Description »
An island exploration through the spiritual home of Nature Travels!
The Stockholm Archipelago is a magical place - just ask Sofia from the Nature Travels team, who grew up in Vaxholm and spent her childhood playing on Svartsö, one of the islands you will visit during the tour. The archipelago lies very much at the heart of Nature Travels, and much of Sofia's family still lives there. Bob and Sofia have a summer house on a small island just a few minutes by boat from Svartsö (we often go to Svartsö for ice cream), so you might even spot us from the boat as you pass by!
Take it from us - there's nowhere quite like it, and we hope you will love it as much as we do.
Well-marked trails with full route description make it easy to discover some of the best of what the archipelago has to offer. Photo: NT.
Like our other archipelago hiking itinerary, Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago, Discover the Islands of the Stockholm Archipelago aims to show you some of the very best of what this unique and very special place has to offer.
Your itinerary begins in Stockholm, giving you the opportunity to explore Sweden's beautiful capital before travelling out to Vaxholm by boat from Stockholm harbour and from there to the islands of Grinda, Svartsö and Sandhamn among others.
From historic capital to the wide horizon
Starting with a night in beautiful Stockholm, where you can stroll around the Old Town or visit the world's first Urban National Park, you then head by boat to the attractive coastal town of Vaxholm, with its pretty wooden houses and dramatic fortress.
The archipelago boats are a wonderful way to travel through the island network. Photo: Annette Hall.
From here, you journey through the "middle archipelago", a region of cool, verdant forests, with a network of islands rich in both natural and cultural heritage. Not only perfect for hiking, the islands are dotted with historic villages and with wonderful bathing and picnic spots.
As well as cool forests, beautiful beaches and flower-filled meadows, the archipelago also has a vibrant summer atmosphere, including the island of Sandhamn, very popular with the sailing community. Photo: NT.
You continue out to the fashionable island of Sandhamn, located on the outer rim of the archipelago, attracting sailors and non-sailors alike with its summer atmosphere and inspiring "edge of the world" feeling. Here the islands become smaller and farther apart, the forests give way to a more open, rocky, windswept landscape, and you can look out towards the open sea, where Finland lies on the other side of the Baltic.
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a newly-created route linking up a number of existing hiking paths to create an exciting new way to discover the archipelago. Covering 270km in total and stretching across 20 islands from Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south, all parts of the trail are accessible by the public boat network.
Discover the Islands of the Stockholm Archipelago features six of the islands along the trail - Grinda, Sandhamn, Svartsö, Brottö, Ingmarsö and Finnhamn.
During the tour you will use two of these, the scenic islands of Grinda and Svartsö, as your bases, spending two nights on each in small archipelago hotels. These are wonderful locations in their own right and ideal points from which to access many other gems of the archipelago.
So much more than hiking
Each day brings new paths to explore, often using the "båtluffarleden", the route specifically designed for island-hopping hikers. The archipelago boats take you between the main island locations during the trip, but you'll also cross between smaller islands with walking bridges or occasionally even by rowing boat (just a few metres!).
Crossing a short gap between islands using the occasional "rowing boat ferries" along the trail. Photo: Annette Hall.
The hiking is easy going and enjoyable, with flexible daily distances of 4-14km. There is plenty to see and experience along the way, so take your time - you're on holiday after all!
You can hike with just a light daypack during the day as you explore this very special area. In particular, take time to enjoy one of the pastimes central to any Swedish summer - wild swimming (the Swedes just call it "swimming"!). Sun yourself on one of the smooth rocks before taking a cooling dip in the archipelago waters.
Although a sea, the Baltic has so much fresh water running into it and such a narrow opening that the water is only slightly brackish, making any swim as refreshing and cleansing as swimming in a fresh water lake. Summer temperatures in the archipelago may reach 30 degrees C or more, and the water will often be around 18-22 degrees C during the main summer period - absolutely perfect for swimming!
Your hiking tour will take you to a number of beautiful spots ideal for a dip in the waters of the archipelago. In summer the water can often be 20 degrees C or warmer. Photo: NT.
Discover the Islands of the Stockholm Archipelago is offered weekly from June to August, so you can experience the wonders of the archipelago during the almost endless days of midsummer in June or in the high summer period from July to mid-August, when the days are still long and the water at its warmest and most inviting.
NB: As for all our self-guided tours, min. 2 persons are required for safety reasons. For solo travellers, please see our range of options for guided hiking.
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Itinerary »
An information pack giving full practical information for your will be waiting for you at your accommodation in Stockholm.
