Autumn in Stockholm means shorter days, crisp air, and a city glowing with colorful leaves. As the season shifts toward winter, the parks and waterfronts are painted in warm shades of red, orange, and yellow. It’s one of the best times of year to experience the city at a slower, cozier pace.
If you’re looking for things to do in Stockholm in autumn, cafés are the obvious starting point. Few things feel more Swedish than warming up with a cinnamon bun or a hearty sandwich alongside a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. If you enjoy outdoor walks, this is a perfect season as autumn colors make neighborhoods, parks, and viewpoints especially inviting.
When the weather turns cold and rainy, there are plenty of indoor Stockholm autumn activities. Spend an afternoon at a museum or art gallery, go to the cinema or theater, or explore the city’s wide range of cafés. For something uniquely Nordic, try a sauna session – the colder and stormier it is outside, the better it feels inside.
Here are our top tips for things to do in Stockholm during autumn.
1 Enjoy the autumn foliage
September through October. This is a great time to experience the autumn foliage as the leaves turn their color into yellow and red.
2 Forage for mushrooms or berries in a nearby forest
September through October. The autumn is the perfect time to go into the forest for mushrooms and berries.
3 Visit the autumn fair at Skansen
September. The autumn fair at Skansen, for crafts, foods, and historic traditions. It’s a recurring tradition in September every year.
4 Experience cultural festivals
October to November. Enjoy events like the Stockholm Jazz Festival (October), film screenings at Stockholm International Film Festival (November), and the Affordable Art Fair (October).
5 Tour the archipelago off season
September to November. The archipelago is a great place to visit off-season during the autumn.
6 Relax in a Swedish sauna
September to November. A few outdoor saunas are closed during the summer and open up again in the autumn. The autumn is the best time to visit a sauna and enjoy the cooler outdoor temperatures mixed with the heat from the sauna.
7 Visit the Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival
October. The Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival is a recurring event that has been arranged since 1992.
8 Celebrate the Cinnamon Bun Day
October The official Cinnamon Bun Day is in October, but you don’t need to wait as you can enjoy the Swedish coffee break tradition (fika) indoors with cinnamon buns and seasonal pastries any day of the year. But it’s especially cozy in fall.
9 Pick apples at an apple orchard
September to October. Day trips from Stockholm to orchards or forests for apple picking (as well as mushroom) are classic fall activities, rarely available in summer.
10 Visit the Stockholm Fringe Festival
September. Stockholm Fringe Festival celebrates experimental performing arts, with local and international artists bringing theater, dance, music, comedy, and performance art to stages across the city. A chance to experience bold, unconventional work beyond mainstream culture.
11 Visit the harvest festival at Rosendals trädgård
September. Rosendals Trädgård marks the season with a harvest festival, featuring organic produce, flowers, artisanal food, and family-friendly activities. A relaxed celebration of autumn’s bounty in one of Stockholm’s most charming garden settings.
12 Watch track and field at Finnkampen
September. Finnkampen is the annual athletics duel between Sweden and Finland, held in alternating host cities. A spirited weekend of track and field where national pride and friendly rivalry create one of the Nordic region’s most traditional sports events.
13 Tour the City Hall
September to November. Touring Stockholm City Hall offers a glimpse into one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. In autumn, its grand halls and Golden Room contrast beautifully with crisp air and golden leaves along the waterfront.
14 Halloween at Gröna Lund
October. Gröna Lund transforms into a haunted amusement park for Halloween, with themed rides, ghost houses, and spooky decorations. A festive mix of thrills and scares for both families and adrenaline seekers.
15 Ghost walk in Gamla Stan
September to November. A ghost walk in Gamla Stan takes on extra atmosphere in autumn, when dark nights and narrow alleys heighten the tales of legends, hauntings, and Stockholm’s darker history.
16 Visit Stockholm open
October. Visiting “Visit Stockholm Open” in autumn means catching one of the city’s premier sporting events – the ATP 250 men’s tennis tournament (formerly Stockholm Open, now BNP Paribas Nordic Open). It brings world-class players to the Royal Tennis Hall for a week of indoor matches.
17 Visit the Sweden International Horse Show
November to December. The Sweden International Horse Show fills Friends Arena with world-class equestrian competitions, dressage, show jumping, and family-friendly shows. A festive mix of sport and spectacle that draws horse enthusiasts from around the world.
18 Visit the pumpkin exhibition at Bergianska trädgården
October. Bergianska Trädgården’s pumpkin exhibition showcases pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, sizes, and colors. A seasonal display in the botanical gardens that’s both educational and a cheerful nod to autumn traditions.
19 Visit the flea market at Karlaplan
September to November. The flea market at Karlaplan offers a lively mix of antiques, vintage finds, and curiosities. In autumn, the tree-lined square adds crisp air and golden leaves to the weekend browsing atmosphere.
20 Visit Skogskyrkogården on the All Saints Day
November. On All Saints Day, Skogskyrkogården is lit by thousands of candles, creating a serene and moving atmosphere. Visitors gather to honor loved ones in one of Stockholm’s most beautiful UNESCO-listed cemeteries.
21 Join a Stockholm food tour
September to November. A Stockholm food tour in autumn highlights seasonal flavors, from mushrooms and game to cinnamon buns and mulled drinks. Exploring markets and local eateries feels especially cozy as the weather turns crisp.
