Ask yourself what images you might relate to Sweden as a nation, and you may well picture a snow-covered land filled with log cabins, lakes and copious branches of Ikea. (And you wouldn’t be wrong about that, I’m telling you now.) But in the warmer months Sweden truly comes to life, and Stockholm in summer is, in my opinion, the most beautiful time to visit. The days are long, the weather is warm(ish), and there’s no shortage of ways to get outdoors in this elegant Scandinavian gem.
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Table of contents:
- An introduction to Stockholm
- Stockholm’s weather in summertime
- Daylight hours in Stockholm in summer
- Summer festivals and events
- What to pack for Stockholm in summer
- The best things to do during summer in Stockholm
A very brief introduction to Stockholm
Stockholm is a dream city. There, I said it. Granted, I may well be looking at things through an outsider’s rose-tinted glasses, but there’s no denying the beauty of the Swedish capital.
Founded in 1252, the city was momentarily grabbed by the Danish King Christian II ‘The Tyrant’ (catchy name), in the 1500s, then grabbed back by King Gustav Vasa. In fact, for several hundred years after this, the Danes and the Swedes seemed to be in and out of war with each other quite regularly; in fact, Copenhagen’s famous Nyhavn harbour was built by Swedish prisoners of war in the 1600s. Still, Stockholm continued to prosper and of course these days the Danes and the Swedes are on friendlier terms. Thank goodness for that.
The city is located in the south of Sweden, and is actually made up of 14 islands, meaning that a third of it is water; approximately another third is green space. Then of course, there are the elegant palaces and colourful historic architecture, cobblestone streets in the old town, and modern rooftop bars. The air is fresh, the streets are fairly clean and although the summer months can be busy, I’ve never felt that Stockholm feels overcrowded.
I love the sunshine, but there are certain Mediterranean cities that are overwhelming and overcrowded at the height of summer (I’m looking at you, Barcelona and Rome). In comparison, Stockholm in summer is paradise, with the perfect combination of on-trend city vibes and appreciation for the great outdoors.
How’s the weather in Stockholm in summer?
If you’re after full on Mediterranean weather then, obviously, you’ll have to head to the actual Mediterranean. This is Scandinavia, after all. But the temperature in Stockholm in summer (we’re talking June, July and August, generally the warmest months), is normally somewhere between 20-25ºC.
There can be cooler days, and rainy days, but generally summertime in Stockholm is mild but sunshiny.
How many hours of daylight does Stockholm get in summer?
This is the true beauty of Swedish summers, my friends: the length of daylight hours. The longest day of the year, Midsommar, is kind of a big deal around here: this is June 21st, when the sun rises at 3:31am and sets at 10:08pm. And when I say, the sun ‘rises’ and ‘sets,’ from May 15th-July 29th the sun is actually so close to the horizon that nighttime is never completely dark anyway.
Summer festivals in Stockholm
Swedes love the summer months, and in Stockholm they manage to pack in a sizeable number of festivals and parties to make the most of the warm weather and long evenings. The most important event of the summer, across all of Sweden, is Midsommar- the celebration of the summer solstice, which is held on Midsummer’s Eve in June. Flower crowns are de rigeur, there’s a lot of music and dancing, and of course eating and drinking. (Think strawberries, pickled herring and new potatoes with dill). If you happen to be in Stockholm for Midsommar, one of the best places to celebrate is at Skansen, a beautiful open air museum in the heart of the city.
The Rosendal Garden Party is a three day music festival at the beginning of June, which often features a whole variety of acts; this year’s line up (2025) includes Chaka Khan, Roisin Murphy and Sean Paul.
And Stockholm is also home to the largest Pride festival in the Nordic region, with over 50,000 participants in the parade, and around 500,000 spectators. At the heart of the celebration is Pride Park, where live acts perform on stage to a humungous audience, all with the aim of creating a welcoming space for and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Check details of Stockholm Pride.
Check a complete list of festivals in Stockholm in summer.
What to pack for Stockholm in summer
My advice is: lots of thin layers. Although the temperature can be lovely and warm, it can still be chilly in the evenings and it’s a good idea to have at least one or two lightweight sweatshirts with you.
And speaking of the weather: be prepared for anything and everything. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses, but also a light raincoat and an umbrella. Because you never know around here.
The best things to do in Stockholm in summer
Rent a kayak
As a city of islands, one of the more adventurous ways to explore is most definitely on the water. Hire a kayak for a few hours and set off on a guided kayak tour like this one, which introduces guests to the centre of the city.
