Whether you live in the city or are just passing through, Stockholm is a fun and atmospheric place to be over the Christmas holidays, with plenty of activities for old and young alike. You'll find festive activities to boost your Christmas spirit, but also activities for when you need a break from all things Christmas-related. Play minigolf, head out into the great outdoors or try long-distance ice-skating if it's cold enough - the possibilities are endless. We've rounded up the best tips for things to do in Stockholm over the Christmas holidays, whatever your age and interests. Bring the whole family along!
Activities for children in Stockholm over the Christmas holidays
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Museums
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1Hallwylska museet Christmas with the Von Hallwyl family
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2Junibacken In a fairytale world
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3Tom Tits Experiment Experiment every day
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4Paradox Fun illusions
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5Fotografiska Open all holidays
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6Scenkonstmuseet Crafts and costumes
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7Livrustkammaren Christmas at the palace
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8Sveriges museum om Förintelsen Life stories from the Second World War
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9Upplevelsemuseet Experiences from all over the world
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Activities
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1Skansen Christmas market and other festive fun
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2Funland Soft play with childcare
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3O'Learys Festive buffet and activities
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4Ballbreaker Bowling and masses of other activities
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5La Botanica Buffet and games
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6Boulebar Challenge the family to boules
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7Hellasgården Natural surroundings
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8Bodyflight Try out flying
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9JumpYard Run, jump and throw
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10Aspuddsparken Meet the animals
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11Stockholmsjul A tour of the Christmas illuminations
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12Birka Bowling & Dart Huge bowling alley
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13Klättercentret Climbing for kids and young people
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14Fryshuset Skate at Stockholm skate park
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- Film and theatre
- When the weather allows
Jump to
Museums
Great museums to check out
Christmas with the Von Hallwyl family
The popular Christmas drama show "Christmas at the palace" is back at Hallwylska museet. Experience how the staff at this perfectly preserved family mansion at Hamngatan 4 prepared for Christmas in the olden days. What was life like for the staff in a house like this and how did the family celebrate Christmas? Get into the Christmas spirit with the museum's dramatised tour through the palace.
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Hamngatan 4, City/Norrmalm
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Website
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Hallwylska museet
08-402 30 99 - Read more on Thatsup
In a fairytale world
Enjoy fairytale adventures at Junibacken, home of Pippi Longstocking and other beloved Swedish children's book characters. Meet Alfons, Emil in Lönneberga and other characters brought to life through play and storytelling.
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Galärvarvsvägen 8, Djurgården
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Website
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Junibacken
08-587 230 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Experiment every day
Tom Tits is open throughout the Christmas holidays with fun scientific experiments for large and small. Explore technology, biology and illusions over four floors, through experiments and experiences using the whole body and mind.
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Storgatan 33, Södertälje, Södertälje
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Website
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Tom Tits Experiment
08-550 225 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Fun illusions
The Paradox Museum is open throughout the Christmas holidays for surprising experiences and tricksy illusions. There are over 70 interactive exhibitions here, all offering new perspectives on things. Take the opportunity to take fun photos at the various stations and immortalise all the fun.
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Sergelgatan 20, City/Norrmalm
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Website
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Paradox Museum
08-91 16 61 - Read more on Thatsup
Open all holidays
Stockholm's Museum of Photography is open every day, even on Christmas Eve. Go on a guided tour and experience a photography exhibition with the whole family.
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Stora Tullhuset Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Södermalm
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Website
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Fotografiska
08-509 005 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Scenkonstmuseet
Crafts and costumes
Celebrate the Christmas holidays at the Scenkonstmuseet! Create party hats and New Year drums in the studio with glitter and colour. Explore the costume cupboard for New Year inspiration or a new style ahead of 2025.
- Date: 26 December–5 January 2025
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Sibyllegatan 2, Östermalm
Christmas at the palace
The Royal Armoury, Sweden's museum of royal history, is housed in beautiful basement vaults next to the Royal Palace. View a huge collection of fascinating objects and artefacts from the time of Gustav Vasa. There are special areas for children and exciting holiday activities.
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Slottsbacken 3, Old Town
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Website
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Livrustkammaren
08-402 30 30 - Read more on Thatsup
Life stories from the Second World War
The Swedish Holocaust Museum preserves the memory of the Second World War through testimonies and stories from survivors, Sweden's Holocaust Museum. The museum regularly holds guided tours of the exhibits, which include items such as diaries, photographs, striped prisoners' jackets, suitcases and other artefacts that take us on people's journeys through the war, to their arrival in Sweden.
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Torsgatan 19, Vasastan
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Website
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Sveriges museum om Förintelsen
08-519 556 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Experiences from all over the world
At Upplevelsemuseet, visitors are free to look, touch, smell, taste and try out exciting things from all over the world. You can, for example, hold an enormous tooth fossil, taste sweets from different countries, learn more about ancient cultures and challenge your fear of heights with VR.
