Day trips from Stockholm

There are enough centrally located sights and activities in Stockholm to keep you occupied for a week or more. Sometimes, however, you just want to leave the big city behind and get a quick taste of the ‘real’ Sweden.

These day trips from Stockholm are all easily achievable with public transport – leave early in the morning and you’ll be back downtown in time for dinner.

Organised day trips from Stockholm
Uppsala
Skogskyrkogården
Västerås
Boda Borg Oxelösund
Nyköping
Tom Tits Experiment
Drottningholm Palace
Sigtuna
Mariefred
The Stockholm Archipelago
Birka
Helsinki
The northern lights

Uppsala

One of the oldest cities in Sweden and with a university that’s been around for more than 530 years, Uppsala is just 40 minutes from Stockholm by train.

On a day trip from the capital you’ll have time to check out Domkyrkan – the biggest cathedral in all of Scandinavia – and the university’s splendid Carolina Rediviva Library, which is stacked wall to wall with books.

Another reason for visiting Uppsala is to take a peek around its castle, which played a crucial role in Swedish history and is now home to three museums.

Getting there

Regional trains depart from Stockholm’s central station, taking around 40 minutes to reach Uppsala (the station is in the centre of town). See our main Stockholm guide for more information on taking the train.

Skogskyrkogården

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly far from Stockholm’s city centre, but it still makes an excellent half-day trip.

Skogskyrkogården (the woodland cemetery) is a World Heritage Site – impressive considering that, having been founded in the early 1900s, it’s far younger than most other places recognised by Unesco.

Why should you go? To walk among the huge pine trees, interspersed with row after row of low headstones, and to see the architectural beauty of a place that was designed to help mourners at a difficult time of their lives (processional routes around the vast park were specially designed to evoke feelings of hope and reconciliation).

More prosaically, Skogskyrkogården is the final resting place of the actress Greta Garbo – if you want to see her grave, it’s at plot 12A.

Getting there

From Gamla Stan in the centre of Stockholm, take the green tunnelbana (subway) line towards Farsta Strand and get off at Skogskyrkogården. The journey takes around 15 minutes, and the park’s main entrance is just around the corner from the subway station.

Västerås

Although plenty of tourists fly to Västerås (cleverly, the airport is branded as Stockholm Västerås), few stick around to see the sights.

However, this small-ish city around 100km northwest of the Swedish capital is a pretty place to explore, with higgledy-piggledy cottages edging the river that runs through its centre. We think it’s one of the best side trips from Stockholm.

In summertime, the beaches that skirt Lake Mälaren are perfect for a dip. Johannisberg, around 6km southwest of the city centre, is one of the easiest spots to reach.

Otherwise you might fancy making the trip to Anundshög, Sweden’s biggest burial mound.

Some nine metres high, it dates back to around 900 AD. Around the site you can also see a collection of standing stones arranged – in ancient Scandinavian style – to resemble ships.

If you decide to spend the night in Västerås there are a couple of interesting places to stay, including the STF Sala Silvergruva hostel, in a a traditional old wooden building that was originally built as housing for workers from the local silver mine.

Getting there

Frequent trains (roughly every half an hour) connect Stockholm’s main train station with Västerås. The journey takes around an hour.

Boda Borg Oxelösund

For a completely different kind of day tour, head for Boda Borg in Oxelösund, around two hours from central Stockholm.

At this fun activity centre visitors try to solve a series of mental and physical challenges (if you’ve ever seen The Crystal Maze, you’ll know what we mean).

The tasks, which include trying to escape from a fake prison cell, are completed in small teams of three to five people, calling for plenty of teamwork and a bit of lateral thinking.

Getting there

Boda Borg is around 120km southwest of Stockholm. Note that you should reserve a place – don’t just turn up.

The easiest option is to drive, but it is possible to get there and back in a day using public transport.

Take the Flixbus service from City Terminalen in Stockholm to Nyköping’s bus station (1 hour, 20 minutes), and then change to bus 715 for the final, 30-minute journey to Oxelösund. Get off at Oxelögatan; Boda Borg is a short walk to the east.

