I’ve had Stockholm on my list as a family-friendly destination for a few years now. Known for its easy and efficient transport system, excellent child-friendly attractions and welcoming locals, I’ve been desperate to visit the city for a few years now. I finally took the plunge the other week, booking a family city break with my 5 year old daughter.
And having recently returned from our 3-night break to Stockholm, I can safely say it is one of the best cities in the world for kids and adults alike. There are so many brilliant things to do in Stockholm with young kids; from ancient warships, an immersive story book museum, a metro system filled with art and endless playgrounds, Stockholm is by far, one of the best cities I’ve ever visited with my daughter.
Below, therefore, I’ve rounded up 13 of the best things to do in Stockholm with young kids. I promise, however, that these attractions are just as fun for adults too; meaning you also get to feel like you’ve been able to enjoy a city break that’s not all about soft play or playgrounds.
13 Best Things to do in Stockholm with Young Kids
1. Junibaken Children’s Museum
Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00
Entry price: 165SEK (adult) and 140SEK (child) – under 2’s go free
I was so excited to take Olive to Junibaken after hearing so much about this amazing, immersive story book museum in Stockholm. Junibaken is located on the island of Djurgården, where many other museums are located, such as Vasa Museum and the Viking Museum (more on those later).
This is a museum dedicated to story-telling, particularly from the country’s famous children’s author, Astrid Lindgren, who wrote Pippi Longstocking. There’s many immersive rooms (or story books) telling the story of Pippi and other story book characters but the main highlight is the whimsical train that takes you through the most detailed story land.
We were blown away by the level of detail on the train journey and highly recommend it for adults as well as kids. My only word of warning is the Swedish do like a dark story and the story told on the train is quite harrowing!
The Museum also has a huge kid’s bookshop and a lovely café to sit down in for some Fika afterwards. Olive absolutely loved the Junibaken Children’s Museum (as did I) and it felt like an incredibly wholesome way to spend a morning.
2. Skansen Open Air Museum
Opening hours: Skansen is open everyday of the year but hours vary dependent on season.
Entry price: 1 day tick – 240SEK (adults), children under 15 years go free.
Hands down, Skansen Open Air Museum is one of the best places in Stockholm to take kids (and adults). I absolutely loved Skansen and we spent the entire day here enjoying the huge variety of things to see and immerse yourself in.
Opened in 1891, Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum, bringing Swedish history to life through over 150 traditional buildings relocated from across the country, complete with costumed staff and hands-on demonstrations. I loved wandering through the old high street, popping in to buy some pottery, learning about spices in the Spice House and watching traditional glass blowing.
For families, it’s particularly brilliant thanks to its on-site zoo, where kids can see Nordic animals like moose, reindeer and lynx, as well as interactive play areas and seasonal activities (there was loads going on at Easter when we visited). If you’re happy to pay a further £38, there’s also an amazing lemur walk through, aquarium and reptile centre, where you can even touch a snake and a tarantula. My daughter loved this bit, so I’d recommend it if you have an animal lover in your family.
Set on the leafy island of Djurgården (also where Junibaken is) Skansen is an easy, engaging day out that keeps both adults and children happily occupied. My only advice is make sure you clear a full day for Skansen. We were there 10-4pm and I don’t think saw everything. If it’s not possible to visit for a full day but you could return within the year, I’d suggest buying an annual pass, which will work out cheaper.
Book your tickets for Skansen Open Air Museum
3. Vasa Museum
Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (longer hours in summer)
Ticket price: Adults (240SEK), children under 18 years go free.
Prepare to have your mind blow at Vasa Museum. Somehow, I had never heard of the infamous Vasa warship and left wondering how I hadn’t heard of its remarkable story earlier.
The museum is built around the incredibly well-preserved Vasa warship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged over 300 years later, with a mind-blowing 98% of the ship still intact. Seeing the enormous wooden ship up close is incredible, and the interactive exhibits, films and child-friendly displays help bring its story to life.
