Stockholm has more good playgrounds than any city we know of, and the best are rarely the most expensive. Here are twelve parks with playgrounds that work on an ordinary afternoon, with a parklek (a staffed playground) where there is one, water play in summer and grass to run on. Sorted by district and the age they suit best.
The playground three blocks away is the one you go to most often, and so it should be. But on a Saturday when you want something different, there are parks in Stockholm built for children to stay in for three hours. These are the ones our nannies take the children to, and what makes each park worth the trip.
Saturday morning in September, Hornstull. A four-year-old and a seven-year-old, a mum, and the playground in the courtyard that all three know by heart. Those are the days this list is for: when you want to go somewhere the children will stay for three hours and you get to drink your coffee while it is still hot.
The city centre
- Rålambshovsparken, Kungsholmen. A staffed parklek, a big playground, a paddling pool in summer, swimming at Smedsudden and grass for the whole class. The most complete park in town. All ages.
- Bryggartäppan, Södermalm. A playground built as a 19th-century neighbourhood: houses, alleys, a child-sized tavern. Children play here for hours without an adult needing to do anything. Ages 2 to 8.
- Tantolunden, Södermalm. A parklek, big slopes for sledging in winter, allotment gardens to look at and swimming at Tanto. All ages.
- Vasaparken, Vasastan. A big playground, water play in summer, an ice rink in winter and grass in the middle of town. Ages 2 to 10.
- Humlegården, Östermalm. A big classic playground under the trees, close to Stadsbiblioteket (the city library) and Kungliga biblioteket (the National Library) for rain breaks. Ages 2 to 9.
- Kristinebergs slottspark, Kungsholmen. Calmer than Rålis, hilly, with a playground that suits the little ones and paths to run on. Ages 1 to 6.
South and east of the centre
- Anders Franzéns park, Hammarby sjöstad. The pirate park: a ship, jetties, a lighthouse and water play in summer. The best place for four- to nine-year-olds who want to climb.
- Stora Blecktornsparken, Södermalm. A parklek with animals, a playground and a small farmyard. Children under six adore the rabbits. Ages 1 to 7.
North and west of the centre
- Hagaparken, Solna. A playground, enormous lawns, Fjärilshuset (the butterfly house) and Brunnsviken. A whole day with a packed lunch. All ages.
- Mulle Meck-parken, Solna. A playground built after the Mulle Meck children's books, with cars, aeroplanes and workshops to climb in. Worth the journey. Ages 2 to 8.
- Marabouparken, Sundbyberg. An art gallery with a park, a playground and a café. Calm, beautiful and close to the pendeltåg (commuter train). Ages 1 to 7.
- Görvälns naturreservat, Järfälla. Not a playground, but forest, swimming in Mälaren, paths and a manor house to look at. For families who want nature without travelling far. Ages 3 and up.
The parklekar
The City of Stockholm runs staffed parklekar in most districts. The staff lend out bikes, balls, sledges and toys, run singing sessions and crafts, and keep an eye on things. They are free, and the hours vary between parklekar, so check the current times on the city's website. Search for parklek and your district to find your nearest. For a parent alone with a child on a Saturday in November, the parklek is the best thing Stockholm has.
By age
| Age | Best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 years | Kristinebergs slottspark, Marabouparken, Stora Blecktornsparken | Small, fenced, a sandpit and animals |
| 3 to 5 years | Bryggartäppan, Mulle Meck, Rålambshovsparken | Play with a story, room to run |
| 6 to 9 years | Anders Franzéns park, Vasaparken, Tantolunden | Climbing, water play, sledging |
| 10 and up | Rålis, Hagaparken, Görväln | Skating, swimming, forest, friends |
Season by season
| Season | Best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, March to May | Humlegården, Vasaparken, Kristinebergs slottspark | Dry out early, close to a café and a library when it rains |
| Summer | Anders Franzéns park, Rålambshovsparken, Hagaparken, Görväln | Water play, swimming, grass and a packed lunch |
| Autumn | Tantolunden, Marabouparken, Bryggartäppan | Leaves, hilly, playgrounds that work in the wet |
| Winter | Tantolunden, Vasaparken, Hagaparken | Sledging slopes, ice on flooded pitches, snow to build with |
Winter's best slopes and ice rinks have guides of their own: Sledging hills in Stockholm and Ice skating with children in Stockholm. Summer swimming is in Beaches for kids in Stockholm.