Day 1: Arrival and hiking in Stockholm
Arrival and check in to your hotel accommodation and take the day to explore this historic city, which is compact enough to be very walkable. Depending on your travel plans and how much time and energy you have this day, we strongly recommend you follow the information provided for a self-guided walking tour of some of the highlights of the city.
You'll be conveniently located to discover "Gamla Stan", Stockholm's beautiful and historic Old Town area dating from the 13th century, and the city's southern island of Södermalm with its wooden houses and imposing church architecture.
Don't worry if you feel more like a rest today, though - you'll be back in Stockholm for another night at the end of your tour, so you can catch up on the places you don't see today before you leave!
Stockholm itself is built on 14 islands of the archipelago, and even here in the Sweden's beautiful capital, you're never far from the water. From atmospheric Gamla Stan to the Stockholm Ekopark, the world's first Urban National Park, a 27 sq.km oasis of tranquility with old-growth forest and wonderful bathing areas right here in the city. Stockholm has so much to see!
Accommodation: Recently renovated 3-star hotel in the lively district of Södermalm. The hotel offers a personal atmosphere with interesting rooms in an historic building (note that, depending on availability, the hotel normally used for last night of the tour, or an equivalent option, may be used as an alternative for this night); Meals: None; Hiking distance: 4-14km (optional).
Day 2: Stockholm > Vaxholm > Grinda
After breakfast at your hotel, you take the boat to the archipelago town of Vaxholm, passing through some lovely island landscapes on the way.
Known for its historic fortress, which is definitely worth a visit during the day, Vaxholm is the perfect gateway to the Stockholm Archipelago (and, incidentally, is where Sofia from the Nature Travels team was born)!
With a bustling harbour, imposing stone fort, attractive wooden houses and a number of interesting craft shops, it's worth taking some time to soak up the atmosphere as you explore Vaxön island on a 10km trail along coast paths and charming streets. There are some good opportunities to stop and take a dip along the way and you can also extend the hike to explore the nature reserve area of Bogesund if you wish.
In the afternoon, take the boat from Vaxholm out into the archipelago to the island of Grinda, a lovely spot with a landscape of forests and meadows typical of the central archipelago (and, incidentally, with another strong Nature Travels connection - Sofia worked at the Värdshus there for many years as a teenager).
Accommodation: Grinda Värdshus, a charming hotel by the water. Restaurant is located in the Art Deco main building, with hotel-standard en-suite rooms in wooden houses in the archipelago style. There is also a bar, cafe, bakery and store within easy walking distance; Meals: breakfast; Boat: Stockholm-Vaxholm (1 hour), Vaxholm-Grinda (40 mins); Hiking distance: 10km.
Day 3: Grinda > Sandhamn > Grinda
Today you will take a day trip by boat to one of the iconic islands of the archipelago, Sandhamn. Sandhamn is a lively and trendy island on the outer rim of the archipelago and a popular destination for the sailing community and the "rich and famous" of Stockholm.
It has a lovely waterside village with small alleys and houses dating from the 17th Century. Hiking on the island gives you a chance to escape the bustle of the harbour area and discover Sandhamn's more tranquil side. You will walk a circular loop around the whole of the island, with sandy beaches and possibilities for bathing. You will pass Fläskberget beach, the island's cemetery with the names of sailors worn into the stones, and Trouville beach on the other side of the island, which is a popular spot for Stockholmers to bathe.
Take the opportunity to sample the wares at the village bakery - their cinnamon buns are legendary - before returning by boat to Grinda for the night.
Accommodation: As Day 2; Meals: Breakfast; Boat: Vaxholm-Sandhamn-Vaxholm (1 hour each way); Hiking distance: 10km.
Day 4: Grinda > Svartsö
Take the morning to explore Grinda with a wonderful coastal path on the east of the island before taking the boat to the island of Svartsö (which has another Nature Travels connection - a few years ago, you would have found Sofia's nieces and nephews helping out in the store there, though they've grown up now!).
Svartsö has a small year-round community of 35 residents and a local school for 20 children up to the age of 16 - the pupils arrive by boat from neighbouring islands in summer and by hovercraft in winter! The island offers beautiful scenery, including two inland lakes where beavers often choose to make their hides.
The hike leads to you to the small village with a lovely cafe and store, through a landscape of meadows and forest. Take a break to swim in the lake and enjoy dinner at one of the two restuarants. Cycle hire is also available if you wish to explore the island by bike.
Accommodation: Hotel on Svartsö conveniently located right by Norra Svartsö jetty, a quiet location and ideal base to explore the whole island by bike or on foot. The hotel is modern and comfortable and rooms have en-suite WC/shower; Meals: Breakfast; Boat: Grinda-Svartsö (40 mins); Hiking distance: 5km (Grinda), 7km (Svartsö).
