Family with teenage kids riding an open-top bus in the sunshine

Things to do in Stockholm for Teens

Our guide to activities for teens in Stockholm, including world-class art and science museums, nature reserves and escape rooms.
By Stuart Bak

Keep everyone happy with our teen-approved guide to Stockholm.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that teenagers are notoriously tricky to please. And even more difficult to surgically detach from their many electronic devices. Thankfully there are stacks of things to keep teens entertained in Stockholm, from high-octane thrills to world-class museums. Enough, at least, to keep the dramatic yawns and theatrical eye rolls at bay for a few hours each day. Dive in to discover some of our favorite teen-pleasing Stockholm activities, including:

  • Gröna Lund amusement park
  • Sweden’s National Museum
  • SkyView Stockholm
  • Skansen open-air museum
  • Hellasgården nature reserve
  • Stockholm library
  • Photographing the old town

Scratch Their Social Media Itch

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Let’s face it, the only time today’s teenagers feel truly alive is when racking up likes on their Instagram and TikTok feeds. Prime location for Insta-perfect pics of course include the old town, particularly cobbled Stortorget square, where the colorful gabled townhouses make for great selfie backdrops. Then there are the fine skyline views from the cliff walkway at Monteliusvägen, and the tiny painted wooden cottages in Tantolunden park on Södermalm island. While the kids are occupied, why not take the chance to explore these oh-so-photogenic places yourself, and perhaps even treat yourself to a coffee and cinnamon bun while nobody's looking.

Gröna Lund amusement park

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We defy any teen, no matter how cool they think they are, not to be seduced by the thrills, spills and old-fashioned entertainments at Gröna Lund, a Stockholm icon and the oldest amusement park in the country. The heart-stopping white knuckle rides run the gamut from terrifying vertical drops to the latest suspended roller coasters and their rickety old wooden counterparts. Fear not though: there are, of course, also many gentler rides for sensitive teens (and their parents), as well as traditional amusement arcades and more ice cream, fizzy drinks and sweet treats than you can shake a very large stick at.

The National Museum

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Ok ok, we get that museums aren’t going to be to the taste of every self-respecting teen but, if yours have even a passing interest in fine art, Sweden’s National Museum is going to be difficult to top. As well as hundreds of amazing paintings and sculptures, there’s an app with loads of info and audio guides, meaning your kids can maintain their pretense of utter boredom by keeping their earphones in and feigning complete indifference as they secretly thrill to wonderful pieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir, Goya, Gauguin, Degas and Cézanne.

SkyView Stockholm

Further fab photo opps await aboard Stockholm’s SkyView. Enter the glass cabin for a 20-minute ride that scales the dizzying heights of the Avicii Arena, the world’s largest spherical building, known to locals as Globen. You’ll enjoy widescreen views of the city, its waterways and the southern suburbs on the ascent, before returning to terra firma. Don’t forget to wave to the occupants of the other pod on your way past!

Hellasgården Nature Reserve

Around 20 minutes from the city center, Hellasgården is a great place for families to let off a bit of steam. This huge outdoor playground on the shores of Lake Källtorp is surrounded by nature and there are dozens of open-air activities to get involved in. Hike the lakeside paths, play volleyball, pétanque and tennis, or take a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard out onto the lake’s tranquil waters. There’s ice-skating and cross-country skiing in the winter months when those of a stronger constitution can also opt for a swim in the freezing waters, entered via a large hole cut into the ice. Brrrr.

Tom Tits Experiment

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Once they’ve stopped snickering at the somewhat unusual name, kids are in for a fab time at Tom Tits, where interactive experiments abound and there’s more than enough to keep even the most world-weary teen entertained for several hours. Learn all about the human body (and discover in gory detail how it functions), test your memory and balance and see if you can make like Houdini and escape a fiendish rope knot. There are hundreds of experiments to get involved in over four floors, as well as outdoor areas to explore in summer.

Skansen

Located on the green and pleasant island oasis of Djurgården, Skansen is a living history museum par excellence that’s chock full of interesting old buildings (transplanted from elsewhere in Sweden) and craftspeople in period costume acting out Swedish life in the 1800s. There’s an excellent harvest festival held here every September and a Christmas market in December complete with freshly baked ginger snaps for the kids, glögg (mulled wine) for the grown-ups and carol-singing that’s sure to melt the hearts of even the hardest-to-please teens.