Nyköping

Nyköping might seem like an odd place to visit on a day trip from Stockholm, but if you’re flying home from nearby Stockholm Skavsta (it’s just ten minutes away from Nyköping by road) then it’s worth having a look around the city.

Chief among Nyköping’s sights is the medieval castle known as Nyköpingshus, which now houses museum exhibits.

If you’re here during summer, we’d suggest making the trip out to the city’s guest harbour – it’s a popular stopping-off point for wealthy Swedes on yachting holidays, and has boats and bikes available for rent.

Getting there

Hourly train services run from Stockholm’s central station, taking an hour to reach Nyköping, or take the Flixbus (see above).

Arriving into Stockholm Skavsta Airport? Jump on LänsTrafiken bus 515 just outside the terminal – the journey to Nyköping takes 15 minutes.

Tom Tits Experiment

If you’re travelling with kids and fancy leaving the city behind, but would still rather avoid a long trip away from Stockholm, consider visiting Tom Tits Experiment (entrance fee included in the Stockholm Pass). 

Around 30km southwest of Stockholm in Södertälje, this strangely named complex is full of interactive science experiments, and will keep inquisitive kids occupied for a few hours.

There’s plenty of fun stuff for adults too – see our guide to exploring Stockholm with kids for more information.

Getting there

Tom Tits is easy to reach with public transport. Ride the train from Stockholm’s central station to Södertälje Centrum and then start walking north. You’ll reach the science centre after around 10 minutes.

Drottningholm Palace

Perhaps the single most popular day-trip destination from Stockholm is Drottningholm Palace. This isn’t the Swedish king’s official residence (that title is given to Kungliga Slottet in central Stockholm), but it is where he spends most of his time.

Built on an island, the palace itself shares space with carefully tended baroque gardens and a theatre that was built way back in 1766, and is still in use today.

You can tour the grounds and palace (apart from the bit the royal family inhabit) all year round, though opening hours are limited to weekends during the winter. There’s more on visiting the palace from Stockholm in this guide.

Getting there

In summer, the nicest way to get there is on a boat trip (included in the Stockholm Pass), which takes around an hour to reach the palace. 

A cheaper, less scenic option is to take the T-bana (subway) to Brommaplan. Once there, change to bus 176 or 177 and get off at Drottningholm.

Sigtuna

Lying on the shores of Lake Mälaren, Sigtuna is a picturesque place dotted with ancient rune stones – about 150 in total in the surrounding area – and historic 12th-century ruined churches.

Sweden’s oldest town, Sigtuna was founded more than 1000 years ago by the Viking King Erik Segersäll. 

Its cobbled streets are lined with painted wooden cottages, and it’s a pleasant place just to wander around and breathe in the history.

We think the best way to explore Sigtuna and its surrounding is by kayak. This fun 12km kayak tour on Lake Mälaren takes in the baroque Steninge Palace, Rosersberg Palace, a hike to the iron age settlement at Runsa and a guided walk round the rune stones and historic remains in Sigtuna. 

It also includes all the kayak kit you need plus lunch.

Getting there

In summer, Stromma boats make the trip to Sigtuna, or you can get there by train and bus in under an hour. 

SJ regional trains run regularly from Stockholm central station to Märsta, from where you can get bus #575 onto Sigtuna.

Mariefred

This pretty village lies on the southern shores of Lake Mälaren, with narrow cobbled streets, timbered cottages and pretty squares.

However, it’s the imposing Gripsholms slott (or Gripsholms castle) that’s its main attraction, built on an island just a short walk from the village centre.

The original castle was started in the 14th century by Bo Johnsson Grip, though later sections were added in the 16th and 18th centuries. 

If the castle looks familiar, it may be because the cover of ABBA’s Waterloo album was shot here!

Getting there

Mariefred can be reached in under an hour from Stockholm’s central station. Take the train to Läggesta, then change onto bus #303 or #305 to Mariefred.

Stockholm Archipelago

Regardless of the time of year, a quick day trip into the Stockholm Archipelago is the perfect way to escape the city.

