Places to Visit near Stockholm, Sweden

Day trips and family-friendly excursions from Stockholm: archipelago tours and the Kolmården Zoo, Scandinavia's largest wildlife park.

The picturesque islands in the Stockholm archipelago, the Gotland island and the medieval town of Visby, and the Kolmården Zoo are easy excursions from Stockholm. The Stockholm Archipelago consists of around 24 000 islands and small islets. The largest islands are inhabited and have accommodation, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, cottages and even youth hostels. Many islands are uninhabited and have no accommodation or other services, and offer unspoilt nature and wild, rugged beaches.

Lilla Nassa in the Stockholm Archipel...

Fredrik (Wikimedia Commons)

The Stockholm Archipelago

Vaxholm is one of the closest destinations for trips from Stockholm. This small island community has around 5000 permanent residents and a large number of summer guests, and is within an easy boat trip from Stockholm. Sandham is known for good beaches and boating events, and offers a variety of hotels and restaurants.

Scheduled boats travel to the islands from Stockholm. The Båtluffarkortet is an archipelago travel pass that includes unlimited boat travel to the islands over a chosen time period. You can use the card for day trips or for longer tours, and the card can be bought from the Sergelstorg tourist centre.

Gotland and Öland Islands

The islands of Gotland and Öland, off the east coast of Sweden, are some of the most popular summer holiday destinations in Sweden. It is best to take at least a few days to explore Gotland, the historical sights in the medieval town of Visby (a Unesco World Heritage Site) and the pretty beaches. Cycling, fishing and boating are some of the most popular activities on this picturesque island and there are cottages and cabins to rent for short or long stays. Öland, south from Gotland, is less visited than its neighbour and is an excellent destination for anyone looking for some peace and quiet.

Ferries to Visby leave from Nynäshamn, an hour south of Stockholm and easily reached by trains from Stockholm all the way to the ferry terminal. The ferry trip can take between three and five hours. There are also flights from the Bromma airport.

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The Kolmården Zoo

The Kolmården Zoo, less than two hours south of Stockholm, is home to animals from around the world including the endangered Siberian tiger, gorillas and wildlife from the jungles, the savannahs and the deserts of the world. The Safari Park offers an opportunity to see giraffes, ostriches, bears and other animals by driving around in your own car or on guided bus tours. Kolmården also has a children’s zoo and a farm where kids to pet the animals.

Kolmården is around 90 minutes drive from Stockholm along the E4, or visitors can take an InterCity train from Stockholm to the Kolmården station. Accommodation is available in and around the park.

Updated: 02/20/2013, SophieSSmith

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Ken Green on 08/14/2013

Sweden, the countryside and cities, is an attractive country; but visiting it (particularly if you are driving) is a real "downer." Signage that would accommodate a tourist/traveler throughout the country (regardless of any language one speaks) is extremely poor and/or totally absent in some cases; the tourist season is also the national repair/remodel/construction season (many diversions, closures, delays, etc.); and the generally high costs for most everything (food, accommodations, fuel, clothing, public transportation, etc.) is unbelievably outrageous. And WARNING, if you are traveling with a "pet" (domesticated, well-trained, clean, human-friendly, traveling companion) one can certainly find hotel/motel/B&B accommodations that accept them (usually at an added cost); but don't plan on eating anywhere "inside;" or entering any of the touring services (buses/boats), museums, art galleries, shopping galleries, most stores, and even outdoor historic sites.