The Stockholm Archipelago: A Day Trip by Boat

The Stockholm Archipelago is the city's great natural asset – a chain of islands stretching from Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south. Depending on how you count, there are roughly 24,000 islands, islets and skerries; the often-quoted figure of 30,000 is an upper bound that depends on how small a rock has to be to count. Only around 150 islands are inhabited year-round, rising to about 1,000 in summer, plus roughly 50,000 holiday cottages. A short overview fits into half a day; for the larger islands, plan on a full day.

Getting there by boat

Most tours start from Strömkajen, the jetty near the Royal Palace. From there, the public operator Waxholmsbolaget runs services into the archipelago year-round, while the private operator Strömma runs seasonal routes, including to Fjäderholmarna from Strandvägen/Nybroplan. Departures are frequent in summer, with a dense, regular timetable running from around May or June to early September. In the low season, from mid-September to April, far fewer boats run, so it is worth checking the timetable before setting off.

Not every island is equally close, and the direct route from Stockholm is not always the fastest. Examples of pure journey time:

• Strömkajen to Vaxholm takes about one hour with Waxholmsbolaget.
• Sandhamn from Strömkajen takes two to three hours depending on stops – via Stavsnäs (Roslagens Sjötrafik) it is only about 30 minutes.
• Utö from Strömkajen takes around three hours and 45 minutes in summer, but only about 35 to 40 minutes via Årsta Brygga year-round.

If you are heading further out, it often makes sense to combine the boat trip with a bus or car to a closer jetty. For how the public transport network connects to the harbours, see the guide Getting Around Stockholm.

Tickets and prices for 2026

The archipelago boats run by Waxholmsbolaget use their own six-zone fare system (taxa) – a regular SL single ticket is not valid here. Single fares for 2026 by zone (standard / concession):

• Zone 1: 61 kr / 39 kr
• Zone 2: 84 kr / 52 kr
• Zone 3: 104 kr / 64 kr
• Zone 4: 125 kr / 79 kr
• Zone 5: 154 kr / 95 kr
• Zone 6: 186 kr / 114 kr

Concession fares apply to children aged 7 to 19, students and seniors from 65. You can pay on board by card or in advance via the SL app (Swish or card) – the app is the easiest option. Travelcards are also available for frequent travellers, and in the low season, from 14 September to 29 April, regular SL travelcards (30-day and longer) are valid on the Waxholmsbolaget boats too. The city-centre Strömma boats to Fjäderholmarna run on their own fares, with a return ticket costing around 185 kr.

Fjäderholmarna – the closest island

Fjäderholmarna is the obvious choice for a half-day trip – only about 25 to 30 minutes by boat from the city centre. Strömma sails roughly every 30 minutes from Strandvägen/Nybroplan between May and September, and Waxholmsbolaget and the Fjäderholmslinjen also serve the island. The 2026 season runs from early May to 13 September.

The island is built around arts and crafts – during the season, workshops and shops open for wood, textiles, glass, metal and chocolate, including a wool workshop, a weaving studio and a pottery, with courses on offer in summer too. There is also an exhibition of traditional Swedish boats. For food, options range from Fjäderholmarnas Krog to the smokehouse Rökeriet and the island's own Fjäderholmarnas Bryggeri brewery. Plan for anywhere from a few hours to a full day here. Because it is so close to the city, the island tends to be busier than the others.

Vaxholm and its fortress

Vaxholm is the classic first-timer's destination, with real town character – a picturesque old town with a waterfront promenade and cafés, reachable on foot the moment you step off the boat. That alone makes the half-day trip worthwhile, especially with children or when time is short.

The real landmark, Vaxholm Fortress, sits on its own small island just offshore. In summer, the Kastellet boat (M/S Djurgården 4) shuttles across from the town jetty every 20 minutes daily, roughly from 10:00 to 17:20; the crossing costs 110 kr return for adults (60 kr one way), and 80 / 45 kr for children aged 3 to 12. Alternatively, you can reach the fortress island directly with an SL ticket from Strömkajen for around 43 kr. The fortress museum costs 120 kr for adults in 2026, 100 kr for seniors and 60 kr for teenagers aged 13 to 18; children up to 12 accompanied by an adult go free. Core opening hours run daily from 11:00 to 17:00 between 22 June and 23 August, with weekend-only opening before and after that, and closure over Midsummer (19 to 21 June). Guided tours in summer (at 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00) are included in the entry price.

Grinda, Sandhamn and Utö

Further out are the islands worth visiting for a particular landscape or experience:

• Grinda is the popular but relaxed nature island – a nature reserve with three public, family-friendly swimming spots at the southern and northern steamer jetties and at Källviken, all with dry toilets. A marked nature and heritage trail of around 2.5 km loops around the south-eastern part of the island from Hemviken farm, taking in the Klubbudden viewpoint (35 m). Grinda is served year-round by Waxholmsbolaget and the Cinderella line; the crossing takes around two hours depending on the route.
• Sandhamn is known internationally as a sailing and summer destination, and through the crime series "Morden i Sandhamn" ("Murder in Sandhamn"). Highlights include the cosy village centre with the Missionshuset chapel and the Sandhamnsbageriet bakery, the sailing harbour and the Trouville sandy beach. Given the long journey, Sandhamn is best treated as a full-day destination.
• Utö is large and varied enough for a full day – historic iron-ore mines with water-filled shafts over 200 m deep and a mining museum (Gruvmuseum), several swimming beaches including the white sands of Ålö Storsand, plus cycling routes (around 13 km from the mining village, Gruvbyn, to Ålö). At Gruvbrygga, a rental station with over 300 bikes, including e-bikes and children's bikes, operates daily in summer on a walk-up basis, no advance booking needed.

If you prefer things quieter, head further out still – islands like Nämdö or Möja are noticeably more peaceful than the classic destinations.

Practical tips for the day

On the popular islands you don't need to bring much – Grinda, Utö, Sandhamn, Vaxholm and Fjäderholmarna all have toilets, restaurants, cafés or an inn (wärdshus), and in some cases a small shop: Grinda has an inn and a general store, Utö an inn and a bakery. On smaller or more remote islands, facilities are sparse, so pack swimwear, food and water, and wear sturdy shoes for the smooth rocks.

The swimming season runs through the main season from June to August, when the water is typically around 17 to 22 degrees Celsius, usually warmest in July. The SL app is the easiest way to buy tickets, and in the low season from mid-September to April, allow for a much thinner timetable.

A world of its own are the true freshwater islands of Lake Mälaren, west of the city – including Björkö, home to the Viking town of Birka (a UNESCO World Heritage Site around 30 km west), plus Adelsö, Ekerö, Färingsö, Helgö and Arnö. Birka is reached by Strömma boat from Klara Mälarstrand near Stockholm City Hall; the day tour from Stockholm takes around eight hours there and back including the stay, with a guided tour of the excavation site and museum entry included in the package. There is no regular service from November to April, when the museum is also closed. For more ideas beyond the archipelago, see the guide Day Trips from Stockholm.