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Arenaslingan 3A, Johanneshov
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Website
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Upplevelsemuseet
072-403 86 40 - Read more on Thatsup
Activities
Fun activities for the Christmas holiday break
Christmas market and other festive fun
It doesn't get much more Christmassy than Christmas at Skansen. There's fun and festivities for all ages, from Christmas crafts and pony rides to the traditional advent Christmas market, with masses of presents and goodies. Peek into the various houses and farmsteads to see how Christmas was celebrated in olden days.
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Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Djurgården
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Website
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Skansen
08-442 80 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Soft play with childcare
At Funplays, children on their Christmas break can play to their heart's content while their parents hunt for bargains in the sales or simply relax with a coffee. The soft play centre, which consists of colourful ball pits, exciting slides, and climbing frames, is the first in the Nordics where you can leave your children under the supervision of staff. Suitable for children aged 4–12 years, but younger children are also welcome when accompanied by their parents.
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Sollentunavägen 163, Sollentuna
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Website
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Funland
08-519 262 87 - Read more on Thatsup
Festive buffet and activities
At O'Learys Tolv Stockholm Event Center you'll find 5000 square metres of fun and activities, such as bowling, adventure golf, arcade games, shuffleboard, table tennis and darts.
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Arenavägen 69, Johanneshov
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Website
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O'Learys Event Center Tolv Stockholm
020-10 40 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Bowling and masses of other activities
Do you feel like staying indoors but still doing something fun? The activity centre BallBreaker in Kungsholmen has everything from bowling to shuffleboard, sports simulators and masses of other activities for all levels and ages.
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Lindhagensgatan 114, Kungsholmen
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Website
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Ballbreaker
08-617 00 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Buffet and games
Combine food with fun at La Botanica in the Mall of Scandinavia! Sweden's largest buffet is served here, with vegetables, fish, meat, and dishes from America, Italy, and Asia. There's guaranteed to be something to suit all tastes here, even the fussiest of diners. After eating, head to their games zone, where you can challenge each other in everything from shuffleboard to mini-golf.
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Stjärntorget 2, Solna
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Website
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La Botanica
08-751 09 65 - Read more on Thatsup
Challenge the family to boules
You can play boules and eat French food all year round at Boulebar. If you visit the Boulebar locations in Liljeholmen, Haga and Radhuset you can enjoy both French Christmas music and boules throughout December. Bring along your family and friends for a fun outing.
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Hantverkargatan 8, Kungsholmen Liljeholmsvägen 14, Hägersten-Liljeholmen Annerovägen 4, SolnaBoulebar Rådhuset
Hantverkargatan 8, KungsholmenBoulebar Liljeholmen
Liljeholmsvägen 14, Hägersten-LiljeholmenBoulebar Haga
Annerovägen 4, Solna -
boulebar.se/bar-restaurang/liljeholmen-stockholmBoulebar Rådhuset
boulebar.se/bar-restaurang/radhuset-stockholmBoulebar Haga
boulebar.se/bar-restaurang/stockholm-hagaBoulebar Liljeholmen
08-714 04 20Boulebar Rådhuset
08-714 04 20 -
Boulebar Liljeholmen Boulebar Rådhuset Boulebar Haga
Natural surroundings
Take a day trip out to Hellasgården in Nackareservatet nature reserve and get a taste of the great outdoors just outside the city centre. Go for a long walk, have a coffee, grill sausages and more. If it's cold enough, there's a sledging hill, cross-country ski tracks and a lake to ice skate on.
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Ältavägen 101, Nacka
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Website
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Hellasgården
08-716 39 61 - Read more on Thatsup
Try out flying
Experience the feeling of floating in the air - the same feeling as jumping out of an airplane. The world's highest wind tunnel makes it possible, and of course the right equipment ensures that you fly safely. Before the flight, you're given a safety briefing, then you just take off while your group looks on. Suitable for children aged three and up.
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Bryggerivägen 10, Bromma
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Website
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Bodyflight Stockholm
010-139 97 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Run, jump and throw
Get your body moving at the JumpYard activity centre. Play dodgeball, jump on trampolines and do parkour, among other things. Action and adventure for all the family, or take your friends along and get sweaty together.
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Forumvägen 14, Nacka Veddestavägen 15, JärfällaJumpYard Nacka Forum
Forumvägen 14, NackaJumpYard Barkaby
Veddestavägen 15, Järfälla -
jumpyard.se/nackaforumJumpYard Barkaby
jumpyard.se/barkarbyJumpYard Nacka Forum
08-121 336 88JumpYard Barkaby
08-36 20 80 -
JumpYard Nacka Forum JumpYard Barkaby
Meet the animals
Say hello to animals, ride ponies and grill sausages at Aspuddenspark in Aspudden, south of the city. They also have a large playground that draws in crowds of kids (and parents) of all ages.