I was a bit worried that my 5-year old would be a little bit bored at the Vasa Museum but they actually have a brilliant kid’s trail, built around the tale of a little pig that was on the ship. This captivated my daughter and allowed us to see the whole museum whilst also keeping her entertained as she followed the pig’s adventures around the ship.
Book tickets to Vasa Museum with a guided tour
4. Metro art adventure
Riding on the metro/subway in Stockholm may not feel like a particularly fun thing to drag kids along to but bear with me.
Underneath the bustling streets of Stockholm lies the world’s longest art gallery in the form of the metro stops. Spanning over 100 stations, more than 90 of them feature artworks created by over 150 artists, turning everyday commutes into a cultural delight. My daughter LOVED jumping off the trains to see what treasures each new metro stop offered. The time between stops is really short so it makes it extra easy to travel with kids on the metro stops, with no long waits.
Our favourite stops were: T-Centralen, Stadion Station, Kungstradgarden, Odenplan and Morby Centrum.
We made our own DIY route of the metro stations, dependent on where we were heading each day but if you’d like to do a more formal tour, book onto a Stockholm Subway tour.
5. Stockholm Playgrounds
You might be thinking you’d rather do anything then set foot in a playground while on holiday but hear me out.
Stockholm’s playgrounds really are another level compared to the UK and a brilliant way to burn any final energy at the end of a day. If you were to ask Olive what her favourite thing was in Stockholm, she’d tell you the playgrounds and I’d have to agree – she had the best time in them.
There are playgrounds in most neighbourhoods but there are a few that are particularly popular:
- Vasaparkens parklek (the largest in the city)
- Mulle Meck-parken
- Kristinebergs slottspark
We visited Vasaparken parklek during the Easter holidays and couldn’t believe how much there was for kids to do. As well as a brilliant park, there were bikes and trucks to borrow, stilts and hoops to play with, a little hut with toilets and actual park staff to help run things, such as treasure hunts. There was music playing and even wooden sun loungers for adults to relax on. In the UK, you’re lucky if you can even find a park bench in a playground, so I was absolutely delighted.
So, if you’re looking a free activity to pass some time before dinner, head to a playground in Stockholm, they’ll blow you away.
If you plan on visiting multiple attractions in Stockholm, we recommend you get the Stockholm Pass. This pass gives you up to 50% off attractions, including the Vasa Museum.
6. ABBA Museum
Opening times: 10:00 – 16:00, extended to 20:00 in summer months.
Ticket prices: adult (249 – 329SEK dependent on season), children aged 7-15 years (100-120SEK), there are also family tickets available.
My daughter has a quirky taste in music for a 5-year old and one of her true loves is ABBA. It was a no brainer, therefore, that the first thing we did when we landed in Stockholm was head to the ABBA Museum.
ABBA The Museum is a hugely popular interactive attraction located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm (yes, also on this island!), dedicated to the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA (in case you hadn’t guessed).
Opened in 2013, the museum showcases the band’s history and global success through original stage costumes, gold records, instruments, and personal memorabilia. Visitors can explore exhibits that trace the journey of members Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid from their early lives to international stardom, including their famous 1974 Eurovision win with “Waterloo.”
What makes the museum especially unique is its interactive experience – guests can sing karaoke in private booths, dance with holograms of the band, and even “perform” as the fifth member of ABBA.
It was so much fun, both for my daughter and us, especially the karaoke booth that we did together. Just be warned, there is a souvenir shop at the end and it is pricey. I had to pay £11 for an ABBA keyring for my daughter’s book bag.
Book skip the queue ABBA Museum tickets
7. River Cruise/Archipelago Boat Tour
A great way to see the city, as well as entertain the kids, is to take a river cruise around the city’s islands while in Stockholm. It also saves on little legs getting tired (or your arms going numb if you end up having to carry your children).
There’s plenty of river cruises to choose from, lasting anywhere between 1 hour to 3-4 hours if you’d like to enjoy a lunch on board. Take a look at the best river cruises in Stockholm ahead of your visit, as they do book up very quickly.
While we were there, I saw the Oceanbus a number of times around the city, which is a bus tour, turned boat tour. It looked a lot of fun, especially for kids and is something that would definitely meet the needs of all family members.
