Day 11. The Käknas Observation Tower, Stockholm

On By Little Miss TravellerIn Europe, Stockholm, Sweden

Yet another beautiful clear morning so we took the opportunity of taking in the views from the top of the Käknas Observation Tower which is located in Museum Park. Getting there was easy as we took the 69K bus from the city centre which takes passengers to the tower entrance. Another option would be to take the 69 bus which takes a similar route with the nearest stop being about five minutes walk away, just along the road.

Kaknäs Observation Tower, Stockholm
The Kaknäs Observation Tower, Stockholm

The Kaknäs tower was completed in 1967 and is a major hub of Swedish television, radio and satellite broadcasts. The exterior of the tower looks quite ugly as it was not originally intended as an observation tower but was later converted for this additional purpose.

Kaknäs Observation Tower view
View of Stockholm city centre from the Kaknäs Observation Tower

On the ground floor there is a gift shop and ticket booth, tickets cost SEK 70 (£6.00) for the lift to the 115 metre high observation deck on the 30th floor. There are both indoor and outdoor observation decks and as the weather was so nice we headed outdoors. The views were breathtaking, looking west we could see all of the city centre landmarks we had already visited and around the other side of the tower to the east there were superb views of the Stockholm archipelago. I think that the actual viewing area could have been made a little more attractive as it was surrounded in wire netting but I was able to poke my camera lens through the holes to record my visit.

Kaknäs Observation Tower view
Looking over to the Ericcson Globe from the Kaknäs Observation Tower

Taking the steps down one floor we enjoyed a morning cup of coffee in the Sky Cafe which doubles as an indoor observation deck. The views were good as were our delicious morning pastries.

Sky Cafe, Kaknäs Observation Tower
Sky Cafe, Kaknäs Observation Tower

Leaving the observation tower it was only about a ten minute walk to a cluster of Stockholm’s smaller museums and as they offered free admission we had a look in a couple of them. The first was the Museum of Ethnography which features objects that were collected during 18th century expeditions and 19th century around the world voyages.

Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm
Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm

Built on a hillside in the museum garden is the only Japanese Tea House of the Nordic region. Following my Asian travels, I am very interested in tea ceremonies and was keen to look inside but sadly found that it is only open on Wednesdays during the summertime. We peered through the windows but were unable to see very much of its authentic interior.

National Sports Museum of Sweden
National Sports Museum of Sweden

A few steps further on we passed the Police Museum but decided to bypass this as we had seen the entrance sign to the National Sports Museum of Sweden (website only in Swedish) which was more to our liking.

National Sports Museum of Sweden
Sportswear design developments over the years

This free museum contains exhibits on Swedish sports from ancient times up until today. I particularly enjoyed the gallery on the staging of the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm and read with interest about the swimming races which were held outdoors. Competitors changed in tents and covered themselves in grease to help them keep warm as it was a long time before wet suits had been invented.

National Sports Museum of Sweden
Trying to lift myself on the gymnastic rings

Other galleries included sportswear and equipment with one section focusing on the highs and lows of sporting activity from loss and pain, cheating and doping to the sweet taste of victory. In the Sports Lab we were able to experience competitive activities such as sprinting off the blocks, boxing and gymnastics. I tried the gymnastic rings but only momentarily managed to raise myself from the floor, probably due to a lack of technique and upper body strength!

Djurgården Stockholm
Locals enjoying the sunny weather near Djurgården bridge

Leaving the museum we wandered, slowly back through the park towards the Djurgården bridge. As the holiday has progressed this park has become one of my favourite places for a stroll. To one side there there are scenic waterside views through the reed beds and to the other, beautiful large, old villas and overseas embassies.

Djurgården bridge, Stockholm
Along the waterfront near Djurgården bridge

As we crossed the bridge we were ready for some lunch but rather than go to one of the crowded bars near there we opted to follow a path along the opposite bank to see what we could find. Tucked away in an elevated position overlooking the water we came across a pleasant cafe for some lunch. It was so peaceful sitting under a parasol on the cafe terrace that we stayed quite awhile but eventually raised the energy to move on.

Djurgården Park, Stockholm
Cafe where we had lunch in Djurgården Park

Another ten minutes walk up a steep hill and we came quite by chance to the Rosendal Garden which was an absolute delight. We were in the middle of a park but it felt as if we were deep in the Swedish countryside. There were fields of vegetables, flowers, fruit and herbs as far as the eye could see.

Rosendal Garden, Stockholm
Rosendal Garden, Stockholm

Since 1983 the Rosendal Garden Foundation have run this market garden in order to widen public interest in gardening and landscaping. There’s also a farm shop and attractive greenhouse cafe with outdoor seating under the trees of the orchard. Both the shop and cafe were busy and it seemed a popular spot for locals to spend a Sunday afternoon. It’s definitely a place I’d like to return to someday, too. Following signposts through the park we eventually got back to a tram stop near Skansen and made our way back to our apartment in Solna.

Rosendal Garden, Stockholm
Cafe at Rosendal Garden, Stockholm

We’d planned to eat in and I’d decided to buy a cooked chicken from the supermarket across the road. Every time I’d been in the shop they had lots of them but of course the only time I actually wanted to buy one, the rotisserie was turned off and empty, so we had to think again!

If you have enjoyed reading this post, you may also be interested in the following :

Vaxholm in Stockholm’s archipelago

Namsan Seoul Tower, Korea

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

Taipei 101, Taiwan 

Seoul Olympic Park and a walk up Naksan Mountain

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35 thoughts on “Day 11. The Käknas Observation Tower, Stockholm”

  1. You are right Marion. Ugly tower, but beautiful views. Too bad, the tourism group do not think about the type of mesh they put up to keep people safe, perhaps leaving some bigger openings for camera lenses. Lovely garden and cafe for lunch. Thanks for sharing. Allan

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  2. Pingback: Day 3. ABBA The Museum, Stockholm – Love Travelling Blog

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  5. SouloLivingandTravel

    I just finished a marathon of reading several of your travel blogs…just couldn’t stop! They are so wonderful and informative, not to mention, the incredible photos that go along with them! I am so envious of your extensive travels!! How do you do it? I hope to be able to do this someday. I always go to Norway every year, my home-away-from-home, but starting in September this year, I’m going to Ireland (solo), which will take me out of my comfort zone, but into new, beautiful and exciting territory! I hear the Irish are very friendly 🙂 Next year, I’d like to try Fiji or Bali (I hear Fiji is safer!). Have you ever been to either one and could shed some light on traveling there? Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to both read some of my blog posts and for your lovely comments. I’ve visited Norway a few times but only once since I started blogging and then it rained constantly so I need to return. I love Finland and have visited there more than anywhere else! Ireland is lovely too and I’d like to see more of the country than just Dublin which was great. I’ve not visited Bali or Fiji but maybe one day – so many places to visit!

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      1. SouloLivingandTravel

        My pleasure! Most of my trip to Ireland will be in the country (only 2 days in Dublin), County Cork, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, some castle ruins and one trip up north to Belfast.

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  6. Pingback: Day 7. Batu Caves and the Menara Tower, Kuala Lumpur – Love Travelling

  7. Pingback: Day 2. Stuttgart – the city of cars – Love Travelling

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