12 Best Castles In Sweden To Visit

From a country that has so many legendary kings (I’m shouting out the mythical Beowulf here), there are not quite as many castles as you’d imagine. That being said, the best castles in Sweden are pretty epic, even if they’re not in a huge abundance like some other European countries.

Though let’s be honest, there are still hundreds to see across the country.

Now, I’ve got to be honest, when I first think of Sweden, I think of its pretty little towns, the most beautiful places, its amazing Ice Hotel and, of course, Stockholm. But, there is so much more to Sweden, too.

This is especially true when it comes to the best castles in Sweden that are dotted all across the country.

Depending on what area of Sweden you visit, you’ll likely find at least one castle in the local area. This makes it totally easy to pop into one whilst on a wider trip of the country, too.

With that in mind, take a look at some of the best castles in Sweden to explore. Have the best trip.

1.) Lacko Castle

Perched on the island of Kållandsö, Lacko Castle is one of the best castles in Sweden to visit if you’re looking for a day trip from Gothenburg. As it’s around a 2-hour drive, Lacko Castle is pretty easy to visit if you’re already heading inland and a great pitstop as you head further east.

The castle itself is super old and pretty incredible to see. Plus, the gardens are something else, too.

2) Skokloster Castle

Arguably one of the most beautiful Baroque castles in all of Europe, Skokloster Castle is nestled on the banks of Mälaren’s shores and dates al the way back from the 17th century (which is still young in castle years).

Don’t forget to take a little gander around the castle and a guided walk through beautiful halls and ornate staterooms. Honestly, it’s stunning and easily one of the best castles in Sweden that’s around a 50-minute drive from Stockholm.

3) Drottningholm Palace

Okay, technically a palace but this place is just stunning.

Dating from the 17th century, Drottningholm Palace is one (yes, one!) of the official residences of the Swedish royal family and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that we totally loved visiting.

Heavily influenced by French architecture, it’s one place you can spot a little bit of France in a Nordic country. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled some quirky additions too like its Chinese Pavilion and the Baroque garden.

Now, we took the boat here (from Stockholm) and it was well worth it. We spent all afternoon wandering the grounds, exploring the stunning rooms and stopping for lunch. It’s easily one of the best castles in Sweden to see.

4) Gripsholm Castle

Nestled on the banks of Lake Mälaren, Gripsholm Castle is known for its sweeping garden that spans for days!

Oh, and don’t forget to keep a lookout for a deer (or 500) that roam this area. If you’re heading inside, expect lots of smug mug oil paintings adorning the walls. Ha!

In all seriousness, there are some beautiful examples and artefacts including the Swedish National Portrait collection that’s well worth a peep at. It really is one of the best castles in Sweden.

5) The Royal Palace

Remember, I did say the Swedish royal family had more than one palace? 😉

As the name suggests, this is the official residence of the King of Sweden and is famous for having over 600 rooms. You can’t miss it!

This colossus palace is also home to five museums on site for us all to enjoy and full of antiques that date back many hundreds of years.

6) Malmö Castle

In the south of Sweden, Malmö Castle was built in the 16th century and originally belonged to the Danish (shhh, don’t tell them, they’ll want it back).

Now part of Sweden, the castle was feared in days gone by as a place to imprison criminals, similar to the Tower of London in the UK or more recently Alcatraz in San Francisco.

7) Rosendal Palace

Another (yes, another) royal residence, Rosendal Palace sits on its own island of Djurgården and is known for its Swedish Empire style of design.

Inside the palace, you will find a pretty epic range of period pieces including furniture and plush textiles from all over the world.

8) Eketorp Fortress

Not so much ‘castle’ as it is ‘fortress’, Eketorp is one of the oldest standing fortresses and best castles in Sweden to see.

Plus, Eketorp is located in southern Öland, which has also been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO.

The ancient fortress was built with lots of sweat and tears (I can imagine) in the darkest years of the Iron Age. It’s almost 1,700 years old.

9) Bohus Fortress

A medieval castle, Bohus Fortress is on the border of Norway and Sweden and actually used to be part of Norway.

Nowadays, it belongs to Sweden and is often held up as one of the most well-preserved examples of Northern European architecture in the region.

10) Örebro Castle

Located on the Svartån River, the Örebro Castle was built to keep a watchful eye out for contraband (such as liquor and gold) and see if it was being passed along the river.

In recent times, they no longer watch out for the liquor and the castle has been opened to us all to enjoy its concerts that take place throughout the year.

It really is one of the best castles in Sweden to visit if you’re driving inland between Gothenburg and Stockholm.

11) Kalmar Castle

Found in the little town of Kalmar, Kalmar Castle dates back to the Stone Age.

It is one of the lesser-known castles in Sweden but is well worth a visit if you want to get off the beaten track and see one of the area’s oldest historic buildings.

12.) Marsvinsholm Castle

A long time ago, Marsvinsholm Castle in Southern Sweden was part of (modern-day) Denmark and built for the Royal family (still surprised that Denmark hasn’t asked for it back yet).

The castle itself has been restored quite a few times and now stands proud for us all to enjoy and it’s easily one of the best castles in Sweden to explore.