Marabouparken in Sundbyberg is a park with an art gallery and a large collection of sculptures. Although we've lived in Sundbyberg for a long time, we haven't visited until now. It was a nice visit even though we realise that we don't always understand art.
Table of contents
Cycling excursion to Sundbyberg
We lived for about 10 years in Sundbyberg, a 5-minute walk from Marabouparken. From time to time we said "one day we have to look at Marabouparken", but since it was so close, we might as well do it some other day.
Years passed and suddenly we moved away. Had we had time to see Marabouparken? No, it had not happened ... Finally, last week, we took a bike ride to the park and the art centre in Sundbyberg.
Marabouparken in Sundbyberg
The chocolate company Marabou set up a factory in Sundbyberg in 1916, and in 1930 they were offered to buy the neighbouring plot by the city of Sundbyberg, on the condition that the public would also have access to the park the company was planning for its employees.
Henning Throne-Holst, the owner of the factory, worked with architects to transform the rugged area into a lush park with lawns, a children's pool and sculptures by famous artists.
Sculptures in Marabou Park
The Marabou Park is somehow on two levels, and we first arrived at the upper part. Here it felt a bit desolate, and actually also a bit rubbishy. But here we also found many of the sculptures. In total there are 16 sculptures:
- Leonard Baskin: Grieving woman (1971)
- Leonard Baskin: The prodigal son (1971)
- Leonard Baskin: Isaac (1973)
- Raymond Duchamp-Villon: Maggy (1912)
- Emile Gilioli: Clock Tower (1958)
- Eric Grate: The well of transformations (1944-55)
- Brother Hjorth: Margit (1946)
- Ivar Johnsson: The King rides down Erik Street (1942-45)
- Ivar Johnsson: Woman by the sea (1932)
- Arvid Knöppel: Deer (1948)
- Henri Laurens: The Undines (1934)
- Marino Marini: The big horse (1951)
- Nils Möllerberg: Boxers (1926)
- Poseidon/Zeus, copy of Greek sculpture
- Lennart Rodhe: Signs of the city (1970)
- Gustav Vigeland: Playing bears (1915)
Marabou Park Art Centre
Marabouparken Art Centre, run by a foundation, exhibits contemporary art focusing on the human condition in society, history and the present. The exhibitions vary, and at the moment it was free to enter. We peeked in, and were greeted by a single room where a film was being shown that we didn't understand. But then again, we're not art connoisseurs ...
Park and restaurant
Marabou Park is not very big, but green and nice and seems to be especially popular with families with children. You'll see a lot of prams here and apparently there's usually a paddling pool for children as well. The park was actually named Sweden's most beautiful park in 2008. We're a bit surprised by that, but the reasoning is nice:
Marabouparken is one of Sweden's best preserved functionalist parks with a high level of architecture and art. Despite its small size, the park has a poetic, soothing and colourful form with plants and open grass areas that interact with sculptures surrounded by an industrial landscape. The park is a precursor to today's health parks and works well for the whole family all year round."
The jury for Sweden's most beautiful park
The park also has a restaurant and café, Dolk's Kitchen, which serves lunches and pastries. There were quite a few people sitting on the outdoor terrace.
Tornparken
In addition to our visit to the Marabou Park, we took a short trip to the Tower Park. At the highest point of the park is a former water tower from 1912, designed by architect Ivar Tengbom. It is now home to the Flatbread restaurant, which serves "flatbread", i.e. "Neapolitan pizzas that do not necessarily resemble other Neapolitan pizzas". There is also a playground in the park.
If you want a view of Sundbyberg, this is the place to be. Here you will also find one of Sundbyberg's literary signs, which tells you about different authors who are connected to or describe Sundbyberg.
More to see in Sundbyberg
It can be nice to visit Marabouparken, but if you don't stop for lunch or coffee, you'll walk around the park pretty quickly. If you want to see more of Sundbyberg, we highly recommend a visit to Golfängarna and the bird lake Lötsjön. Fantastically beautiful!
Kapellskär campsite in the Riddersholm nature reserve
Kapellskär's camping is beautifully located in the Riddersholm nature reserve, with the coast and the Åland Sea right outside. We...
Rosersberg Castle - a royal castle in Sigtuna, Sweden
Rosersberg Palace is a royal palace in Sigtuna, north of Stockholm. This castle is a...
Solna church - and the beautiful Norra begravningsplatsen cemetery
Solna Church is a nice little round church from the 12th century. Adjacent to the church is Norra begravningsplatsen, which...
