Höstlov is the Swedish autumn school break: one week in late October or early November when schools close, and most families look for something to do that does not depend on good weather. This guide covers when höstlov is, what to do indoors and outdoors, which activities suit which age, and a ready-made plan for a höstlov day. It also covers VR, escape rooms and AR for kids and teens at Questrooms on Södermalm.
Höstlov in Stockholm 2026
This section is updated every year.
- Höstlov in the City of Stockholm: week 44, Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026.
- Other municipalities: most municipalities in Stockholm County have the break the same week, but it can differ. Always check your municipality's or school's calendar.
- Halloween and Allhelgonadagen: both fall on Saturday 31 October 2026, right after the break.
- Booking at Questrooms: the booking calendar opens 21 days ahead, so slots for höstlov week appear from early October.
What is höstlov, and when is it?
Höstlov is a one-week school break in autumn. In Stockholm it is usually week 44, the same week as the All Saints' weekend (Allhelgonahelgen). Each municipality sets its own breaks, and independent schools can have their own dates, so neighbours in different municipalities may be off in different weeks.
The break used to be called läslov (reading break), and some places still use that name. It is the same week.
Why is Stockholm good for höstlov?
Stockholm has many activities close together and good public transport, so you can do several things in one day without a car. There are museums, swimming pools, libraries, parks and playgrounds, and many places run special holiday programmes that week.
The downside is the weather. In late October it is often wet, windy and dark by half past four. That is why it makes sense to plan höstlov around indoor activities and treat time outside as a bonus.
Indoor activities for höstlov
Classic indoor activities in Stockholm are museums, water parks, bowling, climbing gyms, indoor play centres, cinemas and library holiday programmes. Check each venue's website for opening hours and programmes during the break.
If you want something where the whole family or a group of friends solves something together, escape rooms and VR work well. At Questrooms, Kocksgatan 21A, a few minutes from Medborgarplatsen, all classic escape rooms and VR games are indoors. A game takes 60 minutes and the whole visit about 1.5 hours.
VR for kids and teens
VR suits kids and teens who like games but want to try something more physical than a screen at home. No VR experience is needed: the game master goes through the headset and controllers before you start, and the headsets fit over most glasses.
VR games at Questrooms for different ages:
- Smash Point KIDS VR (8+): a cartoon-style VR arena game where up to 6 players compete all against all. 10 rounds of 5–7 minutes and 14 characters to choose from. More laughing and competing than thinking.
- Jungle Quest KIDS VR (10+): a friendly puzzle adventure among floating islands and fantasy animals. Built for cooperation and curiosity, not pressure.
- Survival VR (10+): your plane crashes on a deserted island and you need to fix a transmitter. Exciting without being scary.
- Signal Lost VR (10+): a space station has lost contact and is falling out of orbit, and your team are the robotic engineers sent to save it.
- Escape the Worlds (13+): a door in the attic leads to several different worlds, with adjustable difficulty.
Children under 13 play with at least one adult in the room. In Jungle Quest KIDS VR, children under 12 need at least one adult playing with them, and adults pay full price.
Escape rooms for kids and teens
An escape room is a room you are "locked" into and get out of by solving puzzles together before time runs out. It suits kids who like riddles, searching and working together.
- Time Travellers (ages 8–12): a time-travel adventure in an odd apartment with a big secret. You have to find a hidden element before the portal closes. Nothing scary. Kids play with a parent or another adult in the room.
- Horror Escape TEENS (ages 13–17): the teen version of our horror room. The same kind of puzzles but less scary, with more light and fewer sound effects. Requires parental consent.
- Russian Mafia (secondary school age): a crime story set in 90s Russia, with no scare element but a little trickier. Suits older kids and teens who want a real challenge.
AR and Quest-to-Go
AR, augmented reality, places digital clues and characters on top of the real world through a tablet. Kids move through real places while playing a game at the same time.
- Magic Portal: an outdoor AR game on Södermalm where you solve puzzles, collect magical crystals and seal a portal between worlds. Beginner-friendly, from age 8. The experience takes about 1.5–2 hours.
- Operation Mindfall (16+): an AR spy game on the streets of SoFo, difficulty 4 out of 5. For older teens who want a serious challenge.
