Lidingö

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.

Understand

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.

Founded as an upper-class sanctuary 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 suburban areas with high-rise buildings as well as single-family houses, several diplomatic missions, conference hotels, a few farms, and a nature reserve.

Get in
See Stockholm County#Public transit for advice on public transport.

Lidingö is connected to Stockholm by two 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. Just as inner Stockholm, Lidingö is in the inner public transport zone.

The Stockholm congestion tax has an exception that favours Lidingö. A vehicle that travels along the Norra Länken tunnel to or from Lidingö, is exempt from tax.

Lidingö is well within reach for bicycles from central Stockholm, and has some stands for Stockholm City Bikes.

Sjövägen [ˈʃøːˈvɛːgən] is a public transport ferry from Nybrokajen in central Stockholm, passing Nacka on the way to Lidingö.

Get around

Stockby Lake.

Most of Lidingö is accessed by bus, car, walk and bicycle. Timetables for the public transport on SL.se

You can rent the Stockholm City Bikes at three locations at Lidingö: Stadshuset, Baggeby and Torsvik.

See

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.

  • 🌍 Millesgården ([ˈmɪlˌəsˈgoːɖən]), Herserudsvägen 32 (T Ropsten, and then buses to Torsvik, and a 300 metre walk), ☎ +46 8 446 75 90. Open M-Su 11:00-17:00 15 May-30 Sep, Tu-Su 12:00-17:00 1 Oct-14 May. 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.  
Waterfront at Bosön.
  • 🌍 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. 
Fjäderholmarna.
  • 🌍 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. 
Lidingö church.
  • 🌍 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. 
  • 🌍 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. 
  • 🌍 Lidingö Museum, Stockholmsvägen 50. 
  • There is a lot of public art on Lidingö. Get your map (Cykel- och Fritidskartan) at the Town hall (Stadshuset).

Do

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 here
  • 🌍 Fågelöudde. [fɔgəlˈɵdə], a beach, most frequented by families. 
  • 🌍 Kottlasjön. A lake for bathing in the summer, and ice-skating in the winter. 
  • 🌍 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. 
  • 🌍 Lidingö Golfklubb. An 18-hole golf course, open to the public for hiking during summer, and cross-country skiing during winter. 
The Lidingöloppet circuit is 30 km, but there are several shorter racing classes.
  • Lidingöloppet. A cross-country running race, which claims to be the largest of its kind. Held annually in September, with approximately 45,000 participants, effectively doubling the island's population during the racing weekend. One of four legs of the Swedish Classic Circuit. A similar event for mountain biking is held in spring. 
  • Rod fishing is allowed without a license along the island's coast, but not in Kottlasjön or other lakes.
  • 🌍 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. 

Buy

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.

  • 🌍 Lidingö Centrum. Basic shopping opportunities, including Systembolaget, H&M, an Akademibokhandeln bookstore, a Stjärnurmakarna watch store, and a jeweller. 

Eat
Farmhouses at Elfvik.

Budget
  • 🌍 Konditori Princess, Stockholmsvägen 53. A Swedish-style café and bakery. 

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Jernet, Stockholmsvägen 56. A diner in central Lidingö Dinner mains around 175-200 kr. 
  • 🌍 Långängens Gård, Ekholmsnäsvägen 80. W-Su 11:00-16:00. Mains 120-140 kr. 

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

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.

Mid-range

Splurge

Connect

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

Go next

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

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