Judarskogen and Hellasgården are the nature areas in Stockholm that work best with children under four: a path around a lake, benches to rest on and public transport all the way. Nackareservatet and Tyresta national park come later, once your child can manage a kilometre or two on their own legs. The rule of thumb is one kilometre per year of age, with breaks.
A Sunday in October, half past nine in the morning in a flat in Bromma. The three-year-old has already knocked over a cup, and you have four hours until nap time that need filling with something. The forest is ten minutes away. What decides whether it turns into a lovely morning is not the weather but how you plan the walk: short, with a goal, and with a break before your child asks for one.
Four areas for different ages
| Area | Suitable from | How to get there | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judarskogen, Bromma | 1 year in a carrier, walking from 2 | Metro (tunnelbana) to Åkeshov, then a short walk | Short loop around lake Judarn, easy to turn back |
| Hellasgården, Nacka | 2 years | Bus from Slussen | Café, swimming spot and lit trail, flat ground nearest the entrance |
| Nackareservatet | 4 years | Bus, or on foot from Hellasgården | Bigger forest, several lakes, trails that can be extended |
| Tyresta national park | 5 years | Bus to Tyresta by | Real old-growth forest, a visitor centre (naturum), marked trails of different lengths |
Judarskogen: the first forest
Judarskogen in Bromma is a small reserve around lake Judarn, close to the metro at Åkeshov. The path around the lake is short and clear, there are benches and rocks to sit on, and you can turn back at any point without having got lost. That makes it the perfect first forest for a child who has just learned to walk: twenty minutes on their own legs, then the carrier, then a packed lunch on a rock.
What makes Judarskogen good is precisely that it is small. You don't need to plan, you don't need a map, and you don't need to worry about getting back in time. It is a morning, not an expedition.
Hellasgården and Nackareservatet: when your child wants more
Hellasgården in Nacka is an outdoor recreation area with a café, a swimming spot and trails, at the entrance to Nackareservatet. Nearest the entrance the ground is flat and there are toilets, which makes it a good choice for families with both a baby in a pram and a four-year-old who wants to run. You can do a short loop by the lake or carry on into the reserve for as long as the energy lasts.
Nackareservatet is big, with several lakes and trails that can be made as long as you like. This is where we take children from around four, who can manage an hour on their own legs and enjoy finding the next trail marker. Bring a map or download one to your phone before you go in, because reception can't be relied on everywhere.
Tyresta: the real forest
Tyresta national park south of the city is genuine old-growth forest, with trails of several lengths starting at Tyresta by. There is a naturum (visitor centre) where children can look at exhibitions about the animals before you head out. We rarely bring children under five here, because the journey is longer and even the shortest trail is a fair distance. But for a six-year-old it is one of the best days Stockholm has to offer: ancient pines, rocky outcrops, maybe a capercaillie.
How far can a child walk?
- 1 to 2 years: walks a little way on their own, is carried the rest. Plan for the carrier the whole way and treat every step your child takes by themselves as a bonus.
- 2 to 3 years: one or two kilometres with several breaks, if the path is interesting. A smooth gravel track is boring; a path with roots and rocks is fun.
- 4 to 5 years: three to five kilometres with a packed lunch halfway and a goal: a lake, a rock, a barbecue spot.
- 6 and up: half a day in the forest is fine, if your child gets a say in the route and carries their own rucksack.
Children who are given a mission walk further. Look for animal tracks, count pine cones, find the next blue marker, decide where to take the break. It sounds simple, but it is the difference between a child who walks and a child who asks to be carried after two hundred metres.
Packing list for a short walk
- A packed lunch with something warm in a flask in autumn, and more water than you think in summer
- A sit mat, one per person, including for the one being carried
- Spare socks and a change of clothes: somebody always steps in a stream
- Waterproofs in the rucksack even when it is sunny
- Plasters and tweezers, for grazes and ticks
- A small bag for the things your child finds and wants to take home
- A carrier for children under three, even if they say they will walk by themselves
Ticks, adders and other things you actually should think about
Ticks are found across the whole Stockholm area from early spring to late autumn. Long trousers tucked into socks, light-coloured clothes so they show up, and a thorough check at home the same evening is what works. There are adders too, especially on sun-warmed rocks, but they are shy and rarely bite. Teach your child not to lift rocks and not to poke at snakes. Check current advice on tick bites and vaccination on 1177 (the national healthcare helpline).
How we do it with our families
Esther has a family in Bromma with a two-year-old and a four-year-old and takes them to Judarskogen most Wednesdays after förskola (municipal preschool). The loop is the same every time, because the children want it that way: the same rock to climb, the same jetty to throw sticks from. The two-year-old walks the first five hundred metres herself and is then carried; the four-year-old decides where they eat their snack. She writes on the note what they found, how far the two-year-old walked by herself and whether she spotted any ticks when changing them. The same nanny and the same forest every week means the children dare a little more each 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: Parks in Stockholm with great playgrounds · Outdoor games for kids · Day trips from Stockholm with kids · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which nature reserve suits a two-year-old?
Judarskogen in Bromma or Hellasgården in Nacka. Both have short, clear paths around a lake, can be reached by public transport and have benches to rest on. Your child walks a bit, is carried a bit, and you are home in time for the nap. Save Tyresta until your child can manage a proper trail.
How far can a child walk in the forest?
A rule of thumb that holds fairly well: as many kilometres as your child is years old, if the path is fun and you take breaks. So a three-year-old can manage around three kilometres with breaks, but a good day in the forest needn't be longer than one.
Do we need tick protection?
Yes, from spring to autumn. Long trousers tucked into socks, light-coloured clothes so ticks show up, and a careful tick check at home the same evening, especially along the hairline, behind the ears and in the groin. Check current advice on ticks and vaccination on 1177, and remove a tick straight away with tweezers when you find one.
Are we allowed to barbecue?
Usually at the designated barbecue spots, but there may be a fire ban in force. Check the website of länsstyrelsen (the county administrative board) or the municipality the same day. Bring a camping stove or just a cold packed lunch, so you don't depend on being allowed to light a fire. Children find eating outdoors just as exciting either way.
What do we do if our child doesn't want to walk?
Give your child a mission: find three pine cones, look for animal tracks, decide where the next break is. Children who lead walk further than children who follow. And set a limit on how much you will carry, so you don't promise something you can't manage.