Day 5: Svartsö > Ingmarsö > Finnhamn > Svartsö
A real island hopping day today, using a combination of archipelago boat services and rowing boats (rowing distances are very short, crossing the few metres of water that separates some of the islands).
You begin with a walk to the eastern side of Svartsö to meet the boat. A few minutes later, you get off at Brottö, from where it is a couple of kilometres to Ingmarsö with its lively archipelago atmosphere.
There is a special "båtluffaleden", or island hopping path, that takes you across the island, passing a very nice bakery and a lovely swimming area on the way. From there, a bridge brings to you Kålgårdsön for a short walk across the island and the crossing to Finnhamn using the rowing boat that will be at the crossing point. Tip: The rowing boats operate on a 3-boat system, as there must of course always be a boat on each side of the crossing. If there are two boats on your side when you arrive, you're in luck! You can just row across and leave your boat on the other side. If there's only one boat, you've got some extra work to do! Row the boat across, collect another boat from the other side, row back with both boats (one person in each), leave one boat, and row across again as two persons!
On Finnhamn, you continue on the path, past beaches and a more open landscape until you reach the jetty. This is a lovely vantage point to enjoy the archipelago views while you wait for the boat to bring you back to Svartsö.
Accommodation: As Day 4; Meals: Breakfast and lunch; Boat: Svartsö-Ingmarsö (15 mins), Finnhamn-Svartsö (30 mins); Hiking distance: 12-15km
Day 6: Svartsö > Gällnö > Stockholm
Today you leave Svartsö from the small jetty at Skällvik, where you take the archipelago boat to the island of Gällnö. The boat trip takes you through a beautiful area of small islands which are typical of the middle archipelago landscape.
Gällnö is a charming island, with well-preserved historic buildings and a picturesque village with cafe and store. From here you walk through a mixed landscape of pasture, woods and beaches.
If you have time, take the rowing boat just across the water to the neighbouring island of Karklö (there are always three boats, and at least one must always be left on each side of the crossing - so if there's only one boat on your side, you row the boat across, row two boats back, leave one, and then row across again!). On Karklö there is an attractive 2km hiking loop before going back across to Gällnö.
Once back, you can enjoy a refreshing swim at the beach before taking the boat back towards Stockholm. Take time to sit out on deck and enjoy the dozens of islands passing by - Swedes doing DIY at their summer houses or tinkering with their boats or families bathing from the jetties. Cast your gaze skywards and you may well see a White-Tailed Sea Eagle or Osprey circling majestically overhead. After a couple of hours, Stockholm will begin to come into view, and you end your tour at its historic harbour.
Accommodation: 3-star boutique hotel right in the city centre with a welcoming, homely feel. The design reflects its owner's varied artistic interests and international background, with an exhibition of black and white photography (note that, depending on availability, the hotel normally used for first night of the tour, or an equivalent option, may be used as an alternative for this night); Meals: Breakfast; Boat: Svartsö-Gällnö (40 mins), Gällnö-Stockholm (2 hours); Hiking distance: 10-13km
Day 7: Stockholm and Departure
If you can, take time today to visit some of the areas of the city you missed on Day 1. Have you been to the Urban National Park yet?
If you're leaving Stockholm today, it's time to bid farewell to the archipelago and make your way to the airport or train station for departure. Or why not stay an extra night or two and see more of what the "Venice of the North" has to offer?
Meals: Breakfast; Hiking distance: optional (flexible 4-14km).
Dates & Prices»
Dates 2025
Possible start dates can sometimes be subject to variation depending on timetables for public boat services.
Tours are offered weekly from late June to mid-August.
Start every Sunday (end Saturday) from 22nd June to 10th August 2024 (last start 11th August):
- June: 22.06-28.06.25, 29.06-05.07.25^
- July: 06.07-12.07.25, 13.07-19.07.25, 20.07-26.07.25, 27.07-02.08.25
- August: 03.08-09.08.25, 10.08-16.08.25
^For tours on these dates, a supplement to standard prices applies. Please see price information below.
Prices 2025
Child prices given are based on 2 adults travelling with 2 children. If travelling with 1 child or 3 or more children, please contact us for details and prices.
| Standard Prices | |
|---|---|
| Per adult (based on 2 persons sharing) | GBP |
| Per child aged 10-15 (based on 2 adults + 2 children): | GBP |
| Per child aged 16-18 (based on 2 adults + 2 children): | GBP |
Supplements (per room) to standard prices above apply for the following dates tour dates:
| 29.06-04.07.25 | GBP |
Accommodation arrangements for families:
Children will have separate 2-person room on all nights.
