The Stockholm Archipelago (Stockholms skärgård) runs from the Baltic Sea to just east of the city center. There are about 30,000 islands, islets, and skerries in it. It is one of the largest groups of islands in the world, and in the summer, it is the center of Sweden for both Swedes and tourists. A lot of islands are just rocky outcrops where seabirds can live. However, hundreds of them have permanent or seasonal communities that are linked by public ferry services (Waxholmsbolaget), private water taxis, and, in the winter, ice roads. The archipelago has a unique mix of untouched natural areas, traditional red-painted cottages, and a slower pace of life that is very different from the fast pace of life in Stockholm.
You should think about how long it will take to get to the islands you want to visit, what kind of infrastructure is there (cafés, restaurants, and places to stay), and what kind of experience you want, from rugged, car-free wilderness to cultural hubs with art galleries and manor houses. These are the top five islands that are easy to get to, have beautiful natural scenery, and have their own unique personality. Each one is a great example of why the Swedish archipelago is a world-class place to visit.
Top 5 Swedish Archipelago Islands You Must Visit
- Sandhamn
- Grinda
- Vaxholm
- Utö
- Svartsö
A Closer Look at the Top 5 Swedish Archipelago Islands You Must Visit
1. Sandhamn
Sandhamn is about two hours by ferry from Stockholm. It is at the outer edge of the archipelago, where the Baltic Sea opens up to international shipping lanes. Even though it’s far away, Sandhamn is a busy summer village. There are about 100 people who live there all the time, but that number goes up to several thousand during the busy season. The Royal Swedish Yacht Club is on the island, which is known as the unofficial capital of Swedish sailing (KSSS) and the ÅF Offshore Race, which takes place every year. Unlike many smaller islands in the archipelago, Sandhamn has paved paths, a grocery store with a lot of food, and hotel rooms. There are also many different places to eat, from casual takeout stands to fancy restaurants.
Key Points
- Sailing hub: KSSS guest harbor can hold more than 500 yachts, and there are regattas going on every month from May to September.
- Sandhamn Värdshus, a historic inn that opened in the 1680s, serves traditional archipelago food, has rooms for overnight stays, and has a lively outdoor terrace.
- Beach access: Trouville, a sandy beach on the island’s southern side, is rare in the mostly rocky archipelago.
Achievements
- Waxholmsbolaget’s passenger statistics show that the island is always the most popular outer archipelago destination.
- The Swedish movie and TV show “Vi hade i alla fall tur med vädret” used it as the perfect summer in the archipelago.
- In 2022, it won the award for “Most Beautiful Harbor in Sweden.”
Feedback
Even though the island is far away, people who visit love the lively summer atmosphere and the many available services. Some people who have been to Sandhamn say it’s one of the more expensive places to visit in the archipelago because hotels cost between SEK 1,800 and SEK 3,500 per night and ferry rides cost a lot. Reputation: the best place to stay in the outer archipelago for more than one day.
Contact
Website: https://www.sandhamn.com
2. Grinda
Grinda is in the archipelago, about 90 minutes by ferry from Stockholm. The island is owned and run by the Archipelago Foundation (Skärgårdsstiftelsen). It strikes a balance between running a business, letting people visit, and protecting the environment. Grinda is small enough to walk from one end to the other in less than an hour, but it has many useful things, like a well-known inn and restaurant, a modern hostel (Wärdshuset Grinda), a conference center, a grocery store, and a few camping and barbecue areas. The glaciers have smoothed the open meadows, pine forests, and granite shores on the island. Marked walking paths are great for families and people who just wildly hike.
Key Points
- Grinda’s sandy swimming beach is ideal for families because it has a roped-off swimming area, changing rooms, and a small playground.
- On-site lodging: You can choose from dorms in hostels (SEK 400–600 per person), private hotel rooms, and standalone cottages (stugor).
- Grinda Wärdshus serves lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner on the weekends (you need to make a reservation). You can also get food to go from the grocery store.
Achievements
- Awarded “Best Archipelago Destination for Families” by Skärgårdsmagasinet (2024).
- Nature’s Best, Sweden’s national ecotourism label, gave it the “Excellent Swedish Nature” certification.
- Runs one of the few year-round ferry services in the archipelago (with a shorter schedule in the winter).
