The best things to do in Stockholm in autumn

What is it? Stockholm is home to some of the Nordic region’s finest art and cultural treasures, housed in everything from grand turn-of-the-century palaces to Brutalist concrete blocks.

Why visit? When the autumn chill sets in, few things lift the spirits quite like filling your day with beautiful objects, magnificent works of art and spectacular surroundings. Take a boat to Lidingö and explore the sculpture park at Millesgården, or hop on a ferry to Artipelag for a walk through the almost meditative pine forest surrounding the gallery and its sculpture park. Alternatively, stay in central Stockholm and plan a visit to one of the city’s classic museums, such as Nordiska Museet, Nationalmuseum, Sven-Harrys, Moderna Museet or Liljevalchs.

Time Out-tips: Walk across Skeppsholmsbron as the evening lights reflect on the water for one of Stockholm’s loveliest walks. The island is home to both the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities and Moderna Museet, among others. Don’t miss the chance to stop for a coffee or a beer at the newly opened Tullstugan.

What is it? A classic autumn pastime celebrating local crafts, small-scale producers and the season’s best flavours and aromas.

Why visit? Fragrant chanterelles, piles of squash and pumpkins, and food stalls serving hot apple juice, freshly baked treats and street food. When the autumn air is crisp enough to leave your cheeks rosy, there’s nothing cosier than browsing a market, sampling artisan cheeses, chatting to stallholders and picking up ingredients for a slow-cooked weekend feast. It’s a simple way to slow down and make the most of summer’s harvest.

Time Out-tips: If you’d rather skip the long drive out to the countryside, Bondens Egen Marknad farmers’ market on Södermalm is your best bet. Settle down on a bench in Nytorget with a cup of coffee and browse the stalls along Katarina Bangata.

What is it? Take a trip to one of the many farms or market gardens open to visitors and pick your own cut flowers, root vegetables, berries, sweetcorn and pumpkins.

Why visit? Getting your hands dirty, coming home with fresh vegetables and perhaps stopping for a coffee and a bite to eat is a perfect autumn activity for the whole family. It’s also a great way to swap city pavements for fresh air and countryside surroundings. This has always been a huge hit with my own children, aged one and four, who love heading out to the countryside, picking their own produce, spotting chickens and simply running around in wide-open spaces without their parents constantly reminding them to slow down and watch out for traffic.

Some places, like Thorslunda gård, also offer extra activities for children, from maize mazes to toy tractors.

Time Out-tips: There are plenty of places to choose from, but a few worth checking out are Ulriksdals Slottsträdgård and Brunnsvikens trädgård in Solna, Rosendals trädgård on Djurgården and Thorslunda gård on Ekerö. Get in touch beforehand or check their websites to see what’s currently available to pick.

What is it? Cold-water swimming isn’t for everyone, but plenty of Stockholmers happily take a dip as the days turn cooler, from the first crisp mornings of autumn right through to winter, when temperatures drop below freezing.

Why do it? Honsetly it's more about the post-plunge high then the actual plunge. That electric, full-body reboot and instant surge of pure adrenaline. This past year, Stockholm has introduced a wave of sleek new public swimming docks, meaning you can enjoy a crisp dip paired with some of the most gorgeous views in the capital. Pick the dock at Norr Mälarstrand or Södra Mälarstrand, or head to "Doppbryggan" in Slussen – a compact dipping pool looking straight out at City Hall, complete with rentable sauna pods. Check out our guide to Stockholm's top swimming spots to plan your swim. 

Time Out-tip: Hornstulls strand recently got a new public sauna that you can rent to get your toes toasty again after a dip in Lake Mälaren.

What is it? Stockholm’s Halloween offerings include spooky theme park thrills at Gröna Lund and Shockholm, the Nordic region’s biggest Halloween parade. At Gröna Lund, five terrifying haunted houses await, featuring everything from zombies to secret cults, alongside elaborately decorated areas, food stalls packed with treats and spectacular performances. And on Halloween itself, Shockholm takes over the city centre with a colourful parade that anyone can join.

Why go? At Gröna Lund, get your heart racing in upgraded haunted houses like ‘Sekten – demonernas återkomst’ (The Cult: Return of the Demons), feel the G-force on the rollercoasters and tuck into theme park treats like candy apples, ghost waffles, sticky buns and ramen. There’s also something special about watching dusk settle over Skeppsholmen from 121 metres up in the air on the Eclipse ride.

Prefer to dress up and get spooky yourself? On October 31, Shockholm, which bills itself as the Nordic region’s biggest Halloween parade, takes to the streets. It’s free to join and there’s no need to register in advance. Of course, you can also just watch the spectacle from the sidelines.

