10 Things to Do in Stockholm in May

In May, the city of Stockholm is adorned with the green of the forests of the Archipelago, the cherry b lossoms that carpet its parks and flowers such as roses and tulips that embellish many gardens. This is the time for locals to enjoy the outdoors after the long cold of winter.

So one of the things you can see and do in Stockholm in May is to stroll through the city's parks and gardens or cycle to the main attractions , as the locals do. Here's a list of the top things to do in Stockholm in May to make the most of your stay.

If you arrive in Stockholm at the end of April, you can welcome the arrival of spring in a very special way, as Walpurgis Night is celebrated throughout the country on the night of 30 April to 1 May. The festival, also known as Walborg, is believed to have been held since the 11th century and was intended to ward off witches and spirits by fire.

In Stockholm, the country's largest Walborg is held at the Skansen Open Air Museum. Locals gather around a large bonfire, as on Midsummer's Day, and sing choral songs. There are also often live music concerts. It is a much-anticipated celebration for the whole community after the harsh Nordic winter.

In addition, during the day the locals often hold picnics in the main squares of the town, accompanied by songs and beers. At night the celebrations continue in bars and nightclubs, which are mainly attended by the younger crowd.

Another option is to go to Riddarholmen, an islet in the centre of Stockholm. A torchlight procession, bonfire lighting and live concerts are held there. It's a Viking festival not to be missed, especially if you're interested in learning more about the history, culture and traditions of the Vikings.

Read more about the festival

• Days and times: from 30 April at approximately 3 pm.
• Location: Skansen Open Air Museum, Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm.
• Admission: free of charge.

May 1st is Workers' Day or Dagen der Arbetare in Sweden, as in many countries around the world. It is a public holiday with various commemorative events taking place throughout the country. In Stockholm, the Labour Day Parade is one of Sweden's most iconic events.

This day has been celebrated throughout the country since 1938 and it is traditional for locals to march with red flags through the main streets of the city. Please note that as it is a non-working day, Stockholm's main museums and other city attractions may not be open to the public, or may operate on a reduced schedule.

You can check a city diary to find out what events are taking place, or join the parade to experience the day the local way. You can also take advantage of the day to explore the city's landmarks such as the old Stortorget Square, which is located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's historic centre. This square is surrounded by 17th and 18th century buildings and is included in the best city tours.

Between April and May, the Supermarket Independent Art Fair takes place in Stockholm, an event that showcases the works of artists from around the world. It has been held every year since 2007 and is organised by artists and artist collectives who want to showcase their experimental and independent art.

In addition to art exhibitions, you can participate in talks and forums and enjoy art performances, audiovisual presentations and experimental music concerts, among others. The festival was conceived as an alternative to the more commercially focused art exhibitions and aims to bring new art to the general public.

The festival takes place in Kulturhuset, a cultural centre located in the city centre. It lasts about 4 days, and usually starts at noon. I recommend that you check the activities and performances that take place on the official website of the event, so that you can attend the ones that interest you the most. Without a doubt, it is an ideal event for art lovers.

More info

• Days and times: between the months of April and May from 12 pm to 8 pm approximately.
• Location: Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg, 111 57 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Admission fee: about 13 EUR per person per day. 4-day passes cost about 27 EUR per person. Children under 16 are free.

May is one of the best times to visit Stockholm, as spring begins and the blossoms and greenery start to appear in the city. Many people visit the city from mid-April to May to see especially the 60 cherry blossoms in the King's Garden or Kungstradgarden, a park located in Gamla Stan, the historic city centre.

Kungstradgarden, which in winter in Stockholm becomes a skating rink, takes on a special charm in May and April, when these beautiful blossoms adorn the cherry trees.

The park is surrounded by restaurants, cafés and art galleries, making it an ideal place for a stroll on a spring day. The square also hosts cultural events, concerts and dance performances.

Kungstradgarden or Kungsan, as it is known to locals, was the garden and orchard of Makalös Palace during the 16th century (which burned down), and was also a training site for the army. Nearby is the 18th-century Royal Palace, where the Changing of the Guard takes place every day (at 12.15pm in winter and 11.45am in summer). Both are must-see attractions on your city tour of Stockholm.

More information about

• Days and times: The cherry blossoms bloom between April and May.
• Location: Kungstradgarden, Jussi Björlings allé, 111 47 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Admission: free of charge.

At the end of May and/or beginning of June, the streets of Stockholm become the stage for one of the longest marathons in Europe: the Adidas Stockholm Marathon. It is also considered one of the most beautiful courses in the sport. The race usually starts at the Clock Tower in Stockholm's Olympic Stadium and takes about 6.5 hours.

During the 42 km marathon, you will run through about 7 districts, including the historic centre Gamla Stan; the island Djurgården, home to the city's most important museums (such as the Vasa Museum and the Skansen open-air museum); and the island Kungsholmen, where the City Hall is located. These are the must-see sites included in 2-day stays in Stockholm.

You can also take part in the Move For The Planet 5km marathon, which takes place one day before the Stockholm Marathon and starts at Östermlam IP. This marathon aims to promote conscious consumption habits and care for nature.

There are several categories for men and women organised by age, and people over the age of 18 can participate. Please note that you must meet the footwear requirements in order to attend. If you prefer not to participate as a runner, you can always join the fervent crowd cheering on the runners and have a good time with the locals.

