Drottningholm Palace
The royal family's residence and a UNESCO site - a lakeside baroque palace with formal gardens and a rare 18th-century theatre with its machinery intact.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Drottningholm is the private residence of the Swedish royal family and a UNESCO site, a graceful baroque palace on an island in Lake Malaren with formal French gardens, an English park and a Chinese pavilion. Its greatest treasure is the Drottningholm Court Theatre of 1766, still working with its original stage machinery and scenery.
What you actually see
- The palace - the baroque state rooms and the royal residence wing.
- The Court Theatre - the 18th-century theatre with its original machinery still in use.
- The gardens - the formal baroque parterre, the English park and the Chinese pavilion.
- The lake setting - the palace reflected across Lake Malaren.
When to go
Summer for the gardens in bloom, the boat from the city and the theatre's opera season; the palace is open year-round but the grounds are best warm. The summer boat ride is part of the pleasure.
Honest expectations
As a royal residence, parts are closed to visitors, so you see the state rooms rather than everything. The theatre is a separate ticket and a specialised delight for those who care about its history. It is out of the city, so allow travel time, ideally by the summer boat.
Nearby
Central Stockholm is a boat or metro-and-bus ride; Lake Malaren spreads around, with Birka further out.
What to pack for Drottningholm Palace
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
