Writer: Helena Bergström
Updated: October 2026 | A helicopter tour over Stockholm gave us a whole new perspective on our own city. During our 2017 flight, we saw water, islands and familiar neighborhoods from above – and even our own houseboat! Here we tell you about the experience and show you pictures and film from the trip.
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Excited anticipation at Bromma
It was with great anticipation that we went to Bromma Airport for our helicopter tour. We did the tour in collaboration with Upplevelsepresent.se and were flying with another couple.
I, Helena, got to sit next to the pilot, while Peter and the other two passengers sat behind. Then we were off! It felt special of course to see Stockholm from the helicopter. We know the city well from the ground, but now we were going to discover it from a completely different angle.
Stockholm from above
We know that Stockholm is a beautiful city with a lot of water. Still, I was surprised when we got up in the air. Is there really this much water? And this beautiful?
The islands, greenery and buildings formed a landscape that was fun to try to orient yourself in. Your gaze wandered between larger views and small details, and familiar places suddenly looked different.
Compared to seeing the city through an airplane window before landing, we felt like we were getting much closer. It was easier to follow the details and recognize places. For a while, we even saw a bird of prey flying next to us. Of course, the camera had to work hard. Stockholm really looks great from the air!
We saw our own houseboat!
One of the most personal highlights of the trip was when we saw Pampas marina. There were the docks and houseboats that we know so well. And there was our own home! It was a special feeling to see the houseboat from above and try to find our way among the boats.
We are used to the view from our home on the water. This time we got to see how our little corner of Stockholm fits into the larger landscape.
READ MORE: Pampas marina in Solna - all you need to know
Film from our helicopter tour
Peter put together a short film from the flight. There you can follow along and see some of the views that made such a big impression on us. The film and photos are from our trip in 2017.
Do you want to fly a helicopter over Stockholm today?
There are still several companies that offer helicopter experiences over Stockholm and the archipelago. Some examples are:
- Arlanda Helicopter, which offers both shared and private sightseeing tours starting from Bromma.
- Open Sea, with helicopter sightseeing and arrangements that can be combined with other archipelago experiences.
- Live it, which sells helicopter tours as experience gifts.
Our report describes the flight we took in 2017, and we have not tried today's offers from these companies. Departure location, flight time, route and number of passengers may differ between different arrangements.
Please check current dates, prices and booking conditions before booking. The flight is weather dependent and may need to be rescheduled or cancelled.
For us, the helicopter ride was a very nice memory – and a reminder of how much there is to discover even in our own hometown.
READ MORE: Things to do in Stockholm – attractions and experiences
Our helicopter tour in 2017 was conducted in collaboration with Upplevelsepresent.se. The experiences and opinions in the report are our own.
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Kungsbyn in Västerås - with Grandma Anna and the grandchildren
10 caravan parks open in winter in Sweden
Alfred Nobel's Björkborn in Karlskoga – where the Nobel Prize became possible
English (UK) 
Svenska
Matts Torebring says:
WOW! How cool! What a post & What a great film! I have known that Stockholm is beautiful since the early 70s. Now I know that it is even more beautiful than I knew.
03 June 2017 - 8:28
Lennart says:
Cool!
03 June 2017 - 8:32
Eva-Lena says:
Of course I want to win!!! I want to show Stockholm to my friend from Gothenburg 🙂 .
03 June 2017 - 9:11
Lena - gott för själen says:
What a wonderful and inspiring film! I have flown a helicopter over Manhattan. It was really cool. I can imagine that Stockholm is fantastically beautiful to fly over!
Hug Lena
03 June 2017 - 9:30
Ama de casa says:
It is soooo cool to fly a helicopter! I've done it a few times, but never over Stockholm. However, we went ballooning over the city in 1988. You can't really control where you go, but we were lucky and flew straight over the city. Noticed that it looked exactly like the maps in the yellow pages (Yes. I know. 1988 was a long time ago... 😉 ).
Compared with my picture of the old town and found that the castle and the Riddarholm church were already there in ancient times and that they are still there 😀.
03 June 2017 - 9:49
Rolle o Carina says:
God so cool, would be fun to try!
But I don't think I can bring my wife with me 🙂 .
Take care....PentecostKram
03 June 2017 - 9:57
Anne Marie - Two Danes On Tour says:
Wow! It would be amazing to surprise my boyfriend Rasmus with this trip. He has never been to Stockholm, and it would be a great opportunity to visit this beautiful capital city, and the icing on the cake to be able to fly a helicopter and see the city from above at the same time.
03 June 2017 - 9:58
Cecilia says:
How marvellous!
I would like to win this and do it together with my son who turns 10 this June. A dream would come true for both of us and it will be a memory we can share, he and I, as long as we live. Imagine seeing Stockholm from above!
03 June 2017 - 10:03
Resedrömmen says:
I rarely have any luck in competitions, but it would be nice to have a helicopter ride. Seeing Stockholm from a high altitude would make me happy. Such a gift would be a real experience gift. Now we are talking high level of travel, it is a real Freedomtravel.
