My Morning at Drottningholm Palace

One of my favorite mornings of my trip to Scandinavia  last month was the day I got up super early to visit the Swedish Summer Palace.  It was certainly a trek as I had to take a train and then a bus to the Drottningholm Palace but it was well worth it.  Sure, it was certainly not the most direct way to get there – that would be by ferry but the ferry did not arrive until an hour after the palace opened and I wanted to be one of the first people through the door. Mission accomplished plus I was able to get tons of photos without others around! 

Along with being one of the first people in the door I was able to join the first English speaking tour of the day and it was really well done.  I appreciate energetic tour guides and mine was certainly bouncy despite the early hour delivering us with so many fun facts like the Drottningholm Palace is not actually made of marble, it would be too heavy, but the did not make it for wood since fire was such an issue so it is concrete painted to look like marble.

I try really, really hard when doing these recaps to not bore you with history but I thought it was so funny that I actually wrote it down on the tour the name of the not one, not two, but three architects it took to finish this place Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, and Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz – talk about some regal names!  Probably my favorite thing about this spot was the chandeliers – hence why i took so many pictures of them! The royal bedroom was one of my favorite rooms – I mean just look at those blue curtains! – followed closely by the red ballroom but I think the stunning library overlooking the garden takes the cake. Take a look: 

After the tour I explored the gorgeous gardens and ventured far into the property to the Chinese Pavilion.  As I bought the full ticket which included all parts of the grounds I was able to go into this mid 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site, a very pink Chinese-inspired royal pavilion.  And as you may be able to tell from the jumpsuit in a few of these photos it is where these Fashion Friday photos were taken!

After the Chinese Pavilion I hurried back through the gardens, around the side of the palace and towards the ferry to get back to the heart of Stockholm and continue my day of touring! I had a magnificent morning and definitely recommend the half day trip out to Drottningholm Palace if you have two days or longer in the Swedish capital! 

Have you been to the Drottningholm Palace?