Saint-Tropez, Santorini or St Lucia it ain’t, but Stockholm offers a pleasant summer alternative to all those traditional sunshine vacations, with blue skies, balmy breezes, fun festivals, parks, gardens and, yes, even beaches to keep sun-worshippers happy. It’s little surprise then that the months of June, July and August are among the city’s most popular. Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Stockholm in summer, including theme parks, island hopping and ice cream! Plus all of these:
- Stockholm Old Town
- Skansen open-air museum
- Rosendal Garden Party
- Stockholm Pride
- Djurgården island
- Crayfish parties
Visiting Stockholm in Summer
Now, don’t get us wrong… Sweden’s capital is a fine place to visit at any time of year – think spring cherry blossoms, burnished autumn leaves (and warm cinnamon buns), and those epic Old Town Christmas markets. But summer, when skies are an azure blue and the sun shines on those fairytale Old Town rooftops, is difficult to beat.
Stockholm’s summers are pleasantly balmy, with average highs topping out in the mid-70s in July, and in the low 70s during the months either side. Rainfall is a little higher than in spring, but lower than autumn and winter – a small umbrella or pocket poncho should suffice for protection against the occasional summer shower. In short, this is a time for outdoor activities, but you may want to pack layers for the long (sometimes very long!) and slightly cooler evenings.
June-August is peak tourist season here, and that’s true for Stockholmers, too! So you may also find that a few shops and restaurants are closed, especially in August, because this is traditionally when Swedes take their own summer vacations.
Things to do in Stockholm in Summer
Stockholm is an adventurer’s paradise, a compact cluster of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges – perfect, in other words, for exploring on warm, sunny days. And where better to start your adventure than Gamla Stan, the picturesque Old Town? This fairytale jumble of cobbled squares, candy-colored townhouses and medieval towers is even more beautiful in the sunshine, when bright blue skies (and a giant gelato from the legendary Skeppsbro ice-cream parlor, natch) make for those Insta-perfect selfie moments. Don’t miss Stockholm Cathedral, a 15th-century gothic confection complete with copper-green bell tower, and the eye-popping carving over the entrance to Skeppsbron 44. Commissioned by a cuckolded husband it depicts his distraught face sobbing over his cheating wife’s, um, lady bits.
Summer is also a great time to rent a bike and explore the islands at your own pace. Pedal your way to bucket-list isles like Tantolunden, with its colorfully painted wooden cottages and plentiful picture-perfect picnic spots. Hike up the mound in the park’s center for panoramic views across the water to Liljeholmen. Or hit up Djurgården, Stockholm’s great green playground, and home to perhaps the greatest concentration of top Stockholm attractions on the archipelago! We’re talking Skansen, a huge open-air living history park that features a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town, and a zoo.
Djurgården is a fine location for long walks through fairytale woods and picnics by glassy lakes. It’s also where you’ll find attractions including (deep breath) Rosendal Garden, museums dedicated to everything from viking ships to ABBA, and the legendary Gröna Lund, Sweden’s oldest amusement park, which comes complete with a rickety old-school wooden roller coaster.
Believe it or not, Stockholm also boasts some ace city-center beaches, with fine sandy stretches to be found on the islands of Långholmen, Södermalm and Kungsholmen. Or you can dodge the summer crowds and strike out for fabulous Flatenbadet beach in the south of the city, or Ängbybadet in the north, with its stunning views of opulent Drottningholm Palace.
Entry to many of the above attractions is included with a Stockholm pass from Go City, which can save you up to 50% if you plan to visit multiple sights. The pass also comes packed with other fun summer tours and activities, including cruises of the canals and archipelago, Swedish fika experiences, kayak rental and more! Find out more about the Go Stockholm pass and bag yours here.
What’s on: Stockholm Summer Events
There’s plenty going on in Stockholm during summer, with festivities kicking off in earnest on National Sweden Day, June 6. This public holiday is marked by celebrations of the country’s rich heritage and culture, most notably at Skansen which (usually) features an appearance from the King and Queen themselves, with satellite events taking place at Drottningholm Palace Park, Haga Park and elsewhere across the city. Midsummer is celebrated around June 20 with traditional folk costumes, music, dancing, and plenty of pickled herring. Festivities continue late into the night – this is the longest day of the year after all, with a little over 18 hours of daylight, so you might as well go ahead and make the most of it.
The Rosendal Garden Party is another major early highlight of the summer calendar. Taking place on ever-popular Djurgården every June, this three-day music festival has attracted big names including Florence and the Machine, Grace Jones and The Cardigans down the years.
Pride has been a flamboyant fixture of the Stockholm summer events calendar since 1998, usually taking place across the first week of August and bringing with it a colorful cavalcade of events in celebration of LGBTQ+ culture. Most of the action takes place in and around the Östermalms IP sports ground, but there will be events taking place across town, culminating in the epic Pride parade, which sees hundreds of thousands of revelers marching through the city streets to bring the week’s festivities to a suitably celebratory close. Meanwhile July’s Stockholm Street Food Festival is set up to satisfy appetites for all kinds of things, from international gourmet snacks to craft beer and live music.
Last but by absolutely no means least, August sees Swedes everywhere celebrate the end of summer the only way they know how: by donning bibs and party hats and consuming copious amounts of local crayfish and Swedish snaps, accompanied by great big bonfires and much boisterous singing. In fact, in many way crayfish parties are the perfect end to Stockholm’s most perfect season. Dive in!
Save on Things to do in Stockholm in Summer
Save on admission to Stockholm attractions, tours and activities with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest tips and attraction info.