03 June 2017 - 10:38
LinizTravel says:
So wow what a dream! Have always wanted to do it over Stockholm. My son turns 7 years old in June and it would be a dream to give him this amazing experience as a birthday present - go helicopter with mum understand what a thing!
03 June 2017 - 11:02
Aila says:
It would be wonderful to see Stockholm from above. I work in the city and am always looking at maps. Being able to see the city from above live would be a great help.
Wow what a trip...
03 June 2017 - 11:04
Geddfish says:
What a great trip and film 😀
It's been a while since I was in Hufvudstaden, our beautiful Stockholm, where my mum lived and worked, before she met my dad.
I live a bit far away, to get from Lisch (Lidköping) to Bromma, would have to win a flight there too 😀 😀 😀
Happy Pentecost hugs ?
03 June 2017 - 11:51
Geddfish says:
[email protected]
03 June 2017 - 21:52
Ruth i Virginia says:
That was probably how Edvard Persson felt when he sang,
where he sat so safely on his goose egg :
"Far below me there is a painting.
the most beautiful thing in the world you can see,
forests, lakes and beaches become a single fairytale land.
when you see it a little bit from above."
Thanks for the ride - great film!
03 June 2017 - 12:14
AnKa says:
Cool film! What a chance to reconsider that Sweden's most beautiful city is on the best coast, sorry west coast? Born in Gothenburg, live in between but rarely visit Sthlm.
Have received many great tips & ideas for our motorhome trips on Freedomtravel. All life is a journey ❤️
03 June 2017 - 12:17
Monet says:
My father was a helicopter pilot (flew the French Alouette) and my ex-husband a naval officer based at the Helicopter Division at Berga so I have also flown the big Vertol, hkp4 equipped for anti-submarine warfare. It is a very special experience every time - I can see why you were excited! Try to get a ride over the archipelago too, it's absolutely amazing!
03 June 2017 - 13:51
Nahrin Issa says:
God what a cool video!!! Also want to be able to experience this, hope I win so I can bring my fiancé and show my appreciation for him! Graduated this summer so this would also be the finest student gift, keep your fingers crossed.
[email protected]
03 June 2017 - 14:10
Husisblogg says:
There is a real wow feeling about flying. The owners flew over the male owner's home town a few years ago. Despite living there for 30 years, he sometimes had difficulty feeling/locating himself from the air. May wish you a very nice Pentecost weekend!
03 June 2017 - 14:26
Ditte says:
Stockholm is beautiful! And seeing the city from above is so special.
I have seen Stockholm from a balloon and helicopter and it was truly memorable.
It's great to see Peter's film, which is so well made, and great that many people can see it and experience a Stockholm in summer dress.
03 June 2017 - 14:31
Ninni, Henrik och husbilen Knasen says:
Hi there!
Wow, guys - that must have been a great trip!!!
You have to keep your fingers and toes that you win and get a trip over your beautiful city! Love Stockholm as a city, love Sweden as a country as well actually - and usually say that I'm just a Finn on paper but in my heart I'm Swedish 🙂 Love to fly, but have never gone by helicopter and actually it's on my "to do list" so someday it will happen... Happy summer everyone... or it should according to the almanac imagine summer but temperature-wise who knows.
03 June 2017 - 15:29
BP says:
Awesome! The film was really cool! The "perspective" reminded me of Google Earth!
03 June 2017 - 16:50
Boo Wadling says:
After having flown the defence HKP15 over Stockholm for the first time, my wife Barbro (53 years old and married on 4 July) wanted to experience a helicopter ride.
03 June 2017 - 17:05
Steve says:
Cool as hell, but Stockholm from above is not for me.
03 June 2017 - 17:16
Marlenr says:
I would love to win a helicopter ride, but not for me, but for my dear husband. A few years ago he weighed almost 200kg and couldn't even get into a helicopter. Now he has lost 80kg and can fit! It would be great fun to surprise him with a flight on our wedding day in July 🙂.
[email protected]
03 June 2017 - 18:19
Birgitta Strand says:
Because I have long wanted to fly a helicopter, and now I am 65 and my husband is 70.
Time now while you can
03 June 2017 - 20:39
Inger says:
I will be 55 years old in June. This would be the best present for myself. Flown many times but never a helicopter. Longing to see my little house in Älvsjö from above. I would like to take my son, who has just turned 24, with me.
03 June 2017 - 21:11
Linnea Lindström says:
What a fantastic opportunity it would be to win after one of the toughest years of my life? Bringing someone who means a lot to me would be giving something back. Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities I know and to experience the city from a new perspective would be bliss?
03 June 2017 - 21:20
Marie says:
It would be a "big deal" to fly a helicopter,
I couldn't be happier, Imagine being able to float in the blue,
like Karlsson and feel happily free.
03 June 2017 - 21:27
Maria Helminen says:
I need adventure in my life, please give me the chance!
A different view of Stockholm city, would make me so happy!
Now I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed, and hope I win!
03 June 2017 - 22:10
ullie says:
so heavenly cosy I've always wanted to fly but well I don't know if I dare you see so incredibly much and nice but I have a horror of what it is called hahah but usch I would probably want to but wonder if I dare
03 June 2017 - 23:02
Jacob - Everyday Explorers says:
My pears are getting old,
growing too confident in collecting.
