Ice skating in Stockholm: the best lake ice and ploughed tracks
Sollentuna Municipality ploughs a track of up to 14 km on Norrviken, Hellasgården a loop of about 2.5 km on Källtorpssjön, and the City of Stockholm a 2 km track on Magelungen, among others.
The tracks below are only ploughed when the ice can carry the municipality's machines, and the season can end in a day if it turns mild. Always check the track's latest status report before you go.
Sollentuna
Norrviken (Sollentuna) – up to 14 kilometres
- Approx. 14 km · 3.5 or 7 km
- Norrvikens sjösportcenter
- Limited parking
- The track
- When the ice is thick enough, Sollentuna Municipality ploughs and planes a track about 14 kilometres long. You can skate all of it or choose 3.5 or 7 kilometres.
- Start
- At Norrvikens sjösportcenter (the water sports centre) at the southern end of the lake.
- Good to know
- Limited parking, especially at weekends – the municipality recommends public transport. Sollentuna skridskosällskap (the skating club) opens at the water sports centre at weekends when the ice is safe (January 10:00–15:00, February 10:00–15:30, March 10:00–16:00) – you can then rent and sharpen skates, buy simple food and drinks and grill sausages. The sauna and changing rooms are for members only.
Källtorpssjön
Hellasgården & Källtorpssjön – a ploughed loop and skate rental
- Approx. 2.5 km + approx. 600 m
- Rental: online booking only
- Bus 401 from Slussen
- The track
- Hellasgården aims to plough a loop of about 2.5 km eastwards from the jetty every season, and when conditions allow a shorter track of about 600 metres in the western part of the lake.
- Rental
- Nordic skates can be rented at Hellasgården and are booked online only. Booking opens when there is ice, rarely more than a week at a time. Skates cost SEK 260 per hour (SEK 320 at weekends) and poles SEK 95 per hour. The rental period is always one hour, you show ID, and there are no children's sizes.
- Getting there
- Bus 401 from Slussen to the stop Hellasgården, about 15 minutes.
Källtorpssjön without a car: the bus all the way to the ice
Public transport: Bus 401 from Slussen to the stop Hellasgården.
Access point: The jetty at Hellasgården.
Track length: Approx. 2.5 km + approx. 600 m.
Other lakes: Magelungen is reached by metro to Farsta and Trekanten by metro to Liljeholmen or Tvärbanan tram to Trekanten. For Norrviken and Långsjön the municipalities give no stop.
The City of Stockholm's lake-ice tracks – Magelungen, Långsjön and Trekanten
Magelungen (Farsta)
2 km
A 2 km track. Easiest access at Farstastrandsbadet, Ekshäradsgatan. Metro to Farsta.
Långsjön (Älvsjö)
Approx. 3 km
A circular track of about 3 km.
Trekanten
Approx. 1 km
A kilometre-long track. Metro to Liljeholmen or Tvärbanan tram to Trekanten.
Drevviken: The City of Stockholm ploughs a circular track in cooperation with the neighbouring municipalities. Tyresö Municipality has an access point at Kumlabadet when ice conditions allow.
Lake Mälaren, sea ice and currents – for experienced skaters only
Skridskonätet warns that ice is often thinner where there are currents in lakes and waterways, that sea ice generally carries less than freshwater ice, and that conditions there change faster.
Spring ice that is stable in the morning can lose its strength very quickly once the sun warms it.
Don't go out beyond the ploughed tracks without experienced company – ideally through a skating club.
Ploughed lake-ice tracks – length and access according to the municipalities
| Lake | Length | Access / start | Public transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norrviken | Approx. 14 km (3.5 / 7 km) | Norrvikens sjösportcenter | Not stated |
| Källtorpssjön | Approx. 2.5 km + approx. 600 m | The jetty at Hellasgården | Bus 401 from Slussen |
| Magelungen | 2 km | Farstastrandsbadet | Metro Farsta |
| Långsjön | Approx. 3 km | Not stated | Not stated |
| Trekanten | Approx. 1 km | Not stated | Metro Liljeholmen / Tvärbanan Trekanten |
| Drevviken | Not stated | Kumlabadet (Tyresö), among others | Not stated |
Safety when ice skating on natural ice near Stockholm
Never go out on natural ice in a group of fewer than three, says Skridskonätet, and bring ice claws, a buoyancy aid and a throw line.
