6 places to celebrate Midsummer in Stockholm

If you’re after that perfect, postcard-pretty archipelago idyll, Grinda in the middle archipelago is a top choice. The island, which is a nature reserve, is easily reached by boat and offers a fantastic mix of leafy forests, open meadows and smooth bathing rocks. On Midsummer’s Eve, the island turns into a paradise for both boat owners and day-trippers.
The main celebration takes place on the welcoming meadow by Grinda Wärdshus.

This year, visitors who stay until Saturday 20 June can also see the performance ‘Midsommardans’ – a production where classical ballet is mixed with contemporary influences.

As always with Midsummer, it’s a good idea to book both boat tickets and any restaurant visits in advance.

If you want the most traditional celebration possible, Skansen is the place to be. Midsummer has been celebrated here since 1892, and they know exactly how to perfect ‘Små grodorna’. Over three full days, the historic open-air museum turns into a buzzing sea of folk costumes, fiddles and flower crowns. There are also ring dances for the whole family, performances by folk dance groups and live music stretching long into the bright evening.

No wreath? Buy one here made of birch leaves (note: only on Midsummer’s Eve). No food? Buy some here or bring your own to cook on one of the grills. It’s packed, central and easy to get to.

Want to maximise the archipelago vibe and combine tradition with a proper nightlife? Then hop on a boat to Sandhamn at the outer edge of the archipelago. This is the Midsummer dream personified: yellow merchant villas, rocky shores, the scent of sea spray and hundreds of sailing boats packed tightly into the harbour.

The celebrations traditionally begin in the afternoon on the green at Adolfsbergsplan, where locals and visitors gather to raise the maypole and dance to live accordion music. But when the sun starts to set (or rather lingers on the horizon), the tempo ramps up. The Seglarhotellet and the harbour’s bars turn into one giant party where champagne flows and dance floors are packed until the early hours. The grand finale, however, is Midsummer’s Day. That’s when the party at Seglarhotellet goes all out with DJs, drinks tables and celebrations on the pier. It’s intense, beautiful and very much the archipelago.

For people stuck in the capital while the rest of Stockholm escapes to countryside cabins, Riche in Östermalm offers an urban alternative. Founded in 1893, this classic brasserie is bringing midsummer celebrations into the city centre with a whole week of traditional midsummer food on the menu. Think dill-boiled new potatoes with Kalix vendace roe, pickled herring and classic strawberry cake.

During this time, the restaurant will transform into a floral wonderland with decorations and plenty of midsummer flair. In addition to Midsummer’s Day itself on June 18, there’ll be some extra celebration on the opening day, June 16, when folk musicians will set the mood and the restaurant’s very own midsummer pole will be raised.

If you want to avoid the biggest tourist crowds but still enjoy a true summer idyll, Vinterviken Garden in Gröndal is the perfect oasis. This hidden paradise is run by a non-profit association and offers a wonderfully bohemian Midsummer celebration in a lush setting. Locals, families and groups of friends gather on the large lawns between the apple trees.

The maypole is raised in the afternoon and you’re welcome to bring your own flowers. You can pack your own picnic for the lawn outside or buy a Midsummer plate at the café. But don’t expect herring – it’s all vegetarian here. Unlike many other places in the city, there’s no pre-booking either, just drop in. It’s charming and relaxed – exactly how a carefree Midsummer should be.