Stockholm’s King’s Garden was once a private area for Swedish kings and was complete with a royal vegetable garden and burial place. Now the public happily enjoys the park’s free live music and cultural exhibits. It is one of the most popular spots in the city to meet with friends for dining and relaxation. King Gustav III may have had this in mind when he opened the park to the public in the late 1700s. The park has such impressive statuary that it has some aspects of an outdoor art gallery.
At the centre of King’s Garden find Gustaf Göthe’s neoclassical statue of King Charles XIII surrounded by Bengt Erland Fogelberg’s four crouching lions. Then look for the park’s showpiece, Johan Peter Molin’s Fountain of Molin, featuring Nordic mythological characters. It was constructed in 1866 for Stockholm’s art and industry exposition. Now its modern fibre optic lighting reinforces the art and technology marriage with its stunning nighttime appearance. Nearby a rectangular fountain in summer becomes an ice rink in winter. Visit in spring to have a picnic near spectacular displays of cherry blossom and willow buds.
Dine al fresco along the east side of the park where you’ll find cafés, fast-food stalls and full restaurants ranging from traditional Swedish to popular international chains. Wetterling Gallery, near the King Charles XIII statue, has free outdoor art exhibitions. Step inside to see rotating exhibitions by contemporary artists, Swedish and international.
Attend the Stockholm Street Festival in King’s Garden in early July to see magic acts and acrobatic feats. Visitors aged 23 to 19 will love the music and sports events of the We Are Stockholm festival in August, just for teens. In December plan a day of ice skating and shopping for gifts and handicrafts at the Christmas market. These and other events are described on the park’s website.
King’s Garden is in the centre of Stockholm so it is easy to reach from major attractions. Gamla Stan is a 15-minute walk south while Sergels Torg is 10 minutes west. The garden entrances are near public bus and metro stops as well.
