The Best Stockholm with Kids Itinerary

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Are you planning a trip to Stockholm with kids and wondering what to do in Stockholm with kids? You’re in luck, we have been multiple times and it’s one of our favorite European cities to visit with kids. Stockholm is a great city to visit with kids! The city is known for being family-friendly, with many activities and attractions that are suitable for children of all ages. Stockholm is home to numerous museums, parks, playgrounds, and other family-friendly destinations. In addition, the public transportation system in Stockholm is efficient and easy to navigate, making it easy to get around the city with kids.

With its charming streets, picturesque canals, and beautiful parks, Stockholm offers a unique and memorable experience for families traveling with kids. From the most amazing playgrounds in the world to fun museums and a charming old town, Stockholm is a great city to visit with kids. Here are some of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids.

Things to note when traveling to Stockholm with kids

-Almost all of the museums and attractions had designated stroller parking outside (Junibacken too) and no strollers allowed inside. Keep this in mind if you are counting on keeping a small baby inside of a stroller. Bring a carrier!  Some have museum strollers you have to switch to and if that is the case, no carriers or personal strollers will be allowed.
-The sidewalks here are mostly fine, however many places have dirt paths instead of paved sidewalks.  Skansen was this way and it would be really hard to push a stroller with small wheels there.
-There are playgrounds everywhere! Just look around and you will find one. Stockholm has some of the best playgrounds in the world, make sure you stop and play for a bit!
-You can find diapers, baby food and pretty much everything else once here. No need to pack it all.
-Sweden is trying to become a cashless economy, I remember reading an article about it shortly before we went.  Many of the restaurants we went to had signs that they are cashless and only credit cards are accepted. This was the first time on our travels that we didn’t pull out any money from the ATM and used credit cards the entire time, even for small purchases at convenience stores. This was awesome since I love racking up cc points and my Chase Sapphire Reserve  (no foreign transaction fees!) was used the entire time with zero cash exchanged during our entire time there.

How to get to Stockholm

The best way to get to Stockholm will be to fly into Arlanda (ARN) airport. This airport has a train that will take you to the city center in under 20 minutes. While there are 3 other airports in Stockholm, they are not as convenient as Arlanda. We have flown here 3 times now, once from the USA (LAX) and then twice while already in another European city and highly recommend this efficient airport.

There are multiple play areas in the airport and they have free strollers for you to use while at the airport, making it one of the most family friendly airports in Europe.

If you are traveling from another European city, check train schedules. The main train station in Stockholm, Central Station, is well connected to other European cities so if taking a train is your preferred method of travel, be sure to check out schedules.

Where to stay in Stockholm with kids

If you’re looking for a family friendly hotel in Stockholm, you’re in lock as there are many! We are creatures of habits and fell in love with the Hilton Stockholm Slussen on our first trip and ended up staying there on our next trip as well. This is one of the best family friendly hotels in Stockholm, a very short walk to the train and just over the bridge to Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. The downside? The rooms are small and we only stayed here when it was a mom/daughter trip.

When we visited as a family in 2023, we needed a hotel that allowed 3 people in a room (the Hilton was only coming up for 2), so we stayed on the other side of Gamla Stan, at the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. We actually liked this location more. The walk to Gamla Stan took around 10 minutes but there were also lots of other neighborhoods we can walk to from here, including a pedestrian only area just a block away. And, it’s a 5 minute walk from Central Station, making it super convenient if you’re arriving by Arlanda Express.

We have also, in the past, stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Kungsholmen, which was in a more local neighborhood. This hotel is directly across the street from Rålambshovsparken, our favorite playground in the city. We visited it every night we were here, such a fun place to play!  And it’s down the street from 2 major train stations, making it super convenient to get pretty much anywhere in the city. Unlike in the US, Courtyards overseas are phenomenal. Their breakfast buffets are awesome (and free for elite members) and many have lounges as well.  

Getting around Stockholm with kids

There are many ways to get around Stockholm with kids, the most popular and easiest is by using their excellent public transportation system. We used trains and trams throughout our entire stay and it was great. The train system is very easy to figure out, making it one of the best ways to get around Stockholm with kids. And the best part? Kids under 7 travel for free when accompanied by an adult so if you have young kids, this is going to be the most cost effective option for getting around Stockholm.

The first train you will take is the Arlanda Express from the airport, which will take you right into Central Station in just under 20 minutes.