Time Out-tips: Looking for fun Halloween activities for younger children? Gröna Lund’s Lilla Området offers a gentler atmosphere, with a Gnutt disco and a show about the Gnuttätaren. Several museums are also hosting Halloween-themed activities during the autumn half-term break. At Scenkonstmuseet, you can make your own theatre masks and join a Halloween disco, while the Maritime Museum is offering cosy storytelling sessions and guided tours featuring ghostly sailors. At Nordiska museet, there’s ‘Uppdrag: Väsen’ (Mission: Supernatural Beings), as well as historical playtime in Lekstugan.

Shockholm: Sergels torg. 17:00–21:00, parade starts at 19:00. Free. More at shockholm.se.

Halloween at Gröna Lund: Open weekends, throughout the autumn half-term break and for one extra weekend in November. Last day

What is it? From mid-August to November, you can head into the forest on a treasure hunt. From blueberries and raspberries to blackberries, lingonberries, chanterelles and porcini mushrooms, the forest is bursting with treats that are yours for the picking.

Why visit? It’s the ultimate Nordic autumn ritual and a completely free activity that, if all goes well, ends with a pile of freshly picked mushrooms on a crispy, buttery slice of toasted sourdough bread. And whether you’re hoping to fill your freezer with golden chanterelles or just looking for an excuse to sip coffee from a flask among moss-covered ground and towering pine trees, the Swedish forest always offers a lovely day out and a chance to recharge. Think of it as free gourmet therapy.

Time Out-tips: Don’t have a secret mushroom-picking spot passed down through generations? Tyresta National Park, Hellasgården and Björnö Nature Reserve are excellent places for a day trip around Stockholm, where you’re guaranteed a lovely day in nature, whether you find any mushrooms or not. If you fancy a little help from technology, there are also apps like Forage, which highlight promising areas and offer inspiration on where to look.

What is it? Stockholm has some fantastic historic and independent cinemas where movie nights are taken to a whole new level. Swap giant plastic cups for velvet armchairs, charming Art Deco interiors and an intimate atmosphere. It’s the perfect activity for a date or a night out with a friend.

Why visit? Many of these cinemas combine top-notch films with food and drinks served straight to your seat. Sip a glass of wine, tuck into a charcuterie board or savour a beautifully prepared dinner while the film plays. Some of the city’s best spots include Bio Capitol in Vasastan, Bio Rio near Hornstull and the newly renovated Bio Fågel Blå on Östermalm.

Time Out-tips: I picked up this tip from someone else and am shamelessly stealing it: go to the cinema on your own! Treat yourself to a comfy velvet armchair, order something really good to eat and drink, and lose yourself in the magic of the movies.

What is it? If you want to make the hotel itself the destination and enjoy a change of scenery without travelling far, a spa break is the ultimate choice. As the autumn days grow darker and colder, few things beat stepping into a warm oasis, slipping into a soft bathrobe and leaving everyday stress behind for a full 24 hours.

Why visit? Because it’s the perfect way to recharge your batteries when the autumn weather turns gloomy. A night at a spa hotel gives you the best of both worlds: complete relaxation and a touch of luxury. Combine hot springs, steamy saunas and soothing treatments with a first-class dinner and a good night’s sleep between freshly made hotel sheets. Wake up feeling refreshed to a hotel breakfast with everything laid out for you, a treat for both body and mind when you need a break.

Time Out-tips: There are plenty of fantastic spa hotels just a short journey from central Stockholm. Some of our current favourites include the newly renovated Villa Foresta on Lidingö, Japanese-inspired Yasuragi in Hasseludden, tranquil Villa Lovik and the fairytale-like Lejondals Slott in Bro.

What is it? Turn an ordinary evening into a journey of discovery through the world of wine. Dive into full-bodied reds or learn more about terroir, winemaking techniques and grape varieties. All in the company of knowledgeable sommeliers and often accompanied by savoury nibbles.

Why go? It’s a lovely way to brighten up a dark autumn evening, whether you want to impress a date, round off the week with a friend or do something other than play shuffleboard with your colleagues. Not only will you have a great time and perhaps find a few new favourites for your wine rack at home, but a wine tasting also gives you a deeper understanding of what you’re actually drinking. Once you get to grips with the craftsmanship behind the label, what’s in your glass often takes on a whole new dimension.

Time Out-tips: Stockholm is packed with passionate wine bars with fantastic atmospheres. Some of our favourites that regularly host open tastings include NOFO Wine Bar on Södermalm, acclaimed Folii and the historic Wasahof, where burning questions like ‘Why is the entire wine world so jealous of Burgundy?’ and ‘Can cheese really make French wines sing?’ are explored in its 125-year-old wine cellar.