All You Need to Know to Take a Great Stockholm Archipelago Day Trip

Did you know that Stockholm is a part of a network of thousands of islands? The Stockholm Archipelago has 30,000 islands in the Baltic Sea, full of beautiful coastlines, lush greenery, picturesque summer cottages, charming communities, and calm waterholes. It’s the perfect Swedish summer vacation destination and a must-visit if you visit Stockholm. Luckily, the archipelago is just a short distance away from Sweden’s capital, making a serene escape accessible as a day trip from Stockholm! This guide has everything you need to know about how to take a Stockholm archipelago day trip and how to do it best. Read on to find out how!

Stockholm Archipelago Overview

The Stockholm Archipelago, Skärgården in Swedish, is one of the largest archipelagos in the world. It extends 80 kilometers east of Stockholm into the Baltic Sea and consists of around 30,000 islands, islets, and rocks, more than twice the size of New York City’s five boroughs!

It’s a popular weekend and holiday destination for both locals and tourists. You’ll often see people picnicking, swimming, and boating along the islands, soaking in the slower life. The islands have existed since the last Ice Age and have been inhabited for thousands of years. They were essential to Stockholm’s trade and defense, and some islands feature historical buildings and landmarks.

There are also dozens of hiking trails and nature reserves on the islands. And, of course, there are plenty of water holes to swim in—from the sea to lakes and more. From lush, forested islands to rugged, rocky islets, the archipelago is perfect for fun, outdoor activities, and peaceful retreats.

So, what are the best islands to visit in the archipelago?

Top Islands to Visit in the Stockholm Archipelago

There are so many islands in the archipelago it can take time to choose which one to visit, especially if you have limited time. Here are some of the must-see islands every visitor should consider:

1. Vaxholm
   • Vaxholm is one of the most easily accessible and popular islands, earning it the nickname “gateway to the archipelago.” It is known for its charming summer cottages, waterfront cafes, and historic Vaxholm fortress.
2. Grinda
   • A nature lover’s paradise, Grinda is known for its lush forests, open meadows, and serene atmosphere. It’s an excellent destination for outdoor activities like camping and countless hiking trails to enjoy nature. It’s also the perfect place to dock a boat and watch time roll by on calm waters.
3. Utö
   • Utö is an old mining village with old iron mines and a historic inn (Utö Värdshus). It’s one of the larger islands in the archipelago and has a good mix of nature and historical sites. You can rent a bike and bike around the island, too! It’s the best way to get around and enjoy Utö).
4. Sandhamn
   • Sandhamn is one of the most popular archipelago islands, with many manmade sandy beaches and water activities like kayaking. It’s also famous for its sailboats, all docked by the pier. You can also walk around the small village and admire all the beautiful houses!
   • It’s less charming than the other islands since it has the most development, but it’s a good place for a weekend trip.
   • It’s one of the furthest islands from Stockholm, though, and boat trips must be booked beforehand.
5. Fjäderholmarna
   • Fjäderholmarna is the closest island group to Stockholm, ideal for a quick escape from the city. It’s famous for its dining scene, breweries, and local artisan shops with cute crafts and art. It’s a great place to relax, enjoy a beer by the water, and enjoy life.

How to Get from Stockholm to the Stockholm Archipelago

There are multiple ways to get from Stockholm to the Stockholm Archipelago, but the best way is by far to take a ferry or boat.

By Ferry and Boat

The best way to the Stockholm archipelago is by ferry or boat. Ferries and boats connect directly to islands, making it easy to hop on and off while island hopping. You’ll see incredible scenery on your boat ride and experience a unique transportation method.

Most locals take the public ferry, as it’s cheap, convenient, and fun! Especially since owning a boat isn’t as accessible and expensive. The main Stockholm ferry operators are Waxholmsbolaget and Strömma Kanalbolaget, with their Cinderella boats. Waxholmsbolaget also services the SL commuter ferry lines as well, which have SL logo flags on the boat. Each service runs different routes to the islands:

• Waxholmsbolaget:
  • Vaxholm, Grinda, Utö, and Sandhamn. They operate the most islands of the operators, which you can see on this ferry network map.
  • SL Ferry Shuttles: Boat 83 goes between Stockholm City, Vaxholm and Rindö.
• Strömma:
  • Vaxholm, Grinda, and Sandhamn.

