16 Castles & Palaces in Stockholm
Stockholm is built on 14 islands and has one of Europe’s best preserved Medieval city centers. And Sweden’s rich history means that you can find many castles in Stockholm. Thanks to Sweden’s strong Royal history you will find many Royal Palaces and Castles in and around Stockholm. From the private residence of the current King Carl Gustav to a Royal Palace that hasn’t changed since the 18th-century.
This blog post will show you the castles and palaces in Stockholm that you can visit. The post is divided into: Royal Castles and Palaces in Stockholm, non-Royal Castles in Stockholm, and Castle Hotels in Stockholm.
Royal Castles and Palaces in Stockholm
The Royal Palace Stockholm
Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace is the official residence of the monarch of Sweden and is the setting for most of the monarchy’s official receptions. The Baroque Palace was built between 1697 and 1760 and was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger.
The palace is located in the Old Town of Stockholm called Gamla Stan and a popular tourist attraction. You can see the Royal Apartment and there are three museums steeped in regal history: the Treasury with the regalia, the Tre Kronor Museum that portrays the palaces medieval history and Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities. In the Summer months the Royal Chapel and the Riddarholmen Church are also open to visitors.
The Royal Palace Stockholm opening times: the palace is open daily though since it’s a working palace some rooms can be partially or completely closed. Visit the official website for the latest information and to book your ticket.
Address: Kungliga slottet, 107 70 Stockholm, Sweden
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. It is the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden and was originally built as a summer residence. The castle was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and over its 400 year life it has seen many renovations and extensions.
On the grounds stand also: the palace church, the palace theatre (which is still in use), and a Chinese pavilion. Surrounding the castle is a Baroque garden and an English landscape garden.
Drottningholm Palace opening times: the palace is open daily from April 9 until October and several days in November. In summertime you can take a boat trip from central Stockholm to Drottiningholm. Visit the website for more information.
Address: Drottningholm Palace, 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden
Ulriksdal Palace
Ulriksdal Palace is a Royal palace on the banks of the Edsviken 6km north of Stockholm. The Baroque-style palace was built in 1645 for Jacob De la Gardie and in 1669 it was purchased by Queen Hedvig Eleonora of Sweden. The interiors of Ulriksdal Palace span from the 1600s to the 1900s. Several Swedish regents also left their mark on the palace: Queen Kristina built a pleasure garden in front of the palace and Hedvig Elenora built an Orangery in the park.
Ulriksdal Palace opening times: the palace and the Orangery are open to the public during the summer months. At the Orangery an exhibition of Swedish sculpture from the Swedish National Museum’s collection can be viewed. Book your tickets on the website.
Address: Slottsallén, 170 79 Solna, Sweden
Haga Palace
Haga Palace in Stockholm is the official residence of Crown Princess Victoria and her family. The Italian-style palace was built between 1802 – 1805 and was mainly used as a summer residence for the Swedish Royal Family. King Carl Gustav and his siblings were born at Haga Palace.
Haga Palace is not open to the public, but the palace stands in Haga Park one of Stockholm’s most popular public parks. Haga Park is Sweden’s best example of an English landscape park. The style was inspired by ancient times, Italy and China, and is characterised by winding paths, arbours and magnificent trees. In the park are several Royal buildings that are open to visitors:
The Pavilion
Gustav III’s pavilion at Haga is a late 18th century palace building. Gustav III and Louis Masreliez had visited the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. And therefore the state room in the pavilions parade suite is decorated in Pompeian style.
Gustav III’s Pavilion opening times: the pavilion is open from June-August for guided tours. Visit the website for tickets and opening hours.
Haga Park Museum
Close to Gustav III’s Pavilion are The Copper Tents which house the Haga Park Museum. The middle tent is home to Haga Park Museum, which describes Haga’s history, people and buildings. The permanent exhibition also shows the development of the park. One of the tent’s houses a café.
Rosendal Palace (Rosendals Slott)
Rosendal Palace was a summer residence for the Swedish Royal family on Djurgården in Stockholm. The palace, built in the 1820s for King Carl XIV Johan (the first Bernadotte King), is a unique building in Swedish Empire style, also known as the Karl Johan style.
Rosendal Palace opening times: the palace is open for guided tours in English and Swedish from June-August; Tuesday-Sunday. Book your ticket on the official website.
Address: Rosendalsvägen 49, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Rosersberg Palace
Just north of Stockholm stands the Royal Rosersberg Palace. The palace was built in the 1630s by the Oxenstierna family and in 1762 it became a Royal Palace. King Karl XIV Johan and Queen Desideria often spend their summers at Rosersberg Palace.
The palace is unique for its interiors remain almost untouched from the 1795-1825 period, with well-preserved interiors and collections. Rosersberg become the missing link between the Gustavian era and the first of the Bernadottes. Surrounding the palace is a large park with Lake Mälaren close by.
The estate includes the Rosersbergs Slottshotell with 64 hotel rooms.
Rosersberg Palace opening times: the palace is open May-September, only by guided tour (in Swedish and English). Visit the website for more information.
