurgården – and a side that we really like.

How to get to Djurgården

The easiest – and often most pleasant – way is to walk. From central Stockholm you can walk along Strandvägen and over Djurgårdsbron.

You can also take the tram or bus. Another nice option is the Djurgårdsfärjan between Slussen and Allmänna gränd. The ferry is part of the SL traffic and regular SL tickets are valid.

Djurgården is also great to explore by bike, and there are cycle paths around the island. Please check current routes and timetables with SL before your visit.

READ MORE: Things to do in Stockholm – 22 attractions and experiences