Travel guide
The Stockholm archipelago: Vaxholm, Sandhamn and the boats from the city
The Stockholm archipelago begins where the city ends, with around 30,000 islands, islets and skerries. Here are the islands worth the trip, the boats that take you there, and the hotels by the water.
In short
With one day, take the boat to Vaxholm or Fjäderholmarna. With two, stay the night in the archipelago, in Vaxholm, on Sandhamn or on Utö. Boats leave from Strömkajen and Nybroplan in the centre, and SL travel cards are valid on Waxholmsbolaget boats.
Our first choice: Waxholms Hotell on the quay in Vaxholm, a stone's throw from the fortress. You step off the boat and through the door, with seafood and a view over the harbour entrance for dinner.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Waxholms Hotell
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How to get out into the archipelago
Waxholmsbolaget runs the white archipelago boats, some of them old steamers, from Strömkajen just below the Grand Hôtel. SL travel cards are valid on board, so you can hop on and off without a separate ticket. Strömma runs sightseeing boats and summer routes from Nybroplan and Strömkajen.
Services are most frequent from mid-June to mid-August. The rest of the year there are fewer boats, but the largest islands have year-round sailings. Check the timetable for your day, and arrive early on fine summer days, as boats can fill up.
Boats from Strömkajen
The archipelago boats leave from the quay in the centre, and half an hour later the city is behind you.
Fjäderholmarna: the archipelago in an afternoon
Fjäderholmarna are the closest archipelago islands, about 25 minutes by boat from the centre. There is a smokehouse, seafood restaurants, craft shops and smooth rocks to sunbathe on. Boats run in the summer half of the year, and the islands are ideal if you only have a few hours.
Vaxholm: wooden houses and a fortress
Vaxholm is known as the capital of the archipelago and is about an hour by boat from Strömkajen. The town has colourful wooden houses along the quays, small cafés and shops, and Vaxholm Fortress on an islet at the harbour entrance, reached by a little ferry.
Have lunch by the water, walk around the fortress and catch a later boat back. If you are in a hurry, buses also run from Tekniska Högskolan in Stockholm.
Sandhamn: the sailing island in the outer archipelago
Sandhamn sits on Sandön, right out towards the Baltic, and is the sailors' island, with the Royal Swedish Yacht Club's clubhouse and hotel by the harbour. In summer the harbour is packed with boats, and on the south side of the island is Trouville, a sandy beach backed by pine forest.
By boat from Strömkajen the trip takes about two to three hours. It is quicker if you take the bus to Stavsnäs and the boat from there. Sandhamn is best with an overnight stay, when the day visitors have gone and the harbour falls quiet.
Utö and Grinda
Utö in the southern archipelago has Sweden's oldest iron mines, long cycle paths and a bakery by the jetty. Boats leave from Årsta brygga, and you can hire a bike when you land.
Grinda in the central archipelago is one of the most popular summer destinations, with swimming spots, smooth rocks and an old inn. It makes a good day trip, with time for a swim before the boat back.
Swimming, kayaking and the right to roam
Sweden's right of public access applies in the archipelago as everywhere else, so you can swim from the rocks and paddle between the islands. You can hire kayaks in Vaxholm and on Utö, among other places, and guided tours leave from the city in summer.
If you would rather have art and architecture, Artipelag on Värmdö is an art hall in the forest by the water, with a restaurant and paths down to the sea.
Where to stay in the archipelago
Waxholms Hotell: on the quay in Vaxholm
Waxholms Hotell stands on the quay in Vaxholm, a stone's throw from the fortress, with its own marina. The Matsalen restaurant serves seafood at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the hotel has a sauna and a bar. Breakfast is included.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Waxholms Hotell
Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden: the seaside hotel
Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden was opened in 1893 by Knut Agathon Wallenberg and stands by the water in Saltsjöbaden, south-east of the city. It has a spa, an indoor pool and a hot tub, and the Saltsjöbanan railway takes you to Slussen from the station three minutes away.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden
Yasuragi: a Japanese spa on the approach to the city
Yasuragi sits at Hasseludden on the sea approach to Stockholm, with Japanese baths, views over the water and a yukata waiting in your room. A good choice for archipelago views and calm, half an hour from the centre.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Yasuragi
Grand Hôtel: stay in town, take the boat out
If you would rather stay in the centre and take day trips, the Grand Hôtel stands right above Strömkajen, where the archipelago boats leave. Cross the road from the hotel and walk straight on board.
Book your stay: See available rooms at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm
Stockholm archipelago: frequently asked questions
How many islands are there in the Stockholm archipelago?
Around 30,000 islands, islets and skerries, from Fjäderholmarna just outside the city to Sandhamn and Utö out by the Baltic.
How do you get to the archipelago from Stockholm?
On Waxholmsbolaget boats from Strömkajen, where SL travel cards are valid, or on Strömma's summer boats from Nybroplan and Strömkajen. Buses also run to Vaxholm.
Which island is best for a day trip?
Vaxholm and Fjäderholmarna are the easiest, with a short boat ride and plenty to see. Grinda suits you if you want to swim. Sandhamn and Utö are longer trips and best with an overnight stay.
When is the best time to visit the archipelago?
From mid-June to mid-August, boats are most frequent and the water is warmest. Spring and autumn are quieter, with fewer sailings.
Where can you stay in the Stockholm archipelago?
Waxholms Hotell in Vaxholm, Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden and Yasuragi are all by the water and easy to reach from the city. See also the hotels we recommend in Stockholm.