What is Open This Midsummer Weekend?

Photo by Yanan Li - Stockholm Visitors Board

(Edit: this is information for 2011. For 2013... click here!) This coming weekend (June 24th to 26th) is the Midsummer holidays here in Sweden. Most visitors to Stockholm don't realize what a large holiday this is in Sweden (it rivals Christmas). Every year the city is filled with tourists wondering why the city resembles a ghost town. It is a very friends & family orientated holiday with Swedes escaping to their country homes to celebrate in true pagan style. Many stores, restaurants and museums are closed for part or all of the weekend. But all is not lost... here is a handy list of what is open each day during the weekend.

Friday, June 24th- Midsummer's Eve
Skansen is open! This is where you want to be to experience the Swedish traditions surrounding the holiday. Song, dance and the traditional maypole as well as a handicraft market.
The Vasa Museum is also open!
The Royal Palace (museums are closed though) in the Old Town as well as Drottningholm Palace are open.
All other major museums are closed.
The amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken are open for business.
Shopping- Major department stores, like NK and Åhlens, close early (2pm). Most shopping centers are closed. Smaller stores will close early or are closed. Liquor stores (Systembolaget) will be closed.
Sightseeing bus & boat tours will be running as normal.

Saturday, June 25th- Midsummer's Day
Skansen, the palaces and the Vasa Mueum are open today just as they were on Friday (see above). Other museums opening today are Fotografiska, Moderna (modern art), Nordic and Nobel museums.
The amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken are open for business (see links above).
Shopping- Major department stores, shopping centers and most smaller stores are closed. Liquor stores (Systembolaget) will be closed.
Sightseeing bus & boat tours will be running as normal.


Sunday, June 26th
All museums, stores and sightseeing are open again as usual!

As for restaurants... the majority are closed during the weekend. A safe bet are hotel restaurants which will be open as normal. A few restaurants in the Old Town and downtown will be open. The worst day will be Friday. The Rival Hotel's Bistro is open all days for both hotel guests as well as for guests not staying at the hotel.

Here are some more valuable Midsummer tips from the Stockholm Visitor's Board!
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Write by: AN - Wednesday, June 22, 2011