Skokloster Castle is one of the best-preserved Baroque palaces in the world, built in the 1650s on the shore of Lake Mälaren. The guided tour price is now 190 kr, though a third-party booking site still lists it at 120 kr. You can book through GetYourGuide to arrange your visit before you travel.
Quick facts
| Address | Skoklostervägen 100, 746 96 Skokloster, Sweden |
| Opening hours | Daily 11am–5pm, 1 June–31 August 2026 |
| Admission | Adults 140 kr; under-19s free |
| Nearest transit | Commuter train to Bålsta, then bus 311 |
| Typical visit duration | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Why book Skokloster Castle tickets?
- 🏛️ A palace left deliberately unfinished: The Great Hall was never completed, offering a rare glimpse of 17th-century building methods.
- 🎟️ A world-famous painting: Arcimboldo’s Vertumnus, composed entirely of fruit and vegetables, hangs inside.
- 🌿 Free Paradise Playground: This lush play area beside the castle is open all year, at no charge.
- 📜 Free for under-19s: Admission costs nothing for children and young people.
- 💰 An annual pass option: One pass covers Skokloster and six sister museums for a full year.
Opening hours at Skokloster Castle
The castle keeps a seasonal schedule, opening fully only in summer.
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekends in May | 11am–4pm |
| Daily, 1 June–31 August | 11am–5pm |
| Weekends in September | 11am–4pm |
| Autumn break, 24 October–1 November | 11am–4pm |
| Christmas market, 28–29 November | 11am–4pm |
Outside these dates, the castle opens only for pre-booked group visits, lectures and special events. Private group tours can be booked all year round.
Ticket prices for Skokloster Castle
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Admission (all exhibitions), adult | 140 kr |
| Admission, under-19s | Free |
| Guided tour, adult (includes admission) | 190 kr |
| Guided tour, under-19s | Free |
| Annual pass (Skokloster and 6 sister museums) | 450 kr |
Basic admission covers every permanent and temporary exhibition on the accessible floors. Only the guided tour reaches the Wrangel Armoury and the Unfinished Hall. Persons accompanying a disabled visitor enter free. To secure your visit in advance, book through GetYourGuide.
How to get to Skokloster Castle
By car from Stockholm: take the E18 towards Oslo/Enköping, turn onto road 269/263 at Bro, and follow signs to Skokloster. The 66km route takes about an hour.
By car from Uppsala: take road 255 towards Sigtuna, then road 263, following signs to Skokloster. The 49km route takes around 50 minutes.
By train and bus from Stockholm: take the commuter train from Stockholm Central to Bålsta, then bus 311 to Skokloster. The journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
By boat from Uppsala: in summer, the M/S Kung Carl Gustaf and M/S Enköping both sail from Uppsala to Skokloster.
Parking at Skokloster Castle
The main car park is free, located by Skokloster Church, 300 metres from the castle on a firm gravel path. Two spaces at the castle itself are reserved for holders of a disabled parking permit, on the lakeside. The car park also offers 24 charging stations on its northern side and 2 on the southern side, plus room for 8 camper vans.
How long to spend at Skokloster Castle
Budget 1 to 1.5 hours for a self-guided visit, or around an hour for the guided tour alone. Add extra time for the free Paradise Playground if visiting with children.
Accessibility at Skokloster Castle
The castle has four floors and no lift, with 32 steps to each floor and a landing halfway. A guided tour involves 99 steps up and 100 down in total. Handrails run throughout, and folding chairs are available to borrow. A ramp at the main entrance, facing the lawn, reaches the ground floor, where the permanent “Dreams of Skokloster” exhibition, the museum shop and an accessible toilet are all located. The upper floors have no lighting and the castle is not heated, so dress for the season. Pushchairs are not permitted inside, though there is space to leave them at the entrance. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
What to see inside Skokloster Castle
The Vertumnus painting. Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s 16th-century portrait, composed entirely of fruit, vegetables and flowers, is one of the castle’s most recognisable treasures.
Dreams of Skokloster. This ground-floor permanent exhibition, accessible by wheelchair, explores the castle’s history between battlefield ambition and everyday life.
The Wrangel Armoury. Reached only on the guided tour, this collection reflects the military career of Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel, who built the castle.
The Unfinished Hall. Left incomplete since construction stopped in the 1670s, this hall offers a rare look at how a Baroque interior was built, layer by layer.
The State Apartments. Rich furnishings, textiles, ceramics and books fill these rooms, gathered by the Wrangel, Brahe and von Essen families over three centuries of ownership.
Practical visitor tips for Skokloster Castle
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check the calendar before travelling | The castle only opens fully in summer; other dates are limited to weekends or pre-booked groups |
| Dress for the temperature | The castle has no heating, so summers can feel warm and winters very cold indoors |
| Bring cash-free payment | Group and individual guided tours can sell out on busy weekend afternoons |
| Let children loose in Paradise | The free playground beside the castle stays open all year, regardless of castle hours |
| Book tickets in advance | Reserve through GetYourGuide to plan around the seasonal calendar |
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the castle open all year? | No, it opens daily only from June to August, plus weekends in May and September |
| Does admission include the guided tour? | No, the guided tour is a separate, higher-priced ticket that also includes general admission |
| Is the castle wheelchair accessible? | Only the ground floor, since there is no lift to the upper three floors |
| Is admission free for children? | Yes, under-19s enter free for both general admission and the guided tour |
| What is the castle’s most famous artwork? | Arcimboldo’s Vertumnus, a portrait built from fruit and vegetables |
Things to do near Skokloster Castle
The Paradise Playground, right beside the castle, offers free, year-round outdoor play for children. A nearby coffee roastery serves indoor and outdoor dining just a short walk from the entrance.
Skokloster Church, next to the car park, is worth a look on the way in or out. For a wider day out, the town of Sigtuna, one of Sweden’s oldest settlements, is a short drive away on Lake Mälaren. Uppsala, with its cathedral and university museum, makes a natural extension of the trip.
Alternative Baroque palaces within two hours
Drottningholm Palace. This UNESCO-listed royal residence, still used by the Swedish royal family, is around 30 to 35 minutes from central Stockholm.
Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred. Built by Gustav Vasa in 1537, this castle holds Sweden’s National Portrait Gallery, about an hour away by train and bus.
Tullgarn Palace, Trosa. A royal palace by the water, roughly an hour’s drive from Stockholm.
Uppsala Castle. This Renaissance and Baroque castle overlooks Uppsala’s cathedral, around one hour from Stockholm.
Örebro Castle. A moated medieval castle in the centre of Örebro, about two hours from Stockholm by train.
More Sweden travel
Other Sweden travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- 9 Stockholm tours and experiences worth booking (and which to skip).
- Admire extraordinary photography at Fotografiska Stockholm.
- Plan your visit to Sweden’s largest science and technology museum – Tekniska.
- Practical guide to visiting the Nordic Museum in Stockholm.
- Key information for visiting ABBA The Museum in Stockholm.
