Pippi Longstocking and Sweden: Where to Meet Astrid Lindgren’s Heroine Today
Since 1945, Pippi Longstocking has delighted children around the world. Where the character comes from, why she matters so much to Sweden and which places fans can visit in Vimmerby, on Gotland and in Stockholm.
Hardly any character is as closely linked to Sweden as Pippi Longstocking, or Pippi Långstrump in Swedish. The strongest girl in the world, with her sticking-out red plaits, her horse and her monkey Mr Nilsson, has been a symbol of courage, imagination and independence for decades. For many families abroad, she is even their very first contact with Sweden. This article tells the story of the character and shows where you can meet her today.
Last updated: October 2026
How Pippi came about
Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002) invented Pippi in the 1940s as a bedtime story for her sick daughter Karin, who had made up the name. The first book was published in 1945 by the Stockholm publisher Rabén & Sjögren, so Pippi celebrated her 80th birthday in 2025. The books have been translated into more than 70 languages. Pippi’s house is called “Villa Villekulla” in Swedish.
Why Pippi matters
When she first appeared, Pippi was a small provocation: a girl who lives alone, refuses to be told what to do by adults and is nevertheless generous and fair. She fitted well with a Sweden that saw itself after the war as a modern, child-friendly country. To this day, Pippi stands in Sweden for the idea of taking children seriously. Astrid Lindgren herself campaigned publicly for children’s rights and animal welfare; in 1979 Sweden became the first country to ban all corporal punishment of children by parents. More about growing up in Sweden in Young People in Sweden.
Pippi on screen
The first Pippi film came out in 1949. But it was the 1969 Swedish television series starring Inger Nilsson that became world-famous, and several feature films were later made from it. It was a Swedish-German co-production and was shown again and again on German television. Many scenes were filmed on Gotland.
Where fans can meet Pippi today
- Astrid Lindgren’s World, Vimmerby (Småland): the theme park brings Pippi, Emil of Lönneberga, Ronia the Robber’s Daughter and other characters to life with theatre and replica sets. It is open mainly in summer.
- Astrid Lindgren’s Näs, Vimmerby: the farm where the author grew up, with an exhibition about her life.
- Kneippbyn near Visby (Gotland): home to the “Villa Villekulla” from the TV series, now part of a family leisure park.
- Junibacken, Stockholm: the children’s culture centre on Djurgården, with a story train through Astrid Lindgren’s worlds and a Pippi house you can walk through.
These places fit well into a family holiday. Tips on the regions can be found under Småland and Gotland.
What this means for your trip
- Book early: Vimmerby and Gotland are in high demand in July. Reserve accommodation and the ferry to Gotland in good time.
- Check the season: the theme parks are mostly open in summer, while Junibacken in Stockholm is open all year. Check current opening times on the official websites.
- Language: many theatre performances are in Swedish, but young children can follow the story easily, especially if they already know it.
- Reading: if you are travelling with children, read the books together beforehand or buy a Swedish edition as a souvenir, a nice first step towards learning Swedish.