Ferry Tickets

You can book Cinderella tickets online and Waxholmsbolaget tickets on board or use an SL card/ticket. SL shuttles take SL tickets and passes, which can be purchased in person beforehand.

The Cinderella ferries are more expensive, as they are semi-private ferries, and the tickets range from 150 to 250 SEK.

The SL travel card passes are valid on SL ferries but not on the Waxholmsbolaget ferries, which have their own SL travel card pass.

You can also take your boat to the islands, either by owning or renting one. There are also archipelago ferry tours you can book that will take you to pre-selected islands. (Which we’ll get into later.)

By Bus

SL (Stockholm Public Transport) operates buses from central Stockholm to Vaxholm, where you can then catch a ferry to other islands. This is a faster alternative to the ferry and great if you take the ferry to Vaxholm and need to get back fast. It can also save you time on your journey to other islands in the archipelago.

You can pay for a ticket at the ticket machines or use an SL travel card.

By Car

You can drive or take your car to the islands by car ferry. However, most islands are car-free, and only Vaxholm, Musko, and Yxlan are car-friendly or reachable by car. So, I don’t recommend driving to the islands as it’s inconvenient and not the best way to explore: by foot or bike.

Now that you know how to get to and around the Stockholm archipelago, here’s the best archipelago day trip from Stockholm: Vaxholm! You can use this day trip itinerary to plan visits to the other islands.

The Best Stockholm Archipelago Day Trip: Vaxholm

As the gateway to the Stockholm archipelago, Vaxholm is the best day trip to make if you’re visiting Stockholm and want to experience the island life quickly. Using the SL Route 83 ferry, you can enjoy a scenic, cheap, and convenient journey from Stockholm to Vaxholm. It’s also how the locals get to Vaxholm!

How to Get to Vaxholm

The best way to get to Vaxholm is by taking the SL Route 83 ferry, which departs from both Strömkajen and Slussen ferry terminals. From Slussen to Vaxholm, the ride is about 45 minutes. For a half or full-day trip to Vaxholm, board the morning ferries to give yourself ample time to enjoy the island!

Once you arrive at the ferry terminal, you’ll see ferry schedules posted on a billboard next to the dock. Make sure you get there early so you can check when the ferry will come and ensure you’re in the right place. The terminals have multiple docks, and it may be confusing if there are multiple ferries. You can also check the timetables online, which I highly recommend because the ferry departures are not frequent.

For the SL Waxholmsbolaget ferries, you can either buy a ticket on board or use a valid SL travel card pass.

Note that this route takes the SL travel pass because it is in network.

What to Do in Vaxholm

Once you arrive in Vaxholm, there are so many things to do! Here is a day Vaxholm itinerary:

Explore the Vaxholm Fortress

This 19th-century military fort is on a small island off the main island of Vaxholm. It’s refurbished and has a hotel and museum inside. It’s famous for its Christmas dinners and escape-room-like activities!

You can easily get there by the same SL ferry you take to Vaxholm (it’s the next stop after it), or you can take a serviced ferry that runs every 20 minutes between Vaxholm and Vaxholms Kastell.

Walk Around Vaxholm Town

After the fortress, head back to Vaxholm and wander through the town’s streets lined with colorful wooden houses. Many Swedes have summer houses here, and they’re maintained with beautiful front gardens. Don’t miss the local shops, where you can find unique souvenirs and crafts!

Have Lunch

There are some cafes and restaurants on the island near the ferry terminal. A popular place is Hamnkrogen for local Swedish food, but all kinds of cuisine are also available. People also bring their lunch and picnic on the pier and near the water. There are plenty of places to sit and eat!

Visit the Norhammen Marina

After you eat, definitely visit the Norhammen Marina on the island’s northeast side. It’s a small but charming marina with wooden cottages and a kayak launch pad. You can rent a kayak for a short paddle around the harbor or walk along the water.

Go on a Walk or Swim

Walking or biking around Vaxholm is the best way to explore it. There are bike rental places on the island and clear roads to bike. There are few hiking trails in Vaxholm, but there are many areas to swim or take a dip!

