The 5 Best Viewpoints in Stockholm: A Former Local’s Favorites

Ever since I first visited in 2017, I’ve firmly held the view that Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. These thoughts only grow stronger each time I visit; I tend to go back at least once per year. I also lived there at one point, which unsurprisingly was a period of massive growth for my photography and creativity in general. 

One of my favorite things about Sweden’s capital is how easy it is to find great views of the city. Besides plenty of natural vantage points, I’ve also discovered a number of buildings and observation decks to see the city from unique angles. 

Monteliusvägen and the Mariaberget observation spot are probably the most famous viewpoint(s) in Stockholm. Despite being here countless times, I still come back almost every time I am in the Swedish capital. The reason why is that it still offers some of my favorite views of the city. 

Both the path and observation deck are free to visit, and you can do so year-round. If you’re really lucky, you could potentially see the water frozen over when visiting during the winter. Even if that doesn’t happen, though, it’s still worth going to. 

From the viewpoint, you’ll mainly see Stockholm’s City Hall and the small island of Riddarholmen—which has one of the city’s most beautiful churches. You will also get a great view of the area close to Stockholm Central Station, including the interestingly shaped Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel. 

Since this is one of the best-known viewpoints in the city, it unsurprisingly can get quite busy. Generally, I don’t have too many problems when I go here in the morning. But in the afternoon (and especially around sunset), things can get quite crowded. So, if you can, it’s better to go for sunrise than it is for sunset. Any time is better than none, though, and you can easily fit it into a weekend itinerary. 

More specifically, you will find some nice views of the city from the seats next to the window. You can mainly see the island of Djurgården, along with Skeppsholmen, Kastellholmen, and parts of Gamla Stan (also known as the Old Town).

The restaurant and café at Fotografiska is quite busy in the evenings. I would recommend treating the views as a bonus to either visiting the museum or eating at the restaurant. Drop-ins are welcome for lunch; for dinner, you should reserve a table. 

To get here, you can take the bus, ferry, or Metro to Slussen. Walking distances differ depending on the mode of transport; the bus stop is right outside the museum, but it’s not too far from either of the other two terminals. 

If you happen to be in Stockholm between May and September, a visit to the City Hall’s observation deck is an absolute must. You’ll get what I think are the best views over Gamla Stan and Riddarholmen, along with many other parts of the city. I especially recommend visiting if you happen to visit Stockholm during the summer. 

To reach the top of the tower, you can climb around 365 steps. To be honest, I didn’t think that the staircase was anywhere near as daunting as others I’ve been to in Europe. For example, there were some at churches in Vienna and Tallinn that were infinitely less enjoyable. Still, you will need some basic fitness levels. There is an elevator that takes you halfway, but taking the steps is necessary to reach the top. 

When I visited, there were some other groups of people. However, the crowds were generally manageable—and this was despite visiting in July. Your mileage may vary, of course, but it wasn’t so bad from my own experiences. 

We bought our tickets in advance, which you can do on the City of Stockholm website. You can purchase your tickets as early as one week before the date you plan to visit. To get to the City Hall, take the Metro to Rådhuset; it’s a short walk from there.

Regardless of When You Visit, You Can Also Get Nice Views From the City Hall’s Park

If you’re visiting Stockholm at another time of the year (or even if you’re there when the tower is open), I recommend also visiting Stadshusparken—which is the City Hall’s park. From here, you can similarly get excellent views of Riddarholmen. 

Visiting Stadshusparken is free, and besides Riddarholmen, you will also get nice views toward Södermalm. Weddings and other ceremonies sometimes take place here, but otherwise, you should have no problems visiting. 

I should warn, though, that the park can get quite windy if you visit Stockholm in the winter. This can make things feel much colder than the temperature suggests. So, I’d recommend dressing warmly in these cases. 

From Skinnarviksberget, you’ll mainly get some great views toward the Kungsholmen neighborhood on the other side of the water. You can also, however, see toward Gamla Stan from this viewpoint. 

You can visit Skinnarviksberget throughout the year. However, the summit (and pathways) can get icy and very slippery during the winter. So, you should be particularly careful if you happen to visit during the colder months. 

From pretty much any point along the islet’s shores, you’ll see nice views of some part of the city. Depending on where you are, you can see Östermalm and Södermalm, too. While Skeppsholmen isn’t the best place to see Stockholm from above, it is still nice if you want to see some of its neighborhoods from ground level. 

You can access Skeppsholmen and its various viewpoints year-round. I’ve been here in most seasons, and the views are nice regardless of when you go. You’ll find some other people, but it’s by no means crowded. Skeppsholmen is also a short walk from Kungsträdgården’s Metro Station, making it super easy to reach. Other than that, you can take the ferry here. If you take the ferry, you’ll have some excellent photography opportunities.

Some parts of Skeppsholmen and nearby Kastellholmen are elevated. For example, you can get a great view of Gröna Lund from Kastellholmen if you are willing to walk uphill a bit. During the winter, some paths can be icy, and I therefore recommend being careful here as well.  

Stockholm Has Plenty of Great Views Worth Visiting

Stockholm has some great natural viewpoints, along with buildings from which you can get some cool perspectives of the Swedish capital. Many are also accessible year-round, which is a nice bonus—even though you will need to be careful if you’re there in the winter and it has been particularly cold. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a better idea of which places you’d like to see the city from unique angles when you visit. If you want more tips for your trip, I suggest next reading my complete guide on the best things to do in Stockholm.

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