Part of Stockholm’s large Royal National City Park, Bellevue Park offers opportunities to enjoy art, architecture and the outdoors. The park was designed in the late 1700s by royal landscape architect Fredrik Magnus Piper. Enjoy the views of Brunnsviken Lake and visit the art and sculpture museum of Carl Eldh.
The park is an English-style design with many pathways offering excellent views and photo opportunities. Plan a picnic on the grassy lawn areas. On the path up a small hill, find the statue of August Strindberg, a Swedish artist and playwright. You’ll also see the park’s oldest building, the rococo-style Paschens Malmgård, built by Johan Pasch in the 1750s. Just a few decades later Swedish politician Carl Sparre built a wooden house nearby, now known as Sparre’s Timber Palace.
Carl Eldh is one of the best-known sculptors in Sweden. In the Carl Eldh Studio Museum, you’ll find more than 1,000 sculptures and sketches. Models of two of his most famous works, The Branting Monument and The Olympic Runners, are on display. He selected this spot to take advantage of the northern light and the beautiful views. After you finish the museum tour, relax with a coffee at the garden’s open-air café or have a picnic or a game of soccer in the park.
Open from Tuesday through Sunday, the museum provides guided tours in English as part of the admission fee. For a special summer treat, reserve a spot to join museum guides on one of the walking trails of sculpture in eight different areas of Stockholm. The tour is affiliated with the Carl Eldh Studio Museum but goes beyond park boundaries. Find details and make bookings on the museum website.
Drive to Bellevue Park in 10 minutes from the centre of Stockholm. You’ll find free parking at Haga Forum nearby. You can also walk to the park from Sergels Torg in 30 minutes or rent a bicycle to follow the historic cycle route throughout the Royal National City Park. The official website has maps and additional directions.