Castles near Stockholm by public transport
Drottningholm is open all year, Ulriksdal Palace has guided tours May–September at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00, and Rosendal Palace is closed for the whole 2026 season.
Several of the region's royal palaces are within reach by public transport. Below are the ones closest to the city centre, with what their managers publish about opening times and how to get there.
Open months: the castles you can reach by public transport
The months below are the ones the managers themselves publish. Gustav III's Pavilion is shown on guided tours with no published months, so it is not in the chart.
Drottningholm Palace
Most of the palace and the park are open to visitors all year.
Ulriksdal Palace
Guided tours May–September, at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 in Swedish and at 15:00 in English.
Rosendal Palace
Closed for the 2026 season, according to the Royal Palaces.
The Royal Palaces publish opening times day by day – check the date before you go.
Lovön
Drottningholm Palace – World Heritage Site and royal residence
- Open all year
- World Heritage Site
- Metro to Brommaplan + bus
Drottningholm on the island of Lovön is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Royal Palaces describe it as Sweden's best-preserved royal palace built in the 17th century. The palace was built on French models by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, commissioned by Queen Hedvig Eleonora. Open all year: The Royal Family moved in in 1981 and the palace is now the King and Queen's permanent residence – the rooms in the southern wing are reserved for them, but most of the palace and the park are open to visitors all year. Highlights: The state apartments, the exotic Chinese Pavilion (Kina slott) and Drottningholm Palace Theatre. Getting here: The Royal Palaces give the metro to Brommaplan, then a bus to Drottningholm. There is visitor parking by the Palace Theatre and the palace, and more parking on the gravel area at Karusellplan, about 300 metres away. Parking costs SEK 15 an hour, for up to 6 hours. Admission 2026: SEK 170 for the palace, SEK 250 together with the Chinese Pavilion.
Solna
Ulriksdal Palace – 17th-century culture and Confidencen
- Guided tours May–September
- Confidencen
- About the palace
- Ulriksdal Palace stands in the Royal National City Park and was built in the 17th century. Queen Christina's coronation procession set off from here in 1650.
- Opening times
- Guided tours May–September, at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 in Swedish and at 15:00 in English.
- Highlights
- Rooms furnished in the 19th century for Karl XV, the Large Drawing Room furnished in 1923 for Gustaf VI Adolf, and a drawing room designed by Carl Malmsten.
- The Orangery
- Houses Nationalmuseum's collection of Swedish sculpture.
- Confidencen
- Ulriksdal's palace theatre calls itself Sweden's oldest rococo theatre. Getting here: metro to Bergshamra or commuter train to Ulriksdal station and then bus, followed by a 500–1,500-metre walk. Admission 2026: SEK 140.
Hagaparken
Gustav III's Pavilion in Hagaparken
- Guided tours
- Café in the Copper Tents
- The pavilion
- Decorated in the Pompeian style and, according to the Royal Palaces, one of the finest works of the late 18th century. From here Gustav III set off for the fateful masked ball at the Opera in March 1792. The pavilion is shown on guided tours – check times with the Royal Palaces.
- The Copper Tents (Koppartälten): Home to the Haga Park Museum, a café and visitor information.
- Getting here
- Bus to the stop Haga norra, then a walk of about 750 metres – follow the signs to Gustav III's Pavilion. Tickets (SEK 140) are sold at the pavilion entrance just before the tour.
Djurgården
Rosendal Palace – Swedish Empire style on Djurgården
- Closed in 2026
- Empire style
About the palace: Built in the 1820s for Karl XIV Johan and, according to the Royal Palaces, a unique record of the Swedish Empire style known as the Karl Johan style.
Closed in 2026: The Royal Palaces state that Rosendal Palace is closed for the 2026 season.
Nearby: Rosendal Garden (Rosendals Trädgård) on Royal Djurgården, a foundation for biodynamic cultivation and garden art.
Castles near Stockholm around Lake Mälaren and Sigtuna
Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred was built in the 16th century on Gustav Vasa's initiative, and Skokloster Castle has tours at weekends in September.
Some of the region's best-known castles lie around Lake Mälaren.
Skokloster and Gripsholm side by side
| Opening times | Art on site | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skokloster Castle | Weekends in September | Arcimboldo's Vertumnus | Baroque castle |
| Gripsholm Castle | Day by day in the calendar | Swedish National Portrait Gallery | 16th century |
Sko peninsula, Lake Mälaren
Skokloster Castle: a Baroque castle on Lake Mälaren
- Baroque castle
- Weekend tours in September
- About the castle
- Destination Sigtuna describes Skokloster as one of the best-preserved Baroque castles in the world, on the Sko peninsula by Lake Mälaren. The castle has been privately owned for fourteen generations through the Wrangel, Brahe and von Essen families.