Another option is to take taxis or Uber. Uber drivers in Sweden have to be certified as taxi drivers, so the fares are fairly similar.  The only advantage is if you need a car in an area without cabs, you can always get an Uber to pick you up.  The taxis have built in booster seats for kids and will not transport kids too young for these boosters without a car seat, something to keep in mind if traveling with infants or toddlers!  Since we didn’t have our own booster, we used taxis whenever trains weren’t feasible and my daughter was able to use the built in booster.

Things to do in Stockholm with kids

As I mentioned before, Stockholm is one of the best cities to visit with kids. We have visited multiple times, when our daughter was 6, 8 and 11 and had a blast each time. Stockholm is a fantastic destination for families with kids, and there are plenty of activities and attractions to keep everyone entertained. Here are some of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids.

Visit some local playgrounds

Now you may be thinking, why would I waste time visiting a playground when we have them at home? Let me tell you, Stockholm has some of the best playgrounds in the world! And, many are geared towards older kids unlike the ones we have in the US where once they reach the age of 7, they are too old to play. We visited multiple playgrounds on our trip to Stockholm and here are the best playgrounds in Stockholm.

Rålambshovsparken

If you only visit one playground in Stockholm, make it this one! This is the best playground in Stockholm. This playground is amazing, with a mud kitchen, awesome zip line, many climbing structures, a wall with riddles for kids to solve and so much more. It’s really such a fun playground experience without the typical boring structures we are used to seeing in the US.

Uggleparken

Near a train station, this Stockholm playground features some really unique climbing structures. You will first spot the giant owl, which houses some slides. Kids can climb the giant flowers and some other fun, unique structures that we haven’t seen elsewhere.

Bryggartäppan

While I wouldn’t make a special trip to this playground, definitely pop in if you happen to be walking by, which is exactly what we did. This is one of the few Stockholm playgrounds that’s better for the younger crowd.

Aspuddsparken

In many European cities, playgrounds are combined with little petting farms. Aspuddsparken was one of these and totally worth a visit! They have bunnies, chickens roaming around, ponies (which you can ride on certain days), sheep, etc. as well as a really awesome playground and some woods to explore/play hide and go seek in.  The playground had similar trampolines to the ones we found in the sidewalks in Copenhagen, though Milana said they weren’t as nice because they weren’t as bouncy. This was one of the best playgrounds in Stockholm and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Humlegården

Another really great Stockholm playground that is definitely worth a visit is Humlegården in Östermalm, one of our favorite parts of the city. There are a ton of shops and restaurants in this area and the playground is set in a park that reminded me of a much smaller version of NYC Central Park.  The playground is divided into multiple sections, each geared towards a different age, and fully fenced in. They had bikes for the kids to ride, sand toys and lots of awesome playground equipment. Great way to spend a few hours in a beautiful setting!

Mulle Meck Parken

One of the coolest playgrounds we have visited anywhere in the world is Mulle Meck Parken. This park is really great and fully fenced in. There are really unique features here, from a rocket slide to a pirate ship and a zip line. Kids can climb into all the various houses and just explore the entire area without wandering off. Milana loved this place and I highly recommend visiting when you’re in Stockholm with kids.

Junibacken

Another must do with kids in Stockholm is visit Junibacken. This is best described as children’s playground dedicated to Swedish literature that features Pippi Longstocking’s house. Your kids will be able to explore Pippi’s house, I highly recommend reading a book about Pippi Longstocking prior to your visit so that it makes more sense. Growing up in Poland, Pippi was huge so I couldn’t wait to pass the books on to Milana! We love this place and it’s a must on your Stockholm itinerary with kids.

If your kids get hungry, there’s a really good restaurant right inside Junibacken so you don’t even have to leave to have lunch.

Vasa Museum

Right next to Junibacken, is the Vasa Museum. The Vasa Museum is a must-visit for families with kids. The museum houses the 17th-century warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was later salvaged. Kids will love exploring the ship and learning about its history. If you have little ones who still nap, this is a perfect place to visit during nap time as it’s dark and quiet and adults can explore in peace.

Skansen

One of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids is to visit Skansen, Stokholm’s open air museum. There are several playgrounds scattered throughout the grounds for some play breaks too.  The children’s area was really cute, with an indoor play area.  We were first here in March (still freezing in Sweden!), so they had ice skating set up for the kids and you could buy hot dogs to roast on the open fire they had going. During Christmas, they do markets here so if you’re here during this time, don’t miss it!

