While the enormous Royal Palace in Stockholm’s Old Town is the king’s official residence, the family lives outside the center at Drottningholm. And this being Sweden, everyone is allowed to stop by. You can visit the interior, excluding the royal family’s private wing, and then roam around the extensive grounds. The estate is also famed for its theater, which still uses the original stage equipment from the 18th century. UNESCO lists Drottningholm as a World Heritage Site: “With its palace, perfectly preserved theatre (built in 1766), Chinese pavilion and gardens, it is the finest example of an 18th-century northern European royal residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles.”
Stockholm, Drottningholm Castle, Sweden, Uppland, Drottningholm.
Peter Widmann / age fotostock
More Recommendations
In the Royal Domain
Located a mere 45 minutes from Stockholm via ferry, the Royal Domain of Drottningholm provides an opportunity to visit one of the finest examples of 18th-century northern European architecture and garden design. The ensemble of palace, gardens, and accessory structures, including the Chinese Pavilion and theater, has been named Sweden’s first World Heritage site by UNESCO. The baroque-style garden, containing formal parterres, allées, and water features, is modeled after Versailles. An English-style romantic park, complete with a meandering water course and meadow, surrounds the formal garden, creating a landscape of more than 1,400 acres to explore. There is a cafe and shop here, too. The palace remains the official home of the Swedish royal family.
