In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The best views in Stockholm are free: Monteliusvägen, a 500-metre path on Södermalm, Skinnarviksberget, the highest natural point in central Stockholm, Fjällgatan, a short walk from Slussen metro station, and Vanadislunden in the north. Katarinahissen is a public lift that rises 38 metres. Two towers people expect are shut: the Kaknästornet TV tower has been closed to the public since 2018, and the City Hall tower is closed for renovation from early 2027 to the end of 2028. Monteliusvägen can be slippery in winter. Prices are in Swedish kronor. Or book a tour: the Old Town walking tourad is from SEK 150 and the Södermalm walking tour with viewpointsad from SEK 210 (GetYourGuide).
The viewpoints compared
Visit Stockholm’s guide to the best views, published on 6 October 2026, lists the free ones. None needs a ticket or a booking.
| Viewpoint | What you see | Cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monteliusvägen, Södermalm | Lake Mälaren, City Hall, Riddarholmen, Kungsholmen and Gamla Stan | Free | A 500-metre path with a safety rail. Parts can be slippery in winter |
| Skinnarviksberget, Södermalm | Kungsholmen, Gamla Stan and the City Hall | Free | The highest natural point in central Stockholm. A park and an open-air café lie beneath it |
| Fjällgatan, Södermalm | Saltsjön, Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Skeppsholmen and Djurgården | Free | A short walk from Slussen metro station |
| Ivar Los park, Södermalm | Central Stockholm, Kungsholmen, Riddarholmen and Gamla Stan | Free | A popular place for weekend walks and sunset picnics |
| Vanadislunden, north of the centre | Östermalm, Vasastan and the municipalities to the north | Free | A park on a hill at the northern edge of the inner city |
| Skansen | Östermalm and Gärdet from Lill-Skansen; Saltsjön and Södermalm by the Solliden stag | Skansen ticket | See Skansen tickets |
Monteliusvägen
Free · a 500-metre path · Södermalm
Monteliusvägen is a walking path with houses on one side and the view on the other: Lake Mälaren, Stockholm City Hall and Riddarholmen, best at sunrise and sunset in Visit Stockholm’s words. There is a safety rail. Take care in winter, when parts of the path can be slippery. Ivar Los park, listed with it, looks over Kungsholmen, Riddarholmen and Gamla Stan.
Monteliusvägen, with Gamla Stan across the water. Photo: Esquilo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Skinnarviksberget
Free · the highest natural point in central Stockholm · Södermalm
Skinnarviksberget is a favourite of locals for picnics, and Visit Stockholm says there are almost always people enjoying the view, in winter with a warm cup of coffee or in summer with wine under the sunset. The view runs across Kungsholmen, Gamla Stan and the City Hall. The park beneath the hill has a small playground and an open-air café.
Riddarholmen and Gamla Stan across Riddarfjärden, seen from Skinnarviksberget. Photo: Holger.Ellgaard, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Fjällgatan and Katarinahissen
Fjällgatan free · Katarinahissen a 38-metre public lift · Södermalm
Fjällgatan is a short walk from Slussen metro station, with a view of Saltsjön, Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. Katarinahissen is a public lift and a Stockholm landmark that has long connected Slussen with Mosebacke torg on Södermalm, and takes you 38 metres up to a view of central Stockholm.
Katarinahissen, the public lift at Slussen. Photo: Peter Haas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
A guided option is the Södermalm walking tour with viewpointsad, from SEK 210, 4.8 stars from 67 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Vanadislunden
Free · a hill park at the northern edge of the inner city
Vanadislunden looks over Östermalm, Vasastan and Stockholm’s neighbouring municipalities to the north.
The two towers that are closed
- Kaknästornet: the TV tower has been closed to the public since 2018. Its owner Teracom told the newspaper Mitt i in June 2025 that it has no plans to reopen the doors.
- The City Hall tower: 106 metres tall with about 365 steps and a tower museum halfway up. It is closed to visitors for renovation, scheduled to start in early 2027 and finish at the end of 2028, with reopening expected in 2029. The City Hall itself is open on its guided tours. See the City Hall tour.
The order that works: start at Fjällgatan, by Slussen metro station, and take Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget on the same side of Södermalm. What to skip: the towers; both are closed.
Rules and getting there
- Cost: Monteliusvägen, Skinnarviksberget, Fjällgatan, Ivar Los park and Vanadislunden are free. Skansen needs its ticket.
- Winter: Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget are outdoors on a hill. Take care on ice.
- Getting there: Fjällgatan is a short walk from Slussen metro station. Stockholm public transport has the fares.
- The one thing that ruins a trip: heading for a tower. The two best-known towers are closed.
What to book in Stockholm has the closed days for every sight. Free things to do in Stockholm lists the other free sights. Gamla Stan is the view from Södermalm, close up. Stockholm walking tours and boat tours show the city from the street and the water. 3 days in Stockholm puts a viewpoint at sunset. The Södermalm walk strings Katarina Church, Fjällgatan, Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget into one route from Slussen to Zinkensdamm. For a bed on Södermalm, see where to stay in Stockholm.
Common questions
What is the best free view in Stockholm?
Visit Stockholm lists Monteliusvägen, Skinnarviksberget, Fjällgatan, Ivar Los park and Vanadislunden. Monteliusvägen is a 500-metre path on Södermalm with a view of Lake Mälaren, City Hall and Riddarholmen. All of them are free.
Is the Kaknästornet TV tower open to visitors?
No. It has been closed to the public since 2018, and its owner Teracom told the newspaper Mitt i in June 2025 that it has no plans to reopen it.
Can I go up the Stockholm City Hall tower?
No. The tower is closed to visitors for renovation, scheduled from early 2027 to the end of 2028, and the City of Stockholm expects it to open again in 2029.
Is Monteliusvägen safe in winter?
The path has a safety rail, and Visit Stockholm warns that parts of it can be slippery in winter.
How high is Katarinahissen?
The public lift takes you 38 metres up, from Slussen to Mosebacke torg on Södermalm, to a view of central Stockholm.
Where is the highest natural point in central Stockholm?
Visit Stockholm says Skinnarviksberget is the highest natural point in central Stockholm. It looks across Kungsholmen, Gamla Stan and the City Hall.
