Mariefred
Sweet, picturesque small town with plenty of history, just over an hour by car from Stockholm, built around the majestic Gripsholm Castle. Gripsholm was a fortress in the 14th century, and took its present form in the 1530s under King Gustav Vasa. It houses the Swedish State’s portrait collection. Also worth seeing is Grafikens hus, an important museum for graphic art. In the warm months you can reach the town on the historical steamship Mariefred. Launched in 1903, it has trafficked this route ever since. You can eat lunch on board in the beautiful dining saloon. Mariefred also has a narrow-gauge historical railway. The charming town center has numerous charming restaurants, cafés, and shops.