Wenngarn Castle in Sigtuna - castle park, café and history
Wenngarn Castle in Sigtuna is a beautiful castle, which was once built by Magnus the...
Öregrund in Roslagen - tips for things to see and do
Öregrund is a real gem in Roslagen with charming alleys, beautiful old wooden houses and a...
Väddö sea baths and camping in Roslagen
Väddö havsbad och camping på Väddö is a campsite with a sandy beach, surrounded by beautiful nature....
Huvudsta farm in Solna - murder story and beautiful surroundings
Huvudsta farm in Solna is located a short walk from the marina where we live. We are...
Lingnåre cultural reserve - historical trails in Uppland
Lingnåre Cultural Reserve is located on the Hållnäs peninsula in the municipality of Tierp. There are currently a total of 43 cultural reserves...
Bogesund Castle in Vaxholm - and the Great Castle Tour.
Bogesund Castle in Vaxholm is a beautiful 17th-century castle located in the Bogesund countryside in Stockholm...
Österbybruk - mansion and mill environment in Roslagen
Österbybruk is beautifully located in Roslagen and offers a beautiful manor house, historic mill environment and...
Riddarholm Church in Stockholm - the burial place of kings
Riddarholm Church is Stockholm's only surviving medieval monastery church. This magnificent building, constructed at the end of the...
Steninge castle in Uppland - Aunt Anna and the sugar bushes
Guest writer: Anna Nilsson Spets A visit to Sweden for me is full of activities, we headed for...
Museums in Stockholm - guide to the city's best museums
Why not visit some museums in Stockholm? Sweden's capital city is one of the world's most museum-rich...
Lövstabruk - ironworks dating back to the 16th century
Lövstabruk in Uppland is one of the so-called vallon mills in Sweden, a historic ironworks....
Ängskärs sea campsite in Uppland - and three caravan sites
Ängskärs havscamping is beautifully situated on the Hållnäs peninsula in north-eastern Uppland. We camped here for one day and...
"The whole journey" at Paul Taylor Lanthandel in Sundbyberg, Sweden.
We recently tested the 'Whole Journey' menu at the celebrity restaurant Paul Taylor Lanthandel in Sundbyberg. This is...
Salsta Castle in Uppland - castle café, guided tours and ghosts
Salsta Castle is a beautiful baroque castle from the 17th century. We were fascinated by the beautiful building when...
Rullsands camping and sea baths
Rullsands camping is a nice campsite outside Gävle. The location of the campsite is very nice and...
Pythagoras Industrial Museum in Norrtälje - step into history
The Pythagoras Industrial Museum in Norrtälje tells, in a very vivid way, about a piece of Swedish industrial history....
Sigtuna - Visiting the oldest town in Sweden
Join us in Sigtuna, Sweden's oldest town! Yesterday we woke up to blue skies and decided to...
Görväln Castle and Görväln Nature Reserve
Görväln Castle and Görväln Nature Reserve are located in Järfälla municipality, north-west of Stockholm. We made a...
Gustavsberg in Värmdö - in the footsteps of the porcelain factory
Gustavsberg is a nice little town in the municipality of Värmdö in Stockholm, which is mainly...
Free camping at Lake Erken and Norr Malma nature reserve
During the last night of the midsummer weekend, there was free camping at Lake Erken in Roslagen, at Svanberga bathing area....
Gräsö in Roslagen - a scenic gem
Gräsö is a scenic island, located just outside Öregrund in Roslagen. The island is surrounded by...
Butterfly House in Haga - tropical climate, butterflies and sharks
Have you visited the Butterfly House in Haga? For us it was a long time ago, but now...
Road trip in Roslagen - 10 places to visit
Looking for a road trip in Roslagen? We recommend ten great destinations to visit...
Hagaparken in Solna - castles, gazebos and pavilions
Hagaparken in Solna is a beautiful park where you can stroll among castles, gazebos and...
30 different things to do in Stockholm
Looking for different things to do in Stockholm? Then you've come to the right place! Here...
Visiting the Royal Palace of Stockholm - photos and tips
What is it like to visit the Royal Palace in Stockholm? If there is any attraction in the...
Riddarhuset in Stockholm - interesting to visit
The Riddarhuset in Stockholm is open to visitors for an hour every weekday, and making a...
Albert Engström's museum in Grisslehamn, Roslagen.
