Exploring the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden
Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)
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Djurgården (translation - ‘Animal Garden’) is one of 14 islands that comprise the Swedish capital city of Stockholm. It houses a number of historical buildings as well as gardens, an open-air museum, forests, monuments, and an amusement park. Located within the confines of Stockholm while also being surrounded my nature gives Djurgården a special appeal for locals and tourists alike who want to get away from the sounds of the city while also being immersed in nature.
The island has been under the ownership of the Swedish government since the 15th century. It was the Swedish King John III at this time that purposed the island to keep various animals such as deer, reindeer, and elk. Currently, Djurgården is kept under the care of the Royal Djurgården Administration.
Every time I head to Stockholm, I try to explore a different place. Sad to say I kept Djurgården for one of the last places to see. Now that summer is upon us, I hope to come back to enjoy more of what the island has to offer. If you find yourself in Stockholm, make sure you carve out an entire day to see this great place.
Check out my drone video of Stockholm, Sweden below!
How to get to Djurgården
One can reach Djurgården by first flying into Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Airport Code: ARN). From there, you can take the Arlanda Express train, a taxi, or the FlyBus to Stockholm Central station.
From Stockholm Central Station, or most areas in Stockholm, you can easily walk to Djurgården, which will take less than an hour coming from most places in Stockholm.
If walking isn’t your thing, you can take public transportation to drop you off closest to Djurgården since the island itself has no metro station, but does have bus and light rail stations:
Tunnelbana/Metro - Red Line to Östermalmstorg, then walk to Djurgården.
Bus - Take bus 67 to a number of stops on Djurgården.
Light Rail - Take line 7 to a number of stops on Djurgården.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
If you find yourself in Sweden for an extended period of time and are wondering what other places are worth visiting, you can also check out my blog posts about other Swedish cities:
Stockholm (Blog Post Title: Why Stockholm is the best Scandinavian capital)
Stockholm Tunnelbana (Blog Post Title: The World’s Longest Art Gallery - Riding on the Stockholm Tunnelbana)
Uppsala (Blog Post: Uppsala: the hidden gem just North of Stockholm)
Helsingborg (Blog Post: Just a few reasons to see Helsingborg in the South of Sweden)
Malmö (Blog Post: Take a weekend break in Malmö, Sweden)
Lund (Blog Post: A Day tour of the university town of Lund)
Kalmar (Blog Post: Kalmar: The town you should know more about in Sweden)
Öland (Blog Post: A Day Tour of the Swedish island of Öland)
Marstrand (Blog Post: A day trip to the Swedish island of Marstrand)
Swedish Castles (Blog Post: A Tour of Sweden’s Coolest Castles)
Fårö (Blog Post: A Guide to the Swedish Island of Fårö)
Visby (Blog Post: A Closer Look at the Hanseatic Town of Visby)
Gotland (Blog Post: A Guide to the Swedish Island of Gotland)
Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
There are many places to check out and see in Djurgården but I have a few of my own favorites that I will share below. Therefore the list I present is not comprehensive, just based on my own experiences:
Gröna Lund
Gröna Lund has a special place in the hearts of Swedes. As one of the countries only amusement parks, it is a place of wonderful childhood memories. It translates to ‘Green Grove’ and is located along the eastern coast of Djurgården. It is relatively small and compact but has over 30 attractions and was founded in 1883.
Another really cool aspect of Gröna Lund is its concert space. Every summer, once a week, they have concerts for all those who have purchased day tickets to the park. These tickets are pretty affordable for the artists that they have. Notable artists include The Offspring, Mumford and Sons, and even Jimi Hendrix, ABBA, and Bob Marley during their heydays in the last century.
Gröna Lund, Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum may be one of the only museums in the world that was built around a huge ship. The mast of the Vasa, the ship that it showcases, even protrudes from the roof the building. The museum displays a 17th century ship called The Vasa, the was salvaged from the sea. The 64-gun warship ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 but was recovered and is the centerpiece of this museum that opened in 1990.
Gröna Lund, Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Nordic Museum
The Nordic Museum is dedicated to the history of Sweden from modern times, around 1520, to the contemporary period. Founded in the late 19th century, it is one of the more popular museums on Djurgården and is known for its exquisite outside facade. As someone who only knows intimately about US history, it is refreshing to see the vastness of another country’s history and culture in this way.
ABBA Museum
Not really needing an introduction, the ABBA Museum commemorates the lives and songs of the famous Swedish group ABBA. When I first came to Sweden, I didn’t realize that ABBA were Swedish as well, so it was quite strange at first hearing popular ABBA songs from my childhood, but spoken in Swedish.
Skansen
Skansen is a popular open-air museum as well as zoo on Djurgården in Stockholm. It is located near Gröna Lund and was opened back in 1891. It is also a place that hosts numerous Sweden television programs and specials.
Rosendal Palace, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
Rosendal Palace
The Rosendal Palace is situation on the northern cost of Djurgården and was built between 1823 and 1827 for King Karl XIV Johan. Starting off as a residence, its purpose changed to that of a museum documenting the Karl Johan period and the list of its builder. It also features a small set of structures described as the Queen’s Pavilion and the Guard’s Cottage.
Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
Rosendals Trädgård
The Rosendals Trädgård is an extensive garden, not too far of a walk away from Rosendals Palace. It is open to visitors and features a vast array of garden arrangements and seating areas for those who wish to order food from their Greenhouse cafe. The site also features a gardening shop where you can purchase tools, decorations, and even seeds to grow yourself. We purchased Tomatillo seeds from here and have had some great success producing them this year. Next to the Greenhouse Cafe is also a bakery with wonderfully baked breads and sweets.
Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)
