Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm Palace is the home of the Swedish royal family and the best-preserved royal estate in the country. It stands on the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, about ten kilometres west of central Stockholm, and was rebuilt from 1662 for Queen Hedvig Eleonora to designs by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, with his son Nicodemus Tessin the Younger continuing the work after his death. In 1991 the Royal Domain of Drottningholm was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The King and Queen have lived in the southern wing since 1981, but the rest of the palace and the grounds are open to visitors.

Inside, the state rooms reflect more than three centuries of royal life, with furnishings and art collected by successive monarchs. Outside, a formal Baroque garden runs from the palace front, and a large English-style landscape park, begun under Gustav III, extends to the north with lawns, canals and woodland. The gardens are open all year and are free to wander.

Two other buildings on the estate are worth the trip on their own. The Drottningholm Palace Theatre was built in 1766 after an earlier theatre on the site burned down in 1762. The Chinese Pavilion, built between 1763 and 1770, is a royal pleasure palace decorated in the chinoiserie style that was fashionable at the time. The Royal Chapel, opened in 1730, completes the main sights, and guided tours run for much of the year.

Drottningholm suits anyone with an interest in royal history, gardens or architecture, and it makes a relaxed half-day trip for families. Opening hours for the palace, theatre and pavilion differ and change with the seasons, so check the official opening hours page before you go. The palace recommends a guided tour for a fuller visit, and there is also an app with guides. Allow at least three hours to see the palace and walk to the Chinese Pavilion.

In summer, boats run from Stadshuskajen beside Stockholm City Hall, which makes the journey across Lake Mälaren part of the day out; Strömma operates the service. All year, you can take the metro to Brommaplan and change to a bus to Drottningholm, but buy your bus ticket in advance in the SL app, as tickets cannot be bought in the Drottningholm area. Drivers can follow route 275 and park at the palace or at Karusellplan, and cyclists can follow the cycle path from the city.