The Albert Engström Museum is located in Grisslehamn in Roslagen and tells the story of the artist Albert Engström. Here...
Best restaurant at Arlanda? - we have tested La Girafe
Which is the best restaurant at Arlanda? There are of course several answers to this question...
Vikingabyn Storholmen - open-air museum in Roslagen.
Vikingabyn Storholmen is an open-air museum beautifully situated by Lake Erken in Roslagen. For a few...
Siggesta Gård in Värmdö - now with parking spaces
Siggesta Farm in Värmdö, outside Stockholm, is a rural hotel with conference facilities, outdoor activities, animals,...
Noor's castle - a Carolingian wooden castle in Uppland
Noor's Castle is a wooden Carolingian castle in Knivsta, Uppland. It may be a very...
Ulriksdal Palace and Park - Royal Palace in Solna, Sweden
Ulriksdal Palace is one of the eleven royal palaces in Sweden, and offers a...
Facts about Marabouparken in Sundbyberg
- Address: Löfströms allé 7-9
- More info: You can read more at the art centre's website
What to see and do in the park
- Sculptures: There are 16 sculptures in the park.
- Art centre: Art centre with various exhibitions.
- Views: Free tours are given on certain days and times. Groups can book tours at a cost.
- Workshops and courses: Activities for businesses.
- Conference and room hire: The premises can be rented.
- The Monster Club: Children's and family activities on Sundays and holidays (except during the coronavirus period).
- Restaurant: Dolk serves lunch and pastries.
- Events and parties: The restaurant can be booked for larger parties.
- Park hangout: Hang out on the lawns in the park.
- Splash pad: Children's paddling pool and outdoor shower.
Opening hours and prices
- The park: May-October between 8-21. During November-April the park is accessible during the opening hours of the art gallery and restaurant. The park is not maintained during winter.
- The art centre: Currently (May 2020), the art centre is open Wednesday-Sunday 12-17. See the art centre's website for current opening hours.
- The restaurant: Currently (May 2020), the restaurant is open Tuesday 11-14, Wednesday-Friday 11-17 and Saturday-Sunday 12-17. See the restaurant's website for current opening hours.
- Prices: Some exhibitions are free and others may be subject to a fee. See the art centre's website for current information.
Find the Marabou Park
- Car: You can find parking along the streets of Sundbyberg.
- Bicycle: Bike racks are available at the park, just outside the restaurant.
- Underground railway: Take the metro to Sundbyberg (less than 10 minutes walk) or Duvbo station (more than 10 minutes walk).
- Bus: Several different buses go to the Marabouparken stop. See traffic on sl.se.
Solan says:
Marabouparken has been a construction site for years. But it is a small oasis for all families with children in Annedal.
Well, I haven't really enjoyed the art exhibitions so far.
On the other hand, the toilets, usually a rarity when walking! ?
12 May 2020 - 7:45
Helena says:
Yes, there is construction all around, if nothing else. And toilets, yes!!! There were as many as there were, perfect 🙂 ...
12 May 2020 - 18:17
Lena says:
Miss Sumpan! But we never got to the park... maybe it's time!
12 May 2020 - 8:50
Helena says:
We thought it was time now, several years after we moved from Sumpan, haha.
12 May 2020 - 18:17
bmlarstravellingblog says:
We also tend to think that some contemporary art in particular is more strange than beautiful and find it hard to see the greatness of some artists, but as usual, it's a good thing there's something for all tastes.
12 May 2020 - 12:21
Helena says:
We can probably feel a bit the same way. Sometimes I like modern art, but often it is mostly incomprehensible, at least to me ...
12 May 2020 - 18:19
Ditte says:
Glad you took an extra look here. Always nice to broaden the views. Sumpan has a lot both in terms of culture and nature. I recognise myself in the city and have been here a lot over the years. Unfortunately, I think that the city has almost been destroyed, but it is nice that some areas have been saved.
12 May 2020 - 12:52
Helena says:
Interesting to look around! They have built a lot in Sumpan, but they have also preserved some old houses in the new part of the centre, which I think is quite nice.
12 May 2020 - 18:21
BP says:
I didn't even know the Tower Park existed. The Marabou Park, on the other hand, we have visited. Personally, we didn't like it, which may be due to the sculptures, which were definitely not to our taste. The best thing about Sundbyberg is the "square" with all the pubs and restaurants and of course the surströmmingspartajdagen. Always the last Thursday in August. I wonder if it will happen this year ...
12 May 2020 - 20:18