Katarinahissen

What the Katarinahissen is

The Katarinahissen ("Katarina Lift") is a steel passenger lift at the Slussen transport hub, connecting the high ground of Södermalm with the lower Slussen level. The 38-metre-high tower – about eleven storeys – is a familiar Stockholm landmark, standing right on the boundary between Södermalm and the Old Town side.

The lift is more than an attraction: it also works as a genuine pedestrian shortcut between Slussen, Katarinavägen and Mosebacke torg. If you'd rather not climb the hill from Södermalm on foot, just take the lift up – the ride is free.

History

The first lift on this site was built by engineer Knut Seve Lindmark and opened on 19 March 1883. Originally steam-powered, it was electrified in 1915. The current structure dates from the major Slussen redevelopment of 1935/1936; the architects were Eskil Sundahl and Olof Thunström.

For decades the lift was a fixture of the Stockholm skyline, then came an unusually long pause: with the Slussen rebuild, the Katarinahissen was out of service from 2010/2011 until October 2023. When it reopened on 19 October 2023, it turned out the lift didn't run reliably in strong wind; after further work it has been running normally again since 2024. It's operated jointly by the City of Stockholm and property owner Atrium Ljungberg.

Technology and operation

The cabin holds 33 people, or 2,500 kilograms, and travels at 1.6 metres per second – up to 180 trips per hour at peak times. Wind is the key factor for operation: above about 10 m/s service is reduced, above 14 m/s it stops altogether. So on stormy days the lift itself may be out of action, while the walkway above stays freely accessible.

There are no reliable official opening hours; unofficial sources put it at roughly 08:00 to 22:00 daily. There's no official website either – the domain katarinahissen.se belongs to an unrelated private model-building project, not the lift's operator.

The view

From the top, an elevated walkway with a viewing bridge leads to one of the best views in the city: over the old town of Gamla Stan, the harbour, Skeppsholmen and the glittering water. It's especially atmospheric in the late afternoon and at sunset, when the light falls across the islands.

At the top of the bridge stands the long-established restaurant Gondolen, known for its views and Swedish cuisine – a good option if you'd like to linger over the view with a meal or a drink rather than just passing through.

Visiting and the surrounding area

Allow 20 to 40 minutes for the lift and a stop on the viewing bridge. The current lift is accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs; the walkway has ramps but is fairly steep. If you find the lift closed due to wind, you can still reach the top on foot via the surrounding stairs and lanes.

The Katarinahissen combines well with other viewpoints on Södermalm. The lane Fjällgatan is a short walk east, and the walkway Monteliusvägen about a kilometre west. For more on the district, see Södermalm; across the water lies the old town of Gamla Stan, visible from up here.