Book a boat tour in Stockholm
8. Viking Museum
Opening hours: 11:00 – 17:00 weekdays, 10:00 – 17:00 on weekends.
Ticket prices: adults (199SEK), children 7 – 15 years (159SEK), family tickets are also available.
Next up on my list for the best things to do in Stockholm with young kids is the Viking Museum. We opted not to visit the Viking Museum as Olive is still only 5 and still struggles to understand past and present but give it a year or two and I think this museum would be perfect for her.
Instead of quiet galleries, the Viking Museum offers immersive exhibits, storytelling, and hands-on activities that bring the Viking age to life – from everyday family life to seafaring journeys.
A highlight – which I think Olive will love when she’s a bit older – is “Ragnfrid’s Saga,” a short ride that tells a dramatic Viking tale, along with opportunities to dress up and explore realistic settings.
Definitely one for the list if your kids are that little bit older.
Book tickets to the Viking Museum
9. Fika stops
An activity we can all get on board with in Stockholm is enjoying plenty of Fika stops.
Fika, is a daily ritual that’s much more than just a coffee break. Rooted in Swedish culture, fika is all about slowing down and enjoying time together over a warm drink and something sweet – think cinnamon buns, pastries or cookies.
Everyday at 11am, we’d find a cosy café to stop and pause, while enjoying a coffee (or babycino) and another sweet treat. My daughter got so into it, I was a bit worried how I’d wean her off her daily morning cake when we got home.
10. Tekniska Museum
One place you MUST visit when in Stockholm (with or without kids) is the incredibly Tekniska Museum.
Tekniska Museet is a brilliant choice for families, especially if your kids love to tinker, build, and figure out how things work (basically, all kids!) This isn’t a look-but-don’t-touch kind of place and most of the exhibits are fully interactive that encourage children to experiment, play, and explore everything from space and gaming to real-world inventions.
It really reminded me of the Science Museum in Valencia, which was equally immersive and exciting for small kids. Don’t miss the MegaMind area of the museum, that encourages kids to problem-solve in a creative way.
Book your tickets to Tekniska Museum
Pin for later: Best Things to do in Stockholm with Young Kids (2026)
11. Gröna Lund
Gröna Lund opening times for 2026 season: this amusement park is a summer seasonal park and is mostly open from May through to late summer. It does open occasionally for other special events, such as halloween.
Gröna Lund is Stockholm’s classic amusement park and a guaranteed hit with kids of all ages. Set right on the waterfront, the park opened in 1883 and squeezes a surprising number of rides into a compact space, including gentle carousels and funfair games for younger children to roller coasters for older ones.
I was gutted Gröna Lund hadn’t opened up yet for the season when we visited – we could clearly see its rollercoasters from other points around Stockholm and it looked like it would have been the perfect place to burn off some energy.
12. Panoramic views at Katarina Elevator
We stumbled across the Katarina Elevator by chance one evening and decided to quickly hop up the (free) elevator to the top of the view point. This is actually a very handy elevator that links the waterfront of the Slussen area with my favourite neighbourhood in Stockholm, Södermalm. It was originally constructed in the 1880s, to cut out the steep climb and acts as a busy passageway in the city.
13. Explore the Royal Palace
Opening times: 10:00 – 16:00 (longer hours in the summer)
Ticket prices:
Last on my list for the best things to do in Stockholm with young kids is the Royal Palace.
The Stockholm Royal Palace is a great stop if you’re exploring the city with kids and want something that feels a bit fancy without being too heavy or tiring for kids. It’s big, impressive, and full of interesting rooms that are easy for children to wander through without getting bored. The changing of the guard is a highlight (we watched this and LOVED it) -it’s lively, a bit theatrical, and gives little people something memorable to watch.
There are also small museum sections that tell stories about the palace’s past in a way that feels more like discovery than a history lesson, making it a relaxed but fun way to mix sightseeing with a bit of learning for younger kids.
Book tickets to the Royal Palace
Pin for later: Best Things to do in Stockholm with Young Kids (2026)