Drottningholm is the home of the Swedish royal family and the finest surviving royal palace in the country, set on the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, a short trip west of central Stockholm. Work began in the 1660s for the dowager Queen Hedvig Eleonora to designs by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, and his son Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, the architect of the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, carried the project on. The result is a Baroque residence in the spirit of Versailles, an ochre-coloured block facing the water with a grand staircase, state rooms of painted ceilings, tapestries and carved stone, and a long formal garden running out behind it in strict geometry. The royal family lives in one wing, while the rest of the palace, the park, the Chinese Pavilion and the Court Theatre are open to visitors. The whole ensemble was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and it is the one place near Stockholm where you can see a complete royal landscape of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries rather than a single building. The tour linked here is a guided palace visit that, judging by its title, includes the ferry crossing from the city; check exactly what is covered before you book.
How to see it
Join a guided tour of the state apartments to understand who lived where, then walk the Baroque garden to the water and on to the English-style park that was laid out later in the eighteenth century. The Chinese Pavilion, a rococo fantasy built as a gift for a queen, sits at the far end of the park and is the most surprising building on the site. The Court Theatre, dating from 1766, still has much of its original stage machinery for wind, waves and thunder, and is best seen on a guided tour in season.
Getting there
In the warmer months, boats run from the quay by City Hall and take about an hour across the lake, which is the most memorable way to arrive. All year round you can ride the metro to Brommaplan and change to a local bus for the last stretch. Check the current timetable before you go, as winter services are thinner.
When to go
The palace is open most days in the main season and on fewer days in winter, and the theatre and pavilion keep seasonal hours, so look at the opening pattern before planning a trip. Allow at least half a day, and bring layers, as the park is exposed to wind off the lake. Pack a picnic or plan lunch at the cafe near the palace. A good pairing is the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan on the same day or the next, to compare the two Tessin buildings.
Background worth knowing
In the eighteenth century Queen Lovisa Ulrika and her son Gustav III turned Drottningholm into a lively summer court of theatre, music and gardens, and many of the interiors and the pavilion date from that period of enthusiasm for French and Chinese taste. The present king and queen have lived here permanently since 1981, which is why parts of the palace stay closed to the public.
If you have a free afternoon, the walk from the landing stage through the garden is a pleasure in itself, with long avenues, clipped hedges and statues, and it gives a very different impression from the cramped streets of the old town. It rewards visitors who like history and landscape equally.
What to expect
The experience
A guided or self-guided visit to a Baroque palace, with a formal garden, a Chinese Pavilion and a historic court theatre, usually reached by boat or by metro and bus.
Best time
Late spring to early autumn for the boat, the full garden and the theatre and pavilion tours; weekday mornings are quietest.
How long
Four to five hours including the journey, longer if you add the theatre and pavilion.
Tips
Check opening days and the boat timetable first, join an English-language tour of the state rooms and wear layers for the lakeside park.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want royal Sweden at its most elegant and a half day out of the city on the water.
- Families
- Space to run in the park and a boat ride to enjoy, though the state rooms suit older children best.
- Couples
- A boat out in the morning, a walk through the formal garden and a quiet lunch by the lake.
- Pair with
- The Royal Palace in Gamla Stan or a City Hall tour on the same trip.
- Time needed
- Half a day; a full day with the theatre and pavilion.
Good questions
Is Drottningholm Palace a royal residence today?+
Yes. The royal family lives in one wing, while the state rooms, park, Chinese Pavilion and theatre are open to visitors.
How do I get to Drottningholm from central Stockholm?+
In the warmer months a boat runs from the quay by City Hall, taking about an hour. All year you can take the metro to Brommaplan and a local bus.
Is Drottningholm a World Heritage Site?+
Yes, the palace, theatre, pavilion and grounds were inscribed by UNESCO in 1991.
How long should I allow for Drottningholm?+
Half a day is the minimum; a full day lets you see the theatre and the Chinese Pavilion without rushing.
Can I visit Drottningholm in winter?+
Yes, the palace and park are open on fewer days in the colder months, and the theatre and pavilion are seasonal, so check the opening pattern first.