For a lesser-visited location, head further out into the stunning Stockholm Archipelago. This tour includes pick-up from Stockholm, and transport to and from the archipelago to your kayak, as well as a guide on the water. Having sailed through the Stockholm archipelago on a cruise ship, I can vouch for its beauty and would love to have more time to visit at my own pace.
If you’d rather explore under your own steam, there are several kayak hire companies in the city. Långholmen Kajak is fairly central and very popular; they also have some great suggested routes for a day on the water.
Dine alfresco
Is there anything better in life than enjoying a delicious meal in the sunshine? As far as I’m concerned, the answer is, probably not. And as soon as the summer season hits, Stockholm is full of restaurants with outdoor seating available. Whether it’s an outdoor terrace, a spot in a park or garden, or a rooftop restaurant, there’s no shortage of options across the city.
Here’s my full list of eating and drinking options in Stockholm, including plenty of alfresco spots.
Scoot, or cycle through the city
Stockholm is super-easy to navigate by public transport, but one of the most fun ways to explore is on two wheels- especially when there’s such a mixture of city streets and gorgeous green spaces. It’s also a very bicycle-friendly city. You’ll find scooters available for hire all over the place- just download one of the apps like Voi or Lime and it’ll tell you where to find the closest scooter pick up and parking spot.
If you’d rather have a more structured tour of Stockholm, book yourself onto a bike tour. You’ll have a guide to show you around and give you a bit of back story whilst exploring in the open air. Marvellous I tell you!
Visit Sweden’s oldest theme park
I love a good old-fashioned retro vibe, whether that be at a theme park or a fruit stand. So it makes sense that I was very much up for a day out at Gröna Lund, the little amusement park on Djurgården Island, right in the centre of Stockholm. Founded in the early 1880s, the only original ride still in use today is the Circus Carousel, although there are plenty more adrenaline-inducing rides and rollercoasters within the park.
Check opening hours and ticket prices for Gröna Lund.
Visit the Stockholm archipelago
Back to that stunning Stockholm Archipelago that I was jabbering on about earlier. We’re talking pine trees, rocks rising from the water, and pretty wooden houses with a country vibe, and it’s really not that far from the city at all.
You can take a ferry to one of the archipelago’s islands with Waxholmsbolaget right from the centre of the city- find the Strömkajen ferry terminal here. You can’t book in advance; either buy a ticket through the SL app, or purchase it on board. (And panic not, pals: card payments are accepted.) Currently, for Ukrainians in Stockholm, a valid Ukrainian passport or ID card is considered a ticket for all public transport in Stockholm, including the ferries. You can look up timetables on the website.
Vaxholm, with its pretty old town, is only about an hour’s ferry journey from Central Stockholm, and this is considered the easiest spot to reach for day-trippers from the city. Slightly further away is Grinda, where you can find beautiful nature and lots of swimming spots. And then there’s Gällnö, which is another, more isolated, and equally idyllic island; home to the archipelago’s smallest hotel, which has a grand total of one room.
Of course, pals, these are just a handful of the islands out of around 30,000 within the Stockholm archipelago. If you want to see a few spots in one day, or just want something a bit more relaxed, there are plenty of boat trips around the archipelago which also start in the city centre. This is a hugely popular two hour trip, if you’re short on time; it has great reviews and heads off from the main ferry terminal.
But for something a bit more glamorous, and way more personal, this Stockholm Archipelago Sailing Tour is an incredible way to see the islands of the archipelago. You’ll spend the day on board a yacht, with an experienced crew who will also provide you with a delicious Swedish lunch on board and include a stop on one of the islands for a dip in the sea. The boat sets sail from Vaxholm, so you’ll need to travel there first, but this is a really special way to spend a summer day in Stockholm.
Wander through Gamla Stan
Come rain or shine, winter or summer, you can’t visit Stockholm without wandering through the cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan. (That’s the old town to you and me.) Although to be completely frank, like most places in the world, I strongly believe that Gamla Stan is still better explored in summer.
This is considered the true heart of the city, and although it was founded in the 13th century, most of the earthy-toned buildings that line the streets and squares were built in the 1600s and 1700s. If you’re looking for photo opportunities, Stortorget is the name of the famous square surrounded by old merchants houses and the Stock Exchange building- but truly the best thing to do here is set off on foot and just have a good old fashioned wander. You never know what you might find along the way.
