Stockholm is a city on the water, and in summer families swim right in it. Kids jump off jetties into Lake Mälaren, dig on sandy beaches by forest lakes and paddle in outdoor pools with shallow children's sections. Here's what we checked, from the diving tower at Flatenbadet to the snorkel trail at Björnö.
Långholmsbadet is the public swimming beach on the north shore of Långholmen, a green island between Södermalm and Kungsholmen, right beside the Västerbron bridge and facing Riddarfjärden.
A path follows the shore around the whole island, past the old prison buildings. East of the bridge sits Långholmens klippbad, a rocky swimming spot first laid out as a bath for women and children.
Smedsuddsbadet is a small sandy city beach on Riddarfjärden, right beside the Västerbron bridge and next to Rålambshovsparken. Kids can swim off the sand, play on the lawn behind it and walk out on the boat jetty.
There are changing rooms, toilets and two outdoor showers. In summer a café runs from the yellow wooden villa on Smedsudden, which is also home to the canoe club.
Flatenbadet is the city's largest outdoor swimming beach: 1,200 meters of shoreline on Lake Flaten, with several swimming docks and a diving tower. A separate children's beach, Barnbadet, sits at the north end.
The yellow wooden entrance buildings date from 1934 and now serve food. The beach lies inside Flaten nature reserve, with a campsite to the south.
Kanaanbadet is a municipal beach on Lake Mälaren, inside the Grimsta nature reserve. It has two beaches roped off with buoy lines, since jet skis and boats pass close by, plus a small diving tower, wide lawns, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court and minigolf. A kiosk and Kanaans Café, with outdoor tables at a 19th-century house, cover snacks and lunch.
A city-run beach on Lake Mälaren with wide sand and grass areas, inside the Sätraskogen nature reserve. Kids can jump off the jetty and swim to a summer climbing raft with climbing panels on its sides. The youngest have an accessible playground, and a ramp lets wheelchair users into the water. Grills, a volleyball court and a large outdoor gym sit by the sand.
Vanadisbadet is a city-run outdoor pool set in a former quarry inside Vanadislunden park, sheltered on the southwest side. There are three pools: a 25-meter pool (90 to 190 cm deep), a children's pool (60 to 115 cm) and a splash pool for the smallest swimmers. A sun terrace looks out over the city. The 1938 functionalist pool reopened in 2014 after a renovation.
Kampementsbadet is a city-run outdoor pool on Gärdet, open since 1962. The main pool is 25 by 12.5 meters and runs from 0.9 to 1.4 meters deep, with a separate paddling pool for toddlers.
Lawns surround both pools for sunbathing and picnics, and a low entrance building holds changing rooms, showers, toilets and a kiosk.
Hellasgården is an outdoor center on Källtorpssjön, inside the Nackareservatet nature reserve. In summer there is a sandy beach with swimming jetties, canoe, kayak and SUP hire, minigolf and forest trails.
In winter the lake gets a plowed skating track of about 2.5 km when the ice allows, and there is a sledding hill across Ältavägen. A lakeside sauna, a café and a restaurant sit by the water.
Tantolunden is one of the largest parks in the inner city, spread over a hill that slopes down to Årstaviken. Winding paths lead up to the top, and the slopes fill with sleds once snow falls.
There is a playground, a beach volleyball court, minigolf and a frisbee golf course. Up the hill, more than 100 allotment gardens with small cottages have been tended behind their fences since 1915.
Björnö is a nature reserve at the far tip of Ingarö, and Torpesand's sandy beach is an easy walk from the parking lot. Kids can swim from the sand or the smooth rocks and follow a marked snorkel trail to see life under the Baltic.
Marked trails run through forest and meadows to a lookout tower over the archipelago, with fire pits and tent sites along the way.
Stockholm is a city on the water, and in summer families swim right in it. Kids jump off jetties into Lake Mälaren, dig on sandy beaches by forest lakes and paddle in outdoor pools with shallow children's sections. Here's what we checked, from the diving tower at Flatenbadet to the snorkel trail at Björnö.
Långholmsbadet is the public swimming beach on the north shore of Långholmen, a green island between Södermalm and Kungsholmen, right beside the Västerbron bridge and facing Riddarfjärden.
A path follows the shore around the whole island, past the old prison buildings. East of the bridge sits Långholmens klippbad, a rocky swimming spot first laid out as a bath for women and children.
Smedsuddsbadet is a small sandy city beach on Riddarfjärden, right beside the Västerbron bridge and next to Rålambshovsparken. Kids can swim off the sand, play on the lawn behind it and walk out on the boat jetty.
There are changing rooms, toilets and two outdoor showers. In summer a café runs from the yellow wooden villa on Smedsudden, which is also home to the canoe club.
Flatenbadet is the city's largest outdoor swimming beach: 1,200 meters of shoreline on Lake Flaten, with several swimming docks and a diving tower. A separate children's beach, Barnbadet, sits at the north end.
The yellow wooden entrance buildings date from 1934 and now serve food. The beach lies inside Flaten nature reserve, with a campsite to the south.
Kanaanbadet is a municipal beach on Lake Mälaren, inside the Grimsta nature reserve. It has two beaches roped off with buoy lines, since jet skis and boats pass close by, plus a small diving tower, wide lawns, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court and minigolf. A kiosk and Kanaans Café, with outdoor tables at a 19th-century house, cover snacks and lunch.
A city-run beach on Lake Mälaren with wide sand and grass areas, inside the Sätraskogen nature reserve. Kids can jump off the jetty and swim to a summer climbing raft with climbing panels on its sides. The youngest have an accessible playground, and a ramp lets wheelchair users into the water. Grills, a volleyball court and a large outdoor gym sit by the sand.
Vanadisbadet is a city-run outdoor pool set in a former quarry inside Vanadislunden park, sheltered on the southwest side. There are three pools: a 25-meter pool (90 to 190 cm deep), a children's pool (60 to 115 cm) and a splash pool for the smallest swimmers. A sun terrace looks out over the city. The 1938 functionalist pool reopened in 2014 after a renovation.
Kampementsbadet is a city-run outdoor pool on Gärdet, open since 1962. The main pool is 25 by 12.5 meters and runs from 0.9 to 1.4 meters deep, with a separate paddling pool for toddlers.
Lawns surround both pools for sunbathing and picnics, and a low entrance building holds changing rooms, showers, toilets and a kiosk.
Hellasgården is an outdoor center on Källtorpssjön, inside the Nackareservatet nature reserve. In summer there is a sandy beach with swimming jetties, canoe, kayak and SUP hire, minigolf and forest trails.
In winter the lake gets a plowed skating track of about 2.5 km when the ice allows, and there is a sledding hill across Ältavägen. A lakeside sauna, a café and a restaurant sit by the water.
Tantolunden is one of the largest parks in the inner city, spread over a hill that slopes down to Årstaviken. Winding paths lead up to the top, and the slopes fill with sleds once snow falls.
There is a playground, a beach volleyball court, minigolf and a frisbee golf course. Up the hill, more than 100 allotment gardens with small cottages have been tended behind their fences since 1915.
Björnö is a nature reserve at the far tip of Ingarö, and Torpesand's sandy beach is an easy walk from the parking lot. Kids can swim from the sand or the smooth rocks and follow a marked snorkel trail to see life under the Baltic.
Marked trails run through forest and meadows to a lookout tower over the archipelago, with fire pits and tent sites along the way.