More information about the event

• Days and times: late May to early June. The Adidas Stockholm Marathon usually starts at noon, and the Move For The Planet Marathon starts around 5.30pm.
• Location: Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Lidingövägen, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden. Check start times and location on the official Adidas Marathon website.
• Entry fee: Move For The Planet costs between 25 and 40 EUR per person depending on the category, and the Adidas Stockholm Marathon costs between 90 and 140 EUR per person.

When the warm spring days begin in May, it' s common for locals to cycle around Stockholm' s green spaces and landmarks. There is an extensive network of special bicycle lanes throughout the city, and even on the roads, as Sweden is a country that promotes eco-friendly ways of getting around and healthier lifestyles.

If you want to join the bicycle caravans that have been touring the city since spring, you can rent a bike from hotels, tourist information centres or private companies. You can even rent electric bikes if you prefer not to pedal so much. Another option, if you want to learn about Stockholm's history and culture, is to sign up for a guided bike tour, which will give you all the elements you need.

On your bike tour, you can't miss the historic centre Gamla Stan, where you'll find Stockholm Palace, the city's cathedral, the Nobel Prize Museum and Köpmangatan, the country's oldest street, among others. You can also go to the Kungstradgarden park, located in the city centre, where you can see the cherry blossoms, or to Tanto strandbad beach, located on Södermalm island.

You can also go to the Skansen Open Air Museum, where you will be transported to the Sweden of ancient times. This museum is ideal if you are visiting Stockholm with children, as it offers many educational and recreational activities for the little ones. Remember that with the Stockholm Tourist Card you get discounted admission to many of the city's top attractions.

Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago is an experience not to be missed all year round, but from May onwards, when nature turns greener and the flowers start to bloom, it's definitely one of the best times. Sailing through the Archipelago is one of the best boat trips in Stockholm.

The Archipelago is one of the largest in Sweden and the Baltic Sea. It is made up of islands, islets and rocks, and stretches about 80 km into the Baltic Sea. There are an estimated 24,000 islands and rocky islets covered with dense forests, and an estimated 10,000 people.

The most traditional way to explore the Stockholm Archipelago is by cruise ship or speedboat, and the more adventurous take a kayak. Cruises depart in the morning or afternoon, and it's best to book in advance, as many locals and tourists take the trip in spring.

As well as seeing the islands covered in greenery, from the sea you can see some of the city's landmarks, such as the Royal Palace and City Hall. You can also take a ferry to some of the islands, such as Värmdö, the most populated, Vaxholm Island, which can be reached by car, or Grinda Island, which is also a nature reserve.

In May the winter landscape gives way to the green of spring, so it's the perfect time to explore the city's gardens, where you can see roses, lilacs, tulips and many other plants and trees.

One of the most beautiful is the Bergius Botanical Garden, which is located on the shores of Lake Brunnsviken. It has two greenhouses with plants from all over the world and a large green space with trees, herbs and plants, where you can pick berries in summer. Don't miss the giant water lily in the Victoria House and the Japanese garden. In the garden there are terraces or cafés where you can have a snack or even dinner.

Another very nice garden is the Rosendals Trädgård, located in the centre of the city. It has about 50 apple trees, more than 100 species of roses, a vineyard, orchard and flower gardens. There is also a café where you can buy locally produced organic food. Remember that a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the main sites of the city is by tour bus.

You can also visit the Kungsträdgården or King's Garden, which is the oldest garden in the city. There you can see cherry blossoms and tulips, play a giant chess game and stroll along the paths with fountains and statues. It is also a venue for concerts and cultural events in the warm season, especially on weekends. It is located in the centre of Stockholm.

The warm temperatures in May are ideal for enjoying places like the Skansen Open Air Museum, which is one of the oldest open air museums in the world. In this museum you can see some 150 typical buildings that were brought from different parts of Sweden and experience what life was like in the region before the industrial era.

In the museum there are workshops for goldsmiths, potters, glassmakers, shoemakers, carpenters, bakers, ironmongers and others, where you can learn about how different products were traditionally made. There is also a farm, an orchard and an amusement park for children.

Throughout the year there are different cultural events and concerts in this museum, and if you visit Stockholm in December you can visit the Christmas market. The interesting thing about this museum is that it is alive, that is, the "characters from other eras" interact with visitors, which enriches the experience much more.

If you go to this museum, you can take the opportunity to go to the Vasa Museum, which is one of the most interesting museums in Stockholm. There you will find the ship of the same name, dating from 1628, which retains almost all of its original structure. It is one of the city's must-see attractions.

For more information, visit

• Days and hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Location: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Entry fee: about 20 EUR per person.

Stockholm is a cosmopolitan city with an exquisite gastronomy, where you can't miss the seasonal, organically grown vegetables. In May it's spring in Sweden, so you'll find fresh dishes as well as the more typical ones such as köttbullar, a kind of meatball; seafood salads; smörgåsbord, with herring and salmon; and a wide variety of desserts.

Tasting Sweden' s gastronomy will allow you to learn more about its traditions and culture, as well as delighting you with the diversity of flavours. Gastronomic tours are often organised in the city, which allow you to visit the main restaurants and try the best dishes.

A highly recommended place to discover the gastronomy of Stockholm is Gamla Stan, its historic quarter. There, as well as sampling the delicious typical Swedish dishes, you can visit Stockholm's most representative buildings, which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Royal Palace and the medieval Storkyrkan Cathedral.