- The art
- Arcimboldo's Vertumnus hangs here.
- Visiting
- Tours of the castle, the apple orchards and the lime-tree avenues, plus chocolate tastings. Open in 2026: weekends in September and the autumn half-term, 24 October–1 November, 11:00–16:00; in 2027 the castle opens at Easter and is open 1 June–31 August, 11:00–17:00. Admission: SEK 140, a guided tour including the Wrangel armoury and the Unfinished Hall SEK 190, free for under-19s. Getting here: commuter train to Bålsta and bus 311 towards Skokloster, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Stockholm Central. The car park is by the church, 300 metres from the castle.
Mariefred
Gripsholm Castle: a Vasa fortress and portrait collection in Mariefred
- 16th century
- Opening times day by day
- About the castle
- Built in the 16th century on Gustav Vasa's initiative, with well-preserved rooms from that period – the most famous is Duke Karl's Chamber.
- The Swedish National Portrait Gallery (Statens porträttsamling): Portraits of notable people from Gustav Vasa's day to the present.
- The theatre
- Gustav III's Theatre, fitted into one of the castle's round Renaissance towers – according to the Royal Palaces, one of the best-preserved 18th-century theatres in Europe.
- Opening times
- Published day by day in the Royal Palaces' calendar. Admission 2026: SEK 170. Getting here: SJ train towards Eskilstuna/Arboga to Läggesta and a connecting bus about 4 km to Mariefred; in summer there is also the heritage railway's steam train and a steamboat from Stockholm. Parking is free for castle visitors.
Historic coastal castles south of Stockholm
Tyresö Palace can only be seen on Saturdays and Sundays, 6 June–6 September, and is about 35 minutes from Gullmarsplan on bus 875, while Tullgarn Palace is closed for the whole 2026 season.
South of the city are two palaces by the water. Both have limited opening times – check before you go.
Parks all year, palaces only in season
The gap between park and interior is widest here: the parks stay open while the palaces are closed or only shown on guided tours.
Tyresö palace park
One of the first English landscape parks in Sweden, open all year.
Tyresö Palace (tours)
The palace can only be seen on guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays, 6 June–6 September – buy tickets in advance: SEK 170, pensioners/students SEK 150, children aged 2–18 SEK 50.
Tullgarn Palace
The palace, the palace café and the shop are closed for the 2026 season.
Tyresö Palace: palace life around 1900 and an English park
About the palace: Built in the 1630s on the bay Kalvfjärden and now run by the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet). It shows what the palace looked like in the early 20th century, when the last private owners, Claes and Caroline Lagergren, lived here.
Tours: The palace can only be seen on guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays, 6 June–6 September – buy tickets in advance: SEK 170, pensioners/students SEK 150, children aged 2–18 SEK 50.
The park: One of the first English landscape parks in Sweden, open all year.
Getting here: Bus 875 from Gullmarsplan to the stop Tyresö kyrka, about 35 minutes, then a 5–7 minute walk. Parking: 30 minutes free, then SEK 15 per hour.
Södertörn
Tullgarn Palace: a royal summer palace by the sea (closed in 2026)
- Closed in 2026
- Trosa bus at weekends
Closed in 2026: The Royal Palaces state that the palace, the palace café and the shop are closed for the 2026 season.
About the palace: Built in the 1720s and a royal pleasure palace since the 1770s. The summer palace of Gustaf V and Queen Victoria.
The palace park: Carl Hårleman's lime-tree avenues, an orchard with roots in the 17th century and Prince Fredrik Adolf's green theatre.
By bus: The Trosa bus (Trosabussen) from Liljeholmen passes Tullgarn on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and stops at Tullgarns allé on request.
Cake, coffee and castle weekends near Stockholm
According to its café, Taxinge Castle has northern Europe's largest cake buffet, never with fewer than 65 kinds of home baking – you only pay for what you put on your plate.
Castle settings combined with coffee and cake or nature.
Lake Mälaren
Taxinge Castle: the Cake Castle on Lake Mälaren
- Approx. 65 kinds of cake
- Castle park on a headland
- The cake buffet
- The castle café describes it as northern Europe's largest cake buffet, with about 65 kinds of home baking and never fewer than 65.
- How it works
- You only pay for what you put on your plate, and drink your coffee in the library or in the castle park, which sits on a headland in Lake Mälaren.
Södertörn
Häringe-Hammersta nature reserve
- Castle and castle ruin
- Old oaks and sea views
The Archipelago Foundation describes Häringe-Hammersta as a large coastal nature reserve on Södertörn where a castle, a castle ruin, old oaks and sea views share the same landscape. Check the castle's own activities and opening times before you go.