The Stadsbibliotek

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Give young bookworms a treat with a visit to Stockholm’s incredible public library. Inside this vast rotunda, a cylindrical tower soars skywards, with thousands of books crammed into its gently curving shelves. It’s an awesome sight and a great place for kids to enjoy a bit of downtime with some good books, from Harry Potter to Harold Pinter, the Moomins to Miss Havisham. And don’t worry: there are plenty of volumes in English and other languages to explore.

Escape Rooms

If all else fails, lock 'em up and throw away the key! In all seriousness though, Stockholm is no different to any other capital city in terms of entertainment, so you can expect escape rooms aplenty throughout the central areas. All you need do is let the kids choose a theme – bunker, zombie attack, heist and haunted photo laboratory are among the more imaginative – then enjoy some traditional Swedish fika time while the little darlings try to puzzle their way out. Good news: it should take at least an hour, giving you plenty of time for that second (or third) pastry.

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Couple exploring Gamla Stan, Stockholm's colorful old town.
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Things to do in Stockholm for Couples

Ok, so Stockholm is hardly alone in having been described as ‘the Venice of the north’ at one time or another. That accolade is shared with dozens of others; think watery destinations as diverse as Bruges, St Petersburg and even the Maryhill area of Glasgow. But it’s not just the canals Stockholm has in common with its Venetian cousin. No! Here’s where you’ll find romance in abundance, from coffee dates in the swoonsome candy-colored old town to champagne cruises on the royal canals; from boozy evenings in sultry jazz joints to watching the sun set over mighty Lake Mälaren. Read on for our pick of 10 of the best things to do in Stockholm for couples. Breakfast in Gamla Stan The narrow cobbled streets of Stockholm’s perfectly preserved medieval old town (Gamla Stan) are among the most romantic on the planet. Here’s where colorfully painted regal townhouses with distinctive gabled roofs share space with baroque cathedrals, grand palaces and any number of Instagram-ready statues and fountains. Stroll the atmospheric lanes at dawn before the tourist hordes descend, then find a traditional café for breakfast. Try classic Swedish pancakes and waffles topped with fresh fruit and yogurt, get a little bit naughty with tart lingonberry jam, or smother with buttermilk syrup so good you’ll swear it’s not of this world. Meanwhile, Stockholm’s legendary cinnamon and cardamom buns should come with a health warning, because one is quite simply never enough. Blowing Hot and Cold The lakeside sauna at Hellasgården is as Swedish as meatballs, ABBA and long afternoons spent building flat-pack furniture from IKEA. Get down there with your better half and sweat it out in traditional wooden cabins where, on Mondays and Wednesdays only, ladies are permitted to enter the men’s sauna. Note that visitors are expected to go au naturel – clothes and bathing suits are not permitted inside. But let’s not be prudish about it: the Swedes have been doing it this way since time immemorial. Suitably warmed up, whack your bathing suit back on and head out for a cooling dip in the lake. But brace yourself if you’re visiting in winter, when water temperatures tend to hover just above the zero mark. Brrrr. Djurgården Entertainments Stockholm’s leafy Djurgården island is where you’ll find Gröna Lund, the oldest amusement park in the country. Test your devotion to one another on the terrifying Katapulten ride, then sail through the old-fashioned tunnel of love for what you can only hope will be an equally heart-pounding experience. This beautiful island is also great for romantic picnics so, heck, why not make a day of it and enjoy lunch and a bottle of wine with city skyline views from Djurgården's grassy slopes. Take to the Water In a city comprising 14 main islands (on an archipelago of many thousands more), it’s little wonder there are so many water-based activities on