The Amusement Park Gröna Lund

Gröna Lund seen from the water (Photo: Gröna Lund)

Gröna Lund, Sweden's oldest amusement park, is much more than just roller coasters. It is an entertainment center for people of all ages. Besides the rides, there is a concert venue, carnival games and restaurants. Gröna Lund is one of the biggest attractions for visitors to Stockholm in the summer months, with around 1.3 million people visiting the park each season.

View from the Eclipse ride. Photo by Frans Hällquist/Gröna Lund.

It is just about impossible to visit Stockholm during the summer and not be at least aware of Gröna Lund. It is located on the island of Djurgården, in close proximity to other popular attractions like the Vasa Museum, ABBA the Museum and Skansen park. It is also located on the waterfront. All this means that chances are high that you will walk by the amusement park or even pass it on a sightseeing boat during your visit. The roller coasters and free-fall rides also dominate the harbor skyline and the screams of the people on the rides can be heard from about a mile away.

Rainbow at Gröna Lund, seen from Gamla Stan (photo by me!)

They have 30+ rides in the park. Besides the above mentioned roller coasters and free-fall, they have a ferris wheel, a magic carpet, carousels, haunted & fun houses, bumper cars and several rides geared for smaller children. The long history of the park (first opened in the 1880's) makes Gröna Lund feel more like Coney Island than Disneyland. They also have lots of carnival type games.

Skeeball, photo by Gröna Lund.

Another reason why Gröna Lund draws so many visitors is their summer concerts. The park has hosted some big names through their history... Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Louis Armstrong, Bob Marley, the Hives and ABBA are just a few of the artists who have performed at Gröna Lund. This summer the artists include international performers like Alice Cooper, Lenny Kravitz and Robert Plant as well as Swedish artists like Ola Salo, Molly Sandén and Petter.

Lenny Kravitz poster 2015. Illustrator: Kristian Russel/Gröna Lund.

To get to Gröna Lund from the Rival Hotel, it is just a quick ride on the ferry to Djurgården from nearby Slussen. The ferry docks right next to the park. Click here for admission prices, opening hours and other facts.

Kättingflygaren in the evening. Photo by Johan Gramén/Gröna Lund.