The municipalities are clear: all skating on lake ice is at your own risk. The City of Stockholm and Tyresö Municipality both say they do not report how thick the ice is, because the ice varies in thickness from place to place and from one time to the next. You must take full responsibility for your own safety.
Safety equipment according to Skridskonätet
- Ice claws
- Buoyancy aid
- Waterproof-packed change of clothes
- Throw line
- Carabiner
- Ice pole
- To get yourself out of a hole in the ice: ice claws and a buoyancy aid – a rucksack with a waist belt, a crotch strap and a change of clothes packed waterproof.
- To be helped out
- a throw line with an extension strap and a carabiner.
- Ice pole
- Where the ice changes – stop and test the thickness and quality of the ice in front of you.
- To borrow
- Tyresö fire station lends ice claws and ice poles – the ice claws free of charge every day of the week against ID.
Never fewer than three
At least three people, no fewer
Skridskonätet says a trip on natural ice should have at least three people, no fewer, so that rescue tasks can be shared if something happens.
Skate in single file
Skate in single file, not side by side, and keep your distance from the person in front.
Learn out on trips
You learn to judge ice out on trips, not by reading. Skridskonätet recommends joining a skating club and going on guided trips.
How to follow the status of the tracks
The municipalities' status reports: The City of Stockholm, Sollentuna and Tyresö publish whether the tracks are ploughed and maintained – but not ice thickness.
Hellasgården posts on its website when the track was last ploughed and whether the ice is skateable.
The season can end quickly: When it turns mild, the municipalities stop maintaining the tracks.
Artificial ice rinks and sports grounds in Stockholm
The City of Stockholm has more than 50 flooded rinks, including artificial ice at Kungsträdgården and Medborgarplatsen, and Östermalms IP floods a 400-metre ice oval.
If you want to skate without safety equipment, there are flooded rinks in the city. The City of Stockholm has more than 50 flooded rinks that are normally open when it's cold, and some with artificial ice that can be open even when it isn't so cold.
Östermalms IP – a 400-metre ice oval
- The ice
- In winter a 400-metre ice oval is flooded around the bandy pitch.
- Rental
- The ice hockey club Brinken IF rents out skates during the season.
- Barbecue
- Two barbecues are lit on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 11:00–14:00 when the rink is open to the public.
- Getting there
- Red metro line to Stadion, about a 400-metre walk.
- Barbecues lit Sat, Sun and public holidays: 11:00–14:00
Artificial ice in the city
- Kungsträdgården
- Medborgarplatsen
- Eriksdal
- Bäverdalen
- Sköndal
- Aspudden
- Spånga
- Husby ice hall
- Skärholmstorget
According to the City of Stockholm, these rinks, among others, have artificial ice:
- the Kungsträdgården, Medborgarplatsen and Vasaparken rinks
- Eriksdal, Bäverdalen and Sköndal ball grounds
- Aspudden and Spånga sports grounds, Husby ice hall's open skating ice and Skärholmstorget's skating rink
Artificial rinks may have limited opening times. At sports grounds that are otherwise booked – for example Zinkensdamms idrottsplats – the city publishes public times week by week. The season mainly runs from week 43 to week 11.
Combine ice skating with a sauna, winter swimming and sledging
At Hellasgården you can swim in an ice hole all year after a 90-minute sauna visit and go sledging on the other side of Ältavägen, and in the rest cabin at Alby friluftsgård you can warm up and barbecue every day 07:00–16:00.
A winter day is better with something warm afterwards. Here are places where ice, sauna and sledging are close together.