Feedback
Families with young kids always say that Grinda is the easiest island to visit because the services are close together, the walking paths are flat, and the swimming is safe. People who travel alone or with a partner like having a range of prices for places to stay. Some people say that the island can feel crowded on summer weekends and that other guests use the kitchen. Reputation: the easiest “all-in-one” island to get to for first-time visitors to the archipelago.
Contact
Website: https://www.grinda.se
3. Vaxholm
Vaxholm is really an island (Vaxön) that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. This is the easiest place on this list to get to by bus, car, or a 25-minute ferry ride from the center of Stockholm. The town is the archipelago’s government center and has more than 5,000 people who live there full-time. Unlike the islands that focus on the wilderness, Vaxholm has urban amenities like boutique shopping, a lot of cafés and restaurants, a modern public library, and a pharmacy and healthcare center that is open all the time. The most famous place on the island is Vaxholm Fortress (Vaxholms fästning), a fort from the 16th century that is on its own islet and can be reached by a short pedestrian bridge. There is now a museum, a restaurant, and a summer hotel there.
Key Points
- Cultural heritage: The Vaxholm Fortress museum tells the story of Sweden’s coastal defense for 400 years. Guided tours are available every day from June to August.
- Restaurants include Vaxholm Hamn (seafood), Hembygdsgårdens Café (traditional fika), and the fortress’s own Kastellet-restaurangen.
- Shopping: Along Hamngatan, the main pedestrian street, local artisans sell ceramics, textiles, and other items with an archipelago theme.
Achievements
- Designated as one of Sweden’s “Livable Cities” by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities (2023).
- The Swedish National Heritage Board protects Vaxholm Fortress as a listed building (Byggnadsminne).
- Travel + Leisure Nordic named it the “Best Small Town Destination in Scandinavia” in 2024.
Feedback
Visitors like how effortless it is to get to the mainland while still feeling like they’re in an archipelago. People who go to Vaxholm for a day trip from Stockholm say it’s the best place to go for a half-day trip. Some people who want to see unspoiled nature think the town is too developed. Reputation: the “capital” of the archipelago, great for culture, food, and ease of access.
Contact
Website: https://www.vaxholm.se
4. Utö
Utö is one of the few islands in the southern archipelago accessible by ferry or, in the past, by narrow-gauge railway. The railway now runs between the ferry terminal and the main village as a tourist attraction. This island is bigger than most of the others on this list. There are about 150 people who live there all year, but in the summer, that number goes up to 500. The most captivating thing about Utö is how different its eastern shore, which faces the open Baltic Sea, is from its sheltered, forested western bays. The island also has an old iron ore mine called Utö gruva. It was open from the 12th century until 1879. During the summer, you can go on guided tours of the mine.
Key Points
- Mining heritage: Go down 50 meters into the Utö mine for guided tours that explain how iron was mined in the Middle Ages and early modern times.
- Two character zones: The eastern side has empty cliffs and stunning views of the sea, while the western side has calm bathing coves and walking paths that are shaded by pine trees.
- Accommodations include Utö Värdshus (a hotel and restaurant), hostel rooms, and cottages with kitchens.
Achievements
- Utögruvan is the oldest known iron ore mine in Sweden still accessible to the public.
- Listed as a “Nature Reserve of National Interest” by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
- Recipient of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (2023).
Feedback
Hikers and geology fans say that Utö is the island with the most varied terrain and the most fascinating history. Families say that the mine tour is the best part for kids in school. Some visitors say that the island is bigger than they thought it would be, so it’s best to bring a bike to see everything in one day. Reputation: the best place to see both natural beauty and industrial history.
Contact
Website: https://www.uto.se
5. Svartsö
Svartsö is an island in the middle of the archipelago, south of Grinda. It doesn’t have any cars, but it does have old-growth forests, calm lakes, and well-marked hiking trails. The island is long, about 6 kilometers from end to end, so you can spend the whole day exploring it. Svartsö is different from the more touristy outer archipelago destinations because it is quiet and low-key. The ferry dock is in the middle of the island’s small village, which has a seasonal grocery store, a bakery, and a small inn called Svartsö Krog. People like to swim and have picnics in the two freshwater lakes inside Svartsö: Stora Svartsöträsk and Lilla Svartsöträsk.
