Vasa Ship in Sweden, what to do in Stockholm, Sweden with Kids
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5 Things You Need to Do in Stockholm, Sweden with Kids

Do you plan to visit Stockholm to see the best places that will give you a true view of the city? Is your time in Stockholm short, and you have a need for information on the very best places to visit in Stockholm? Here are 5 things you need to see in Stockholm, Sweden with kids! Follow along to see just how my family and I spent one day in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Easter Break in Stockholm, Sweden with Kids

One year during Easter break, my family and I decided to go camping in Sweden! We were eager for some relaxation, family time and a bit of exploring in Sweden. We knew that there are many things to do in Sweden, but we wanted to focus on having the most fun as possible near where we were camping. 

Learn more about about amazing stay at Gustavsvick Camping in Örebro, Sweden.

Our time was limited, but we really wanted to visit Stockholm, Sweden! Since it was a two hour drive from our campground, we could only spend a few hours in the city, but we were determined to make the most out of the short trip!

Visit Örebro, Sweden, a great, day-trip destination from Stockholm, Sweden!

We thought that a few hours in Stockholm would be better than leaving it off of our itinerary completely. I mean, come on! We could relax in a campground anywhere, but if we were going to go all the way to Sweden, we just HAD TO visit Stockholm!! Right!?!

My husband and I had a few places that we were eager to see, but since we were also traveling with our two young boys, we needed to make sure that everyone would be happy with the itinerary and be sure to have some unique experiences. (Not to mention FUN!) Here is what we found to be the 5 best ways to make the most out of our afternoon in Stockholm, Sweden with kids.

1. See Kungliga Slottet / The Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden

What can be cooler than spending a day in one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful cities? How about seeing a castle where a real king lives? Kungliga Slottet or The Royal Palace is one of the most impressive castles in Sweden and it is located in a picturesque part of town that overlooks the Stockholms ström, innermost section of Saltsjön, a bay of the Baltic Sea.

Beautiful view of the Kungliga Slott (Castle) in Stockholm, Sweden
Beautiful view of the Kungliga Slott (Castle) in Stockholm, Sweden

If you are in front of the royal palace on a parade day around noon, you will get to see members of the royal military marching the streets up to the castle, and if you are really lucky, it will be a day with music. Horses, soldiers, castles and the excitement of a new place can be a great experience for any traveler.

Looking for a great campground in Sweden? Check out the Gustavsvik Camping!!

You can take a tour to see the inside of the castle with its amazing artwork and architecture. During many weekends throughout the year, they have special events and exhibits that are more interesting for children, so be sure to check out their website when planning your vacation or a just quick afternoon to visit Stockholm, Sweden!

Kongliga Slottet / The Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden
Kongliga Slottet / The Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden

2. Ride the Ferry to Djursgarden Museum Island

Traveling with little ones can be tiring for both parents and kids, but it doesn’t have to be boring as well. One great thing about Stockholm is that many of the places worth-seeing are located on the Djursgarden Museum Island in the middle of the town.

In order to get there, you’ll need to take a ferry. This Stockholm public transport can be just as exciting for kids as it can be relaxing for the parents. It is equipped with rows of benches in the middle of the boat, as well as on the sides next to the window, which give great views of the city of Stockholm. 

Ferry Boat in Stockholm, Sweden
Ferry Boat in Stockholm, Sweden

On a nice day, you can stand outside on the outer platform of the boat, which is available on either end to allow you to feel the warm Scandinavian sun on your face as you drive past some of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

This also offers a great spot to take some pictures of the view and to add a bit of adventure to the day of any boat-loving, sea-loving child. Who needs to pay for an expensive boat tour of Stockholm for great views when you have the inexpensive ferry to do the job for you?!

A view from the ferry when traveling towards the Djursgarden Museum Island in Stockholm, Sweden.
A view from the ferry when traveling towards the Djursgarden Museum Island in Stockholm, Sweden.

3. Experience Junibacken and Astrid Lindgren

If you have children and have an afternoon to spend in Stockholm, Sweden, you really need to visit Junibacken. This fairy tale attraction has a variety of experiences that will stretch the imagination and allow for lots of creative play.

Having fun at Junibacken in Stockholm, Sweden
Having fun at Junibacken in Stockholm, Sweden

Designed to show some of the most beloved stories and characters of Sweden’s favorite children’s author, Astrid Lindgren, Junibacken takes families into the world of Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, and many more. They have a daily children’s theater show, play land, and a fun story train.