Hellasgården
Sauna and ice hole at Hellasgården
- Swimming all year
- Sauna 90 minutes
- Booked online
From the sauna you walk to the swimming jetty and can swim all year – in winter the hole is kept open with a pump. The sauna has women's and men's sections and is booked online; a visit is 90 minutes. The jetty easily gets slippery when water freezes, so take care. There is more on winter swimming on the beaches page.
- Never swim alone in an ice hole.
- Go in slowly via the ladder, and never jump in.
Hellasgården · Alby
Sledging hill and play area
- Sledging hill and play area
- Rest cabin 07:00–16:00
- Hellasgården: A sledging hill on the other side of Ältavägen. The cafeteria is close by.
- Alby friluftsgård (Tyresö): When the ice holds, the municipality ploughs a circular track and a play area on Albysjön and Barnsjön. In the rest cabin you can warm up and barbecue every day 07:00–16:00.
Short days
Winter hiking
- Head torch
- Ice cleats
Short winter days take planning: turn back in good time before dark, bring a head torch and ice cleats, and expect trails to be hard to follow in snow. Note that not all paths are maintained in winter – Tyresö Municipality says, for example, that the path from Alby to the bridge over Nyforsviken is not. More trails on the hiking page.
Things to do near Stockholm in winter: cafés and palaces that stay open
The café in Dahlgrensgården in Tyresta is open almost every day of the year and the farm café at Överjärva gård Saturday–Sunday 11:00–16:00, while Tullgarn and Rosendal palaces are closed for the whole 2026 season.
Many summer cafés and palaces close in winter. This is what the managers themselves state – check the day's opening times before you go.
Open all year
Tyresta National Park: The café in Dahlgrensgården is open almost every day all year.
Hellasgården: Reception, sauna, gym and café are open daily, with shorter hours during parts of the year.
Drottningholm Palace: Most of the palace and the park are open to visitors all year.
Överjärva gård: According to the City of Solna, the farm café is open Saturday and Sunday 11:00–16:00.
Closed in 2026 – don't make a wasted trip
The Royal Palaces state that Tullgarn Palace (including the palace café) and Rosendal Palace are closed for the 2026 season.
Gripsholm Castle's opening times are published day by day.
More on the castles page.
Logistics, skate rental and planning for ice skating in Stockholm
Bus 401 runs from Slussen to Hellasgården, the metro to Farsta for Magelungen, and the metro to Stadion for Östermalms IP.
Equipment, getting there and clothing decide how long your day on the ice will be.
Renting and borrowing equipment
Hellasgården
Nordic skates, booked online only – SEK 260 per hour, SEK 320 at weekends.
Norrviken
Sollentuna skridskosällskap rents out skates at weekends when the ice is safe.
Östermalms IP
Brinken IF rents out skates during the season.
Fritidsbanken
Tyresö Municipality points to this free sports-equipment library for borrowing skating gear.
Ice claws and ice poles
Borrowed at Tyresö fire station – the ice claws free of charge against ID.
Public transport
Hellasgården: Bus 401 from Slussen.
Magelungen: Metro to Farsta.
Trekanten: Metro to Liljeholmen or Tvärbanan tram to Trekanten.
Östermalms IP: Metro to Stadion.
Norrviken: Sollentuna Municipality recommends public transport because parking is limited – search for Norrvikens sjösportcenter in SL's journey planner.
Dressing in layers
- Wool or synthetic next to the skin
- Warm mid-layer
- Windproof shell
- Extra warm jacket
- Gloves
- Hat
- Waterproof bags
Active skating keeps you warm, but breaks and wind cool you down fast. Dress in layers: wool or synthetic next to the skin, a warm mid-layer and a windproof shell. Pack an extra warm jacket, gloves and a hat for the breaks – and on natural ice, everything in waterproof bags.
Frequently asked questions
4 questions
01Where can I check whether the natural ice is safe to skate on?
Nobody can do that for you. The City of Stockholm and Tyresö Municipality don't report how thick the ice is, only whether the tracks are ploughed. All skating on lake ice is at your own risk. Skridskonätet recommends learning to judge ice by skating with a skating club, always carrying an ice pole and testing the ice when it changes.
