Drottningholm Palace sits on an island in Lake Mälaren, 10 kilometres west of Stockholm's city centre, connected by the same steamship the Swedish royal family uses for the summer transit. The palace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is in active royal use - the family lives in a wing. The court theatre, built in 1766, is the most complete 18th-century court theatre in the world with its original stage machinery intact, and still operates summer productions.
Getting There
Steamship from Stadshuskajen (the pier beside Stockholm City Hall) to Drottningholm: approximately 60 minutes across Lake Mälaren. Operated by Strömma from late April to October; runs several times daily in June. The steamship is the route with the best approach - the palace appears across the water as you close on the island.
Bus 176 or 177 from Brommaplan T-bana station to Drottningholm: approximately 20 minutes. Brommaplan is 20 minutes from the city centre by metro. The bus is faster; the boat is better.
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Slott (entry to palace approximately SEK 180/€17; gardens free): the Swedish royal family's primary residence, built between 1662 and 1705 in the Swedish Baroque style. The State Apartments are open to the public; the family wing is not. The painted ceilings in the Baroque apartments and the Chinese Pavilion in the park are the set pieces.
The park (free entry) runs from the palace to the lake shore on three sides: the formal Baroque garden immediately below the palace, the English landscape park beyond it, and the paths to the Chinese Pavilion (a gift from King Adolf Frederick to Queen Louisa Ulrika in 1753, rebuilt in more permanent form in 1769). The gardens are flat.
The Chinese Pavilion (entry approximately SEK 125/€12, seasonal): the 18th-century fashion for Chinoiserie architecture applied to a full-scale pavilion in the palace grounds, furnished with 18th-century Chinese objects. The combination of formal park, Swedish Baroque palace, and Chinese pavilion is specific to the period and specific to this site.
The Court Theatre
Drottningholms Slottsteater (entry to museum approximately SEK 120/€11; productions extra): the most important feature of Drottningholm for anyone interested in theatre history. Built in 1766, closed after the death of Gustav III in 1792, sealed for 130 years, then opened again in the 1920s with the original stage machinery, wings, and backdrops intact. The 18th-century perspective scenery - painted canvas flats and drops - is still in working order.
The theatre is small (400 seats); the summer programme runs opera and dance productions in June and July, performed on period instruments with historical staging practice. Tickets (approximately SEK 400-900/€40-90) sell out months in advance. Check drottningholmsslottsteater.se for the June programme.
Even without a production ticket, the daytime museum visit shows the intact stage and the machinery - the trap doors, the wave machines, the thunder drums - that 18th-century court theatre operated.
Two Nights at Drottningholm
The island and the immediate surroundings are walkable over two days:
Day One (post-marathon): Arrive by steamship in the afternoon. Palace gardens and park at recovery pace. Dinner at the hotel.
Day Two: Palace interior (morning, before tour groups), Chinese Pavilion, court theatre museum. Afternoon: kayak hire from the lake shore (flat water) or walk to the nature reserve at the south end of the island. Evening: theatre production if ticketed.
Where to Stay
Drottningholm Hotel (the former palace outbuildings): rooms in the converted stable and guard buildings on the palace estate. The location is unmatched. Limited availability; book well in advance.
Alternatively: Stay in central Stockholm (Östermalm or Kungsholmen) and take the steamship daily - the 60-minute journey each way is not too long for a day trip.
Where to Eat
Drottningholm Palace Café (in the park): lunch option adjacent to the palace. The hotel restaurant for dinner. June in the palace park: the outdoor cafe tables in the Baroque garden are the correct setting for a post-marathon lunch.
Practical Notes
- Drottningholm is 10 km west of Stockholm city centre.
- June steamship services: check Strömma timetables at stromma.com for current June schedules.
- Exit: Return by steamship or bus 176/177 to Brommaplan and then T-bana to Stockholm Central (Arlanda Express: 18 minutes to Arlanda).