Brunnsviken Lake

Address: Brunnsviken, Stockholm, Sweden (north of central Stockholm, bordering Hagaparken)

Website: https://www.visitstockholm.com/

Hours: Open 24/7

Admission: Free to visit (public park areas)

Brunnsviken is a narrow bay of the Baltic Sea on the northern edge of central Stockholm, straddling the municipalities of Stockholm and Solna. It is part of the Royal National City Park, a protected urban parkland corridor.

Along the shoreline are extensive parklands, formal gardens and historic estates; the stretch of water is roughly a few kilometres long and is framed by places such as Haga Park, Ulriksdal Palace and the Bergianska trädgården. Paths along the shore provide continuous walking and cycling routes and several small beaches and boat-launch points are used in summer.

The area around Brunnsviken was shaped by royal and landscaped park development from the late 18th and 19th centuries, when Haga and other estates were laid out. Over time the shoreline estates and gardens became public parkland and were incorporated into the Royal National City Park.

Geographically the bay lies about 5-7 km north of central Stockholm, between the districts of northern Stockholm and the suburb of Solna, with parkland and residential areas along its edges.

• Protected status: Part of the Royal National City Park since 1995, making it one of the protected green corridors inside greater Stockholm.
• Walking and cycling route: A continuous waterfront walk following parkland and paths runs along much of the bay and is a common cycling and pedestrian route in spring and summer.

What to See#

• Haga Park: A large landscaped 18th- to 19th-century royal parkland and waterfront complex on the bay’s western shore, with formal lawns, alleys and open parkland that link into the city park system.
• Ulriksdal Palace and grounds: A historic palace and estate located on the northern shore, set in parkland beside the water and visible from several shoreline paths.
• Bergianska trädgården: A botanical garden beside the southern shore that opens onto the bay and is used for plant collections and public walks.
• Karlberg/connecting canal: A short canal and waterway connection at the bay’s western end that links Brunnsviken to surrounding waterways and park paths.

Brunnsviken is a short tram or bus ride north from Stockholm’s city centre; the nearest metro stations are Universitetet (red line) and Odenplan with onward bus/tram connections. Much of the shoreline is walkable from Hagaparken and Stockholm University.

• Walk the perimeter path at dawn for calm water reflections and joggers doing sprints-locals use this loop as ritual exercise
• Bring a light jacket-Lake Brunnsviken's breeze off the water can be chilly even in summer
• Pause at Haga or Rosendal to see 18th-19th century villas that flank parts of the bay