offer in and around Stockholm, from hop-on, hop-off boat tours to kayaking through the city center. Ramp up the romance aboard a private boat, with a guided tour of some of Stockholm’s top attractions, including the old town, City Hall, Djurgården and several of the archipelago’s more remote islands. Book one with a bottle of champagne for maximum decadence. Fika Like a True Swede Much like hygge elsewhere in Scandinavia, Sweden’s fika is more a way of life than an actual, graspable thing. In the simplest terms possible, it’s a coffee break with friends. And yes, couples can do it too. Invite your beloved to join you in this most delightful of rituals, as you order coffees and, ideally, sticky, still-warm cinnamon buns and enjoy some dedicated downtime together. Do it in a café or order your treats to go and do it in one of Stockholm’s lush green spaces, on a bench with a view, or while strolling through Gamla Stan: fika knows no rules beyond simply enjoying your coffee, and relishing the time spent together. Thank ABBA for the Music If you’ve ever dreamed of singing and dancing alongside Benny, Björn, Frida and Agnetha (and, let’s face it, who hasn’t?) here’s your chance. Grab your dancing queen (or king) and shimmy on over to ABBA The Museum, where exhibits including the band’s outlandish stage costumes are just part of the fun. Give your vocal cords a workout as you belt out hits including Mamma Mia, Fernando and The Winner Takes It All in the karaoke booth, then dance along with the group’s holographic avatars on the main stage. Pro-tip: if you prefer your entertainment a little less... ABBA... the nearby living history museum Skansen is a Stockholm must-see. Dinner and a Movie The trendy Hornstull neighborhood in west Södermalm is the location for dinner with a twist. Visit the Indio restaurant for Japanese-Peruvian fusion food – think sushi and ceviche and you’ll be somewhere on the right track – then sink into plush red velvet seats in the venue’s lovingly restored 1940s cinema for hand-picked arthouse classics from the likes of Ingmar Bergman, David Lynch and Lars von Trier. Many of the movies shown here are in English (or have English subtitles), so the only Swedish word you’ll need to learn in advance is ‘popcorn’. Clue: ‘popcorn’ in Swedish is... ‘popcorn’. Christmas market Couples looking for romantic things to do in Stockholm should definitely consider visiting in December, when Stortorget – the old town’s picture-perfect main square – achieves the unachievable by becoming even more beautiful than before. Lights twinkle on the huge Christmas tree, the heady aromas of roast chestnuts, gingerbread cookies and traditional spiced glögg (mulled wine) fill the air, and stalls selling traditional Swedish crafts, cakes and sweets bustle with activity. And, if the adorably Christmassy scene doesn’t warm your heart, then that third mug of glögg surely will! Hit the Jazz Clubs Located close to the central train station, Fasching has been a jazz and world music institution in Stockholm since 1977, hosting big names and up and comers, as well as being heavily involved (natch) in the annual Stockholm Jazz Festival. Catch a show here most nights, or head to the cozier Glenn Miller Café where bold new jazz acts are accompanied by French dishes including confit du canard and moules frites served at intimate, candlelit tables. Catch a Stockholm Sunset Stockholm sunsets are as spectacular as anywhere else on the planet, all fiery reds, flamingo pinks and bruised purples. The best spots vary by season – bear in mind that the sun sets around 2pm in deepest winter and doesn’t really go down at all in high summer. Grab a thermos and a blanket big enough for two and make for the Monteliusvägen cliff path for some of the best blazing winter skies as the sun sets over Lake Mälaren, City Hall and the old town. Who knows, you might even get lucky and see the Northern Lights, too. Save on things to do in Stockholm for couples Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
The skyline in Stockholm's old town, dominated by the towering spire of the German Church.
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Things to do in Stockholm for Adults

