The outskirts of the Swedish capital are no less picturesque than the main city of the country, and therefore when asked where you can go from Stockholm, local residents have an infinite number of answers. Tourists will not be bored either, because castles, palaces, old towns with preserved medieval architecture and natural attractions await them in Sweden literally at every step.
Need attention
A list of the most famous Stockholm neighborhoods to visit usually looks like this:
- Drotttingholm Palace, whose park ensemble deservedly ranks one of the first places in the ranking of similar European attractions.
- The ancient city of Uppsala, famous for the very first university to open in the Scandinavian countries. Its doors were thrown open for students back in 1477. The museum, organized in the house where Professor Karl Linnaeus lived, is worthy of special attention.
- The Vira estate is the birthplace of Swedish blacksmiths. The local craftsmen have supplied blades for the royal court and nobility for centuries, and today Vira sells unique forged souvenirs.
- The small towns of Mariefred and Strangnes are best visited in the summer, when boats cruise along Lake Mälaren help to reach them.
- In Vaxholm, there are preserved old wooden houses in which local fishermen live.
- In Finnhamn, campsites have been built, where you can spend a weekend by the lake, go boating or fishing.
In the footsteps of medieval knights
The town of Mariefred is located on the shores of Lake Malaren and has a population of just over 3,000. The main architectural attraction of Mariefred is the ancient Gripsholm castle.
The majestic structure was founded by the Knight Grip at the end of the XIV century and has experienced many events and owners since then.
Dukes and kings languished in Gripsholm, and the future rulers of Sweden were born in it. In the 18th century, the castle walls served as a court theater, and today Gripsholm is one of the finest art galleries in Sweden. The museum contains over 1400 portraits of famous Swedes, old prints and lithographs. In the courtyard of the castle, trophy cannons of impressive size are worthy of attention.
Where you can go with children from Stockholm
Young tourists adore ancient castles and fortresses, and therefore a trip to the town of Vaxholm, located on the island of Waxeong, 30 km northeast of the capital, will appeal to lovers of history and chivalric romance.
The main local attraction is an old fortress, located in the strait between the islands of Wakseong and Rinde.
The defensive structure was required to protect Stockholm from the sea. The first stone tower was erected in the middle of the 16th century and after a few decades the fortification played an important role in the collision of the Swedish and Danish fleets.
The Vaxholm Fortress is now on the list of national architectural monuments. The exposition of the local museum is dedicated to the five-hundred-year history of the Swedish coastal defense, and the excursion to the fortress will undoubtedly appeal to young curious travelers.
Trips from Stockholm to the town of Södertälje, where the experimental museum Tom Tits Experiment is open, are no less popular with schoolchildren. Several hundred different experiments await its visitors. You can take part in them or watch how others do it.
The most popular ones are riding a bike on a tightrope, wandering through a mirror maze, or relaxing on sharp nails. Toddlers will be able to play with soap bubbles and set off a whirlpool in a giant test tube. Future doctors will learn how pregnancy progresses and a person develops. The experimental museum has the opportunity to take part in the launch of a rocket, study the structure of the fountain, collect the simplest electrical devices and go underground.