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Blommensbergsvägen, Hägersten-Liljeholmen
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Website
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Aspuddsparken
08-19 99 15 - Read more on Thatsup
A tour of the Christmas illuminations
Check out the sparkling Christmas lights that illuminate Stockholm every year. With a Map of Lights from #Stockholmsjul you can go on a walk around the city centre and check out the streets and squares that are bedecked with Christmas lights. You'll find the map on #Stockholmsjul's website and at hotels and tourist offices.
Huge bowling alley
Birka Bowling & Dart is an enormous bowling alley that's been drawing in bowling aficionados and keen amateurs since the 1970s. There's also a restaurant here so you can combine your bowling with a burger.
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Birkagatan 16, Vasastan
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Website
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Birka Bowling & Dart
08-30 50 10 - Read more on Thatsup
Climbing for kids and young people
Klättercentret arranges Christmas holiday camps for children and young people who want to learn to climb. Everyone can learn to climb here, whatever your level of experience. Learn through games, technique practice and group exercises.
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Tellusgången 22-24, Hägersten-Liljeholmen Banvaktsvägen 20, Solna Vandagatan 3, KistaKlättercentret Telefonplan
Tellusgången 22-24, Hägersten-LiljeholmenKlättercentret Solna
Banvaktsvägen 20, SolnaKlättercentret Akalla
Vandagatan 3, Kista -
klattercentret.seKlättercentret Solna
klattercentret.seKlättercentret Akalla
klattercentret.se/akallaKlättercentret Telefonplan
08-730 00 93Klättercentret Solna
08-730 00 93Klättercentret Akalla
08-730 00 93 -
Klättercentret Telefonplan Klättercentret Solna Klättercentret Akalla
Skate at Stockholm skate park
Stockholm Skatepark at Fryshuset has pretty much everything a skater could desire. There's a mini ramp, concrete bowl, a large street area and Stockholm's only vert ramp. They also run a skate camp for young skaters over the Christmas holidays.
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Mårtensdalsgatan 2-8, Hammarby sjöstad
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Website
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Fryshuset
08-691 76 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Film and theatre
See a great film or show
Sweden's largest dome-shaped screen
Popular Cosmonova shows 3D films about the planet and animals. A popular and immersive cinema experience with the largest domed screen in Sweden. Pay a visit to the Museum of Natural History while you're there.
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Frescativägen 40
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Website
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Cosmonova
08-519 551 30 - Read more on Thatsup
Children's cinema
The cosy neighbourhood cinema Zita on Birger Jarlsgatan shows films for cinephiles of all ages. At weekends and school holidays, they have a special programme, Barnens Bio - Children's Cinema - featuring children's films, both classics and new films.
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Birger Jarlsgatan 37, City/Östermalm/Norrmalm
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Website
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Zita Folkets Bio
08-23 20 20 - Read more on Thatsup
When the weather allows
Outdoor activities over the Christmas holidays
Skiing in the city
All ages and abilities can enjoy skiing at Hammarbybacken. Pre-book your Skipass and rent skis online on their website, and check which lifts and runs are open at the moment.
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Hammarbybacken
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Website
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Hammarbybacken
077-184 00 00 - Read more on Thatsup
Skating rinks
Bambi on ice
Several artificial ice rinks open up around Stockholm when it gets cold enough, including rinks in Kungsträdgården and Vasaparken. Don't miss Scandinavian Ice Adventure, new for this year. You'll find information on where and when the rinks are open on Stockholm city's website.
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Kungsträdgården, City/Norrmalm Vasaparken, VasastanKungsträdgården
Kungsträdgården, City/NorrmalmVasaparken
Vasaparken, Vasastan
Sledging slopes
Ready, steady, go!
When the snow finally covers the city, it's time to pull on your salopettes and get out onto the slopes with a sledge. There are lots of great sledging slopes in central Stockholm, we've listed some of the best below.
Vitabergsparken, Södermalm
Tanto, Södermalm
Stora Blecktornsparken, Södermalm
Vasaparken, Vasastan
Observatorielunden, Vasastan
Rålambshovsparken, Kungsholmen
Kronobergsparken, Kungsholmen
Humlegården, Östermalm
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Vitabergsparken, Södermalm Tantolunden, Södermalm/Hornstull Katarina Bangata 80a, Södermalm/Skanstull Vasaparken, Vasastan Observatorielunden, Vasastan Smedsuddsvägen 6, Kungsholmen Kronobergsparken, Kungsholmen Humlegården, ÖstermalmVitabergsparken
Vitabergsparken, SödermalmTantolunden
Tantolunden, Södermalm/HornstullStora Blecktornsparken
Katarina Bangata 80a, Södermalm/SkanstullVasaparken
Vasaparken, VasastanObservatorielunden
Observatorielunden, VasastanRålambshovsparken
Smedsuddsvägen 6, KungsholmenKronobergsparken
Kronobergsparken, KungsholmenHumlegården
Humlegården, Östermalm
Wild skating
Lake and sea skating
You'll find numerous open-air natural skating spots outside the city where you can skate when the ice is at least 20cm thick. Be careful and never skate alone or without safety equipment. You'll find information on the various lake and sea-skating spots on Stockholm city's website.