Stockholm with kids: day trips around the city

Överjärva gård (Solna)

The City of Solna's farm with a café, farm shops and Statarmuseet (a museum of farm workers' lives). There is an accessible toilet and baby changing table at the back of the Magasinet building. The paths are gravel, with ramps to Hästskostallet and Statarmuseet. Free entry to Statarmuseet.

Getting there

Commuter train or bus 502, 509 or 540 to Ulriksdal station, then about a 10–15 minute walk. Renovation is currently under way on and around the farm, with few parking spaces – the City of Solna recommends leaving the car at home.

Bögs gård (Sollentuna)

An open farm on Järvafältet, open every day all year 10:00–16:00. There are sheep, calves, pigs, goats, hens, horses, cats and rabbits, plus warming huts and barbecue areas for your packed lunch. The farm is close to the car park.

• Siggesta gård (Värmdö): Goats, hens and alpacas. At weekends and during school holidays there is an animal tour that ends with feeding the alpacas – limited to 20 people and booked in advance. Adventure golf, footgolf, disc golf and a forest obstacle course are included in an activity wristband.
• Alby friluftsgård (Tyresö): Swimming from a sandy beach, a playground next to the outdoor centre, meadows for play and disc golf. In the rest cabin you can eat a packed lunch and barbecue every day 07:00–16:00, and on weekdays the staff top up the firewood. The toilets are open 07:00–22:00. Naturens rum has an exhibition on the reserve's animals and nature that suits families.

• Birka Vikingastaden (Björkö): Strömma's boat leaves from Klara Mälarstrand, about 2 hours each way. The ticket includes the return boat trip, entry to the museum and a guided tour. More on the Birka page.
• Tornberget (Haninge): At 111 metres above sea level, Tornberget is the highest point in the whole of Stockholm County, according to the County Administrative Board. The reserve has old forest and Sörmlandsleden runs through it. There is parking at Slåboda (which also has a fire site with a table and benches) and at Tornberga.

The County Administrative Board of Södermanland says the paths in the deer park are easy to walk and accessible for both wheelchairs and pushchairs. They are mostly wide and gravelled, with tables and benches along the way.

The animals

Around a hundred fallow deer graze among old oaks. The whole reserve is fenced, so there's a good chance of seeing them up close. Remember that it is forbidden to disturb the deer.

Combine

The deer park is a stone's throw from Gripsholm Castle. The castle's opening times are published day by day by the Royal Palaces.

The farmyard and paths are gravelled, and there are ramps to Hästskostallet and Statarmuseet. There is a baby changing table by the toilet behind the Magasinet building. During the renovation, access by car is limited – take the commuter train to Ulriksdal.

Judarskogen in Bromma was the City of Stockholm's first nature reserve (1995). The reserve has six entrances, about 200 metres from Åkeshov and about 100 metres from Ängbyplan on the green metro line. It is a Natura 2000 site for the great crested newt – an exciting destination for children who like to look for wildlife.

The open-air museum Torekällberget shows old buildings, gardens and heritage-breed animals that tell the story of life in the 19th century. The area is open every day all year.

Entry

Free, except at a few events such as Midsummer and Christmas at Torekällberget.

Facilities

A café and small shops. The indoor settings have varying opening times – check Södertälje Municipality's page before your visit.

Akalla 4-H farm

In Akalla by (Akalla village) next to the Järvafältet nature reserve. The animals are out in their paddocks every day of the year. The village also has a café, a pottery workshop, minigolf, a playground, a barbecue area and a paddling pool.

Stora Skuggan 4-H farm

A city farm on Norra Djurgården, open every day all year 10:00–15:00. The animals are mainly Swedish heritage breeds, plus rabbits, cats, Icelandic horses and a Shetland pony. You can see the animals in the paddocks on both weekdays and weekends.

Gripsholm Castle was built on Gustav Vasa's initiative in the 16th century. Next to it is the deer park with around a hundred fallow deer and paths you can manage with a pushchair (see above). From one of the rises in the park you can see both Lake Mälaren and the castle.

