Ericsson Globe and SkyView: Stockholm from the top of the sphere

The world’s largest sphere, with a gondola to the top

The Ericsson Globe (officially rebranded as Avicii Arena in 2021 after the late Swedish DJ, though the white sphere itself is still widely called the Globe) is the largest spherical building in the world: 110 metres in diameter, 85 metres high at the apex, a volume of approximately 600,000 cubic metres. It was built in 1989 as an indoor arena for ice hockey, concerts, and major events, and in its first years of existence it was primarily a sporting venue with an unusual shape.

The SkyView experience turns the building’s exterior into a viewing platform. Two glass gondolas travel along the outside of the sphere from ground level to the very top — 130 metres above ground, which corresponds to roughly 90 metres above the surrounding streets — giving a 360-degree panoramic view of Stockholm, the archipelago, and Lake Mälaren. The gondola ride takes approximately 15 minutes including ascent, time at the top, and descent.

This is not Stockholm’s highest viewpoint (the tower at Stockholm City Hall is higher) and it does not offer the most atmospheric perspective (Fjäderholmarna from the ferry provides a better sense of the archipelago). But it is the fastest, most unusual, and arguably most memorable viewpoint in the city — the external gondola ride on the surface of a giant white sphere is an experience that does not resemble anything else in any European city.

The gondola experience

The glass gondolas are external — they travel on rails along the curved surface of the building from the entrance at ground level to a position at the very top of the sphere. The gondolas are fully enclosed and climate-controlled but give 360-degree views through the glass walls as they ascend.

The view changes continuously during the ascent: from ground level you see the surrounding Globen district, then Södermalm rises into view, then the full Stockholm skyline appears including the spires of Gamla Stan and the City Hall tower, and finally at the top the archipelago opens to the east and Lake Mälaren to the west. On a clear day the view extends across the inner archipelago toward Vaxholm and beyond.

The experience at the top lasts for a few minutes while the gondola pauses and rotates slightly to allow views in all directions. The descent returns the same way. Total time from boarding to exit is approximately 15–20 minutes.

The experience is most striking for the novelty of the vehicle as much as the view itself — ascending along the outside of a sphere is an unusual sensation.

Getting there

Take the Red Line metro (T-bana) toward Hagsätra or Farsta Strand to Globen station. Journey time from T-Centralen is approximately 20 minutes. Exit toward the Globe arena — the white sphere is visible from the station exit and is a 2-minute walk.

The Globen area is also well served by bus connections from Södermalm and other southern districts. The SkyView entrance is on the northern side of the arena building.

Booking the SkyView

The SkyView gondola operates on timed entry slots with limited capacity (the gondolas hold 16 people each). Booking in advance, particularly in summer and on weekends, is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. The experience sells out.

The Stockholm SkyView glass gondola ride can be booked with flexible timing and includes the full SkyView experience. Budget approximately 20–25 USD per adult in 2026.

The gondola does not operate during major arena events at the Globe (concerts, ice hockey championships) — check the event schedule if you are planning around a specific date.

What else is at the Globen area

The Globen complex is primarily a major indoor arena — home to the Djurgårdens IF hockey team and a major concert venue. Adjacent to it is SoFo (South of Folkungagatan), the hip southern part of Södermalm, which begins a short walk to the north. If you are combining SkyView with a Södermalm visit, the timing works naturally: metro to Globen, SkyView ride, then walk or bus north into Södermalm for lunch, coffee, and walking the neighbourhood.

The Fotografiska photography museum is approximately 15 minutes by bus from the Globen area — an excellent combination for a southern Stockholm afternoon. See the Södermalm guide for the full neighbourhood context.

Practical notes

Weather and visibility: The SkyView experience is significantly better on clear days. Stockholm’s maritime climate means clear days occur regularly year-round but are less predictable than inland cities. On overcast days the view from 130 metres is still interesting but the archipelago is less dramatic in flat grey light. If the weather is marginal, consider rescheduling if your ticket has flexibility.

Sunset timing: The view of Stockholm at sunset — with the water turning pink, the City Hall silhouetted against the sky, and the inner archipelago visible in gold light — is the best version of the SkyView experience. In midsummer (June–July), sunset is after 10pm and the long golden hour lasts most of the evening. In winter, sunset occurs as early as 2:45pm, making an afternoon visit straightforward.

Vertigo: The gondola travels on the outside of the sphere. There is glass between you and the exterior, but the sensation of being on the curved outside surface of a large building is clearly perceptible. Visitors with significant vertigo should consider this before booking.

Children: The experience is suitable for children but the 15-minute duration is genuinely brief — some younger children find it less significant than the approach suggests. Families with children should weight this against the time and cost and consider whether Skansen on Djurgården (which has extensive outdoor space and animals) might be a better use of similar budget.

SkyView vs other Stockholm viewpoints

Stockholm has several high-elevation viewpoints, each with a different character:

Monteliusvägen on Södermalm: A free public walkway along the cliff edge above the city waterfront, with views over Gamla Stan and the City Hall. Best for photographers and at no cost — the view is comparable to SkyView without the height or the novel transport.

