10 Things to Do in Stockholm with Kids

Skansen is an open-air museum and home to a quaint folk museum, a beautiful zoo with both wild and domestic animals, leafy outdoor spaces and a classic amusement park. The museum is located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm and can be easily reached in less than 15 minutes by tram from Stockholm Central Station.

At Skansen, the whole family can learn more about what life was like in days gone by. Check out farmyards and shops from forgotten ages, a printing press from the 19th century and learn how a traditional smithy would have been run. The youngest members of the family will be sure to enjoy the colourful carousels in the charming little amusement park area as well as the sweet farmyard animals which are spread out around the various old farm estates.

Gröna Lund is not only the place to go for pulse-raising rides, but also delightful concerts and fun performances for children featuring everything from plays to magicians. The amusement park is located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm. Getting there by tram is easy and takes less than 15 minutes from Stockholm Central Station.

Known to locals simply as Grönan, the park is famous all across northern Europe for its wide variety of different rides and roller coasters. Experience life on the edge – in complete safety, of course – on a pulse-raising roller coaster with your legs dangling in the air, or conquer your fears at the park's dizzying drop tower. Or if that all sounds a bit much, take things at a gentler pace on child-friendly attractions like the Old Carousel or the Flying Elephants. Combined with its many appetising restaurants and evening shows, you'll have no trouble spending an entire day at Gröna Lund.

Tanto Beach is a welcoming and accessible beach with both sandy and rocky parts, located in the heart of Stockholm. You'll find it on the south-west side of Södermalm in a trendy neighbourhood by the name of Hornstull. The easiest way to get here is to take the metro to the Norsborg Stop which is just 500 metres away from the sand.

Tanto Beach is accessible and welcoming to all. There are toilets and shower facilities although do be aware that there are no changing rooms. Pack a picnic or grab lunch at one of the restaurants nearby and turn your trip to the beach into a whole-day affair. Don't forget to bring some cash along with you so the kids can go and buy an ice cream at the kiosk!

Fashion, beauty and interior design are all on offer at Åhléns City, which is the flagship store of a staple on almost every major Swedish high street. The store is located at Sergel Square (Sergels Torg) right in the heart of central Stockholm. The location makes it super easy to reach by public transport, with Stockholm Central Station located just across the way. This award-winning department store takes up an entire block and will keep shopaholics busy for hours.

Åhléns City offers four floors of top-rate shopping, selling everything from clothes and fashion to home decor. There's even a basement floor with a well-stocked grocery department, not to mention its very own tourist office and a personal shopper service.

The Stockholm Museum of Video Games (Stockholms Spelmuseum) is home to all sorts of games, from classics like Pong to the latest in virtual reality. This innovative museum is located in the district of Vasastaden in central Stockholm. The metro stops at Åkeshov, just over 500 metres from the museum.

The Stockholm Museum of Video Games will send you on a nostalgia trip through the history of video games. Relive old trends and show your kids what video games were like back when you were growing up. The museum is home both to arcade games and to console classics. Be sure to also watch out for some of the special events held by the museum, like the Swedish National Pac-Man Championship.

The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren) is the place to go to learn more about Sweden's royal family through unique exhibitions which consist of everything from weapons to carriages. The armoury is located in the cellar of the Royal Palace in the historic neighbourhood of Gamla Stan, less than 500 metres away from the nearest metro station.

Learn all about royal history through the dresses and costumes worn by Sweden's kings, queens, princes and princesses, both from day to day and at ceremonies and banquets. Take a closer look at the armour and weapons of days gone by. And be sure to also stroll through the Carriage Hall (Vagnhallen), at the very back of the Royal Armoury, where you'll see gilded carriages that are quite simply fit for a king.

The award-winning Swedish National Museum of Technology (Tekniska Museet) is a repository of information and discovery that will be sure to fascinate kids and adults alike. The museum is located at Museiparken, just north of Djurgården in Stockholm. Buses depart from Stockholm Central Station and stop right outside the museum's doors.

The museum asks and answers thought-provoking questions for both adults and kids about the history and future of humankind. Discover the earliest innovations of our species, train your brain with tricky puzzles and try your hand at a handful of entertaining games. Little geniuses in training will have the chance to learn more about mechanics, light, sound and time at the museum's popular interactive exhibition, Teknoleket, making a visit to the museum one of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids.

Junibacken is an amusement park based on the books and characters of Astrid Lindgren, the author and creator of Pippi Longstocking. It is located on the island of Djurgården in central Stockholm. Regular buses depart from Stockholm Central Station and stop less than 500 metres away on the other side of the Djurgården Bridge (Djurgårdsbron).

Little kids can get swept up in enchanting plays about the alphabet, Pippi Longstocking or some of the many other characters created by Astrid Lindgren. Explore Pippi's sunshine-yellow house together with the whole family and have a go at lifting her dotty horse Lilla Gubben, just like Pippi herself. And don't forget to take a ride on the Story Train and to swing by the ice cream kiosk for a well-deserved scoop or two!

Eriksdalsbadet is not just a huge and modern building with both a gym and a waterpark, but it is also Sweden's national pool for competitive swimming events. The pool is located on the island of Södermalm in central Stockholm. The closest metro station is less than 500 metres away from the pool. The entire family will be sure to enjoy the leisure pool area which features water slides, a wild river slide and a whirlpool. There is also a paddling pool for younger kids to enjoy.

If you'd rather focus on improving your fitness, there are large pools where you can swim lengths and even sign up for a game of water polo. The pool complex is also home to a gym where you can pump some iron and a hot tub for relaxation.

The Stockholm House of Culture & City Theatre (Kulturhuset Stadsteatern) offers everything from theatre and dance through to live music, film screenings, book signings and art exhibitions. The venue is located in central Stockholm, on Sergel Square (Sergels Torg). This makes it easy to reach by public transport as it is less than 500 metres away from Stockholm Central Station.

The Stockholm House of Culture & City Theatre organises events for kids and adults alike, making a visit here one of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids. Young kids will enjoy meeting beloved characters from both classic and modern fairytales at the puppet theatre. Storytelling sessions and children's plays are also organised regularly. Adults, on the other hand, can enjoy plays, concerts and events with writers and cultural personalities.