The districts of Stockholm: Discover gorgeous Djurgården
Djurgården may once have been a private retreat for the Swedish royals, for centuries now it has been the place to be in Stockholm for both locals and tourists. The island is known for its beautiful nature and many sights and monuments. Here are some of our favourite facts and thing to do on Djurgården in Stockholm.
Good to know about Djurgården
Before we dive into our favourite attractions and museums on Djurgården, let’s get to know the island a little better.
- Kungliga Djurgården roughly translates to Royal Game Park
- The island is 279 hectares big
- Djurgården is part of the world’s first national city park
- Kungliga Djurgården is open 24/7, 365 days a year and free to visit
- The island is connected to the rest of Stockholm via 4 bridges
The island is great place to visit all year round. In winter it becomes a snowy wonderland, with plenty of places to escape the cold at the museums and attractions. In spring you can watch nature come back to life here, in autumn the gorgeous colours on the trees transport you out off the city, and in summer the many trees offer shade on the hot days.
A great way to get a taste of the island is with the Royal Bridges & Canal Tour. This cruise takes you from Gamla Stan around the island of Djurgården. Along the way you can listen to an interesting audio guide to learn more about the island and its sights.
The park grounds of Royal Djurgården
The largest part of the island is taken up by the park, that is often referred to as the lungs of Stockholm. The entire island was acquired by King Karl Knutsson in the 15th century, when it was called Walmund’s Island. At the end of the 16th century King Johan III turned it into a hunting park, for which he purchased both reindeer and deer.
Today, the park includes a Memorial Park, which includes several monuments honouring both Swedes and people from around the world. Also within the grounds is a Sculpture Park, that is continuing to add new pieces to its collection. One of the best ways to explore the park is with the Royal Walks App, which offers several walks through the park and includes guides to some of the must visit sights, including historical landmarks in the park.
Not to miss attractions on Djurgården
The biggest attraction on the island is Gröna Lund. Not only does this amusement park offer lots of rollercoasters, thrill rides and competitive games, it also has live concerts to enjoy! The park is not open every day from late spring to September and opens again for the Halloween season and Christmas.
For the little ones Djurgården offers Junibacken, where children find themselves in their favourite story book worlds. Here children are free to play and explore, and make a mess if they want to. All the exhibitions and installations at Junibacken are created to give kids the chance to discover the magic that can be found between the pages of a book.
Top rated museums on Djurgården
The island is home to numerous excellent museums, offering unique insights into history, art, and culture. Among the excellent history museums is Skansen Open-air Museum, where Swedish rural life from before the industrial age comes to life before your eyes. Other not to miss history museums on Djurgården include the Vasa Museum, Nordiska Museet and the Viking Museum.
Beautiful art is on display at Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde, the formal royal residence includes an art gallery and a gardens with extraordinary sculptures. For more contemporary art, the Liljevalchs Konsthall is the place to go. And true Swedish culture is on display at ABBA The Museum, and the Spritmuseum which explores the history of alcohol and its impact on Swedish culture.
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