10 Things to Do in Stockholm in May

In the month of May the city of Stockholm is adorned with the green of the forests of the Archipelago, the cherry blossoms that carpet its parks and flowers such as roses and tulips that embellish many gardens. It is the time when its inhabitants enjoy the outdoors, after the long cold of winter.

So, one of the things you can see and do in Stockholm in May is to stroll through the parks and gardens of the city or go to its main attractions by bike, as the locals do. Here is a list of the top things to do in Stockholm in May, so you can enjoy your stay to the fullest.

If you arrive in Stockholm at the end of April, you can welcome the arrival of spring in a very special way, as on the night of April 30 to May 1, Walpurgis night is celebrated throughout the country. The festival, also known as Walborg, is believed to have been held since the 11th century and was intended to ward off witches and spirits by fire.

In Stockholm, the country's largest Walborg is held at the Skansen Open Air Museum. Locals gather around a large bonfire, as on St. John's Day, and sing choral songs. There are also often live music concerts. It is a long-awaited celebration for the whole community after the harsh Nordic winter.

In addition, during the day the locals usually hold picnics in the main squares of the city, accompanied with songs and beers. At night the celebrations continue in bars and nightclubs, mainly attended by the younger people.

Another option is to go to Riddarholmen, an islet in the center of Stockholm. There, a torchlight procession takes place, a bonfire is lit and live concerts are performed. It is a festival of Viking origin that you cannot miss, especially if you are interested in learning more about the history, culture and traditions of the Vikings.

More information about the festival

• Days and times: from April 30 at approximately 3 pm.
• Location: Skansen Open Air Museum, Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm.
• Admission: free of charge.

May 1 is Labor Day or Dagen der Arbetare in Sweden, as in many countries around the world. It is a public holiday on which various commemorative events are usually held throughout the country. In Stockholm there is the Labor Day Parade, which is one of the most emblematic in Sweden.

This day has been celebrated since 1938 throughout the country and it is traditional for locals to march with red flags through the main streets of the city. Please note that, as it is a non-working day, Stockholm' s main museums and other city attractions may not be open to the public, or may operate on a reduced schedule.

You can check a city calendar to find out about events taking place, or join the parade to experience the day the local way. You can also take the opportunity to visit representative places of the city such as the old Stortorget square, which is located in Gamla Stan, the historic center of Stockholm. This square is surrounded by 17th and 18th century buildings and is included in the best city tours.

Between the months of April and May, the Supermarket Independent Art Fair Festival takes place in Stockholm, an event that presents the works of artists from around the world. It has been held every year since 2007 and is organized by artists and artist collectives that wish to showcase their experimental and independent art.

In addition to art exhibitions, you can participate in talks and forums and enjoy artistic performances, audiovisual presentations and experimental music concerts, among others. The festival was conceived as an alternative to the more commercially focused art exhibitions and aims to bring art news to the general public.

The festival is held at Kulturhuset, a cultural center located in the center of the city. It lasts about 4 days, and usually starts at noon. I recommend that you check the activities and performances that take place in the official website of the event, so you can attend the ones that interest you the most. Undoubtedly, it is an ideal event for art lovers.

More information about the event

• Days and hours: between the months of April and May from 12:00 to 20:00 hs approximately.
• Location: Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg, 111 57 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Admission fee: about 13 EUR per person per day. 4-day passes cost about 27 EUR per person. Children under 16 are free.

May is one of the best times to visit Stockholm, as spring begins and the blossoms and greenery start to show in the city. Many people visit the city from mid-April through May to see especially the 60 cherry trees in bloom in the King's Garden or Kungstradgarden, a park located in Gamla Stan, the historic center of the city.

Kungstradgarden, which in winter in Stockholm becomes a skating rink, takes on a special charm in May and April, when these beautiful blossoms adorn the cherry trees.

In addition, there are restaurants, cafes and art galleries around the park, making it an ideal place for a stroll on spring days. The square also hosts cultural events, concerts and dance performances.

Kungstradgarden or Kungsan, as it is known to locals, was the garden and orchard of Makalös Palace during the 16th century (which burned down), and was also a training site for the army. Nearby is the 18th century Royal Palace, where the Changing of the Guard takes place every day (at 12.15 pm in winter and 11.45 am in summer). Both are must-see attractions on your city tour of Stockholm.

More information about

• Days and times: The cherry blossoms bloom between April and May.
• Location: Kungstradgarden, Jussi Björlings allé, 111 47 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Admission: free of charge.

At the end of May and/or beginning of June, the streets of Stockholm become the stage for one of the longest marathons in Europe: the Adidas Stockholm Marathon. It is also considered one of the most beautiful courses in the sport. The race usually starts at the Clock Tower in Stockholm's Olympic Stadium and takes about 6.5 hours.

During the 42 km marathon, you'll run through about 7 districts, including the historic center Gamla Stan; the island Djurgården, home to the city's most important museums (such as the Vasa Museum and the Skansen open-air museum); and the island Kungsholmen, where the City Hall is located. These are the must-see sites included in 2-day stays in Stockholm.

You can also participate in the Move For The Planet 5 km marathon, which takes place one day before the Stockholm Marathon and starts at Östermlam IP. This marathon aims to promote conscious consumption habits and care for nature.

There are several categories for men and women, organized according to age, and people over the age of 18 can participate. Please note that you must meet the footwear requirements in order to attend. If you prefer not to participate as a runner, you can always join the fervent crowd cheering on the runners, and have a nice time with the locals.

