At Stockholm’s Butterfly House (Fjarilshuset)enjoy the feeling of walking through a tropical rain forest while spotting butterflies and parrots, koi and lizards. Spread throughout a large greenhouse, this nature center is home to 700 butterflies of numerous species.
Discover the lifecycle of the butterfly, from egg to larva then chrysalis to butterfly. The greenhouse’s temperatures are moderate year-round in order to provide a comfortable environment for metamorphosis. See butterflies hatch, watch how they eat and witness their mating dances. Trails inside the greenhouse pass tropical vegetation and lead to waterfalls and fish ponds. Koi fish feeding shows take place daily in the early afternoon. Watch for other wildlife, such as lizards darting between the pools and parrots sitting in the tropical trees.
Visit the connected Haga Ocean facility to see sharks and scientific displays of research into development of man-made reefs. An on-site café serves both food and drink. Alternatively, in the summer months bring a picnic and sit on the lawns surrounding the greenhouse.
After your visit to the Butterfly House, explore the rest of Hagaparken. It’s a large park with woodland, gardens and some interesting architecture. Take a guided tour of Gustav III’s Pavilion, which is one of Stockholm’s royal palaces. Go to the Royal Cemetery to see the final resting place of Swedish royalty. A fun way to explore the park is on a Segway, which you can rent from the Butterfly House. Find further details on the Butterfly House’s official website.
Located toward the north of Hagaparken, the Butterfly House is a 10-minute drive from Stockholm city center. There are three pay-and-display parking lots nearby: one at the entrance to Hagaparken and two on FrösundaviksAllé. Public buses stop close to the entrance to Hagaparken, from where it’s a short walk to the greenhouse.
The Butterfly House is open daily, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This attraction is one of 80 offering free admission with the Stockholm card. Consider purchasing one online or in-country to save on sightseeing and public transportation charges.
