Observatorielunden

Observatorielunden has an upper park on Observatoriekullen, a plateau on Brunkebergsåsen, and a lower park beside Sveavägen. The upper section has steep slopes, winding paths, large trees and open lawns. Seats at the top look over the rooftops of Vasastan. There is also a playground and the observatory, which has café operations.

An observatory for astronomical research was built on Brunkebergsåsen in the mid-18th century, and a park was laid out at the same time. The park was closed to the public for many years; Stockholm residents gained access in the early 20th century. The upper park is a traditional landscape garden. At the foot of the hill, between the Stockholm Public Library and the Stockholm School of Economics, architect Gunnar Asplund designed the lower park in a functionalist style in the 1930s.

A pond and rows of willows dominate the lower section. A constructed stream runs down the slope into the pond, and open lawns on the hillside are used for picnics. The statue Kentauren, by Sigrid Fridman, stands at the hill’s north-eastern tip. Visit Stockholm says Kafé Himlavalvet, in a wing of the observatory dating from the late 19th century, serves waffles with toppings from a special menu. The café and its outdoor seating are open all year except January.