This is why you should visit Stockholm in the winter

Winter in Sweden’s capital offers skiing, ice skating, nature, and archipelago trips

A wintry Stockholm can be just as fantastic as experiencing the city on a lush summer’s day. The crisp air, snow crunching underfoot, the frozen waters, and the many fun winter activities awaiting you are more than enough reason to visit Sweden’s capital during the winter.

Skiing on Hammarby hill

If you like skiing, then Hammarbybacken, the Hammarby hill, is a real hotspot located right in the center of Stockholm. On days when everything is open you can choose between a total of five slopes, a children’s area, and a Snow Park. The drag lift takes you all the way to the top where you enjoy a fantastic view across almost the entirety of Stockholm. You’ll also find a wind-protected resting area with a barbecue station as well as a no-frills restaurant where you can get drinks and snacks.

You can make your way to the hill by car, the tram called tvärbana, buss, and boat. Buying a SkiPass and renting the equipment you might need can be done right on the spot.

Go ice skating in the city’s parks

Stockholm is a unique city, not least thanks to all its parks and park areas – around a third of the city is green. Some particularly notable examples are Djurgården, Vasaparken, Rålambshovsparken, Hagaparken, and Humlegården. Get away from the stress of the big city life and relax in the snow, enjoy nature, and let your inner child roam free to throw snowballs and go sledding.

Should it be cold enough, then the area around the fountain in Kungsträdgården is flooded to make for an ice-skating rink, and a visit there is almost a must when you visit Stockholm in the winter. Ice skates can of course be rented there.

The frozen waters of Stockholm

Stockholm is a city that’s surrounded and criss-crossed by water that, no surprise here, turns to ice in the winter. The ice then makes it possible to discover and experience the capital from a whole new perspective by taking a cross-country skiing trip or walking from island to island. But before you head out onto the ice, make absolutely sure that you know that it’s thick enough to be safe, you know what rules and regulations apply, and that you bring the necessary equipment should somebody crash though the ice.

Stockholm’s many bridges

Stockholm boasts of some 60 bridges, both large and small, that connect the city’s various districts and neighborhoods. So, if the waterways aren’t completely frozen over or you simply prefer the safety of firm ground under your feet, heading out to the bridges is a great way of discovering some striking views of Stockholm while enjoying the crisp winter air. One of the most recent additions to Stockholm’s selection of bridges is the Folke Bernadottes bridge on the park island Djurgården. The bridge spans the channel Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen and connects the garden, orchard, and restaurant Rosendal and the park Museiparken, both popular attractions in their own right.

Enjoy a boat tour in the archipelago

Whether you’re visiting Stockholm for the first or for the tenth time, a boat trip out into the famous archipelago is an absolute must! The Stockholm Winter Tour, a cruise that leaves from Nybrokajen and takes you around the small island Fjäderholmarna and back aboard the esteemed ship M/S Angantyr, is a perfect choice here. Heading out into the archipelago on a cold winter’s day, with snowflakes falling and the ice cracking as the boat – an authentic icebreaker – makes its way through it, is a magical experience. Get a warm drink from the onboard cafeteria, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, and enjoy the view from the deck along with the live guide’s many interesting stories!