A quick walk east of Norhammen is Battery Park, a rocky beach and park that is the perfect hidden spot to swim. It’s small but incredibly charming and has great views. Sunbathe, swim, or relax here!

Have a Fika

Once you’re done enjoying the water, it’s time to enjoy a nice fika with an afternoon coffee (or tea) and a small pastry. Many cafes are near the ferry terminal, but I highly recommend Vaxholms Hembygdsgårds Café, a cafe with a buffet-style fika and incredible water views. They have so many delicious cakes and pastries, and they also serve lunch foods.

You can stop by for lunch and a fika; it’s truly a gem! However, it’s only open in the spring and summer, so don’t make the mistake I did and try to go in the winter! I was so sad, hahaha.

Head Back to Stockholm

Honestly, Vaxholm is doable in half a day, so after your fika, you can head back to Stockholm by ferry or bus. I recommend the bus because it’s faster and once you ride the ferry, you will see the same scenery back in Stockholm.

Take the SL Route 670 bus from Vaxholm back to Stockholm. The bus comes every 15-30 minutes, depending on the day and hour. It’s a really scenic route that shows the neighboring islands’ forests and lakes. The bus takes 45 minutes from Vaxholm to Tekniska Högskolan, the terminal station.

If you don’t want the hassle of planning your Stockholm archipelago trip, you can take a tour instead! However, a guided tour is not needed and is often more expensive than it’s worth.

Stockholm Archipelago Tours

There are many tour options that will take you to the Stockholm archipelago, but the most popular one is the guided tour by Stromma, which also runs the Cinderella ferry. Guided tours cost around 300-350 SEK (~$30-35 USD) and are the same as a public ferry but with a knowledgeable guide.

The pros of tours are that you get a guided tour and all the planning is taken care of, but the con is that they’re often not worth the price. A guided tour is about 8x the cost of a single journey SL ticket, which is 42 SEK normally. So, unless you really don’t want to deal with the logistics, a guided tour is not really worth it, in my opinion.

Luckily, I have some tips that will make planning a lot easier!

Tips

Here are some tips that will help you have the best Stockholm archipelago day trip from Stockholm:

• Leave Early:
  • The ferry ride to and from Stockholm and the closest island is 30 minutes. To Vaxholm takes around 45 minutes, and to the further islands, it can be two or even 3 hours!
  • If you want to spend a whole day in the archipelago, leave in the morning and return late afternoon or early evening! However, you can also stay overnight, so leaving early might still be beneficial.
• Go During On-Season:
  • The most important tip is to visit the Stockholm archipelago during the spring and summer seasons. Similar to the Greek islands, the Stockholm archipelago is most fun and serviceable during the warmer months. Many shops, cafes, and restaurants close for the winter and reopen during the summer.
  • Most of the restaurants and cafes are open from April to September. The high season is June to August, with tourists and locals exploring the archipelago.
• Check Ferry Schedules:
  • The ferries only depart occasionally, even in the summer. There are even fewer departures in winter, so check the schedules beforehand.
  • For example, the SL Ferry 83 in the summer departs Stockholm nine times daily, Monday through Friday, three times on Saturday, and four times on Sunday. From Vaxholm, the ferry departs eleven times Monday through Friday, three times on Saturday, and three times on Sunday.

What to Pack

Here are some things you should pack on your trip to the archipelago regardless of the season:

• Comfortable shoes
• Portable charger
• Wallet and essentials
• A light bag or crossbody bag

During the winter, make sure to bring:

• Extra jacket or outerwear
• Scarf
• Warm hat

During the summer, bring:

• Swimwear and a towel if you plan to swim
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses or hat
• Sandals for easy swimming
• Insect spray
• Light outerwear

Explore the Stockholm Archipelago!

Now you have all the information you need to explore the archipelago in Stockholm! You can’t leave Stockholm without seeing at least one archipelago island; they’re genuinely a vibe. The houses remind you of summer; everyone enjoys the weather and water and seems more relaxed. You can’t miss the ferry ride, which is spectacular and just as great as the islands themselves. Hopefully, you can experience it in the summer, which is peak island season. Happy travels!