More information about the event

• Days and times: between late May and early June. The Adidas Stockholm Marathon usually starts at noon, and the Move For The Planet marathon starts around 5:30 pm.
• Location: Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Lidingövägen, 114 33 Stockholm, Sweden. Check start times and location on the official Adidas Marathon website.
• Entry fee: Move For The Planet costs between 25 and 40 EUR per person depending on the category, and the Adidas Stockholm Marathon costs between 90 and 140 EUR per person.

When the warm spring days begin in May, it is common for locals to cycle around Stockholm' s green areas and landmarks. There is an extensive network of special bike lanes throughout the city, and even on the roads, as Sweden is a country that promotes eco-friendly ways of getting around and healthier lifestyle habits.

If you want to join the bicycle caravans that tour the city from spring onwards, you can rent a bike from hotels, tourist information houses or private companies. You can even rent electric bicycles if you prefer not to pedal so much. Another option, if you want to learn about the history and culture of Stockholm, is to sign up for a guided bike tour, which will provide you with all the elements you need.

On your bike tour, you cannot miss the historic center Gamla Stan, where you will find the Stockholm Palace, the city's cathedral, the Nobel Prize Museum and Köpmangatan Street, the oldest street in the country, among others. You can also go to the Kungstradgarden park, located in the center of the city, where you can see the cherry blossoms; or to the beach Tanto strandbad, located on the island Södermalm.

In addition, you can go to the Skansen Open Air Museum, where you will be transported to the Sweden of ancient times. This museum is ideal if you go to Stockholm with children, as it offers many educational and recreational activities for the little ones. Remember that with the Stockholm Tourist Card you get discounted admission to many of the city's main attractions.

Sailing in the Stockholm Archipelago is an experience not to be missed all year round, but from May onwards, when nature becomes greener and the flowers start to bloom, it is undoubtedly one of the best times. Sailing through the Archipelago is one of the best boat trips in Stockholm.

The Archipelago is one of the largest in Sweden and the Baltic Sea. It is made up of islands, islets and rocks, and stretches about 80 km into the Baltic Sea. It is estimated to consist of some 24,000 islands and rocky islets covered with dense forests, and is inhabited by some 10,000 people.

The most traditional way to tour the Stockholm Archipelago is by cruise or speedboat, and the more adventurous travel by kayak. Cruises depart in the morning or in the afternoon, and it is best to book them in advance, since in spring many locals and tourists undertake this journey.

In addition to seeing the islands covered with vegetation, from the sea you can see some emblematic points of the city, such as the Royal Palace of Stockholm and the City Hall. You can also go by ferry to some of the islands, such as Värmdö, the most populated, the island of Vaxholm, which can be reached by car, or Grinda Island, which is also a nature reserve.

In May the winter landscape gives way to the green of spring, so it's the ideal time to explore the city's gardens, where you can see roses, lilacs, tulips and many other plants and trees.

One of the most beautiful is the Bergius Botanical Garden, which is located on the shores of Lake Brunnsviken. It has two greenhouses with plants from all over the world and a large green space with trees, herbs and plants, where you can pick berries in summer. Don't miss the giant water lily in the Victoria House and the Japanese garden. In the garden there are terraces or cafes where you can have a snack or even dinner.

Another very nice garden is the Rosendals Trädgård, located in the center of the city. It has about 50 apple trees, more than 100 species of roses, a vineyard, orchard and flower gardens. There is also a café where you can buy locally produced organic food. Remember that a comfortable and economical way to get around the main sites of the city is by tour bus.

You can also visit the Kungsträdgården or King's Garden, which is the oldest in the city. There you can see cherry blossoms and tulips, play giant chess and stroll along the paths with fountains and statues. It is also a place where concerts and cultural events are held in the warm season, especially on weekends. It is located in the center of Stockholm.

The warm temperatures in May are ideal for enjoying places like the Skansen Open Air Museum, which is one of the oldest in the world. In this museum you can see about 150 typical buildings that were brought from different parts of Sweden and experience what life was like in the region before the industrial era.

In the museum there are workshops of goldsmiths, ceramics, glass, shoemaking, carpentry, bakery and hardware, among others, where you can learn how different products were traditionally made. There is also a farm, an orchard and an amusement park for children.

Throughout the year there are different cultural events and concerts in this museum, and if you visit Stockholm in December you can visit the Christmas market. The interesting thing about this museum is that it is alive, that is, the "characters of other times" interact with visitors, which enriches the experience much more.

If you go to this museum, you can take the opportunity to go to the Vasa Museum, which is one of the most interesting museums in Stockholm. There you will find the ship of the same name, from 1628, which retains almost all of its original structure. It is one of the must-see attractions of the city.

More information

• Days and hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Location: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Admission: about 20 EUR per person.

Stockholm is a cosmopolitan city with an exquisite gastronomy, where you cannot miss its dishes with seasonal, organically grown vegetables. In May it is spring in Sweden, so you will find fresher dishes and also the most typical ones such as köttbullar, a kind of meatball; seafood salads; smörgåsbord, with herring and salmon; and a variety of desserts.

Tasting the gastronomy of Sweden will allow you to learn more about its traditions and culture, in addition to delighting you with the diversity of flavors. It is usual that gastronomic tours are organized in the city, which allow you to know the main restaurants and taste the best dishes.

A highly recommended place to know the gastronomy of Stockholm is Gamla Stan, its historic district. There, in addition to tasting the rich typical dishes of Sweden, you can visit the most representative buildings of Stockholm, dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, such as the Royal Palace and the medieval Cathedral of Storkyrkan.