10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Stockholm

Skansen is a living history museum, showcasing how Swede's once lived. You can tour the farmsteads and craft shops, eat traditional food, and pet the animals. Built over 300,000 sq m, Skansen is a full-scale replica of an ancient town. You can even buy some of the crafts produced here.

Throughout the year, Skansen celebrates seasonal occasions like Midsummer, Harvest time, and New Year's Eve, following the folk traditions of yesteryear. It's a fascinating way to get a glimpse of Sweden's ancient culture.

Gröna Lund is a vintage theme park with surprisingly fast and thrilling rides. Located on Djurgården island, the park has more than 30 rides, ranging from bumper cars to vertical freefall rollercoasters. If you like a fright, the walk-through haunted house is terrifying – you’ve been warned!

Teens will love Gröna Lund amusement park while kids under 6 are allowed in for free. Gröna Lund is also a popular live music venue, with the many of the world's finest musicians performing throughout the summer months. Check their website for details.

Stockholm has several beaches in the city centre, all of which are packed in the peak summer months. For families, Tanto strandbad is a popular swimming spot. The prime sandy spots are filled quickly, but people set up on the rocky coastline or on the grassland behind. It's suitable for the disabled and has public showers. Located on Södermalm island, you can spend the whole day here, enjoying the beach before heading to nearby Tantolunden Park to play on the playground or have a round of mini golf.

Åhléns is a popular department store in Sweden, with a handful of branches in Stockholm alone. Åhléns City is the flagship store and the most convenient for visitors. It’s connected to T-Centralen station and is packed most days. For families, this 4-storey store is a gem. All the restaurants and coffee shops in the mall are kid-friendly, so it’s a quick and easy choice as meal times. There is also a well-equipped family room on the top floor. The entire children’s section has been designed for the little ones, with bright colours, kooky furniture, and interactive features.

Stockholms Spelmuseum is a small but fun museum dedicated to the history of games consoles. It displays old computers from Nintendo and Atari, and lets you play fun games from the past. A highlight of the museum is the range 1980s arcade games like Pac Man and Space Invaders. Bringing things firmly into the 21st century, a VR station allows you to see how the gaming industry has progressed over the last few decades. Stockholms Spelmuseum is a private museum and clearly a labour of love for the owners. Kids under 5 get in free.

The Royal Armoury, Livrustkammaren, is Sweden’s oldest museum. It first opened in the 1600s as a place for the king to display his armour and it grew from there. Some of the pieces on display are blood splattered and show signs of battle, which only adds to the authenticity. There’s even a tour specially designed for children, explaining famous tales of princesses and knights with costumes, games and treats. It’s located in the basement of the Royal Palace and is free to enter.

The Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology has plenty for children to do. Indeed, most of the exhibits are tailored for youngsters. Highlights include MegaMind, which allows you to do cool experiments like paint using only your eyesight onto a digital screen and make music by moving your body. These are just 2 of the many hands-on exhibits available. Other sections of the museum include an epic model railway from the 1950s and a replica mine that shows how labourers used to work with technology underground.

This children's attraction focuses on bringing famous Swedish literary characters to life. You can play in Pippi Longstocking's house, ride the Story Train, and watch live theatre adapted from children's storybooks. Although Junibacken is quite small, kids aged 4- to 8-years-old will be delighted. Entry prices depend on age, starting from around 150 kr. Kids under 2 are allowed in for free.

Located on Djurgården island, the museum is surrounded by loads of other family friendly attractions, so you could choose to spend the whole day in the area.

Eriksdalsbadet is a large swimming baths with indoor and outdoor pools, 2 fun slides, a separate paddling pool for toddlers, and hot pools. There’s enough space for people who want to play in the water without disturbing those who want to swim laps. Taking a dip in the outdoor heated pool in mid-winter is a wonderful experience. Other facilities include a gym and a sauna. It’s located in the south of Sodermalm, close to Metro and tram stops. This a popular spot throughout the year, especially with families.

The Culture House, Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, is a huge complex that promotes a variety of arts, including theatre, dance, film, music, literature, and debate. The design of the building is a great example of Nordic architecture, and with 8 separate stages, you’ll find plenty of interesting shows running throughout the year. Family friendly performances might be in Swedish or English. Head up to the top floor for a nice view over central Stockholm.