The show takes place in Pippi Longstocking’s home called Villa Villekulla, which also acts as a playhouse afterwards along with an area to play with Pippi’s horse. You will really feel that you have stepped into Astrid Lingren Verden (world) when you step inside Junibacken in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The Pippi Longstocking show at Junibacken in Stockholm, Sweden
The Pippi Longstocking show at Junibacken in Stockholm, Sweden

Junibacken is not just a type of Astrid Lindgren museum, but it also has a fun restaurant that makes you feel that you have stepped right into a circus. With many hidden surprises, Junibacken is the best reason to visit Stockholm with kids.

4. Visit the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

One very interesting, and very massive, part of Swedish history can be seen at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Here, you will get to see the sheer wonder of the Vasa warship that took two years to build for the king but only lasted one voyage before sinking in 1628.

Model of the VASA Warship in Stockholm, Sweden
Model of the VASA Warship in Stockholm, Sweden

The museum is easy to spot, since it looks like there is a large ship coming out of the top of the building. If that doesn’t get you interested enough to check out what is inside, have a look at the picture below! Visitors both young and old will be in awe of its presence and learn of the many discoveries that were found over the last 50 years with regards to its story.

Get great tips and tricks to Traveling Abroad with Babies and Children post.

Read, see, hear and experience all that this historical wonder the Vasa warship has to offer as part of your time in Stockholm, Sweden.  The museum even has activity booklets in different languages for children and also a short cartoon; both of which are nice added touches that help make this museum more attractive for kids. Don’t rule it out of your plans. You and your kids will surely have a great time there. 

The Vasa warship inside the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden
The Vasa warship inside the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

5. Have fun at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

If you are a huge ABBA fan or even a somewhat mediocre fan, you will absolutely love The ABBA. Museum! My boys only listened to the songs from one of the greatest hits CDs for a few hours before reaching Stockholm. They couldn’t get enough of all things ABBA once we were at the museum. If you are afraid of taking your children to a museum like this, don’t be! They will love it!!!

Playing in the recording studio at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden
Playing in the recording studio at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

Not only can you see tons of pictures, videos and memorabilia, you can also take part in a recording session, music video or live performance. It is a lot of fun!! The ABBA Museum is really kid-friendly and has enough interactive exhibits to get the whole family involved!

Going to the ABBA Museum is more like an experience than a destination. If you are looking for a bit of fun at any age, you should plan to visit this museum. It is a great way to spend an afternoon in Stockholm, Sweden with kids. You will truly get hooked on ABBA by the end of your time at this museum. If you don’t believe me, check out this video!

Budget-Friendly Tip to Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a very classy city, which also means that it can be an expensive city. We wanted to cut down on the costs of the trip, since the entrance fees to the different places we visited were enough to stretch our budget.

Saving on Meals When in Stockholm, Sweden

Eating breakfast at our camper before leaving for Stockholm was good for the budget. Also, packing a lunch to enjoy in one of Stockholm’s picturesque parks near the water was another.

We wanted to make the most out of our trip!. A quick, home-made lunch helped to save time and got rid of the hassle of an added expense.

Eating a picnic lunch in Stockholm, Sweden
Eating a picnic lunch in Stockholm, Sweden

Having kids tends to also mean that you need to be well-equipped with drinks and snacks. We made sure to have a water bottle for each member of the family. Hearty snacks like carrot sticks and fruit crackers for the in-between moments were also helpful to have.

These were lifesavers, since whiny spells seemed to happen at the most inopportune times. Luckily, they didn’t last long once the boys (and mom) were recharged with a quick drink and snack.

Finding the Nicest Bathroom in Stockholm, Sweden

Some bathrooms in smaller restaurants and fast-food places charge to use the restroom. We were sure to plan our bathroom breaks at the museums or when we were near a larger department store or mall.

Free bathroom inside NK Stockholm department store in the city centre of Stockholm, Sweden
Free bathroom inside NK Stockholm store in the city centre of Stockholm

Traveling to Stockholm from Örebro, Sweden & Parking in Stockholm

We also debated on whether to take the train from our small, camping town or drive. Though it would have been a nice trip by train, we decided to save some money by taking the car. We parked at a parking garage in the center of town. This way, we weren’t restricted to set train schedules and had the freedom to come and go when needed.

Looking for great family fun in nearby Denmark? Look HERE for some great places!!

Paying for one car to park versus four people to travel was a good, budget-friendly decision. It allowed us to have the best afternoon in Stockholm, Sweden! We just hope that next time, we will be able to stay longer! Stockholm is really one of the nicest places we have visited, and I am sure you and your family will enjoy it, too!

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5 Things you must do in Stockholm, Sweden with Kids

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