The next time we visited Skansen was in late May, and it was in the 60s and a much different experience! Locals were in shorts and t shirts (we were still freezing in winter coats/long sleeves as it warmed up) and it felt much nicer to wander around than when there was snow on the ground. The staff gets into character and is really great at explaining to the kids what they are seeing inside each building.

While at Skansen and many playgrounds, we noticed bins of pacifiers so I had to research the meaning. Apparently when Stockholmers are trying to wean their kids off their pacifiers, they head to Skansen. There, in the kitten area at the Children’s Zoo, is The Pacifier Tree, where children go to ‘donate’ their beloved pacifiers to the kittens. This usually starts in early spring and by the end of summer the tree is groaning with pacifiers – and many a child has made his or her first steps into adulthood. Skansen was the original place for this, but we have seen bins of pacifiers at playgrounds too so I’m guessing other places are catching on too. If you have a child ready to wean off the pacifier, this is a great place to bring them!

Take a stroll through Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town area, is one of our favorite places to explore in Stockholm. Since we tend to pick hotels near Gamla Stan, we explored quite a bit of this area and absolutely love it! Keep in mind that the streets are cobblestone and umbrella strollers didn’t fare well here. Wander around and explore the narrow streets, shops and restaurants. This is one of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids.

There are some tucked away playgrounds inside Gamla Stan, not near the main tourist drag, so if you happen to find them grab some coffee from a local cafe and sit while your kids play.

Walk down Götgatan Street

One of the longest streets in Central Stockholm, exploring Götgatan Street is one of the best things to do in Stockholm with kids. Many parts of this street are pedestrian only and there are lots of cute shops, restaurants and alleyways to explore. Pro tip: If you take the train from Slussen one stop to Medborgarplatsen, you can walk this street downhill the entire time. Otherwise, it’s a fairly steep climb. There’s also a cute little playgrounds with ride on toys the kids can use here, very close to the train station across from the grassy area you see in this photo. Great place to hang out for a bit while your kids play!

Brunkebergstunneln

One of the top Instagram spots in Stockholm, the Brunkebergstunneln is a 231 meter pedestrian tunnel in Central Stockholm. It is built through a ridge and provides a shortcut in the middle of the city. This was a really cool place to check out and if you have little tunnel fans, be sure to bring them!

Tekniska Museet

One of the best museums to visit with kids in Stockholm is the Tekniska Museet, or the Swedish Technical Museum. The bus drops you off/picks you up directly in front of it, making it super easy to get to.  Kids 6 and under are free to enter.  Milana really enjoyed seeing different exhibits showing how things were back in the day and now. They had things like stoves, dishwashers, strollers, bikes, etc. all from way back in the day to how they are now.  But the highlight if you are here with kids is going to be their kids area. Great play area with lots of interactive exhibits, making this one of the best places to visit in Stockholm with kids.

Mall of Scandinavia

If the weather isn’t cooperating and you’re looking for indoor things to do in Stockholm with kids, check out the Mall of Scandinavia. You can take a train right to the entrance. There are lots of fun shops, restaurants and play areas to explore here.

Where to eat in Stockholm with kids

Stockholm is a very family friendly city with lots of family friendly restaurants. Here are some of the best kid friendly restaurants in Stockholm. Also note that while they don’t have kid menus (because why do Italian or seafood restaurants even serve chicken nuggets in the states), at most places you can order a half portion of anything from the adult menu for kids. We loved this and wish the US would follow suit since our child has always eaten what we eat, just smaller portions of it.

House of Burgers

Ok, so not a very Swedish place but when we arrived from LAX after a long overnight flight, we just wanted to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to bed at the local time. This was one of the first places we saw so we decided to try it.  The place was packed on Saturday evening but we managed to get a table. The burgers here were really good! The beef was so juicy and well seasoned, we were both glad we tried it. Milana loves burgers so this was perfect for our first meal.

Michelangelo

Tucked away in an alleyway in Gamla Stan is this Italian restaurant. Milana requested pasta that day, so we came here.  The food is really good here and you can get smaller portions of pasta for kids.  She ordered the spaghetti bolognese and I had the ravioli with gorgonzola sauce, both were excellent! This is one of the best kid friendly restaurants in Stockholm.