Practical guide to castle day trips from Stockholm
Of the eight castles and manor houses described here, one is open all year, four can only be seen on guided tours in season and two are closed in 2026. The palace parks at Drottningholm and Tyresö are open all year.
Before a castle trip around Stockholm and Lake Mälaren, it helps to know the difference between the palace park and the indoor tour, and how opening times change with the season. Here are the practical details.
Free palace parks versus paid entry to the interiors
| Park free all year | Indoor admission | Guided tours only | Closed in 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drottningholm Palace | – | – | ||
| Tyresö Palace | – | |||
| Ulriksdal Palace | – | – | May–Sep | – |
| Rosendal Palace | – | – | – | |
| Tullgarn Palace | – | – | – |
Parks all year: Drottningholm palace park and Tyresö palace park are open all year, according to their managers.
Indoor admission: Admission 2026 according to the Royal Palaces (adult / student / child 7–17): Drottningholm Palace and Gripsholm Castle SEK 170 / 150 / 85, the Chinese Pavilion, Ulriksdal Palace and Gustav III's Pavilion SEK 140 / 120 / 70, Drottningholm and the Chinese Pavilion together SEK 250 / 230 / 125. Children aged 0–6 go free with an adult, and the Royal Palaces' annual card costs SEK 500. Tyresö Palace charges SEK 170 for a tour and Skokloster SEK 140 – where everyone under 19 goes free.
Guided tours only: Ulriksdal Palace (May–September) and Tyresö Palace (weekends 6 June–6 September).
Closed in 2026: Rosendal and Tullgarn palaces, including Tullgarn's palace café and shop.
How the castles on this page break down
The bars count the eight castles and manor houses described above, based on what their managers publish about the 2026 season.
8 castles and manor houses on this page
Open all year 1
Drottningholm Palace
Guided tours in season only 4
Ulriksdal Palace · Gustav III's Pavilion · Tyresö Palace · Skokloster Castle
Opening times day by day 1
Gripsholm Castle
Closed in 2026 2
Rosendal Palace · Tullgarn Palace
Seasons and opening times: summer versus the rest of the year
Summer
Ulriksdal is shown May–September and Tyresö on Saturdays and Sundays, 6 June–6 September. Skokloster is open at weekends in September, over the autumn half-term and 1 June–31 August.
The rest of the year
Rosendal and Tullgarn are closed for the whole 2026 season.
Check the date
The Royal Palaces publish opening times day by day in a calendar for each site.
Castles for families: parks, picnics and days out
Taxinge Castle
- Cake buffet
The cake buffet, and coffee in the castle park on a headland in Lake Mälaren.
Drottningholm
- Picture hunt, ages 4–12
A picture hunt for children aged 4–12 inside the palace, included in the admission, and the palace park with its fountains and mazes.
Tyresö Palace
- Family tour at 11:00
A family tour at 11:00 during the tour season.
Frequently asked questions about castles near Stockholm
5 questions
01How much does it cost to visit the castles?
The parks are free. Admission 2026 for adults: Drottningholm Palace and Gripsholm Castle SEK 170, the Chinese Pavilion, Ulriksdal and Gustav III's Pavilion SEK 140, Tyresö Palace SEK 170 and Skokloster SEK 140. Children aged 0–6 go free at the royal palaces, and at Skokloster everyone under 19 goes free.
02How do you get to the castles near Stockholm without a car?
To Drottningholm: the metro to Brommaplan, then a bus. To Tyresö Palace: bus 875 from Gullmarsplan. To Tullgarn: the Trosa bus at weekends. To Ulriksdal: metro to Bergshamra or commuter train to Ulriksdal station, then bus. To Gustav III's Pavilion: bus to Haga norra and a 750-metre walk. To Gripsholm: train to Läggesta and bus to Mariefred. To Skokloster: commuter train to Bålsta and bus 311.
03Do you need to book castle tours in advance?
Ulriksdal and Tyresö can only be seen on guided tours – Tyresö recommends buying tickets in advance.
04Are there cafés at the castles?
Among others, Taxinge's castle café, the Copper Tents in Hagaparken and Karamellan at Drottningholm. Tullgarn's palace café is closed in 2026.
05Can you bring a dog?
Check the rules for the park you are visiting.
Sources
Details checked against these sources in September 2026.
The facts on this page are based on these sources. Under each one you can see which details we took from it. Opening times, prices and departures change – always check with the source before you go.