About the palace

A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the palace and the park are open to visitors all year.

Getting there

Metro to Brommaplan, then bus 301 or 323 to the stop Drottningholm. Strömma's boat leaves from Klara Mälarstrand, about 1 hour – departures vary with the season.

More on the Drottningholm page.

The rune stone hunt

Destination Sigtuna describes the town as the place with the most rune stones in the world. The hunt covers 15 rune stones – 12 in the town centre and 3 at Garnsviken – a good way to make children want to walk.

Getting there

Commuter train to Märsta and SL bus 570 or 575.

More on the Sigtuna page.

Haninge Municipality describes Schweizerbadet as a large beach by the sea known for being very shallow. There is a toilet, kiosk, barbecue area and a large car park. The nearest bus stop is Schweizerparken. The beach is not run by the municipality.

A large beach by the sea with a long stretch of sand. According to Haninge Municipality there is a toilet, a kiosk in summer, minigolf, a barbecue area and a large car park. The nearest bus stop is Skälåker. The beach is not run by the municipality.

Two sandy beaches, several jetties, big lawns, beach volleyball and a small playground. A restaurant and kiosk, toilets and showers. Ängbyplan metro station is about 700 metres away.

Note: The City of Stockholm has advised against swimming at Östra Ängbybadet all season because of poor water quality. Check the current situation with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.

Allemansråttans stig – 650 metres: Along the path children get tasks and tips on things to discover.

Tjäderstigen – 1.3 km

Collect letters for a secret password and earn a certificate.

Urskogsstigen – 2 km

Signs along the trail tell you about Tyresta's old-growth forest.

Bylsjöpromenaden – 5 km

Described as an easy walk; goes around the lake Bylsjön.

Getting there

Bus 834 all the way to Tyresta by. The café in Dahlgrensgården is open almost every day all year. More on the Tyresta page.

The Archipelago Foundation describes hiking trails through pastures, shore meadows and seaside landscapes on Gålö, and a cultural-heritage trail with information signs. A bus runs from Västerhaninge.

Swimming

The sandy beach at Skälåker is described as popular, and there are several rocky swimming spots.

Overnight

The Archipelago Foundation rents out cottages from spring to autumn.

Only light fires where it's allowed: In Tyresta you may only light a fire at prepared picnic sites, and the park charges for firewood. The rules differ between reserves – read the signs.

Fire bans

Always check whether the municipality or the County Administrative Board has issued a fire ban before you go.

Litter

Bring a rubbish bag and take home everything you brought.

Ticks

Check the children for ticks after a day in forest and long grass.

About the place

Sweden's largest science centre, with more than 400 hands-on experiments you do yourself, in any order and with no prior knowledge.

Packed lunch

The picnic room is open all day, has microwaves and plenty of space for big families. You can also leave outdoor clothes and pushchairs there.

Fjärilshuset (the Butterfly House): Free-flying butterflies in tropical greenhouses.

Haga Ocean

A 30-metre tank holding 1.2 million litres of water, where reef sharks swim among reef fish.

Food

A café with coffee, cake and light lunches.

For older children

Magic Eye (77 metres, ridden on a ring) and Turbo (36 metres), an outdoor lagoon with a current channel and a hot tub (from age three).

For the youngest

A three-level paddling pool, about 10–50 cm deep.

Good to know

Booking ahead is a good idea – visits are limited to three hours. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a swimming adult. Children aged 0–2 go free and don't need to book.

Layers

Wool or synthetic next to the skin, something warm in the middle and a windproof, waterproof shell on the outside.

A sit pad for snacks on cold or damp ground.

Snacks and water

Much more than you think. Far from every destination has a café open every day.

Small kit

Wet wipes, plasters, a tick remover and rubbish bags.

SL has changed the rules for pushchairs on several bus routes – on some routes you now need a ticket even when travelling with a pushchair. Check what applies on sl.se before you go, and search for stops in SL's journey planner.