Stockholm is more than just the inner-city. There are plenty of day trips just outside of town, including many that are reachable by public transportation. Trains, buses, and ferries make it easy to get around, so you don’t always need a car to explore. Most destinations can be reached in under an hour, which means you can spend more time enjoying the sights and less time traveling.
Day Trips from Stockholm with Public Transportation
Vaxholm
The island of Vaxholm is only about an hour boat ride by Waxholmsbolagets boat traffic. If you take the bus, the trip is covered by your SL card. Sometimes it’s fun to take the boat there and then take the bus back to save money. The Vaxholm Ferry departs from Strömkajen next to Kungsträdgården and near Stockholm’s ‘Grand Hotel’. Tickets are sold on board.
Ulriksdal
Ulriksdal has many great outdoor activities. You can tour the castle or have afternoon tea, but the most popular thing to do is to visit Ulriksdals Trädgård. In the summer, you can pick your own vegetables, which is fun for both kids and adults. The gardens are huge and you pay by the weight of what you pick. There’s even an amazing giant hammock and a trampoline for the kids. However, you can enjoy the indoor garden cafe any time of year. Come for excellent desserts or have lunch in what is one of Stockholm’s best vegetarian cafés (the food is locally sourced from the gardens). The closest train station is Ulriksdal or take bus 503.
Bergianska Trädgården
During days when the weather is nice, Bergianska Trädgården is a lovely place to take a walk and have a snack at a cafe. Combine it with a day at the Natural History Museum, which is right across the highway. It’s free to wander the outdoors, and you can visit the indoor greenhouse for a fee. The closest tunnelbana station is Universitetet and the closest bus station is Frescati.
Vinterviken
Vinterviken is a lovely area near Gröndal with gardens, two cafes and access to kayaks and swimming when the weather is nice. One cafe is located near the gardens and the other one is inside Alfred Nobel’s old dynamite factory! So you get a little history along with your cinnamon bun. The cafe is open year round, which makes it a nice place to visit any time of year. If you like, you can also walk past the cafe down near the water to see Nobel’s old blasting tunnels. Closest subway station Aspudden, closest bus stop is Bus 133 Mörtviken.
Day Trips from Stockholm with Car: Under 1 Hour
Nyckelviken
Nyckelviken is a nature reserve in Nacka, just a short bus ride from central Stockholm, making it an easy escape to nature. The area combines forest trails, open meadows, and seaside views, with a small 18th-century manor at its heart. Families often visit for the petting farm and picnic spots, while walkers and runners enjoy the peaceful paths that wind through the reserve.
Artipelag
Part art gallery and part wooded trail, combined with an excellent cafe, Artipelag is great for a short day trip from Stockholm. The drive is only about 30 minutes outside of Stockholm, with glimpses of the Stockholm archipelago along the way. After filling up on some treats at the cafe, take a long walk around the area where many sculptures are placed along the paths. And between May and September, if you want to make an entire day of it, you can buy tickets to catch a relaxing one and a half hour boat ride with Strömma Kanalbolaget’s M/S Gustafsberg VII, which departs from Strandvägen in central Stockholm.
Hågelbyparken
Hågelbyparken is a beautiful park about a 30-minute drive southwest of Stockholm. It has everything for all ages – a cafe, playground, animals and gorgeous grounds to walk. It’s also possible to take bus 707 to Tumba Station from the tunnelbana station Fruängen, but be warned that the bus takes an hour to reach its destination and does not go so often.
Tyresö Castle
Tyresö Castle and its grounds is a wonderful place to visit, though currently, the castle is only available to tour during the Summer months. However, the area around the castle is a lovely place for a picnic or a walk. You can also venture further to the Alby or Tyresta National Park and Nature Reserve if you like to hike or camp. It’s a 30-minute drive south of Stockholm with a car, or take bus 805 from Gullmarsplan to Tyresö Brevik.
Gripsholm
The castle of Gripsholm is just about an hour’s drive west of Stockholm to the town of Mariestad. It’s an outstanding 16th century castle that you can tour for a reasonable price – and well worth it! Plus, the kids will enjoy the meme-famous badly taxidermied lion in one of the rooms inside. After touring the castle, make your way into town for adorable shops, restaurants and cafes. Besides driving, during the summer, you can also take a boat from Stockholm to the castle.
Skokloster Castle
This beautiful baroque castle can be reached by boat, car and bus. It’s possible to take a tour of the castle, eat at the cafe or just walk through grounds. Check their website for exhibitions and other activities and performances.
Sigtuna
The historical town of Sigtuna is over 1,000 years old and considered to be the oldest town in Sweden. Located between Arlanda airport and Stockholm, you can drive or take a bus from the Märsta train station. This little town is filled with wooden buildings housing cafes, restaurants and shops. There are also several old church ruins, as well as an intact 13th century church you can visit. If you happen to visit during December, come for the Christmas market open every Advent Sunday from 11:00 – 16:00.