Parliament House — Attraction in Stockholm

While visiting Stockholm during a cruise stop, I had the opportunity to admire the Swedish Parliament House (Riksdagshuset), and it was one of the highlights of my walking tour through the city. Located on Helgeandsholmen Island, this grand and imposing structure dominates its surroundings with both grace and strength.

Even from the outside, the Riksdagshuset is a stunning piece of architecture. The building’s Neo-Baroque style features detailed stonework, sculptural elements, and elegant archways, blending seamlessly with the historic charm of the surrounding cityscape. It’s clear that this is not just a functional government building, but a thoughtfully designed monument to Swedish democracy and history.

Walking around the exterior offers several great photo opportunities—from the iconic archway facing Gamla Stan (Old Town), to the rear façade overlooking the Norrström River. The manicured landscaping and the beautiful bridges connecting the island to the mainland only add to the scene. It’s especially peaceful in the early morning, when foot traffic is light and the building reflects beautifully in the water.

Though I didn’t go inside, the exterior alone is worth a visit. You can really appreciate the scale and craftsmanship up close. I also loved how accessible it felt—despite being the seat of government, it’s open to pedestrians and sits right in the heart of the city’s walking routes.

If you're visiting Stockholm, even for just a short stop like I did on a cruise, I highly recommend including the Parliament House in your itinerary. It’s a powerful symbol of Sweden’s political history and a beautiful...

Riksdagshuset, located on the small island of Helgeandsholmen in the heart of Stockholm, is an impressive and historically significant building that is well worth a visit. As the home of Sweden’s parliament, it combines striking architecture with deep cultural and political importance. From the outside, the building is grand and elegant, with beautiful stonework, statues, and a commanding presence by the water. The surrounding bridges and views towards Gamla Stan make it a perfect spot for photography.

The interior is just as fascinating. If you have time, I highly recommend joining one of the free guided tours, where knowledgeable guides explain the history of the building, the Swedish political system, and the meaning behind many of the architectural details. You get to see the debating chamber, impressive staircases, and historic halls filled with artwork and craftsmanship that reflect Sweden’s journey as a democracy.

What’s particularly nice is how open and accessible the building feels. Even though it is the seat of government, the atmosphere is welcoming rather than intimidating. The location also makes it easy to combine with a walk through Gamla Stan or along the nearby waterfront. For anyone interested in history, politics, or architecture, Riksdagshuset is an essential stop...

I did not think I was going to be impressed but the Swedish Parliament but I love when I am proved wrong – a very proud local Stockholm guide did an amazing job over the course of an hour describing how politics work in Sweden (the Speaker of the Parliament is more important than the Prime Minister) and the inter workings of all of the political parties (there are more than fifty, 15 of which are big and 8 of which are represented in 349 seats currently) as we toured the massive structure.

My third favorite part of the tour was walking around the real hallways as Parliment was out of session for the Summer and getting to admire the little details like the 29 logos around the ceiling, geographically ordered showing all of the counties in the country. The second best part was actually getting to sit in the red seats that the old, bi-partisan parliament used to use but that are now seldom occupied as the government needed a much bigger space. And the best part was getting to see the main room that you see on TV, the Riksdagen. Our free tour didn’t get to go on the floor but certain people did as they were with a member of parliament (the guy in white in the photo below) – still so...