10 Castles in Sweden For An Historical Day Out

Sweden Castles

1. Gripsholm Castle
2. Kalmar Castle
3. Trolleholm Castle
4. Orebro Castle
5. Drottningholm Palace
6. Malmö Castle
7. Marsvinsholm Castle
8. Skokloster Castle
9. Lacko Castle
10. The Royal Palace

Castles in Sweden look exactly like they have been taken out of a fairytale book complete with towers, turrets and surrounded by magnificent gardens. Sweden is dotted with beautiful castles and you can find one almost in every region. This makes it easy to add a visit to one in your itinerary no matter which part of Sweden you explore.

The beautiful castles of Sweden are famous for their architectural design and most of them have managed to preserve their original grandeur and splendour. Most of the castles feature the Baroque style or the Renaissance style of architecture. Many of the castles have been turned into Museums where visitors can get a good view of the antique artefacts, beautiful paintings and ancient treasures. Quite a few of the castles are still being used as private residences of the Swedish Royal Families such as the Royal Palace, the Trolleholm Castle and Marsvinsholm Castle.

Here are the some of the best Castles in Sweden:

01

Gripsholm Castle

This is one of the most elegant castles in Sweden and it looks like a picture taken out of a fairytale book. It lies on the banks of Lake Malaren and towers over the enchanting town of Mariefred in Sodermanland. The Castle was built by Gustav Vasa back in 1537 and it is filled with objects and artefacts that are over five hundred years old. The many rooms and winding passages feature portraits of prominent Swedish royals as well as important members of the royal court. The Castle grounds have several gardens which are beautifully maintained and taking a walk in these gardens will take you back in history.

Location: Sodermanland

Timings: 10 am to 4 pm Daily

Entry fees: Starting from INR 1000 per person

02

Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle is one of the oldest castles in Sweden and its legendary history dates back to over 800 years. Due to its strategic location, Kalmar is also known as the Key to the Kingdom. This imposing castle has several deep dungeons, secret doors, beautiful golden halls with beautiful gold leaf carvings on the ceiling. During the summer season the Castle turns into a playground for kids with many activities that are children centric while in winter it hosts one of the largest Christmas fairs in the country.

Location: Kalmar

Timings: Friday to Monday 10am to 6pm; Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 8pm

Entry Fees: Children under 3 years free entry. Adults INR 2000 per person

03

Trolleholm Castle

Trolleholm Castle is one of the most extensive castles in Sweden which spreads across 12300 acres. The beautiful Castle comprises over 110 structures, an expansive library housing thousands of books, beautifully landscaped lawns and gardens. The Castle is still privately owned by the Trolle-Bonde Family and the Castle itself is not open to the public. However, you can explore its magnificent gardens and enjoy the feel of being transported to the Victorian Era. The gardens are beautifully maintained and still retain its elegant palatial feel.

Location: Svalov Municipality, Sweden

Timings: 11 am to 4 pm Daily

04

Orebro Castle

Orebro Castle is a beautiful ancient Castle located on an island in the Svartan River. It was built initially as a defence fortress back in the 13th century which was later expanded into a large fortification unit. Today it is one of the most fascinating Sweden Castles that you can visit especially if you are travelling with kids. There is a whole floor that is specially designed for children. This room is filled with puzzles and other child centric activities. The other floors have several portraits of royals, ancient artefacts and legends of romance and hauntings on its walls.

Location: Kansligatan, Orebro

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm daily

Entry Fees: INR 160 per person

05

Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm Palace is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage and it is one of the most well preserved castles in Sweden. It is one of the finest examples of European architecture and till today it remains the private home of the Swedish Royal Family. A visit to this magnificent Palace will introduce you to a combination of a Chinese Pavilion, beautifully landscaped gardens, Royal Chapel and spacious Palace theatre. The Museum houses a fine collection of bronze sculptures by a Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries. The Palace still has the original interiors and furnishings which showcases the lives of the Royals in that era.

Location: Slottstallet, Drottningholm

Timing: 10 am to 5 pm Daily

Entry Fees: INR 1000 per person

06

Malmö Castle

Malmo Castle is one of the finest Renaissance Sweden Castles and it is the oldest surviving castle belonging to this style of architecture. The Castles was built on top of the ruins of an old fortress and today it represents quite a large part of the cultural heritage and history of Sweden. This was the Castle where Danish coins were minted and prisoners were beheaded in its courtyards. Today the Castle houses part of the Malmo Art Museum and the Natural History Museum of Malmo.

Location: Malmohusvagen, Malmo

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm Daily

Entry Fees: INR 350 per person

07

Marsvinsholm Castle

Marsvinsholm Castle is one of the water castles in Sweden located in the Village of Skarby which is on the outskirts of Ystad. The Castle itself dates back to the 17th century but the structure was thoroughly revamped in the 19th century to give it the fabulous exterior it has now. The interiors of the Castle are out of bounds for the public but you can visit the beautifully landscaped Castle Park as well as the Sculpture Park which is located within the grounds of the Castle.

Location: Skarby, Ystad

Timing: 10 am to 4 pm

08

Skokloster Castle

Skokloster Castle is located on Sko Peninsula beside the beautiful Lake Malaren and it is one of the best baroque style castles in Sweden. It is also one of the most beautifully preserved structures of this era and today it has been converted to an exceptional museum. The exhibitions held here showcase over 50,000 objects some of which are unique weapons, art, textiles and books of the 17th century. Besides the exhibitions, the Museum also conducts guided tours and offers digital content as well as programs on the history and artefacts of the things that are there at the Castle.

Location: Skokloster, Sweden

Timings: 11am to 5pm daily summer timings

Entry Fees: INR 1000 per person. Children and teens till 19 years can enter free of charge.

09

Lacko Castle

Lacko Castle is a beautiful Baroque style castle located on top of a cliff on the side of Lake Vanern. Visitors from all over the world come to explore this Castle which is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Sweden. The grounds, the beautifully maintained gardens, legends of treasures, priceless artefacts, ancient mediaeval vaults and the splendour of the Baroque architecture will enchant every single visitor to this magnificent castle. There are guided tours provided in Swedish and English which can be booked in advance.

Location: Lidkoping, Sweden

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm

Entry Fees: INR 450 to 700 per person

10

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace Sweden is listed amongst the largest and most lively palaces in Europe. The castle is the official residence of the Royal Family of Sweden and it hosts most of the official receptions and banquets held by the Swedish Monarchy. This most luxurious Sweden Castles is open to the public all year round where they can go visit the three museums, the Royal Chapel, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Gift Shop. Guided tours will also take you to the banquet halls and royal apartments where the royal banquets and meetings are held.

Location: Stockholm

Timings: 10am to 5pm Daily

Entry Fees: INR 1500 for adults and INR 750 for 7 to 17 years

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Gamla Stan

Dates back to as long back as the 13th century, you can imagine the number of historical structures that may be lined across the region. Ancient medieval alleyways, cobbled streets and archaic architecture surrounds this town. Having a strong “Old Town'' influence, Gamla Stan is home to the world-famous Stockholm Stock Exchange Building.Another famous attraction in Gamla Stan is its square, which holds immense historic resemblance. Being the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath where Swedeish noblemen were massacred by the Danish King, Christian II, this site is well revered. There are over 370 properties across the small town that hold archaeological importance and all of them are worthy places to visit in Stockholm.Best time to visit: June to August

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Sweden Reviews

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