Ten destinations you can reach within about an hour of central Stockholm without a car: Fjäderholmarna, Vaxholm, Hellasgården, Judarskogen, Hagaparken, Tyresta national park, Tom Tits in Södertälje, Skansen, Tekniska museet (the National Museum of Science and Technology) and Naturhistoriska riksmuseet (the Swedish Museum of Natural History). With children under four, pick the close and short ones. From age five, your child can manage the journey to Tyresta and Tom Tits.
Saturday morning, eight o'clock, a flat in Hägersten. The four-year-old wants to do something, the one-year-old needs a nap at twelve, and you have a day but no car. What you need is a destination you can reach with SL (Stockholm's public transport) within an hour, with room to run and that you can leave when the energy runs out. Here are ten of them, with our view of which age they suit.
Ten destinations, sorted by how far away they are
| Destination | Suits from | How to get there | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagaparken | Babies | Bus or metro to Solna, then a walk | All seasons, picnic in summer |
| Skansen | 1 year | Tram or ferry to Djurgården | Year round, but come early |
| Tekniska museet | 3 years | Bus to Museiparken on Djurgården | Rain and cold |
| Naturhistoriska riksmuseet | 2 years | Metro to Universitetet | Rain and cold |
| Judarskogen | 1 year in a carrier | Metro to Åkeshov | Autumn and spring |
| Hellasgården | 2 years | Bus from Slussen | Summer for swimming, winter for sledging and skating |
| Fjäderholmarna | Babies | Boat from the city centre, check Waxholmsbolaget | Summer, dry weather |
| Vaxholm | Babies | Bus from Tekniska högskolan or boat | Summer and early autumn |
| Tyresta national park | 5 years | Bus to Tyresta by | Autumn, spring and dry summer days |
| Tom Tits in Södertälje | 4 years | Commuter train to Södertälje, then a walk | Rain, cold, a whole day |
Close by: Hagaparken, Skansen and the museums
Hagaparken in Solna is the easiest outing there is: big lawns, water, a playground and room for a blanket in the shade. It works with a baby in a pram and a four-year-old who wants to run, and you can be home in twenty minutes when nap time approaches. Skansen is a full day from age one: the animals, the houses and the slopes keep children busy for a long time. Tekniska museet and Naturhistoriska riksmuseet are the rainy-day choices, and they fill up by lunchtime at weekends, so arrive for opening. See our guide to Museums for children in Stockholm.
The forest: Judarskogen, Hellasgården and Tyresta
Judarskogen in Bromma is small, close to the metro and perfect for a child who has just learned to walk. Hellasgården in Nacka has a café, swimming, trails and the Nacka nature reserve behind it, and works from age two all year round. Tyresta national park is ancient forest with trails of several lengths and a visitor centre at the village. The journey there is longer and even the shortest trail is a fair walk, so we save it for children from five. See our guide to Nature reserves in Stockholm with kids for how far children can manage.
The water: Fjäderholmarna and Vaxholm
Fjäderholmarna is the nearest archipelago island, with a short boat trip, rocks and paths that can take a pram. Three hours is about right with small children. Vaxholm is a town on an island, with pavements, cafés and a playground, and you can go there by bus and home by boat. Both work from babyhood, and both are quick to leave if the weather turns. See our guide to The Stockholm archipelago with children.
A whole day: Tom Tits in Södertälje
Tom Tits is a big hands-on science centre with things to touch, climb and try, indoors and outdoors. It is a full day, and the commuter train takes a while, so it suits children from about four who can manage both the journey and everything there is to do. Go early, have lunch there or bring a packed lunch, and expect a child who falls asleep on the train home. Check current opening hours and the rules on bringing your own food on their website.
Which outing on which day?
- Sun and warmth: Fjäderholmarna, Hellasgården for a swim, Hagaparken with a blanket.
- Dry and cool: Judarskogen, Tyresta, Vaxholm, Skansen.
- Rain: Tom Tits, Tekniska museet, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet.
- One child under two and one over four: Hagaparken, Hellasgården, Skansen. Places where one can sleep in the pram while the other runs.
- Children who love boats: Fjäderholmarna one day and Vaxholm another.
- Children who love climbing: Tom Tits, Tekniska museet, the rocks on Fjäderholmarna.
The packing list and the timetable
- A packed lunch with more water than you think, sandwiches, fruit and something your child gets to choose. Hunger is the cause of most meltdowns. See Packed lunch for children.
- A change of clothes and rain gear, even on a sunny day. Someone always steps in water.
- Sit mats, plasters, sun cream, wet wipes in a small bag that always lives in the rucksack.
- The journey looked up on sl.se before you leave, with a backup option if the bus is full.
- The journey home decided in advance. Tell your child the time and stick to it, even when it is fun. That is how the next outing becomes possible.
And do not plan more than two outings a week during a school holiday. The days in between are for the park, friends and nothing at all. Children who get to rest can manage the outings. Children who go somewhere every day get tired of everything.
How we do it with our families
Sanna has a family in Hägersten with a four-year-old and a one-year-old, and on summer weekdays she is the one who takes the outings while the parents work. She chooses the destination around the one-year-old's nap: Hagaparken when the little one can sleep in the pram on the grass, Fjäderholmarna on the days she can catch the early boat and be home by one. The four-year-old gets to choose between two options in the morning. The note says where they went, what they ate and how long the one-year-old slept, so the evening can be planned. The parents save the big outings, like Tom Tits, for the weekends when they are there themselves.
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 in your home.
Read more: The Stockholm archipelago with children · Nature reserves in Stockholm with kids · Museums for children in Stockholm · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which outing is best with a two-year-old?
Hellasgården, Fjäderholmarna or Hagaparken: a short journey, room to run, benches to eat on and easy to get home from when the energy runs out. Save Tom Tits and Tyresta until your child is four or five and can manage both the journey and the place.
How far away is reasonable?
About an hour from home, including the walk to the stop. Longer journeys eat up half the day and give you a child who is tired before you arrive. All ten destinations here can be reached by public transport within about an hour of central Stockholm, but check the journey on sl.se before you set off.
What do we pack for a day trip?
More food and water than you think, a change of clothes, rain gear, sit mats, plasters and something your child gets to choose for the bag. Nappies and wet wipes in their own bag. And a charged phone with the journey looked up, because reception is not always reliable in the forest.
How many outings a week during the school holidays?
Two, with quiet days in between. Children who go on an outing every day do not get happier, they get more tired. And an outing that ends in tears makes the next one harder to pull off. Let your child help choose one of the destinations.
Do we need a car?
No, not for any of the destinations here. All of them can be reached by bus, metro, commuter train or boat. A car gives you freedom with a sleeping child and a picnic in the boot, but parking at popular destinations on a sunny weekend takes longer than the journey there.