Djurgården: Solve a murder mystery
Broken glass, table legs thrown in bushes, and bloodstains. Who is the family's best crime scene investigator? And does your teenager dare to plummet 34 metres at high speed? Djurgården in Stockholm has something for everyone – no matter what their age.
What does it take for a family weekend to be completely free of TikTok, all notifications turned off, and mobile phones left in pockets? We believe Djurgården is the answer.
Many people may have heard of Allsång på Skansen. The Swedish music programme is recorded right at Skansen on Djurgården in Stockholm. The district and park area, located in the eastern part of the capital, offers much more than most people realise.
A lesser-known spot is the Police Museum, which became our favourite.
The museum focuses on Swedish police history and entices visitors with historical mugshots, murder weapons, and clothing worn by perpetrators.
Strawberry guides you through the entire island, revealing how Djurgården provides entertainment for an extended weekend, regardless of age.
Fika included
But first things first: accommodation. Make sure to check into a nearby hotel, so you can easily reach the entertainment on Djurgården. Staying in Östermalm puts you within walking distance of Djurgårdsbron while remaining close to the capital's shopping and restaurants. A central hotel choice is Clarion Collection® Hotel Wellington, located on Storgatan.
The hotel features a bakery, lounge bar, and several rooms with balconies and views. The most unique aspect, however, is that breakfast, fika, and evening meals are all included in the price of your stay – perfect if you're travelling with children who always seem to be hungry!
Once you've checked in, it's time to prepare for the ultimate guide to Djurgården. Find amusement parks, museums, beautiful nature, and great dining options below:
1. Junibacken
Address: Galärvarvsvägen 8
Junibacken is often described as Sweden's best children's museum.
The place is a nostalgic and joyful journey for all ages, offering the finest of Swedish children's literature – the world of Astrid Lindgren.
Families can explore Emil in Lönneberga, Karlsson on the Roof, and Pippi Longstocking. Children can play in Villa Villekulla (Pippi's colourful house), explore playgrounds, and watch theatre performances.
Among the new attractions are an exhibition featuring Alfie Atkins and a Moomin Valley park. Junibacken welcomes 320,000 visitors annually and stages around 1,500 theatre shows.
The park is open year-round.
2. Gröna Lund Amusement Park
Address: Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9
Worried that a family weekend might be boring? Then head to Gröna Lund Amusement Park for an adrenaline rush.
Rollercoasters and attractions with names like "Insane", "Eclipse" and "Fritt Fall (Giant Drop) & Fritt Fall Tilt" will excite even the most stubborn teenager.
"Monster" is the park's newest attraction, where you plummet 34 metres at 90 kilometres per hour, as well as completing four hair-raising loops.
Fortunately, there are also less intense rides for younger children (and adults) who become dizzy easily. Gröna Lund also offers several restaurants and snack spots.
If your family chooses this destination, Clarion Collection® Hotel Tapto is a cool place to stay, just over two kilometres from Gröna Lund, or an eight-minute taxi ride.
The hotel is perfect for all ages as it is family-friendly and offers bicycle rentals, a gym, relaxation area, and spacious rooms.
The hotel is also part of the Clarion Collection dining concept, meaning breakfast, fika, and evening meals are all included.
3. Skansen
Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51
Skansen is one of the most searched-for terms relating to museums in Stockholm. It is equally popular among Swedes as other visitors. Skansen is both a zoo and the world's oldest open-air museum, where you can experience ancient traditions. In addition to beautiful scenery and views at Skansen, you'll find an authentic Swedish atmosphere, where events like Midsummer and Walpurgis Night are celebrated.
We need to break down the whole place into categories, as there's so much variety. In the zoo, you can see moose, bears, and wild boars. At Skansen Aquarium, you'll find monkeys, scorpions, and crocodiles. When you visit the Baltic Sea Science Centre, you'll learn about the deep sea and why it's important to us all. Skansen also has numerous dining options, ranging from bakeries and ice cream shops to restaurants. And yes, you can definitely get köttbullar (Swedish meatballs).
4. The Viking Museum
Address: Djurgårdsstränd 15
Whether or not you've seen the Netflix series Vikings, the Viking Age in the Nordic region is incredibly fascinating. Who were the Vikings, really? At The Viking Museum, you'll learn about the era and the people through films and exhibits. Discover the raids, try on a Viking helmet, and feel the weight of a Viking sword. The museum also houses Glöd restaurant, offering rustic cuisine for both children and adults.
5. The Police Museum
Address: Museivägen 7
Broken glass, a clock, liquor bottles, and bloodstains. How many people were in the room? And what happened?
There are always many clues at a crime scene, and at the Police Museum, you can discover how crime scene technicians work. Learn all about DNA, fingerprints, and police methods. Which member of the family can think like a police investigator?
Visitors also gain insight into the police's work on real-life cases, such as how they sought to catch Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh's assassin.
You can also see how the police developed the offender profile of John Wolfgang Alexander Ausonius, a bank robber known as "The Laser Man."
The museum also has a special exhibition for younger visitors, introducing the various functions of the police force. The kids can also sit in a police car and on a police bike, complete with flashing blue lights and sirens.
The museum is located just before the entrance to Djurgården and is run by members of the civil police force and students at the police academy.
7. Rosendal Palace
*Address: Rosendalsvägen 49 *
Rosendal was a pleasure palace built in the 1820s by Karl XIV Johan. A pleasure palace is a small castle (small by royal standards), where the royal family could retreat for holidays and lazy summer days. The palace is well preserved. In the summer, guided tours of the palace and its park are available. The area is well signposted with information and history, so you can easily guide yourself and your family around, learning about the history and architecture as you go.
8. ABBA the Museum
Address: Djurgårdsvägen 68
Who is the family's Dancing Queen? No matter your mood before entering these doors, you'll be dancing on your way out. And if the youngest member of the family hasn't heard of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, it's about time. Although ABBA The Museum is, of course, about the history of the legendary 1970s Swedish pop group, you'll also see costumes, gold records, and a journey into nostalgia and memories of the world-famous stars.
The museum is also full of interactive delights, like quizzes, photo sessions, and music mixing. You can also try your hand on stage as the fifth ABBA member.
Find more centrally located hotels in Stockholm here.
