Staying in the archipelago – we have the best tips

Staycation with day trips and overnight stays on beautiful islands

A staycation at home doesn’t have to be a lesser alternative than a vacation abroad – especially in Sweden when there is such amazing nature to be found! Here you can read about some of the most beautiful and popular islands in the archipelago. Perfect for both a longer vacation or a day trip  and suitable options for both families, friends and couples.  Book an overnight stay for a wonderfully relaxing experience. If you don’t have lots of time but still want to experience the archipelago you can enjoy a day trip and visit the three popular islands!

Stay at Grinda – hotel, cottages, hostel or camping

You can get to the green island of Grinda in less than an hour and a half from central Stockholm. Step of the boat and straight in the Swedish idyll. Here you can find lush forests, smooth rocks and sandy beaches for swimming. The entire island is a nature reserve and we highly recommend taking a walk on the island via one of the many marked tracks. See the island and learn more about its’ history. On the island you can also find a café, restaurant and a farm shop.

ACCOMODATION: 
At Grinda you can stay at classic hotel Grinda Wärdshus, but there is also cottages, a hostel and a camping.

GET TO GRINDA: 
You can easily get to Grinda in just over an hour with the Cinderella Boats. There is a café and restaurant onboard. Make sure to pre book for a guaranteed space onboard.

Summer favourite Sandhamn

It’s easy to understand why Sandhamn is favoured by the locals in Stockholm. The people found on Sandhamn is a bustling mix of local islanders, the boat crowd, summer guests and people visiting for the day. Around the harbour there is a great energy with lots of people, restaurants, bars and shops with long walks along the seafront. If you are looking for something a bit quieter there is tranquillity to be found in the green forests on the island. Head out for a walk on one of the winding paths crossing the island, find your own beach and enjoy the view of the archipelago and boats passing.

ACCOMODATION:  
At Sandhamn there are plenty of places to stay – both the Sands Hotel and the famous Seglarhotellet offer overnight stays.

GET TO SANDHAMN: 
You can get to Sandhamn via a guided boat trip with the M/S Strömma Kanal that was built especially to handle the narrow and shallow passages of the canal. This trip is as much about the journey as the destination.  

From central Stockholm it will only take you 2 hours to get to Sandhamn with the Cinderella Boats. Onboard tehre id a café, restaurant and a generous sundeck. Pre book for a guaranteed space on board!

Stay overnight at picturesque island of Finnhamn

Finnghamn is another small gem in the archipelago. Despite the island not being very large, The winding pathways will take you through several different types of nature. If you get hungry you can stop by popular Finnhamn’s Krog, which also sports spectacular views! At Idholmen Farm you can buy homegrown produce and organic eggs and see chickens, pigs and cows.

ACCOMODATION:  
If you want to stay overnight at Finnhamn there is a traditional summer villa, cosy cottages or a camping.  

GET TO FINNHAMN: 
The easiest way to get to Finnhamn is with the fast and comfortable Cinderella Boats. Pre Book for guaranted space on board!

Stay in the archipelago town of Vaxholm

Vaxholm is often called the capital of the Archipelago and is a small cosy town with a genuine archipelago feel. Take a walk through the older parts of Vaxholm, look in the shops along the main street, take a dip in the ocean and grab something to eat in one of the many restaurants. A sunny evening a cocktail at sunset in the bar C-baren a must! You can find the bar at the furthest point at the pier in the guest harbour. If you are looking for a day trip you can take the line ferry across to the old fortress of Vaxholm’s Kastell. Here you can find a popular café offering lunches, home baked goods, ice cream and hot and cold drinks. There is also a museum, shops, galleries and even the option to try out jet skis!

ACCOMODATION:  
In Vaxholm there are several different options for staying overnight, such as established Waxholm Hotel or cosy Vaxholm Bed & Breakfast. At Vaxholm Kastell you can also stay overnight at Kastellet Bed & Breakfast. 
 
GET TO VAXHOLM:
The most beautiful way to get to Vaxholm is with classic archipelago ship S/S Stockholm. The boat departs from central Stockholm and gets you to vaxholm in an hour and a half. It’s very popular so we recommend booking tickets in advance.  
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get to Vaxholm the Cinderella Boats will take you from central Stockholm to Vaxholm in under an hour. The boat also stops at Nacka Strand and Gåshaga if you’d prefer to board there. Make sure to pre book! 
You can also get to Vaxholm by bus from Tekniska Högskolan, which takes around minutes.

Hotel and hostel at archipelago island Gällnö

If you go to Gällnö you will get the chance to experience genuine archipelago life – here you can relax, enjoy nature and the stillness of the archipelago. The island has the necessities for a pleasant stay – a store, café, bar and two small beaches. Enjoy a cold drink and something to eat in the bar, swimming, blueberry-picking in the forest or buy everything you need for a picnic and head to the beach!

ACCOMODATION:
Gällnö Hostel is located a 15 minute walk from the jetty where the boats dock. Here you can stay in cottages with 2 or 4 beds or your own hotel room. There is a traditional Swedish sauna and a large field where you can play sports and games.  There is also Hotel Frans August, a one bedroom only hotel. It has a large double bed, but an extra bed can be added in an adjacent room if needed.

GET TO GÄLLNÖ:
The Cinderella Boats will take you to Gällnö in 1,5 hours. Pre book for guaranteed space onboard!

Thousand Island Cruise – Three islands in one day

Do you have limited time but still want to experience the archipelago? The Thousand Island Cruise is an 11 hour cruise that will let you experience the very best of the Stockholm archipelago. It includes stops at three popular islands – Kymmendö, made famous by writer August Strindberg, the picturesque island of Bullerö and last the popular island of Sandhamn. The guide will tell you fascinating facts and history about the archipelago. When you make a stop at the islands you can join a guided tour or explore it on your own. The cruise also includes a lunch, dinner and afternoon coffee served onboard. Top tip – make sure to bring your swimming costume!