Picking mushrooms in all honour,
a bit too stationary.
Need something extra for a weekend,
not just chew and swallow.
Their nerves should tingle as they fly over Skansen,
A helicopter ride to upset the safe balance.
A gift I want to give,
I think it will be a success,
I hope with this poem you will give me that chance.
04 June 2017 - 4:45
Marina says:
Wow! If I want to? Definitely! Justify why?? Yes, what should I say, exciting, cool, dream experience... I want, I want, I want, I want!!! 🙂
04 June 2017 - 9:37
Emma says:
How cool! Talked about this with
A friend last night, would be so cool to see how everything "hangs together" from above, and maybe ask some friends to stand in the middle of the fence and wave so you can see how small everyone is from that bird's eye view!
04 June 2017 - 10:16
Calle says:
want to win because I want to go helicopter with my boyfriend
04 June 2017 - 12:37
JoY says:
"I was born in Stockholm, my family is there and I can find my way almost everywhere" However, I have never seen the city via a helicopter, a dream come true. Imagine being able to experience that horror mixed with horror tickling exciting feeling of being able to ride a helicopter, oh how I wish to be part of it hihihi
Hugs [email protected]
04 June 2017 - 17:35
Camilla says:
wow, what an amazing experience! I would like to surprise my sister, the woman who already has everything, with this helicopter ride! She has supported me during several years of severe illness and I want to give something back. A lifetime memory like this is the best gift I can think of!
04 June 2017 - 18:42
Helena B says:
My daughter Lovina finishes 8th grade on Friday and she already has a plan for the future: to become a civil engineer and then a helicopter pilot. She reads and googles about the profession every day and watches YouTube clips of helicopter rides. It would be great fun to surprise her with a helicopter ride as a "graduation gift". She would be so happy!
04 June 2017 - 20:24
Dawan says:
Ohhh thank you upplevelsepresent.se and freedometravel for the chance! I think everyone here deserves to win for their own reasons. My reason is my daughter and my Swiss husband. I grew up in Stockholm but have not been "home" for 10 years as I live in Switzerland. I can't wait for next summer when we have decided to finally go to Sweden on holiday! I am so looking forward to showing my husband and my little daughter Sweden and most of all Stockholm! And how cool would it be to show my family Stockholm from a helicopter! I can hear my husband saying "Wow c'est beau!" and my three-year-old daughter saying "Wooow!".
04 June 2017 - 21:26
Lisa says:
My American date is coming to visit me soon, it's his first time in Sweden and I'd love to show him my city from above.
As none of us would be able to do this otherwise, it would have been a great surprise.
04 June 2017 - 22:36
Jennie Sténs says:
Stockholm city from the sky,
and see all the crowds.
Enjoying hand in hand together,
with tingles in the stomach & to shouts.
To see our capital city,
would make me happy!
04 June 2017 - 22:47
Annika karlsson says:
Summer, sun, holidays
Herring, new potatoes, strawberry festivals
Flowering blue-yellow meadows ,
Mosquitoes and flies buzzing
makes me cheer for Swedish summer !!!
My partner moved from Jordbro when he was 7 years old and wants to see his Stockholm again.
[email protected]
05 June 2017 - 7:53
Annalena says:
What a magical trip! Stockholm is a beautiful city, even from above it looks like... I have never flown a helicopter even though it has been high on my wish list for many years!
I would love to compete for this opportunity and I would like to take my husband with me if we are lucky enough to win. We are celebrating 15 years of marriage this year and when we met he had not even been to Stockholm. What an experience to show him this!
05 June 2017 - 9:25
Tina Thörnkvist says:
Worst, cool experience thing when the guy is going to seduce the girl .... and it's me... ?❤️???
05 June 2017 - 12:22
Tina Thörnkvist says:
Worst, cool experience thing when the guy is going to seduce the girl .... and it's me... ?❤️???
05 June 2017 - 12:23
Veiken says:
I would love to win a helicopter ride over Stockholm. I don't think I've ever learnt to fully appreciate Stockholm, but an inveterate West Coast resident like me might change my mind if I can see our capital from above!
mail: [email protected]
05 June 2017 - 18:31
Jan-Christer Tholin says:
I am not bothered by G forces,when I fly HELIOCOPTER (!) because I always have G sting ..with sting
Jan-Christer Tholin
touristjournalist.org
06 June 2017 - 13:34
Jenn - forever abroad says:
Would have competed if I had been in the city - what a great thing to do and experience! Flying a helicopter is really a cool feeling and even stronger when you get to sit at the front 😉.
08 June 2017 - 16:07
Helena i Uppsala says:
I've always liked maps and have some on my walls at home. But here I would get a living map of Stockholm!
09 June 2017 - 19:33
Katarina says:
I realise that I am the last one on the ball and that the competition is over but what a fun thing! 🙂
10 June 2017 - 10:46
Fantasiresor says:
Says the same as Katarina. But what fun to see Sthlm from above! Have never travelled by helicopter but seems undeniably fun 🙂 .
15 June 2017 - 9:46