There are thousands upon thousands of islands to explore, but to reach most of them you’ll need a lot more than a single day (a private yacht would be useful too). Luckily there are plenty of options within easy reach of the city centre. Here are a couple of our favourites:

Vaxholm

The fact that the little island of Vaxholm is so easy to reach by boat (and indeed road) means that it can get very busy. Even so, it’s packed with pretty wooden buildings and places to eat and drink, and provides a gentle introduction to the wider archipelago.

There’s also an impressive fort just offshore, which houses a museum. In summer, water taxis make the trip between Vaxholm and the fort every 15 minutes.

Getting there

Waxholmsbolaget boats leave from Strömkajen in the centre of Stockholm, arriving at Vaxholm Hotellkajen around 75 minutes later.

Grinda

A little further out into the archipelago and with more of a relaxed feel, despite its popularity with Stockholmers, Grinda has some excellent beaches. The majority of the island is given over to rocky forest, but there’s also a hostel and campsite for overnight stays.

Getting there

To reach Grinda, take the same service that’s bound for Vaxholm (see above). The total journey time is around one hour and 20 minutes.

Finnhamn

Finnhamn just about near enough to Stockholm to reach on a day trip, but you’re much better off spending the night on the island if possible.

The forested island is beautifully serene and is crowned by a cosy hostel. 

There’s a sauna available for hire by the water’s edge – otherwise there’s little to do here except wander along the woodland trails and enjoy the isolation of being far out among the islands.

Getting there

Boats run by Waxholmsbolaget leave from Strömkajen in the centre of Stockholm. Allow 2 hours, 30 minutes each way for the journey.

Sandhamn

A sleepy place in winter, the car-free island of Sandhamn has a resident population of just 120 people. 

But in summer, its pretty village with narrow cobbled alleyways and a lively harbour front attracts day-trippers from Stockholm and is a popular stopover for sailors and the yachting set.

Getting there

In summer we recommend getting the direct Stromma boat to the island, which takes about two hours and 15 minutes.

Alternatively, you can get the #402 bus from Slussen in Stockholm to Londonviadukten, change there onto the #434 bus to Stavsnäs, then get the ferry from there to Sandhamn. At about two hours in total, it’s slightly quicker, but not as much fun!

Birka

Easily reached by boat on a day trip from Stockholm, the preserved Viking settlement of Birka is a must if you like history.

The village sits on the island of Björkö in the middle of Lake Mälaren, and served as an important trading hub between the ninth and tenth centuries.

As well as an excellent museum, which provides a good introduction to Viking activity in the area, Birka is home to a Viking village with reconstructions of typical dwellings.

Getting there

Strömma runs boat tours to Birka from the quay near Stockholm City Hall, including entry to the museum and a guided tour of the site (May–September only). Entrance to the Viking village plus the return boat trip is free with the Stockholm Pass.

Helsinki

It’s not really doable as a day trip (unless you fly), but it is possible to make a quick ferry journey from Stockholm to Helsinki and back.

Viking Line and Tallink Silja boats leave Stockholm in the late afternoon, arriving in Helsinki the following morning. After a day in the city, you can re-embark the ferry for the overnight trip back to Stockholm.

Book far enough in advance and prices aren’t too bad at all – this all-in cruise in October includes a four-bed cabin for two nights, plus two buffet breakfasts for £180 per cabin (or £45 each).

For all lowdown on the journey and how to book, see our guide to the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki.

Side trips from Stockholm to see the northern lights

Being able to see the northern lights in Stockholm is an extremely rare occurrence.

You could feasibly take a day trip to the far north of Sweden to see the aurora, but it would involve taking a domestic flight very early in the morning from Stockholm to a northern city such as Luleå, Gällivare or Kiruna, and then heading out into the countryside for some proper dark skies.

Even then, there’s no guarantee that you’ll see any lights before your flight back to Stockholm (it could be cloudy, or there could simply be a shortage of solar activity).

The best advice is to allow at least a few days in the north of Sweden to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora. Kiruna and Abisko both make excellent bases. Here’s our full guide to seeing the northern lights in Sweden.

See also:
Where to go hiking near Stockholm
Taking the Stockholm to Tallinn ferry
6 of the best food tours in Stockholm