Skokloster Castle in Sweden
Sweden is no stranger to having castles. You’ll find a castle in presumably every type of condition you can imagine, from derelict to pristine. In whatever state the castle is in, they can sit in both gorgeous landscapes or in large urban centers. Skokloster Castle in Sweden to me is probably one of THE most pristine in all of Sweden, not to mention it sits in such a beautiful setting.
While living in Uppsala, Sweden, I have tried to discover more places outside of the city center, that are still accessible by bus or a short train ride. Luckily enough, the city features its own castle, that is located in the city center and is known for its bright pink facade. After hearing so much about Skokloster Castle, I knew I had to try to make my way there.
In this post, you’ll see my latest video from this spot, my best photos of Skokloster Castle, and tips on how to get there.
Skokloster Castle, A Brief History
Skokloster castle, built in the Baroque style between 1654 and 1676, sits on the coast of Lake Mälaren, between Uppsala and Stockholm. It is considered a monument to the ‘Swedish Age of Greatness’, a time when Sweden’s empire grew substantially in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The castle was built by Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel and is rumored to be based off of Ujazdów Castle, located in Warsaw, Poland. It was inherited by a wealthy family after the dead of Wrangel, who owned many of their own castles. Therefore, some of the castle interior had not been completed, which is exemplified by the banquet hall that was unfinished, also known as the Unfinished Hall.
The castle functioned as a residence after WWII for the von Essen family. The castle was then sold to the Swedish government in 1967 where it now exists as a state museum. The museum inside Skokloster boasts collections of flatware, furniture, and paintings, among other items and has its own cafe for those who love to partake in the Swedish Fika tradition.
Skokloster Castle Photos
Getting to Skokloster Castle
If you’re traveling from abroad, the best way to get here is to fly into Arlanda-Stockholm Airport (Airport Code: ARN). From there, there is no direct train to reach Skokloster Castle, and in fact, renting a car will be your best bet on reaching the castle in the most convenience and time efficient way. There IS a bus route you can take from Arlanda airport which starts with Bus 579 to Bålsta Station, then bus 311 to Skokloster, where you have to walk the last 400 meters. This journey is about two hours in length.
If you are coming from Uppsala, again there is no train available to Skokloster Slott and a car would be your best bet. Nonetheless, a journey by bus from Uppsala will also be about two hours in length. You take bus 895 from Uppsala Central Station to Bålsta station, and then bus 311 to Skokloster Castle, again, walking the last 400 meters.
One very unique way to Skokloster Castle from Uppsala has to be by boat (more info here). You can book a boat tour on the M/S Enköping from Hamnplan 9-11 on the Fyris river in Uppsala, which will take you down Lake Mälaren to Skokloster Castle. It will give you such a unique vantage point of seeing the castle from the lake on your way down.
As far as which vantage point to photograph the castle from, you can’t go wrong with just walking around the structure. Though if you like to plan, here are a few places that are promising:
Skoklostervägen - Two roads that present the North and West side of Skokloster Castle. There are tree-lined paths on these roads that give great foreground subjects with the castle behind.
Stenhuset - A structure to the north of Skokloster Castle that provides another vantage point to the North of the castle.
Along the coastline - You can walk all around the castle, and to get views of Skokloster Castle from the water, just walk along the coastline and get upward angle shots of the corner towers of the structure, among other features.
Forest just South of the Castle - For me, I came here during golden hour and flew my drone starting from the forest south of the castle. It was such an amazing shot with the castle set amongst the trees.
