Built on 14 islands at the junction of the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren, Stockholm is beautiful no matter how you look at it, but one of the best ways to get a feel for the city’s intricate maze of islands and waterways is to head to one of the many places where you can look down on Stockholm from above. Here are some of the best places to get a bird’s-eye view of the “Venice of the North.”

Stadshustornet (City Hall Tower)

Stockholm’s red-brick City Hall topped by three golden crowns is one of the city’s most recognizable buildings, and its 106-meter (348-foot) tower offers outstanding views in all directions. As you look down from the viewing level at 73 meters (239 feet), the panorama stretches from Saltsjön, an inlet of the Baltic Sea, in the east to Riddarfjärden, part of Lake Mälaren, in the west. Busy downtown Stockholm lies to the north and northeast, while the large island of Södermalm dominates the view to the south. The vista also encompasses the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) and other government buildings, Gamla Stan (the Old Town) with its church spires and the Royal Palace, and Djurgården with its parklands and museums, as well as various other islands and the Western Bridge (Västerbron).

Ascending the tower involves a bit of effort but is well worth it. An elevator travels halfway up the tower, after which you climb the rest of the way up stairs and through narrow, winding passages. If you’re really feeling energetic, you can skip the elevator and take the stairs all the way, though for understandable reasons, this option tends to be more popular on the way down.

Admission to the City Hall Tower is by timed admission ticket, which costs 60 SEK per person (free for children under 12, who must be accompanied by an adult).

The City Hall Tower is open from May through September, with entrance times every 40 minutes, starting at 9:15. a.m. Final admission is at 3:50 p.m. in May and September and 5:10 p.m. from June through August. Only 30 people are allowed in the tower at a time, and tickets do sell out during peak tourist periods, so buy your ticket early in the day to secure a time slot for your visit. The ticket office opens at 9 a.m.

Fjällgatan

For one of the best free panoramas in all of Stockholm, head to Fjällgatan, on the northeastern edge of Södermalm. It’s easily reached by heading east along Katarinavägen from Slussen. Directly below you are the docks for the Finland ferries. Many of the buildings along Fjällgatan were erected in the 1700s after a fire that destroyed most of the earlier structures. Take some time to savor the fantastic view of Djurgården, Skeppsholmen, and Gamla Stan. If you don’t already know why many people consider Stockholm one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the view from Fjällgatan will make you understand.

Skinnarviksberget

Most visitors to Stockholm miss this scenic and historic part of the city altogether. It’s their loss. The highest point in the city at 53 meters (174 feet) above sea level, Skinnarviksberget boasts one of the best views in Stockholm. From this rocky knoll you look down on the waters of Riddarfjärden, with downtown Stockholm beyond. It’s a great place to get a view of old and new Stockholm and a feel for the city’s geography. For locals it’s a popular picnic spot and escape from the urban bustle of Södermalm.

The name Skinnarvik comes from the word “skinnare,” meaning “tanner.” Historically this was a district where animal skins were dressed. Many of the old houses where the tanners lived have been preserved and can be seen on the outskirts of the park.

Skinnarviksberget is located in the western part of Södermalm, a few blocks north of Hornsgatan. It is accessible from  Gamla Lundagatan and Yttersta Tvärgränd.

Monteliusvägen

Monteliusvägen is a 500-meter (quarter-mile) walking path along the cliffs of Södermalm overlooking Lake Mälaren. The sweeping view encompasses City Hall directly across the water on Kungsholmen island, with Gamla Stan to the east and the Western Bridge (Västerbron) to the west.

Monteliusvägen is easily accessible from Bastugatan near Skolgränd at its eastern end and Kattgränd in the west, as well as from Ivar Los Park between the two. The park is named for the Swedish author Ivar Lo-Johansson, who lived at Bastugatan 21 from 1934 to 1990. The park has a playground designed around a countryside theme, with farm-themed buildings and wooden animals.

SkyView

For an unusual look at Stockholm from the south, ride the SkyView gondola at the Ericsson Globe (formerly the Stockholm Globe Arena). Shaped like a huge golf ball, Globen (“The Globe”) is the largest spherical building in the world, and SkyView takes you all the way up the side and onto the roof. The arena is located in a suburb south of the city center, so you won’t get the closeup views of downtown that you’ll get from some of the other places on this list, but you will see the city from a new angle. Riding a glass bubble up the outside of this massive building is an experience in itself —  especially if you have the Stockholm Pass, which provides free admission.

If you don’t have a Stockholm Pass, admission is a rather hefty 160 SEK for adults and 120 SEK for seniors (65+) and children ages 5-12. The whole trip takes about 20 minutes.

For hours, ticket reservations, and updated pricing, please see the SkyView website.

Stockholm Rooftop Tour

You won’t cover a lot of ground – about 300 meters (less than 1000 feet) – but you’ll get closeup views of the spire of Riddarholmen Church, the rooftops of Gamla Stan, and the surrounding area, along with the added fun of navigating the tracks and stairs 43 meters (141 feet) above street level. The tour is not recommended for people with a fear of heights. It’s also important to be aware that although you’ll be moving across the rooftops, this is a historical tour with numerous stops for the guides to share information and stories.

Although the tour is quite expensive (695 SEK per person as of 2019), it’s an unusual experience that’s worth considering if your budget permits.

For more information, visit the Rooftop Tour website.

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Originally published August 1, 2014. Republished with major revisions on May 20, 2019.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The founder/editor of Real Scandinavia, Annika S. Hipple is a freelance writer and photographer who calls both the United States and Sweden home. Raised bilingual and bicultural, she has traveled extensively in Scandinavia, both independently and as a professional tour leader. Her writing and photography have appeared in a wide range of print and online publications. For more information, visit her website.