The Hairy Pig

Our favorite restaurant in Gamla Stan was The Hairy Pig.  Now keep in mind that this is a super tiny place, with mostly very high tables and not what I would consider kid-friendly.  But the menu looked awesome and Milana is used to dining at places like this, so we went.  We ordered their house sausage with 3 tapas (smoked salmon pate, roasted potatoes and grilled provolone) and everything was so good! Milana devoured the sausage (keep in mind it’s a bit spicy if you order it) and really liked the salmon pate.  That’s their signature dish and a must try if you come here! One of the best meals we had in Stockholm and one we would definitely go back to.

Under Kastanjen

Need a coffee or pastry break? Then head to Under Kastanjen! They have great coffee and desserts, a great place to rest for a bit.

Grillska Husets Brödbod

Another cafe, we came here to try some traditional Swedish treats. No visit to Stockholm is complete without trying semlor buns.  These are traditional cardamon scented sweet rolls, filled with almond paste and whipped cream.  It was delicious and you can find them all over the city, but we really liked them from this bakery.

Bakfickan

Our favorite restaurant in Stockholm is Bakfickan. These are the best Swedish meatballs in all of Stockholm. If you only visit one place, make it this one! We came here on each of our visit to Stockholm. Milana loved this a lot and when anyone asks her about best food from her travels, this one always tops the list. We even brought dad with us on our third trip to the city and he loved it as well!

The meatballs here are amazing and the mashed potatoes they came with were the best we’ve ever had. We came during lunch, and only the bar area was open. She was the only kid in this place and all the seats are bar height with no high chairs, so keep in mind if coming with really young kids.  I wouldn’t necessarily call this place kid-friendly (all adults and super quiet inside) but if your child can sit quietly on a high bar stool, it’s definitely an awesome place to check out!  It will be the best Swedish meatballs you’ll ever have.  This is by far the best restaurant in Stockholm and a must visit!

If you are coming in the warmer months, they do have patio seating which makes it much more kid friendly. We sat outside on our most recent visit and there were families with other kids as well. While there is no kid menu, order a half portion of the meatballs for your child for a reduced price.

Kajsas Fisk

It’s not a trip to Sweden without eating some salmon. Some of the best and freshest fish you will find is at Kajsas Fisk, located inside Hötorgshallen, a food hall with lots of different food options. Once inside, head downstairs and you will see it. We all had the salmon and it was amazing! This is one of the best places to eat with kids in Stockholm.

Slingerbulten

Another Swedish meatball restaurant that’s more kid friendly is Slingerbulten. It was recommended by a local and it didn’t disappoint! We met a very sweet local elderly woman while there and she said she eats there every week! Just like other places, they don’t have a kid menu, but will do a half price portion of any adult meal. If you’re looking for a kid friendly restaurant in Stockholm, this is a great option.

Strömmingsvagnen

Right outside of Gamla Stan is a very popular food truck, Strömmingsvagnen.  I really wanted to try it, so we walked over one evening.  We got the fried herring (I prefer pickled but knew Milana wouldn’t like it) and I wasn’t a fan. Milana on the other hand loved it and ate most of it herself! If you want some traditional Swedish herring, this is the place to try it.

Fast food

OK, so not what we typically eat but hear me out. The McDonald’s in Sweden were all packed with locals. Their burgers are made with local, Swedish beef. If your kids wants to see how the menu differs from the US, check them out. Confession: We love checking out the menus in McDonald’s all over the world, even if we don’t end up eating there. They are so different in each country and it’s fun to see what unique items you’ll find.

There’s also a local burger chain called MAX Burgers. While we didn’t eat here, locals told us they all have indoor play areas so we walked in just to see it. There are small little play areas so if you need a break from the cold or rain, stop into one of these.

Phil’s Burgers

We stumbled upon this place near a playground and seeing how packed it was, decided to try it. There are multiple locations in the city and it’s apparently very popular. It’s one of the best burgers I’ve ever had, so if you’re in the mood for burgers, check them out.

Kaffekoppen

Chances are if you have walked into any souvenir shop, you have seen the words fika printed on various souvenirs. Fika is the Swedish tradition of taking time out of your day to enjoy a hot drink and snack. You will find many cafes all over the city and I highly recommend slowing down and taking part in this tradition. Kaffekoppen is located in Gamla Stan, right in the most famous square actually with cute colorful buildings all around. Great place for your fika!

As you can see, Stockholm is a fantastic destination for families with kids, and there are plenty of activities and attractions to keep everyone entertained. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or just having fun, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful city. We love Stockholm and highly recommend it for visiting with kids.