If you’ve been to Stockholm in the autumn, perhaps you have visited the Royal Djurgården, the park that transforms into a canvas where red, gold, and orange hues hold sway as leaves fall from trees, lending the space a romantic air. Touted as “Scandinavia’s number one attraction,” the island features a host of activities throughout the year. This autumn, you can catch exhibitions such as “The Arctic — While the Ice is Melting” (which depicts everyday life in some of the coldest zones in the world) at the Nordic Museum. You can also catch “Vasa Up Close” (an exhibition about the warship Vasa’s sculptures and their message) at the Vasa Museum or learn about diversity in the sea and on land while riding Skansen’s escalator. Of course, there are many ways to make your visit to Stockholm unique and completely memorable. Below, you will find just a few.
The Stockholm Jazz Festival
If nothing sets your heart on fire like jazz music, book your trip to Stockholm in mid-October, when the Stockholm Jazz Festival will be taking place. The event features almost 200 performances that take place across numerous venues. Imagine enjoying a jam session by trumpet, piano, and guitar players at a historic church, stately museum, or cozy café! Take your pick. All this will be happening very soon!
Ghosts and Phantoms
Halloween is one of the biggest celebrations of Autumn in Stockholm. If you’re into close encounters with the spiritual kind, why not go on a ghost walk with the Red Sightseeing company? It involves a 90-minute stroll through the city’s purportedly haunted places and sites of murders, executions, and unsolved mysteries, in Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan). Families with kids will love Gröna Lund’s Halloween-themed decorations. Ride edgy attractions, warm up with a hot chocolate, and meet the hilarious witches who walk through the park. If you visit Gröna Lund, don’t forget to wear your best Halloween outfit! And make sure to wear that, or another one for Scandinavia’s biggest Halloween event, Shockholm, which will this year take over Sergels Torg on October 31st from 7pm.
Winery Tours and Tastings
Wine lovers love few things more than spending time at elegant wineries where they can walk through stately vineyards with winemakers, taste various wines, and purchase their favorite bottles. Stockholm’s Nordic Wine Tastings, located in the heart of Stockholm, offers guided wine tastings featuring Nordic wines. There, you can explore different styles and discover what makes Scandinavian wines so unique. The Winery in Solna – about 10 km from Stockholm Central – is Sweden’s first combined urban winery and boutique hotel. Here, you can learn about the whole winemaking process, from barrel to bottle. If you’re willing to travel a few hours and perhaps spend a weekend away, you can also take a trip to vineyards such as Blacksta Vineyard in the Sörmland region, Särtshöga Vineyard near Vättern, Gute Vineyard in Gotland, and Wannborga Vineyard in Öland (to name just a few of many).
Getting Close to Nature
Autumn is a fantastic season for apple picking—an activity you can enjoy until late October. Two spots that are particularly well-known for this activity are Rosenhill and Värmdö Musteri. The latter is a family farm where apples are grown organically. You can also visit parks in the middle of the city, or the botanical garden at Bergianska Trädgården.
Stockholm is a perfect place in which to spend some time in the autumn season. There is literally something for everyone. Nature lovers, foodies, and music lovers alike will find plenty to keep them busy. The suggested activities above will get you started, but there is so much more to do if you are open to new experiences and adventures!
