Lidingö – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

Lidingö [ˈliːdɪŋˈø:] is a suburban island east of Stockholm in Sweden, at the innermost part of the Stockholm archipelago. With 45,000 inhabitants and a long coastline, it is known for the Millesgården sculpture museum, the annual cross-country race Lidingöloppet, and a cluster of conference hotels.

Lidingö, together with the Fjäderholmarna islets south of Lidingö, and a few residential islets, forms a municipality with about 45,000 inhabitants, with a land area of 30 km².

The island has plenty of archaeological sites from the Iron Age and the Viking Age.

Lidingö became a suburb for the well-to-do in the 1910s, with detached houses along the Lidingöbanan railway, and the AGA industries. Lidingö got city privileges, and the municipality still styles itself Lidingö stad. Lidingö contains high-rise buildings as well as single-family houses, several diplomatic missions, conference hotels, a few farms, and a nature reserve.

See also: Public transport in Stockholm County

Lidingö is connected to Stockholm by a cluster of parallel bridges at Ropsten, the end station of the Stockholm Metro in the Östermalm district.

The light rail line Lidingöbanan departs from T-Ropsten in Stockholm, serves southern Lidingö, and ends at Gåshaga brygga, a dock for the Stockholm archipelago ferries. Buses from Ropsten serve parts of Lidingö.

Lidingö is well within reach for bicycles from central Stockholm.

SL boat line 80 is a public transport ferry from Nybrokajen in central Stockholm, passing Nacka, calling at Dalénum in Lidingö returning to Ropsten. Standard SL fares. Some boat lines extend to Tranholmen and Storholmen, two smaller suburban islands.

Most of Lidingö is accessed by bus or tram 21. Timetables for the public transport on SL.se

Lidingö has a great walking and cycling network, mostly separated from motor traffic and well-signed.

Cars can get around most of the city. Parking is mostly free, but requires a parking disc.

See also: Lidingö history tour

Lidingö has a lot of nature reserves and beautiful sceneries, with most of the waterfront open to the public. Lidingö has been the home of many international celebrities, such as sculptor Carl Milles, humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, engineer Gustaf Dalén, and German playwright Bertolt Brecht.

• 1 Millesgården ([ˈmɪlˌəsˈgoːɖən]), Herserudsvägen 32 (T Ropsten then buses to Torsvik, and a 300 metre walk), ☏ +46 8 446 75 90. Tu-Su 11:00-17:00. The former residence and studio of world-renowned sculptor Carl Milles (1875-1955). His own work is showcased in an outdoor park with an astounding view of Stockholm Harbour. The indoor section displays Milles' collection of ancient Roman sculptures, along contemporary Swedish and international works. 170 kr/adult, 140 kr/student. (updated Aug 2024)
• 2 Bosön ([ˈbuːsˈøːn]). The Swedish Sports Confederation's training centre. Several athletes of the international elite work out here. Many training facilities are open to the public, as well as the hotel and restaurant.
• 3 Fjäderholmarna. Fjäderholmarna [ˈfjɛːdərˈhɔlmaɳa] is a group of small islands, with craft shops and restaurants during warm seasons (opening in late April). Several Waxholmsbolaget and Strömma boats call at the islands, as well as the local Fjäderholmslinjen.
• 4 Lidingö Church (Lidingö kyrka). A 16th-century town church on a hill at the Kyrkviken bay of the Baltic Sea. The cemetery contains graves of prominent Swedes, such as Nobel laureates Gustaf Dalén and Pär Lagerkvist. One of Sweden's most popular wedding churches.
• 5 Långängens Gård. This nature reserve is the home of a café/restaurant surrounded by spectacular nature and walking trails. But the area around here dates back to Viking times. Just north-west of the farm's buildings is a grave field where Viking Age residents were buried.
• 6 Lidingö Museum, Stockholmsvägen 50.
• 7 Sten's runestone. Runic inscription Fv1986;84. Discovered in 1984.
• 8 Brevik church. This 1937 Functionalist church is the largest in Lidingö parish.
• There is a lot of public art on Lidingö. Get your map (Cykel- och Fritidskartan) at the town hall (Stadshuset).

Lidingö is good for casual outdoor life, with a lot of hiking and cycling trails, beaches, big meadows and even two farms.

• Hiking and cycling all across the island. There are six culture walks across the island. Maps and information about them] are found at the municipal web site.
• 1 Fågelöudde. [fɔgəlˈɵdə], a beach, most frequented by families.
• 2 Kottlasjön. A lake for bathing in the summer, and ice-skating in the winter.
• 3 Ekholmsnäs. [eːkhɔlmsˈnɛːs], a semi-artificial hill, a downhill ski slope, with equipment rental. With artificial snow, it keeps open as long as temperatures are below zero. Great view. Mountain biking during warm seasons.
  • 4 Ekholmsnäs Golf. A 9-hole golf course, upwards the Ekholmsnäs hill.
• 5 Lidingö Golfklubb. An 18-hole golf course, open to the public for hiking during summer, and cross-country skiing during winter.
• Rod fishing is allowed without a license along the island's coast, but not in Kottlasjön or other lakes.
• 6 Elfviks Gård. A farm with horses, pigs, cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, cows and sheep. There are also several boutiques with local products and during summer there is a small café.

The competition from central Stockholm has to some extent drained shopping and nightlife opportunities from Lidingö. There is however a broad range of shops in Lidingö Centrum.

• 1 Lidingö Centrum. Basic shopping opportunities, including Systembolaget, H&M, an Akademibokhandeln bookstore, a Stjärnurmakarna watch store, and a jeweller.
• 2 Larsberg. A small shopping square with supermarket, hairdresser, a bank and a restaurant.

Nightlife on Lidingö is limited to the restaurants and hotel bars. Go to Stockholm for more action.

Lidingö has a cluster of conference centres, most of them on the Elfvik peninsula. Many of them also cater to travellers, though all do not post rates online. Also, accommodation is often part of a package, including meals, which means yet higher rates. If you're looking for a budget hotel, Lidingö is not a good place.

Lidingö is in general a safe destination. Use common precautions for theft (such as bike theft). Traffic is calm, with caveats for horse riders and wild deer. When you have been outdoors, check the body for ticks. Be aware of ice safety at winter.

Visit the City Hall, Stockholmsvägen 50, for brochures and maps.

While Lidingö's only connection to the mainland is Stockholm, many ferries to the Stockholm archipelago call at Gåshaga brygga, the end station of Lidingöbanan.

• Vaxholmsbolaget^{[dead link]}
• Cinderellabåtarna^{[dead link]}
• Blidösundsbolaget^{[dead link]}