Key Points
- Hiking infrastructure: There are about 12 kilometers of marked trails (with yellow and red markers) that connect the ferry dock to both ends of the island.
- Inland lakes: Stora Svartsöträsk has a wooden bathing jetty and is noticeably warmer than the Baltic Sea by mid-summer.
- Lilla Bageriet (The Little Bakery) is a café that used to be a boathouse. They make sourdough bread and kanelbullar every day.
Achievements
- Certified as “Nature’s Best” ecotourism destination for managing trails in a way that is beneficial for the environment.
- In 2024, Skärgårdsmagasinet readers voted it the “Best Hidden Gem.”
- The island’s forests contain several trees over 200 years old, rare in the archipelago due to historical timber harvesting.
Feedback
Hikers say Svartsö is the best island for walking because the trails are well-marked and easy for fit walkers. People who want to go out at night or eat at different restaurants find the island too quiet. People who go on day trips say that the best way to see the main trails is to take the first ferry from Stockholm at 09:00 and the last ferry back at 17:00. Reputation: great for walking, birdwatching and being alone.
Contact
Website: https://svartso.se
FAQ
What is the best way to travel between Stockholm and these islands?
The main way to get around is by the public ferry run by Waxholmsbolaget. The departure point is Strömkajen, which is close to the Grand Hôtel. You can buy tickets online, at the terminal, or on board (with a credit card only). The outer islands take between 25 minutes and 2.5 hours to get to, depending on the type of service. Foot passengers don’t need to make reservations, but weekends can be busy, so get there 30 minutes early.
Can I visit these islands year-round, or only in summer?
All five islands have ferry service all year, but in the winter, there are fewer departures (2–3 per day instead of 8–10 in the summer). Most cafés, restaurants and places to stay are closed from October to April. Winter visits offer quiet and snowy scenery, but you have to bring your own food and warm clothes. Vaxholm is the only island where restaurants and hotels are open all year.
Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
If you want to stay at Sandhamn, Grinda, or Svartsö between mid-June and mid-August, you need to book ahead of time (at least 4–8 weeks ahead of time is best). There are many hotels in Vaxholm, and they can take last-minute reservations. On weekends, Utö’s Värdshus is full, but on weekdays, you can usually get a room with 1–2 weeks’ notice.
Which island is most suitable for a day trip without an overnight stay?
For day trips, Grinda and Vaxholm are the best places to go. Vaxholm has the fastest travel time and the most services. Grinda offers a full “island experience” with walking paths, swimming, and dining all within a small area that can be reached by a 90-minute ferry ride. You can go to Sandhamn for a long day trip (leave Stockholm at 9:00 AM and come back at 5:30 PM), but it’s better to stay overnight.
Are the islands accessible to visitors with mobility limitations?
Vaxholm is easy to get to because it has paved walkways, ramps at public buildings, and easy ferry boarding. Grinda has easy-to-reach paths from the quay to the inn and the main swimming area, but the rest of the island has unpaved trails. The center of Sandhamn’s village is flat and paved, but the way to the outer lighthouse is not. Utö and Svartsö are hard to get to outside of the villages.
Can I bring my kayak or bicycle on the ferry?
Yes. You can bring your bike on Waxholmsbolaget ferries for an extra fee (SEK 70–100 per bike, no cash). You need to get permission before bringing a kayak or canoe, and there are usually only 1–2 allowed per departure. Only on certain car ferries that go to Vaxholm and a few other islands are private cars allowed.
What wildlife can I expect to see?
You can see white-tailed eagles (havsörn) all year long as they become more common. You can see grey seals basking on the outer skerries near Sandhamn and Utö. Inland forests are home to roe deer, red foxes, and many types of birds, such as ospreys, common eiders, and black guillemots. There are mosquitoes, but they aren’t as bad as they are on the mainland because of the sea breezes.
Which island offers the best swimming beaches?
Grinda has the best-kept sandy beach with amenities. Trouville on Sandhamn is the most beautiful, but it can get crowded. Svartsö’s lakes in the middle of the island have the warmest water (up to 20°C in July) and no jellyfish. The rocky bathing coves on the east side of Utö have cold, clear water that experienced open-water swimmers love.