Address: Slottsvägen 203, 195 95 Rosersberg, Sweden
Travel a little further and you’ll find even more Swedish castles:
- Castles around Lake Mälaren (just west of Stockholm)
- The Best Historic Castles near Uppsala (just north of Stockholm)
Non-Royal Castles in Stockholm
Tyresö Palace (Tyresö Slott)
Tyresö Palace is a 17th century palace, 25km south-east of central Stockholm. During the 1770s the palace got the first English garden in Sweden. The garden is a mixture of an English park, a Swedish floral meadow and images from a fairy tale. In 1892 the palace was acquired by Marquis Claes Lagergren, who rebuilt the palace in national romantic style. After his death, the palace was preserved and now still looks like it did in the early 1900s. Tyresö Palace is now owned by the Nordic Musuem.
Tyresö Palace opening times: the palace is open May-Septemer on Saturday & Sunday (advance purchase only). The park is open all year round. Visit the website to book your ticket.
Address: Tyresö slottsväg, 135 60 Tyresö, Sweden
Skånelaholm Castle (Skånelaholms Slott)
Skånelaholm’s castle was built between 1639–1643 in Dutch-German Renaissance-style. The castle has beautiful preserved interiors such as a Rococo drawing room and Empire-style furniture. The castle houses furniture, art, books and a large number of folk objects collected by the Rettig family, who were the last owners. Surrounding the castle is a park in English landscape style.
Skånelaholm Castle opening times: the castle is open May-September by guided tours, visit the website for more information. The park is open all year round.
Address: Skånelaholm 121, 195 96 Rosersberg, Sweden
Sturehov Manor (Sturehov Slott)
The main building of Sturehov Manor sates back to the 18th century, but some other buildings are older and date back to the 17th century, The manor house is one of the best preserved manor houses from the reign of Gustav III. The interiors of Sturehov Slott range from Rococo to Neoclassicism.
Sturehov Manor opening times: the castle can be visited by guided tour, visit the website to book your tour. There is also a restaurant and shop.
Address: Sturehovs Slott, 145 90 Norsborg, Sweden
Bogesund Castle (Bogesunds Slott)
Bogesund Castle is a castle in the Östra Ryds Parish built in the 1640s. The castle was rebuilt several times and got its Medieval Romantic appearance with towers and Gothic windows in the 1860s. The interiors range from the 17th to the 19th century and have unique wallpapers.
Bogesund Castle opening times: the castle is open to visitors June-September by guided tour. Visit the website for more information.
Address: Per Brahes väg, 185 93 Vaxholm, Sweden
Ekebyhov Castle (Ekebyhovs Slott)
Ekebyhov is a manor house in Ekerö that dates back to 1670. The manor house is built in Carolingian-style, which is a typical Swedish style in architecture, design, and painting during the High and Late Baroque time. It is Sweden’s largest preserved wooden castles and the interiors showcase styles from four centuries. Today, the castle is an event center that also houses a restaurant.
Ekebyhov Castle opening times: Visit the website for the restaurant opening times and to see the events held at the castle.
Address: Björkuddsvägen 107, 178 34 Ekerö, Sweden
Erstavik
Erstavik is a castle-like manor house in the Nacka parish of Stockholm. The main building was built in 1765 though an older building has been preserved and was converted into a chapel. The manor house has Rococo and Gustavian style. The manor house is not open to the public, but the manor is located in a large nature area with swimming areas, hiking trails, and nature reserves. It’s a large and relatively untouched natural area and cultural landscape close to Stockholm.
Address: Erstavik 1, 133 48 Saltsjöbaden, Sweden
Castle Hotels in Stockholm
Some historic castles in Stockholm have been converted into castle hotels.
Ulfsunda Slott
Ulfsunda Castle is a 17th-century castle in the Bromma parish in Stockholm (just 15 minutes from the city). The Empire-style building you see today comes from a renovation in 1835. In the late 19th/early 20th century the future Prime Minister of Sweden, Gustaf Åkerhielm, lived at the castle.
Today, the castle is a unique four star hotel surrounded by a beautiful garden and close to Lake Mälaren. Book your stay here.
Näsby Slott
The history of Näsby Slott goes back to the 13th-century and in the 14th century the castle belonged to the Archbishopric of Uppsala. In 1665 a new castle was built after a design by Ticodemus Tessin. This building was burnt to the ground in 1897, but with the help of the original plans was the castle rebuilt. In this period the Orangery, Gallery, and Winter Garden were also built. Today, the castle is an art-filled hotel. Book your stay here.
Häringe Castle (Häringe Slott)
Häringe Slott is a castle about 35km south of central Stockholm. The castle was built in 1657, and in the 18th century got its Carolingian-style exterior. but it’s not until the 20th century – when industrialist Axel Wenner-Gren and his wife Marguerite Wenner-Gren owned the castle – that it got its artistic interiors you can still see today. This includes a “Gothic Room” made out of wooden panels that were smuggled to Sweden from Mary, The Queen of Scots’ castle in Scotland. Book your stay at Häringe Castle.
Engsholm Castle (Engsholms Slott)
The history of Engsholm dates back to the 14th century. But the current manor house was not built until 1916. The manor is built in a combination of National Romanticism and Dutch Renaissance style. Today, Engsholms Slott is a hotel. Book your stay here.
