In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The changing of the guard is free at 12:15, or 13:15 on Sundays. Monteliusvägen, Skinnarviksberget, Fjällgatan, Ivar Los park and Vanadislunden are free viewpoints. The Stockholm City Museum is free. Nationalmuseum is free for everyone on Thursdays 17:00 to 20:00 and Moderna Museet on Free Friday, 18:00 to 20:00. What only looks free: Nationalmuseum’s collection (SEK 160 outside Thursday evening), the Royal Palace (SEK 220), the City Hall (guided tour only, SEK 150) and the metro art, which needs a ticket. Kaknästornet has been shut since 2018. Prices are in Swedish kronor. Or book a tour: the Old Town walking tourad is from SEK 150 (GetYourGuide).
What is free
| What | Rule | Hours | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| The changing of the guard | Free | 12:15; 13:15 on Sundays and public holidays | In the Royal Palace’s Outer Courtyard, about 40 minutes. In November and December the parade starts at Mynttorget |
| Monteliusvägen | Free | Outdoors, no opening hours | A 500-metre path on Södermalm with a safety rail. Parts can be slippery in winter |
| Skinnarviksberget | Free | Outdoors, no opening hours | The highest natural point in central Stockholm |
| Fjällgatan | Free | Outdoors, no opening hours | A short walk from Slussen metro station |
| Ivar Los park and Vanadislunden | Free | Outdoors, no opening hours | Viewpoints listed in Visit Stockholm’s guide to the best views |
| Stockholm City Museum | Free | Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday 11:00 to 17:00; Wednesday 11:00 to 20:00 | At Slussen |
| Nationalmuseum, Thursday evening | Free for everyone | Thursday 17:00 to 20:00 | The ground floor is free every day |
| Moderna Museet, Free Friday | Free for everyone | Friday 18:00 to 20:00 | Open to 20:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays. Closed Mondays |
| City Hall Park and the City Hall Shop | Free | Open to everyone | The building itself is a paid guided tour |
| The Vasa Walk | Free | Self-guided | A free audio walk through Djurgården and Beckholmen |
| The metro art | An SL ticket | Metro hours | A single ticket is SEK 43 |
The Vasa Walk
Free · an audio walk · Djurgården and Beckholmen
The Vasa Museum offers a free audio walk that follows the warship Vasa’s history through the Djurgården area and Beckholmen island. It is narrated by Fred Hocker, the museum’s director of research. The Vasa Museum tickets page has the museum itself, which is SEK 195 or 240 for an adult and free for visitors aged 18 and under.
Beckholmen, seen from Djurgården. Photo: Arild Vågen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Monteliusvägen and the other viewpoints
The best free views are on Södermalm. Monteliusvägen looks over Lake Mälaren, City Hall and Riddarholmen, and Skinnarviksberget over Kungsholmen, Gamla Stan and the City Hall. Both are outdoors, so take care on ice. The best views in Stockholm compares them with the towers that are closed.
Free days and free ages
- Thursdays, 17:00 to 20:00: Nationalmuseum is free for everyone.
- Fridays, 18:00 to 20:00: Moderna Museet is free for everyone.
- Under 19 or 20: free at the Vasa Museum (18 and under), Nationalmuseum (under 20), the Nobel Prize Museum (0 to 18), the Royal Armoury (0 to 18), the Swedish History Museum (under 19), Millesgården (0 to 18) and the Hallwyl Museum (under 19).
- Younger children: free at Spritmuseum to age 14, at the Viking Museum to age 14 from 24 October 2026, at ABBA The Museum to age 6, and at the Royal Palace to age 6. Skansen is free for ages 0 to 15, with a free ticket booked in advance.
- School terms: Nordiska museet is free for children aged 3 to 18 on weekdays during the autumn and spring school terms.
- Half price rather than free: the Swedish History Museum on Wednesdays 17:00 to 20:00, the Royal Armoury on Thursdays 17:00 to 20:00 from September to April, and Fotografiska on Wednesdays from 18:00 for two for the price of one.
The main building at Millesgården on Lidingö. Photo: Holger Ellgaard, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
What is not free
- Nationalmuseum’s collection: SEK 160, except on Thursday evenings. See best museums in Stockholm.
- The Royal Palace: SEK 220, SEK 240 from May to September. See Royal Palace tickets.
- The City Hall: a guided tour of SEK 150 is the only way in. See the City Hall tour.
- The cathedral: Storkyrkan is SEK 120, free to visitors up to 18. See Gamla Stan.
- The towers: Kaknästornet is closed, and so is the City Hall tower.
- The metro art: a ticket is the only cost. See Stockholm metro art.
A free day
- Monday: the guard at 12:15, the viewpoints on Södermalm, the City Hall Park and the metro art. Nationalmuseum, Moderna Museet, the Royal Armoury and the Nobel Prize Museum are closed.
- Thursday: the guard, then Nationalmuseum free from 17:00 to 20:00.
- Friday: the guard, then Moderna Museet free from 18:00.
- Sunday: the guard is at 13:15.
What to book in Stockholm has the closed days for every sight. Stockholm walking tours sets the paid walks beside the others, and the Gamla Stan walk and the Södermalm walk are the free ones to do on your own. Stockholm with kids sorts the free ages by sight. 3 days in Stockholm builds the free evenings into a plan. For a bed, see where to stay in Stockholm.
Common questions
Is Nationalmuseum free?
Not the permanent collection, which is SEK 160 for adults. It is free for everyone on Thursdays from 17:00 to 20:00, and under-20s are free at all times. The ground floor, with the restaurant, shop and courtyards, is free every day.
When is Moderna Museet free?
On Free Friday, 18:00 to 20:00. Visitors under 19 are free at all times.
Is the changing of the guard in Stockholm free?
Yes. The ceremony in the Royal Palace's Outer Courtyard begins at 12:15 on weekdays and Saturdays and 13:15 on Sundays and public holidays, and needs no ticket.
Which Stockholm viewpoints are free?
Monteliusvägen, Skinnarviksberget, Fjällgatan, Ivar Los park and Vanadislunden. The Kaknästornet TV tower has been closed to the public since 2018, and the City Hall tower is closed for renovation.
Which Stockholm museums are free for children?
The Vasa Museum to age 18, Nationalmuseum under 20, the Nobel Prize Museum, the Royal Armoury and Millesgården to age 18, the Swedish History Museum and the Hallwyl Museum under 19, Spritmuseum to age 14, and the Viking Museum to age 14 from 24 October 2026. Skansen is free for ages 0 to 15 with a booked free ticket.
Is the Stockholm metro art free?
The art is, but you need a valid SL ticket to enter the stations. A single ticket is SEK 43 and lasts 75 minutes.