What to pack for three hours
- Spare trousers and socks, always, whatever the season
- A packed lunch: sandwiches, fruit, water, nothing that melts
- Waterproof trousers even in sunshine, for the paddling pool and the sandpit
- Sun cream from May to August
- Plasters and wet wipes
- A ball and a bucket: what makes an unfamiliar playground familiar in five minutes
- No scooters on the tunnelbana (metro) at rush hour
Three more that nearly made it
- Långholmen, Södermalm. Swimming, grass and a playground, a full day in summer with barbecue spots.
- Vinterviken, Hägersten. Grass running down to the water, swimming and calm, for families who want space without crowds.
- Lill-Jansskogen, Östermalm. Forest in the middle of town, dens and paths, for children who want to climb on something other than climbing frames. More forests in Nature reserves in Stockholm with kids.
Safety: what the nanny checks first
- Where the exits onto the street are, and whether the playground is fenced
- Paddling pool and water: an adult within arm's reach of children under five, the whole time
- The swings: where not to walk, and who is swinging
- Sand in mouths, dogs and bikes on the paths
- A meeting point in case someone gets lost, for children from five: "by the big swing"
Getting there
Almost all the parks are close to the tunnelbana, pendeltåg or tvärbana (the light rail), and for a four-year-old the journey is often part of the outing. With a pram, choose stations with a lift and avoid rush hour. Our guide to Taking SL with a pram has the details, and Things to do with kids in Stockholm has more destinations when the park isn't enough.
How we do it with our families
Sanna has a family on Kungsholmen with a three-year-old and a five-year-old. The everyday playground is the courtyard and the park two blocks away, and that is as it should be: you can get there in twenty minutes without planning. But on the first Thursday of the month she takes the tunnelbana to Bryggartäppan with a packed lunch and a ball. The children talk about it all week beforehand. By three they are there, she sits on the bench by the 19th-century tavern where she can see both of them, and they play for two hours without her having to do anything but hand out sandwiches. Home at half past five, tired in the right way. Once last spring it rained: then it was Stadsbiblioteket instead, with the same packed lunch. The nanny has her playground in every area she works in, and it is usually the nearest one, not the finest. The outing once a month is what makes the ordinary playground bearable, and what the child talks about until the next time.
Our nannies are out and about with children in Stockholm every week: parks, libraries, swimming pools and playgrounds. Would you like someone to take the afternoons? Book a free first meeting with the nanny at your home.
Read more: Things to do with kids in Stockholm · Outdoor games for kids · Beaches for kids in Stockholm · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best playground in Stockholm?
It depends on age. For small children, Bryggartäppan on Södermalm and the parklek in Rålambshovsparken. For older children, Anders Franzéns park in Hammarby sjöstad and Mulle Meck-parken in Solna. For everyone: the one that is closest, because that is where you go most often, and that is where your child gets to know the playground so well that they play without you.
What is a parklek?
A staffed playground that the City of Stockholm runs in most districts. The staff lend out bikes, sledges, balls and toys, run singing sessions and crafts, and keep an eye on things. It is free. The hours vary between parklekar, so check the current times on the city's website before you go. Search for parklek and your district.
Are there playgrounds with water play?
Yes, several have paddling pools or water play in summer: Anders Franzéns park, Vasaparken, Rålambshovsparken and many parklekar. The season is set by the city and depends on the weather, so check the current times on the city's website. Bring spare clothes and a towel, and stay within arm's reach of children under five near the water.
Where can you barbecue with kids in Stockholm?
Hagaparken, Rålambshovsparken, Tantolunden and Långholmen have barbecue spots. Bring your own disposable barbecue and charcoal, a bottle of water to put it out with, and check for fire bans in summer before you go. Barbecue early, at four, so the children get to eat before they are tired, and keep the littlest ones on the far side of the blanket from the barbecue.
Which parks work with a pram and younger siblings?
Rålambshovsparken, Humlegården, Vasaparken and Marabouparken have level paths, benches near the playground and room to park the pram where you can see both the one playing and the one sleeping. Kristinebergs slottspark and Stora Blecktornsparken are small enough to keep an eye on two children at once. Görväln and Tantolunden are hilly and harder going with a pram.