Djurgården – från kunglig jaktmark till folkpark och matparadis

Most Stockholmers and visitors associate Djurgården with major attractions such as Skansen, Gröna Lund and the Vasa Museum. And of course they are worth visiting – but the island offers so much more than the obvious. Djurgården has a history that stretches back several hundred years, long before it became the people's park and a gastronomic hub.

Djurgården was originally a royal hunting ground. Deer and other game roamed here, and the area was strictly reserved for the court and the royals. It was only later that the land was opened up, and became a place where people could stroll, have fun and meet. That transformation, from exclusive hunting ground to an open and vibrant public park, is one of the things that makes Djurgården so unique.

Många besökare vandrar längs de stora, välkända stråken. Men Djurgården rymmer också små gator och gränder som få känner till. Ett exempel är Breda gatan – en gata som ofta överraskar även stockholmare. Den är inte pampig, men desto mer pittoresk. Här kantas de röda och gula träkåkarna av stockrosor som klättrar mot fasaderna och ger gatan en lantlig, nästan småstadslik känsla mitt i Stockholm. Just därför är det en av de mest älskade små hemligheterna på ön.

Today, Djurgården is also a food paradise. Classic restaurants mingle with small cafes, ice cream parlors, and restaurants that prepare food with a focus on both history and sustainability. From a quiet coffee break with a view of the water to a full evening in magnificent premises – there is something for all tastes here.

There's something special about Djurgården: you never really finish with it. I notice it myself with my guests – some come back to do the same tour again, just to discover new details and get new stories. Because on Djurgården there is always more to see, more to taste, more to discover.

So the next time you're on your way to one of the big attractions – stop for a moment, turn off the main roads, and be surprised by a street, an avenue or a building you didn't know existed. Then you will see that other side of Djurgården – the one that still carries both royal splendour and popular charm.

Tips! If you want to experience Djurgården in a slightly different way, you can join my culinary walk. Two dates remain this autumn: 13 September and 18 October. Then I mix food, history and hidden places – and maybe you'll see that street you didn't know existed. Read more and book

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