Täby: Church Art, Rune Trails and Nature

Täby combines impressive church art with rune sites, hiking trails and natural areas. Visitors looking to explore the area will find a range of options: medieval paintings, historic traces along trails, or relaxation by lakes and in wetlands. The destinations vary in theme and trail length—a helpful guide when planning your days around culture, exercise or nature.

Church Art and History

Täby Church dates from the mid-13th century and is known for its well-preserved lime paintings. Albertus Pictor created them in the 1480s. The best-known motif among the Täby paintings, Dödens schackspel, is located in the western vault. The construction period and paintings thus take us back to different centuries: the church was built in the Middle Ages, and the wall paintings were added later.

For a broader look at the past, visit the permanent exhibition Täbys historia – från forntid till nutid at Täby Main Library. It explores how people have lived in Täby over time and brings together history and cultural heritage. The exhibition is intended for all age groups, with a focus on primary-school-aged children. Art and culture are also at the heart of Karby gård: several art exhibitions are held each year in its main building. Rönninge by’s local history museum is housed in a 19th-century barn.

Ensta krog also has a long history. The establishment opened in the 1680s on the post road between Stockholm and Åbo and was a key location for more than 125 years. This historical context adds another chapter to the regional history alongside the much older Täby Church.

Runriket and Historic Trails

The entrance to Runriket in Täby is at Jarlabankes bro, just north of Täby Church. Runriket comprises nine sites around Lake Vallentuna and stretches for 3.5 Swedish miles. Each site has information boards about its history, as well as further information about runes and rune stones. The content can also be listened to on a mobile phone in Swedish and English. Runriket thus connects the history of individual sites with information about rune culture.

Jarlabankes bro also serves as a starting point for exploring the lake: from there, you can cycle around Lake Vallentuna and continue into Runriket by bike, car or bus. For a different perspective on the past, the three-kilometre Forn- och naturstigen trail near Täby prästgård and Skogberga runs from Täby kyrkby past a Viking Age burial ground. A digital guide to this trail is available in the Upptäck Historien app.

Stolpaleden is another option: it is about three kilometres long and has 14 information posts. By comparison, the trail at Ensta krog runs through easy terrain and is about 1.3 kilometres long. So while Forn- och naturstigen and Stolpaleden are of similar length, they offer different information; the shorter trail at Ensta krog covers a different distance. In winter, ski trails are also prepared on the 5- and 10-kilometre fitness trails at Ensta krog, weather permitting. A public transport bus stops at Ensta krog on Stockholmsvägen. Check the current timetable for your journey.

Nature and Active Days

The wetlands at Mörtsjön and Käringsjön are among the municipality’s most valuable habitats for plants and animals. The Skavlöten recreational area is in the Rönninge by-Skavlöten Nature Reserve at the northern end of Lake Rönninge. It has a bathing beach with a shore and jetties. Those interested in cold-water swimming can try it at Rösjöbadet in Täby. Hägernäsbadet on Värtan has a barbecue area, car park, toilet, playground and beach volleyball court.

There are also various ways to get active on land. Täby has 30 kilometres of horse-riding trails. Next to Åva Upper Secondary School is an 800-square-metre skate park for skateboarding, kickbikes and inline skating. It is intended for all age groups. Kickbike riders have their own track with obstacles; another area is reserved exclusively for skateboarding and inline skating. Beginners and experienced riders are welcome.

The Trafiklekplatsen playground in Centralparken offers a different focus: in a half-scale road environment, visitors can practise road safety skills on a bicycle or scooter. A larger, weather-protected pergola and several picnic table-and-bench sets provide space to relax, enjoy fika and have a picnic. Alongside trails and nature experiences, there are also places for practical activities and a break outdoors.

For the main travel overview: Täby.