Day Trips from Stockholm: Drottningholm, Uppsala & the Archipelago

Stockholm sits so conveniently between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea that you barely need to leave the city to experience royal history, medieval heritage and a watery landscape of thousands of islands – royal palaces, a medieval cathedral city, the country's oldest town and the archipelago are all within reach of a day trip. This guide sets out the best destinations, explains how to get there and what they cost in 2026, and separates the quick half-day trips from the outings that deserve a full day.

Drottningholm – the palace on Lake Mälaren

The classic choice is the UNESCO World Heritage Drottningholm Palace, the still-inhabited summer residence of the Swedish royal family west of the city. The most atmospheric way to get there in summer is by excursion boat across Lake Mälaren – Strömma sails from Klara Mälarstrand, right next to City Hall, in the 2026 season roughly from 27 May to 23 August, with several departures a day (a two-hourly rhythm in the morning and afternoon, reduced on Sundays). One way takes around 50 to 60 minutes.

• Boat tickets – prices run to around 170 kronor one way and about 220 kronor return, depending on the operator; some combination tickets go up to 350 kronor. There's no online booking – tickets are bought on the day directly at the Strömma kiosk by the jetty.
• Year-round alternative – outside the boat season, or if you're short on time, take the metro (Tunnelbana) to Brommaplan and then a bus towards the palace. It's cheaper, works with a standard SL travelcard, but lacks the charm of arriving by water.

Allow half a day to a full day for the palace, its Baroque gardens and the famous palace theatre – add the return boat crossing and it easily becomes a full day out.

The steamer to Mariefred and Gripsholm Castle

Further west along Lake Mälaren lies the quiet town of Mariefred, home to the Renaissance castle of Gripsholm. The most memorable way to get there is aboard the S/S Mariefred, a paddle steamer built in 1903 – Sweden's oldest steamship still in scheduled service, operated by the Gripsholms- Mariefreds Ångfartygs AB.

• 2026 timetable – the season opens on 6 June; sailings run Saturdays only at first, then from around 1 July to 2 August on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Departure from Stockholm is from Klara Mälarstrand at 10:00, with the return sailing leaving Mariefred at 16:30. One way takes around three and a half hours.
• 2026 prices – return 490 kronor, one way 370 kronor, half price for children aged 6 to 16.

Given the long crossing, this is a self-contained full-day trip rather than something to combine with other destinations. If you enjoy a slow, nostalgic chug across the lake, it's one of the most relaxing days out near Stockholm.

Uppsala – cathedral city and Viking burial mounds

Uppsala, the venerable university city north of Stockholm, is probably the most rewarding day trip of all. Direct trains (Mälartåg/SJ) take around 35 to 40 minutes and run roughly every 30 minutes; the slower SL commuter train (Pendeltåg) takes about 55 minutes but is cheaper. Tickets start from just a few euros' worth of kronor.

The city centre is dominated by Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala domkyrka), begun in the late 13th century and, at 118.7 metres, the tallest church in the Nordic countries. Admission is generally free, with charges only for the treasury and special exhibitions; in summer the cathedral is typically open daily from around 08:00 to 18:00, and free guided tours run year-round on Sundays. Those buried here include King Gustav Vasa, the naturalist Carl Linnaeus and the theologian Nathan Söderblom.

North of the city lies Gamla Uppsala ("Old Uppsala"), with its three large royal burial mounds (Kungshögar), raised in the Vendel period (roughly AD 550–800) as graves for the ruling elite. The mounds are freely accessible year-round, with paths leading up to the tops. The neighbouring Gamla Uppsala Museum (part of Upplandsmuseet) puts the finds in context – open daily 11:00–17:00 from May to September, and Wednesday to Sunday 12:00–16:00 from October to April; admission is 150 kronor, 120 kronor concession, free for children and teenagers up to 19.

Sigtuna – Sweden's oldest town

On Lake Mälaren, roughly halfway to Uppsala, lies Sigtuna – founded around AD 980 and so the oldest town in Sweden still in existence (the older trading settlement of Birka had already been abandoned by that time). Getting there means taking the SL commuter train towards Märsta (around 25 to 30 minutes) and then bus 570 or 575; the whole journey takes just under an hour.

• Stora gatan – Sweden's oldest street still following its original course, today a pedestrian lane lined with pastel-coloured wooden houses, cafés and boutiques.
• Stora Torget – the main square, home to Sweden's smallest town hall, built in 1744.
• Church ruins – the medieval remains of St Per and St Olof recall the town's ecclesiastical importance.
• Rune stones – around 30 stand within the town itself and roughly 170 across the wider municipality, a dense legacy from the Viking age.

Sigtuna is compact and can easily be explored in half a day. If you're planning ambitiously, it can be combined with Uppsala into one long day since both lie on the same rail line – though it's more relaxed to give each town its own half day.

The archipelago – island escape for half a day or a full one

The most obvious day trip of all is the Stockholm Archipelago. Even an afternoon is enough for a first taste – Fjäderholmarna, just 20 to 30 minutes away by boat, is the closest island to the city, served frequently in summer from Strömkajen, Slussen or Nybroplan, and makes for an easy half day of craft shops and a waterfront restaurant.

For the classic, more distant islands, it's better to set aside a full day. Strömma's Cinderella boats sail from Nybrokajen from late April to late September:

• Vaxholm – from around 190 kronor, about 55 minutes; the fortress town begins right at the jetty.
• Grinda – from around 235 kronor, about 1.5 hours; a relaxed nature island with swimming spots.
• Sandhamn – from around 255 kronor, about 2.5 hours; a well-known sailing and summer destination.

The public Waxholmsbolaget ferries are cheaper, with fares to Grinda from 125 kronor one way. For which island suits which time budget and how the fare system works, see our full guide to the Stockholm Archipelago.

Which trip suits which day?

A final, honest breakdown to help the day fit the plan:

• Half a day – Sigtuna by train and bus, or an afternoon on Fjäderholmarna.
• A full but flexible day – Uppsala, with its cathedral, royal burial mounds and museum; with an early start and tight planning, Sigtuna can be added on.
• A full day built around a boat – Drottningholm with the return boat crossing, one of the more distant archipelago islands such as Sandhamn, or the leisurely steamer to Mariefred and Gripsholm.

For the details on transport and tickets around Greater Stockholm, see our guide to getting around Stockholm; if you're combining the trip with your own arrival or departure, check getting to Stockholm.