If you’d rather head out on a walking tour with a guide (I get it, you learn a lot more that way), here’s a popular guided walking tour of Gamla Stan. Or, go fully immersive and book yourself onto a guided walking tour with food– it’s a fantastic way to introduce yourself to Swedish food that you might not have thought to try otherwise.
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Discover Djurgården
Djurgården is one beautiful island, and it’s incredibly easy to access, whether by tram, taxi, on foot or via a scooter app. One of my favourite things to do in any and every city that I visit, is to seek out the green spaces and quieter areas, and although there are plenty of parks to pick from in Stockholm, Djurgården is top of my list. There is something for everyone here, and summer in Stockholm wouldn’t be the same without it.
The areas of Djurgården that attract the heaviest footfall are undoubtedly, the museums. The ABBA Museum is located here (right next to Gröna Lund), as is the outdoor Skansen Museum, as well as the Vasa Museum, which houses the fully intact 17th century Vasa warship. The museums are brilliant, but what I love the most about this island are the forests, gardens and meadows that spread over a lot of it.
The name Djurgården was given by King John III in 1579, when it was designated as a deer park (as well as elk and reindeer), and I can personally vouch for deer still being present there today- I’ve seen them with my own two eyeballs! A walk- or cycle- through these wild spots feels worlds away from the rest of the city, in fact it’s easy to forget you’re anywhere near a city at all. And Rosendals Trädgård is an incredibly pretty royal garden- with a great bakery onsite- which is now open to the public. Its roses are blooming beautiful.
See the Changing of the Guards
The Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of Stockholm, and unlike London’s Buckingham Palace- which sits quite far back from the crowds, behind an extremely high and fancy-looking fence- you can get as close to this palace as you like. No fence in sight. The gigantic baroque building houses royal offices and museums as well as being a place of residence, but if you love the pomp and circumstance of a parade, I recommend heading here to see the daily Changing of the Guard.
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Changing of the Guard during summer in Stockholm happens every day from April 23rd until August 31st, and it’s completely free to see. The Royal Guards and a military marching band leave either the Army Museum on foot or the Cavalry Barracks on horseback at 11:45am (from the Army Museum) and 11:35am (from the Cavalry Barracks), or one hour later on Sundays and public holidays, ending at the Royal Palace.
Check the route of the Changing of the Guards in Stockholm.
Enjoy an afternoon at a park
Stockholm is practically overflowing with stunning parks; even if you don’t go looking for one, you’re bound to stumble into one of them sooner or later. Aside from the obvious Djurgården, I’ve got a few favourites in town.
Ladugårdsgärdet, was a military training ground back in the 17th century. These days it’s a wide open space in a mostly residential part of Stockholm (although part of the area is dedicated to a series of museums); it’s very quiet and also houses a riding school. So keep your eyes peeled for ponies.
Vitarbergspaken– also known as Vita Bergen- is a great spot in south Södermalm (which is a bang on trend part of the city, I’ll tell you that for free.) The park has a great, slightly higher-up vantage point, giving brilliant views of the rest of Stockholm, and although it’s perfect for picnics (with lots of leafy, shady spots), there are also a few cute cafes and restaurants to be found in the area. Check out Kajsas i Parken for coffee, drinks or a bite to eat in a beautiful community atmosphere.
Finish the evening at a rooftop bar
Rooftop bars are all the rage, and there’s no shortage of rooftop spots in Stockholm- whether you’re looking for casual drinks, a party atmosphere or a bit of pool time.
Italian-inspired Basta is on located on the top floor of the Åhléns shopping mall in the city centre; they serve delicious food as well as there being a great cocktail and wine menu. The Nest is at the top of the Downtown Camper Hotel; and while the indoor Nest Cocktail Lounge is free, there’s a charge to use the outdoor area with its heated pool. And over at the Clarion Sign Hotel is the elegant Rooftop Garden Bar, which is full of foliage and has great views of the surrounding area. The roof terrace of the Clarion Sign is also home to a rooftop spa with another heated outdoor pool; keep your eyes on the schedule for pool parties with the resident DJ.
Stockholm in summer is truly a glorious place to be, and for me this is definitely one of my favourite European cities to explore during the warmer months of the year. The proximity to nature, along with beautiful architecture and a fairly relaxed pace, combine to make one beautiful setting to explore. (And if it does start to rain, there’s no shortage of museums to hide out in until it stops.)
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