Top 10 things to do in Stockholm with children

Going on a city break with children can be challenging – especially if the only thing on your itinerary is to walk, shop, eat and queue up at various sights that the children are not interested in. But if you plan well and include fun activities, it can also be a successful and memorable family experience!

The Swedish capital has a wide range of activities for families with children. Whether you like outdoor adventures, fun fairs, seeing cuddly or wild animals, visiting fun playgrounds or experiencing the magical world of Astrid Lindgren, Stockholm has it all

Our family-friendly partner hotel Thon Partner Hotel Kungsbron is conveniently located close to the central railway station. When you stay here, you're close to all the action and won't have to travel far with your children.

We put together a list of ten great family activities in Stockholm:

Few things beat a fun fair when travelling with children! Gröna Lund is a particularly special one, located on picturesque Djurgården. You can get here by tram or boat – an experience in itself. The boat stops just outside the main entrance to Gröna Lund, where 29 exciting attractions await. There is something for every age and interest and admission is free for children under 2 years of age. In addition to various rides, you can also challenge each other at competition events at the numerous stands, enjoy on-stage entertainment and delicious food at one of the park’s restaurants, which serve everything from Banh Mi baguettes and falafel salad to pizza and pasta. At the end of October, Gröna Lund transforms into a spooky Halloween attraction for all those who love horror and fun.

Tips! For kid-friendly dining in the city, check out Meatballs for the People, Taverna Brillo, Lily’s Burger, Eataly and Stikki Nikki, which serves homemade organic ice cream.  

Even if Sweden is your only destination, there is no shortage of opportunities for exotic experiences. At Fjärilshuset, or the 'butterfly house', you will find a tropical rainforest of 5,000 m2 filled with butterflies. Experience the pairing dance of butterflies and feeding pleasure of caterpillars - and you might even get lucky and see a butterfly hatch! 

But you'll find more than just butterflies at Fjärilshuset - there are also frogs, parrots and other animals, as well as the largest shark aquarium in Scandinavia. Colourful fish swim with reef sharks in a 30-metre-long tank filled with 1.2 million litres of water. On some weekends and holidays, the in-house zoologist holds exciting presentations on the sharks. Fjärilshuset is located in Hagaparken in Solna, only 30 m,inutes from the city centre by bus or metro. The beautiful park, which is worth the trip in itself, is also home to the delightful Trädgårdskafé, where you can enjoy lunch or coffee in picturesque surroundings. 

Playgrounds are underestimated! They are readily available, free, offer a good dose of fresh air and children love them. In other words, it’s a good idea to stop by a playground or three when on a city trip with the kids. Stockholm also boasts a few unique attractions: Ivar Los park, located at Mariaberget on Södermalm, is a fantastic playground with a country theme. Here, children can play in small houses and among wooden animals, while you enjoy views over the water. It's also the perfect place for a picnic on a sunny day. Another great playground on Söder is the Bryggartäppan playground. Designed to mimic Södermalm in the 1800s and early 1900s, the playground has small, hand-built wooden houses of various kinds, surrounded by fruit trees and lilac bushes. 

If you're on the other side of the city, on Östermalm, you should definitely visit the Humlegården playground. Here you'll find jungle gyms, swings, playhouses, a bandy field and basketball courts, and when the park is staffed, you can borrow bicycles, balls and other equipment. Krubban playground is another great option. Inspired by the history of the location, children can journey through time from the 1600s to today while playing. There is a jungle gym, slides, a play bus, playhouse, sandbox and merry-go-round shaped like a large hand. 

If you want to take a break from the city centre, head to Aspuddpark. You'll have to take the metro to Aspudden (around 10 minutes from the city centre), but it's well worth the detour: Here, children can interact with animals such as goats, pigs and rabbits, ride ponies on weekends and enjoy trampolines, merry-grounds, jungle gyms, ponds and slides. There is also a barbecue area, as well as a café and indoor playroom that is open when the park is staffed.  

Hammarbybacken, located a short metro ride from Södermalm, is Stockholm’s own ski slope - where you can ski both summer and winter! In the summer during SummerSki, you can ski down a 900 m2 slope made of artificial turf using regular ski equipment. All equipment can be rented on site. If you’re craving more speed and excitement or don't feel like strapping on skis, you can go to the climbing park (for children age 7 years and up) or zip down the slopes on the Mountain Coaster and Mountain Tube track (for children aged 3 years and up). 

Old Town is a must when visiting Stockholm! This is one of Europe’s best-preserved mediaeval city centres and dates back to 1252 when the city was founded. Strolling down narrow cobblestone streets, admiring the historic yellow buildings and browsing charming shops and cafés is the perfect way to spend a day. If you want to get to know the old district even better, the Medieval Museum organises family walking tours suitable for children ages 5 and up. Go on a tour of around two kilometres with a guide, who enthusiastically tells all about the people who used to live here and what life was like back then. Things like food and toothbrushes were definitely a lot different in the Middle Ages! Interesting for young and old alike. 

Tips! Check if Barnens Underjordiska Scen (BUS) has reopened to the public. BUS is an interactive children’s theatre on Södermalm that is suitable for children of all ages. Here they can step inside a truly magical world and enjoy art, music, dance and theatre in a whole new way.

The Museum of Science and Technology is perfect for those who love to learn and explore. Here you enter a world of robots and gaming experiences and can try fun challenges and learn inspiring facts. For example, you can try painting with your eyes and making music with your mind! The goal of the museum is for both children and adults to be able to see, feel and understand technology in society. The museum is located on the north end of Djurgården and you can get here by bus 69 to Museiparken or by biking or walking along the Djurgård Canal. Admission is free for children under the age of 6, while all other visitors pay SEK 150.

Ocean Bus combines sightseeing with a fun twist! Step on board an amphibious bus for a guided tour of Stockholm’s biggest attractions. The the tour starts on land like any other sightseeing bus, but then the 10-tonne vehicle drives into the water and transforms into a floating vessel –an incredible experience! A combined land and water bus sightseeing tour is even more exciting because Stockholm is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. Stockholm’s archipelago is also incredibly beautiful! The tour takes around an hour and is suitable for children ages 3 and up.

Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, located on Sergels torg in the heart of Stockholm, has various activities for children. The central location and the fact that most of the activities are free of charge makes this a great place to spend a few hours. The cultural centre has a children's library, where you and the children can find a cosy spot and read a book or two, as well as exhibitions, theatre, cinema and concerts. Activities include an art workshop (at Foajé 4) that is open to the public daily. Here you can experiment with different materials and techniques and create art together.