Stockholm’s 14 islands serve up a veritable smorgasbord of delicious things for grown-ups to see and do, from snapping Instagram-quality pics around the old town to visiting the city’s dozens of world-class galleries and museums. There’s also a grand palace, a regal city hall, fantastic canal cruises (obvs) and some of the best meatballs and cinnamon buns you’ll find on the entire planet. Dive in to discover our pick of the best things to do in Stockholm for adults. Get Snap-Happy in the Old Town Grab your camera and head straight for the cobbles and spires of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved medieval old town. We recommend picking up a coffee and traditional cinnamon bun from one of the bakeries and pausing a moment to take it all in. Trust us: sinking your teeth into a sweet, sticky, still-warm pastry as you gaze in awe at the fairytale candy-colored buildings that line Stortorget, the main square, is about as good an introduction to Stockholm as you’re likely to find. Suitably fortified, it’s time to get snapping. Tick off those seriously photogenic gabled townhouses – all spicy turmeric yellows, chili reds and cactus greens – before checking out the Nobel Prize Museum, set inside the stately former Stock Exchange Building. Then make for the baroque medieval confection that is Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyran), the city’s oldest church, where the copper bell tower’s gorgeous green patina, the soaring vaulted interiors and artifacts including a 15th-century wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon are an amateur snapper’s dream come true. Take in the almost comically opulent Royal Palace – official residence of the Swedish monarch – then head south to the series of narrow cobblestone lanes that lead down to the waterfront. It’s here you’ll find Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm’s narrowest alley, which tapers to a mere 90 centimeters across. Take a deep breath, be grateful you turned down that second cinnamon bun and pray you don’t meet anyone coming in the opposite direction as you squeeze through. Fairytale snaps well and truly bagged, hop in a cab to see how the experts do it at Fotografiska. This striking art nouveau customs house on the Södermalm waterfront has hosted photographic exhibitions from the likes of Annie Liebowitz and Robert Mapplethorpe and boasts an equally eye-catching restaurant with splendid views across the water to the old town. Take in Stockholm’s Fine Art and Culture There’s plenty more for adults to do on Stockholm’s Djurgården island – and kids, too! Here’s where you’ll find Sweden’s oldest amusement park, Gröna Lund, as well as the world’s best-preserved 17th-century warship at the Vasa Museum, and arguably the jewel in Djurgården’s crown: Skansen. Skansen is an open-air living history museum with over 150 historic buildings imported from all over Sweden and a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town to explore. Say hej (hello) to traditional craftspeople in full period costume as they ply their trades and demonstrate their skills as tanners, glass-blowers, cobblers and more, then take a stroll among the picturesque gardens and visit the small zoo for ferociously cute Nordic critters including otters, brown bears and majestic moose. Take a chance on the interactive ABBA Museum. It doesn’t cost much money money money to get in and you’ll feel like a dancing queen by the time you’re done. Ok ok, we’ll stop with the shoe-horned ABBA references now. Check out the famous costumes, gold discs and other memorabilia on display, then lose your inhibitions and really go for it: dedicated super troupers (sorry!) can even sing along to ABBA’s greatest hits in a karaoke booth and bust out their best dance moves on stage alongside holographic avatars of Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Frida. Mamma mia! Looking for something a little more... highbrow? The Moderna Museet on tiny Skeppsholmen island boasts a fine collection of modern and contemporary art, including pieces by Picasso, Dalí and Magritte as well as close to 5,000 works by artists from the Nordic regions. There’s an extensive sculpture garden and, best of all, entry is free! Also gratis (but for the price of a metro ticket) is the eye-popping art that covers the cavern-like walls at 90 of Stockholm’s 100-or-so subway stations, often dubbed ‘the world’s longest art gallery’. Don’t miss the show-stopping scorched earth hellscape at Rådhuset and the delicate fluorescent lights at Odenplan, modeled on the jagged heart-rate patterns produced by the artist’s son at birth. Sample the Local Delicacies So, you’ve already ticked off the essential cinnamon bun at least once (and probably more). But how about surströmming? This Swedish delicacy is a tinned, fermented Baltic Sea herring that smells very strongly – and let’s not beat about the bush here – of rotten eggs. If that’s a bit much for you (and your fellow diners), how about local lunchtime favorite skagenröra: a great pile of shrimp and mayo stacked high on rye bread, topped with dill and served with salad. And then there's the humble meatball. If your experience of Swedish meatballs is limited to guiltily guzzling a plateful after a stressful Saturday afternoon shopping in IKEA, prepare to be dazzled. You’ll find these more or less everywhere in Stockholm, but there are worse places to start your meatball odyssey than at the aptly named Meatballs for the People near Fotografiska in Södermalm. Expect bear meat, boar meat, reindeer meat and more served in a variety of imaginative sauces. Incurable gourmands should also make a beeline for the beautifully restored covered food market in hip Östermalm. A fortress-like red-brick edifice topped with forbidding spires, Östermalms Saluhall dates back to 1888. Inside, stalls spill over with just-picked fruit and vegetables, farm-fresh meats and the day’s catch, as locals chat over espresso at cute cafés and high-end restaurants serve up a variety of Nordic and international delicacies. All this talk of food making you thirsty? The Museum of Spirits is one of Stockholm’s best attractions for grown-ups, combining as it does excellent exhibitions about Sweden’s boozy heritage and the opportunity to taste some of the nation’s finest tipples. Sample fragrant Swedish craft gins, flavored vodkas and classic schnapps. Skål! Save on things to do in Stockholm for adults Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Veranda restaurant at Fotografiska
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