- The Royal Palaces: Drottningholm PalaceUNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder for Queen Hedvig Eleonora, the Royal Family moved in in 1981; most of the palace and the park open to visitors all year
- The Royal Palaces: Getting to Drottningholmmetro to Brommaplan, then bus; parking at Karusellplan about 300 metres from the palace; parking SEK 15/hr, max 6 hrs
- The Royal Palaces: Ulriksdal Palace17th century, in the Royal National City Park; Queen Christina's coronation procession set off from here in 1650; the Orangery houses Nationalmuseum's collection of Swedish sculpture
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Ulriksdal Palace · in Swedishopen for guided tours May–September; tours at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 in Swedish and at 15:00 in English
- The Royal Palaces: Rosendal Palacebuilt in the 1820s for Karl XIV Johan; a unique record of the Swedish Empire style, the Karl Johan style
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Rosendal Palaceclosed for the 2026 season
- The Royal Palaces: Tullgarn Palacebuilt in the 1720s, a royal pleasure palace since the 1770s, the summer palace of Gustaf V and Queen Victoria, just under an hour's drive from Stockholm
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Tullgarn Palacethe palace, the palace café and the shop closed for the 2026 season
- The Royal Palaces: Getting to Tullgarn · in Swedishthe Trosa bus from Liljeholmen passes Tullgarn on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, stopping at Tullgarns allé on request
- The Royal Palaces: Tullgarn palace park · in SwedishCarl Hårleman's lime-tree avenues, an orchard with 17th-century roots, Prince Fredrik Adolf's green theatre
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Gripsholm Castleopening times published day by day in a calendar
- Skokloster Castle: home page · in Swedishprivately owned for fourteen generations through the Wrangel, Brahe and von Essen families; Arcimboldo's Vertumnus; castle tours at weekends in September, themed tours and chocolate tastings
- Tyresö Palace (Nordic Museum): the palace park described as one of the first English landscape parks in Sweden, open outdoors every day all year; the park is of national interest and a listed building · in Swedish
- Taxinge Castle: Castle café · in Swedishnorthern Europe's largest cake buffet with about 65 kinds of home baking, never fewer than 65; you only pay for what you put on your plate
- Confidencen – Ulriksdal Palace Theatre · in SwedishSweden's oldest rococo theatre
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: Dogs in nature · in Swedishdogs must always be on a lead in national parks and nature reserves; lead required 1 March–20 August
- The Royal Palaces: Gripsholm Castle16th century, on Gustav Vasa's initiative; Duke Karl's Chamber; the Swedish National Portrait Gallery; Gustav III's Theatre in a round Renaissance tower
- The Royal Palaces: Gustav III's PavilionPompeian interior; the masked ball of 1792; the Copper Tents with park museum and café
- Tyresö Palace: About the palace, getting here, opening hours · in Swedish1630s; the Lagergrens around 1900; guided tours Sat–Sun 6 June–6 Sept; bus 875 to Tyresö kyrka; parking SEK 15/hr; tickets SEK 170, pensioners/students SEK 150, children 2–18 SEK 50
- Destination Sigtuna: Castles · in SwedishSkokloster one of the best-preserved Baroque castles in the world, on the Sko peninsula
- Taxinge Castle · in Swedishcoffee in the library or the castle park on a headland in Lake Mälaren
- The Archipelago Foundation: Häringe-Hammersta · in Swedishcoastal nature reserve with a castle, a castle ruin and old oaks
- Rosendal Garden · in Swedishfoundation for biodynamic cultivation on Royal Djurgården
- The Royal Palaces: Admission prices and free entry 2026 · in Swedishadult / student / child 7–17: Drottningholm 170/150/85 SEK, Chinese Pavilion 140/120/70, both 250/230/125, Gripsholm 170/150/85, Ulriksdal and Gustav III's Pavilion 140/120/70; children 0–6 free; annual card SEK 500
- The Royal Palaces: Gripsholm Castle – getting here · in SwedishSJ train to Läggesta, connecting bus approx. 4 km to Mariefred; steam train and steamboat in summer; free parking
- The Royal Palaces: Ulriksdal Palace – getting here · in Swedishmetro Bergshamra or commuter train Ulriksdal and bus, 500–1,500 m walk
- The Royal Palaces: Gustav III's Pavilion – getting here · in Swedishbus to Haga norra, approx. 750 m walk; tickets at the entrance before the tour
- Skokloster Castle: Prices and tickets · in Swedishadmission SEK 140, guided tour SEK 190 including the Wrangel armoury and the Unfinished Hall; free under 19
- Skokloster Castle: Getting here · in Swedishcommuter train to Bålsta and bus 311, approx. 1 hr 15 min from Stockholm Central; parking by the church 300 m away
- Skokloster Castle: Opening hours · in Swedish2026 weekends in September and autumn half-term 24 Oct–1 Nov 11:00–16:00; 2027 Easter, weekends in May, 1 June–31 August 11:00–17:00