Stockholm City Hall tower: The tower at Stadshuset can be climbed in guided tours for views over Lake Mälaren and the inner city from a height similar to SkyView. Less dramatic as an experience but historically grounded.

Fjäderholmarna ferry view: Looking back at Stockholm from the archipelago ferry gives a completely different perspective — the city as a collection of islands surrounded by water. Free with the ferry ticket.

SkyView is the only option that provides the specific experience of height combined with a novel vehicle. For visitors who want the most striking view experience rather than the most photographically optimal, SkyView wins on novelty value.

The Globen district and surrounding area

The Ericsson Globe sits in the Johanneshov district, south of Södermalm in Stockholm’s southern inner suburbs. The district grew industrially in the 20th century and has been incrementally developed since the arena’s construction, creating a mixed area of offices, apartments, shopping, and the arena complex itself.

Tele2 Arena — a large open-air stadium — is adjacent to the Globe, making the area a significant entertainment district for major outdoor concerts, football (Djurgårdens IF and other Stockholm teams use it), and events that the indoor Globe arena cannot accommodate.

Nacka Strand and the eastern waterfront are accessible from the Globen area by a short bus or bicycle ride, connecting the arena district to the inner archipelago. The geography places SkyView on the edge of both the urban core and the archipelago approach — looking east from the top of the sphere, you see the Baltic channels beginning.

Stockholm at 130 metres: what you actually see

The view from the top of the SkyView gondola is specific and worth describing in detail for visitors deciding whether it is worth the cost and time.

Looking north: The inner city is immediately below — the varied rooflines of Södermalm, then the water of Riddarfjärden, then Gamla Stan and its medieval towers, then Norrmalm and the modern city centre extending toward the suburbs. On very clear days the TV mast at Kaknäs Tower is visible to the east.

Looking east: The inner archipelago begins almost immediately beyond the city’s eastern edge. From 130 metres you can make out the forested islands of Djurgården and beyond — on clear days, the silhouette of islands extending toward Vaxholm is visible, giving a compressed but legible sense of the archipelago’s structure. This eastward view, combining the city and the archipelago in a single panorama, is unique to the SkyView elevation — neither Monteliusvägen on Södermalm nor Calton Hill–equivalent city viewpoints give this specific combination.

Looking west: Lake Mälaren spreads toward the horizon, with the City Hall tower (Stadshuset) prominent in the foreground and Drottningholm’s landscape visible on a very clear day.

Looking south: The suburban south of Stockholm extends to the horizon, with Tyresta National Park’s forest beginning approximately 15 kilometres away — visible as a dark treeline on the clearest days.

The compressed way of describing what SkyView gives you: it is the only way to see Stockholm as an island city embedded in water simultaneously in four directions. Even on days when the haze limits visibility, the central water geography is immediately apparent.

Combining SkyView with the Avicii Experience

The Avicii Experience is an interactive music museum dedicated to the Swedish DJ Tim Bergling (Avicii), located within the Ericsson Globe complex. The museum covers his career, production methods, and cultural impact, with interactive elements. Both the Avicii Experience and the SkyView can be combined on the same visit to the Globe area — a full morning or afternoon of culturally Stockholm-specific experiences in one complex.

The Djurgården guide covers other museum options for visitors building a museum-heavy itinerary.

Frequently asked questions about Ericsson Globe and SkyView

How long is the SkyView gondola ride?

Approximately 15–20 minutes from boarding to exit, including ascent, time at the top, and descent. This is a brief but distinct experience — plan it as part of a Södermalm or southern Stockholm afternoon rather than as a standalone destination requiring a full day’s allocation.

Is SkyView worth it?

Depends on your priorities. For the novelty of ascending the outside of the world’s largest sphere: yes, unambiguously. For the best panoramic city view in Stockholm: there are alternatives with more atmospheric quality. For a quick, memorable addition to a Södermalm afternoon: very much yes. Budget ~20 USD and 45 minutes total (travel + experience) and the value proposition is clear.

Can I buy SkyView tickets on the day?

Sometimes, but the experience regularly sells out, particularly in summer and on weekends. Advance booking via the official website or via GetYourGuide is strongly recommended.

Is SkyView good in winter?

Yes — the gondola is enclosed and climate-controlled, so weather is not a comfort issue. Winter light on clear days can be very beautiful, with the low sun angle giving dramatic shadows across the archipelago. The challenge is that clear winter days are fewer than summer and the available daylight window is short (8–10 hours in December). Plan the visit for the middle of the day in winter.

What is the difference between Ericsson Globe and Avicii Arena?

The building is officially named Avicii Arena since 2021 after the late Swedish DJ Tim Bergling. The SkyView experience is still called Stockholm SkyView and operates independently of the arena events. Colloquially, Stockholmers often still use “Globen” for both the building and the district. The white sphere itself is unchanged.

Does the SkyView operate during arena events?

No — the gondolas do not operate during major concerts or sporting events at the arena. Check the Avicii Arena event schedule if you are visiting on a potentially busy date.