- Quest-to-Go: we bring the AR game to you, for example to a club, a youth centre or a big party. 19–200+ people play at the same time for 60–90 minutes, and the game ends with an award ceremony.
Which activity suits which age?
| Age | Suggestion at Questrooms | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 | Time Travellers, Smash Point KIDS VR, Magic Portal | Adult in the room under 13 |
| 10–12 | Jungle Quest KIDS VR, Survival VR, Signal Lost VR | Adult plays along in Jungle Quest KIDS VR under 12 |
| 13–15 | Horror Escape TEENS, Escape the Worlds, Russian Mafia | Parental consent for Horror Escape TEENS |
| 16–17 | Operation Mindfall, VR escape rooms | Responsible adult on site under 18 (reception is fine) |
| Whole family | Magic Portal, any VR game where everyone meets the age limit | Adults pay full price |
The age limit is shown on each game. The full overview is on our kids and families page.
Activities for families
Families get the most out of it when adults and kids play on the same team. In an escape room or VR game you quickly notice that kids often see things adults miss, and that adults can keep the group together when it gets chaotic. We have written more about that in why a VR quest brings parents and children closer together.
One room takes 2–6 players. The more players, the lower the price per person; see current prices on kids and families. Children aged 8–12 and teens aged 13–17 get a discount.
If your child has a birthday during the break, there are birthday party packages for ages 8–12, with games, snacks and the whole venue to yourselves.
Activities for groups of friends
Older kids and teens often want to do something with friends rather than with family. That works well at Questrooms, with two rules:
- Under 13: at least one adult in the room.
- Under 18: at least one responsible adult on site. Waiting in the reception is fine.
A group of 7–10 friends can play BACK-TO-BACK, where our two VR rooms connect. Up to 8 play together in the same session, or up to 10 split into two teams, for example 5 vs 5, and race to finish first.
What can you do during höstlov when it rains?
Choose something indoors and book ahead if you can. Museums, swimming pools, bowling, cinemas and escape rooms are the most common choices.
At Questrooms, all classic escape rooms and VR games are indoors. If you still want to be outside, the outdoor games can be played in the rain with umbrellas and coffee breaks, and Operation Mindfall has free cancellation up to 24 hours before start.
A ready-made plan for a höstlov day
An example for a family with kids aged 8–12:
- Morning: a museum or a library holiday programme. Start early, before it gets busy.
- Lunch: on Södermalm, near Medborgarplatsen.
- Afternoon (about 1.5 hours): a VR game or Time Travellers at Questrooms. Arrive 15 minutes before for the briefing. The game takes up to 60 minutes.
- Fika and home: you will have something to talk about all the way home.
For teens, flip the order: a lie-in, a VR game or Horror Escape TEENS after lunch, then friends or a film in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
When is höstlov in Stockholm in 2026? In the City of Stockholm, höstlov is week 44, Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026. Other municipalities in the county usually have the break the same week, but dates can differ. Independent schools may have their own dates, so always check your school's calendar.
What can you do with kids during höstlov in Stockholm? Museums, swimming pools, bowling, cinemas and library holiday programmes are common choices. At Questrooms on Södermalm there is Time Travellers for ages 8–12, Smash Point KIDS VR from age 8 and Jungle Quest KIDS VR from age 10. All are indoors and take about 1.5 hours including the briefing.
What can teenagers do during höstlov in Stockholm? Teens aged 13–17 can play Horror Escape TEENS, VR escape rooms like Escape the Worlds, or Russian Mafia at Questrooms. From 16 there is the AR game Operation Mindfall on the streets of SoFo. Under 18, a responsible adult needs to be on site but can wait in the reception.
What can you do during höstlov if it rains? Choose an indoor activity and book ahead. At Questrooms, all classic escape rooms and VR games are indoors, a few minutes from Medborgarplatsen. The outdoor game Operation Mindfall can be played with umbrellas and has free cancellation up to 24 hours before start.
Plan your höstlov
Pick an activity by age from the table above and book a slot during the break. The full range for younger players is on our kids and families page. Leading a bigger group, like a club or youth centre? Get in touch through school classes and groups or Quest-to-Go, and we will plan the day with you.
Read also: Weekend activities in Stockholm: indoor and VR ideas
More from Questrooms: Time Travellers · Smash Point KIDS VR · Jungle Quest KIDS VR · FAQ