Stockholm Archipelago

One of the world's largest archipelagos

Stockholm doesn't end at the city limits. To the east, stretching roughly 80 kilometres out into the Baltic Sea, lie some 30,000 islands, skerries and rocks – Visit Stockholm puts the precise figure at 30,014. Around 150 islands are permanently inhabited; the rest range from wooded islets with red wooden cottages to bare rocks that barely break the surface.

For many Swedes, the archipelago is inseparable from summer. It's the most beautiful and varied day trip destination around the capital – and unlike a single museum, it isn't somewhere you simply "tick off", but a landscape from which you pick a destination depending on how much time you have and what you feel like doing.

From a short hop to a full island day

Which island is worth it depends mainly on how much time you have. Four destinations cover the range well:

• Fjäderholmarna – the closest islands to the city, about 25 minutes away by boat. Known for restaurants and craft workshops, including Fjäderholmarnas Krog, the Rökeriet smokehouse and a small brewery. Perfect for an afternoon when you don't have time for more.
• Vaxholm – a charming wooden town with Vaxholm Castle, a fortress founded by Gustav Vasa around 1540 that now houses a museum. About 55 minutes from the city centre by Cinderellabåtarna.
• Grinda – a car-free nature reserve with hiking trails, coves and bathing rocks, good for a full day outdoors. Journey time around 1.5 hours.
• Sandhamn – a classic sailing and watersports hub in the outer archipelago with sandy beaches, the furthest out (around 2.5 hours) and best suited to a full day trip.

If you prefer things quieter, go in June or September; in high summer the popular islands and boats fill up considerably.

Getting there by archipelago boat

The archipelago is reached almost entirely by water, and there are two operators with quite different characters:

• Waxholmsbolaget is the public archipelago transport operator (part of SL, the Stockholm region's transport authority). A one-way adult fare costs 61 to 186 SEK depending on route and zone, with reduced fares (ages 7–19, students, 65+) of 39 to 125 SEK; children under 7 travel free with an accompanying adult. Tickets are available in the SL app or on board. Frequent travellers can get a 30-day pass from around 970 SEK.
• Strömma runs the tourist-oriented Cinderellabåtarna boats from central jetties on Strandvägen and Nybroviken (tickets also available at the Strömkajen kiosk). Guide prices for a one-way trip in 2026: Vaxholm from 190 SEK, Grinda and Gällnö from 235 SEK, Sandhamn from 255 SEK. Services run daily from late April to late September, busiest in summer.

If you want the flexibility to combine islands, Waxholmsbolaget is usually the cheaper choice; the Cinderellabåtarna are more comfortable and geared towards visitors.

The main jetty, Strömkajen, is near the Royal Palace and the Grand Hôtel. From T-Centralen or Stockholm Central Station, take the Tunnelbana (metro) to Kungsträdgården (about a 7-minute walk) or bus 76; the SL commuter boats 80 and 80X also call at Strömkajen.

Practical tips for your visit

Depending on your destination, plan for half a day to a full day in the archipelago. An afternoon on Fjäderholmarna works well as a spontaneous add-on; for Grinda or Sandhamn, start early and keep an eye on return times, since the last boats of the day are limited.

For swimming, high summer is the best time: in late July and August the Baltic in this region averages around 18 to 19°C, reaching about 20°C on warm days; August tends to be the warmest month, July slightly cooler. The exact number of daily departures varies by season and island – check the current timetables in the SL app (Waxholmsbolaget) or with Strömma rather than relying on fixed times.

An archipelago trip pairs well with a day in the old town, since the jetties are close to Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace. For a deeper dive into individual islands and routes, see the Archipelago guide; for other destinations around the city, see the Day Trips overview.