Drottningholm between Palace, Theatre and Park

On the island of Lovön, around 10 km outside Stockholm, lies the Royal Domain of Drottningholm, an exceptionally well-preserved ensemble of gardens and buildings with original interiors. Those wishing to combine a culture-focused trip with walks in green surroundings will find various points of interest in a compact thematic area: the palace, theatre, museums, chapel and a diverse park landscape.

Palace, Theatre and World Heritage

The Royal Domain of Drottningholm is characterised above all by the interplay of its buildings and garden spaces. The palace features architectural elements inspired by the palaces of France and Italy. Together with the Drottningholm Palace Theatre, it is part of the World Heritage Site. The theatre dates from the 18th century and, together with the palace, forms a particularly distinctive part of this cultural ensemble. Another prominent place in the palace park is Kina slott. The pleasure palace was built in the 18th century as a gift to Queen Lovisa Ulrika and is now a museum. Kina slott and its surrounding grounds have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1991. This means that a visit need not be limited to the main residence: the history and design of this separate architectural and museum area are also part of the cultural experience in Drottningholm.

Parkland for Walks

The palace park offers different forms of garden design and therefore more than one uniform landscape impression. It includes avenues, a French-inspired pleasure garden, an English park and a Baroque garden. Two ponds with canals, islands and bridges complement the grounds. Large lawns and walking paths lead through these various areas and make the park an independent part of the stay. For a thematic exploration, the Royal Walks app offers walks in Drottningholm Palace Park. It focuses on something different from simply touring the buildings: the paths and garden spaces are explored through selected themes. Those who prefer to get to know the site in a religious or local context can also include the palace chapel. It was opened in 1730 and has been in continuous use ever since. Services are held there on the last weekend of every month, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Museums and Special Interiors

The cultural offering also includes Evert Lundquist’s studio. It was located in the old engine house at the Chinese Pavilion and is now an atmospheric museum. On display are oil paintings, charcoal drawings and drypoint etchings. In this way, the studio complements the courtly architecture and historic gardens with an insight into artistic work and different visual media.

Getting to Drottningholm

The easiest way to get to the palace is to take an SL bus from Brommaplan. In summer, you can also travel from the city to Drottningholm by a turn-of-the-century boat; the journey across Lake Mälaren takes one hour. A cycle path also leads from central Stockholm to Drottningholm. Visitor parking is available in Drottningholm and at the Drottningholm Palace Theatre; bus parking and wheelchair-accessible parking spaces are also available.

To the overall travel overview: Drottningholm.