Drottningholm

Strömma runs the palace excursion from Stadshuskajen at Klara Mälarstrand to Drottningholm on a ship from around 1900. The trip takes about an hour.

Metro: The green line to Brommaplan. Bus: Change to bus 301 or 323 and get off at the Drottningholm stop. Travel time: Search your journey in SL's journey planner.

The road: Follow road 275, Drottningholmsvägen, towards Vällingby. At Brommaplan, follow the signs for Drottningholm. Parking: Visitor parking by the Palace Theatre and the palace, plus extra parking on the gravel area at Karusellplan, about 300 metres from the palace. Charge: SEK 15 per hour, max 6 hours. Free for disabled visitors and tour buses. Pay with Mobill Parkering, ePark, card or SMS – zone code 25583.

About the palace: According to the Royal Palaces, Sweden's best-preserved royal palace built in the 17th century. It was built on French models by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, commissioned by Queen Hedvig Eleonora. The royal residence: The royal family moved in in 1981. The rooms in the southern part of the palace are reserved for the King and Queen – the rest is mostly open to visitors. Opening hours: See the Royal Palaces' website.

One July evening in 1753, Queen Lovisa Ulrika was surprised with a birthday present: King Adolf Fredrik had secretly had a pleasure palace in Chinese style built at the far end of the palace park. Inside, Swedish rococo furniture mixes with imported Chinese objects, and several rooms keep their original wall coverings of Chinese silk and paper.

The Palace Theatre was built in 1766 for Queen Lovisa Ulrika and, according to the Royal Palaces, is one of the world's best-preserved theatres from that period. The stage machinery is entirely wooden and is still operated by hand today. Opera, theatre and dance performances are staged every summer, and the theatre is shown on guided tours all year. Around thirty stage sets have survived.

Open: All year. The Baroque Garden: From the late 17th century, framed by lime avenues, with the water parterre and the Hercules Fountain. The bronze sculptures are copies of originals by Adriaen de Vries. The English Park: Laid out from 1780 on Gustav III's initiative, with two ponds, canals, islands, bridges and large lawns. The park is free to enter and open around the clock; the Gothic Tower, designed by Louis Jean Desprez, stands in the English Park.

Getting there: Boat, or metro and bus. Once there: A walk through the Baroque Garden and the English Park – the park is open all year.

The palace: Visit the reception halls. The park: Walk through the Baroque Garden to the Chinese Pavilion. The theatre: The Palace Theatre is shown on guided tours. Fika: Karamellan on the lake side of the palace, or the Chinese Pavilion café in the summer season. Guided tour: The tour of the reception halls takes about 45 minutes, and a free audio guide is available in the Kungliga slotten app.

Karamellan Café and Restaurant: In the white villa on the lake side of the palace, serving traditional Swedish food, coffee, pastries and sandwiches. The Chinese Pavilion café: In the palace park near the Chinese Pavilion in the summer season, with waffles among other things. Karamellan was built in 1903 and also houses the visitor centre with ticket sales and the Royal Gift Shop (Kungliga Slottsboden).

Bags: Carry them on the front of your body. Suitcases aren't allowed. Ice grips: May not be worn indoors. Photography: Allowed for private use without flash, tripod or selfie stick. Accessibility: There are 22 steps from the ground to the entrance level and 30 to the ticket desk; there is no lift and there are no ramps. Companions get in free, and assistance and guide dogs are welcome.

Picnics are welcome – take your litter with you and put it in the bins provided. There's no ban on barbecuing with your own grill or at a designated barbecue area, but disposable barbecues may not be placed on the lawns, and fire bans apply when in force. Dogs are welcome in the park if kept on a lead.