02How many people should you be on natural ice?
At least three, according to Skridskonätet – so rescue tasks can be shared if someone goes through. Skate in single file, not side by side.
03Which lake-ice tracks are ploughed around Stockholm?
Among others Norrviken in Sollentuna (up to about 14 km), Källtorpssjön at Hellasgården (about 2.5 km), and the City of Stockholm's tracks on Magelungen (2 km), Långsjön (about 3 km), Trekanten (about 1 km) and Drevviken. They are only ploughed when the ice can carry the municipality's machines.
04Where can you go ice skating in Stockholm without safety equipment?
On flooded rinks. The City of Stockholm has more than 50 flooded rinks, some with artificial ice – for example Kungsträdgården, Medborgarplatsen and Skärholmstorget. At Östermalms IP a 400-metre ice oval is flooded, and Brinken IF rents out skates there.
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.
- City of Stockholm: Find lake-ice tracks · in Swedishall skating at your own risk; the city does not report ice thickness
- City of Stockholm: Magelungen lake-ice track · in Swedish2 km; access Farstastrandsbadet, Ekshäradsgatan; metro Farsta
- City of Stockholm: Långsjön lake-ice track · in Swedishcircular track approx. 3 km in Älvsjö
- City of Stockholm: Trekanten lake-ice track · in Swedishkilometre-long track; metro Liljeholmen or Tvärbanan Trekanten
- City of Stockholm: Find ice for skating · in Swedishartificial ice: Kungsträdgården, Medborgarplatsen, Skärholmstorget and more; no ice information service
- City of Stockholm: Ice skating · in Swedishmore than 50 flooded rinks; public times week 43–11
- City of Stockholm: Östermalms idrottsplats · in Swedish400 m ice oval; Brinken IF rents out skates; barbecues Sat–Sun 11:00–14:00; metro Stadion approx. 400 m
- Sollentuna Municipality: Skating on lake ice · in SwedishNorrviken approx. 14 km, 3.5 or 7 km; start at the water sports centre; limited parking; Sollentuna skridskosällskap open at weekends January–March with skate rental; sauna and changing rooms for members only
- Tyresö Municipality: Ice skating · in Swedishcircular track and play area on Albysjön and Barnsjön; access to Drevviken at Kumlabadet; the municipality does not report ice thickness; ice claws and ice poles borrowed at the fire station, ice claws free
- Hellasgården: Skate rental · in Swedishtrack approx. 2.5 km + approx. 600 m; online booking only; SEK 260/hour, weekends SEK 320, poles SEK 95; no children's sizes
- Hellasgården: Sledging · in Swedishsledging hill on the other side of Ältavägen
- Hellasgården: Ice hole · in Swedishswimming all year; the hole kept open with a pump
- Skridskonätet: Safetyskate in a group of at least three; single file; thinner ice near currents; spring ice
- Skridskonätet: Safety · in Swedishice claws, buoyancy aid, throw line; ice pole; sea ice
- Tyresö Municipality: Alby outdoor area · in Swedishrest cabin 07:00–16:00; the path to the bridge over Nyforsviken is not maintained in winter
- Sweden's National Parks: Tyresta – Eating in the park · in Swedishthe café in Dahlgrensgården open almost every day all year
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Tullgarn Palaceclosed for the 2026 season
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Rosendal Palaceclosed for the 2026 season
- Hellasgården: Sauna · in Swedishwomen's and men's sauna; a visit is 90 minutes; swimming from the jetty all year
- Hellasgården: Contact · in Swedishbus 401 from Slussen, approx. 15 min; reception, sauna, gym and café open daily
- The Royal Palaces: Drottningholm Palace · in Swedishthe palace and park largely open to visitors all year
- The Royal Palaces: Opening hours, Gripsholm Castle · in Swedishopening hours published day by day
- City of Solna: Överjärva gård – before your visit · in Swedishfarm café open Saturday and Sunday 11:00–16:00