What's Included »
Included
- Accommodation:
- 2 nights in hotel accommodation in Stockholm (nights of Day 1 and Day 6). Exact accommodation will be one of four locations depending on availability and will normally be different for first and last day. Hotels will be 3-4 star standard and each with their own special character, conveniently located in either city centre or popular Södermalm district.
- 3 nights in hotel accommodation (2-person rooms) as per itinerary. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Please see under "Itinerary" for more information on accommodation each night.
- Meals: 6 x breakfast as per itinerary and 1 x picnic lunch. Additional meals are available to purchase locally.
- Boat Transfers: Stockholm-Vaxholm (Day 2), Vaxholm-Grinda (Day 2), Grinda-Sandhamn-Grinda (Day 3), Grinda-Svartsö (Day 4), Söderboudd-Södra Ingmarsö (Day 5), Finnhamn-Norra Svartsö (Day 5), Skälvik-Gällnö (Day 6), Gällnö-Stockholm (Day 6).
- Luggage Transfers and Storage: Stockholm-Grinda (Day 2 - luggage will be transferred from the hotel in Stockholm all the way to Grinda, while you explore Vaxholm), Grinda accommodation-jetty (Day 4), Svartsö jetty-accommodation (Day 4), accommodation-Svartsö jetty (Day 6). Where accommodation is located just 100-200m from the boat jetty, luggage can easily be carried.
- Activities: 5 days' hiking as per itinerary.
Restaurant and accommodation on Grinda (Days 2-3). Photos: NT
Accommodation on Svartsö (Days 4-5). Photo: NT
Not Included
- Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
- Meals apart from those specified. Additional meals are available to purchase locally - information on the various options will be given at the start of your tour.
Good To Know »
Required
Health requirements/experience:
Suitable for adults and active families with older children. Recommended minimum age 10 years.
Hiking is generally easy, but you should be comfortable hiking with light daypack at own pace for distances of 4-14km.
Minimum 2 adults normally required. Solo adult travelling with child(ren) may also be possible depending on age and options chosen. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
What makes this "Easy"?
Although self-guided, the tour is supported with luggage transfers, which means it is necessary to hike only with a daypack during the day, and also features comfortable accommodation each night. Hiking distances are relatively short and the terrain can be undulating but not steep. The emphasis is on enjoying the atmosphere of the archipelago and the experience of travelling between the different islands.
NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.
Ticks and TBE:
Note: Ticks occur mostly in grassy areas.
As in the UK and other areas, there are ticks in the Nordic forests which can carry diseases such as Borrelia. You should check for ticks at the end of a day in the outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible by pulling the tick out straight, carefully and slowly, with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Ensure that you do not leave any of the insect's mouth parts attached to your skin. Wash the bite area with soap and water. In the unlikely event that you feel unwell or notice anything unusual around the area of the bite in the coming days, consult your doctor.
As in large areas of mainland Europe, in some localised areas of the Nordic countries, the ticks are known to carry TBE, or Tick-borne encephalitis, and locals spending extended periods in affected areas often choose to vaccinate themselves. For current advice on TBE and inoculations for the area you are visiting, please consult your doctor or see Travel Health Pro.
Equipment/clothes needed:
For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".
A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.
Preparing for your trip:
For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.
Combine This With
This experience makes a good combination with the following:
- Self-guided Sea Kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago (3 or more days, one hour from Stockholm)
- Guided Sea Kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago (3 days/2 nights, one hour from Stockholm)
Groups
This experience is also suitable for groups. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Eco Info
This provider has a detailed written environmental policy.
Getting There »
Getting There
See below for a summary of travel options. To learn more about how to travel to this experience, please get in touch!
Detailed information on travel will be provided in response to your enquiry. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
NB: Please ensure that you make a booking with us first and wait for confirmation that your spaces are reserved before making any travel arrangements.
Travel Summary:
By Air:
Fly to Stockholm Arlanda, Stockholm Skavsta or Stockholm Västerås airports. Travel time into Stockholm city is around 20 mins from Arlanda and 90 minutes from Skavsta/Västerås.
Without Flying:
Ferry Dover-Dunkirk or Newcastle-Amsterdam for onward train connections to Stockholm.
National Geographic recommends the Stockholm Archipelago as one of the top destinations in the world for 2025.
Photos & Reviews
"There were many highlights - the contrast between urban and islands and variety of islands, the quality of service from the local hosts, the hostel on Svartsö (a good opportunity to meet other travellers) and the welcoming attitude of the locals." Rob, July 2024
"We had a brilliant time." Annette, July 2024
"It was all enjoyable." John, July 2024
Did You Know...?
- We also offer Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago as an alternative itinerary exploring a different part of the archipelago in spring and autumn.
Further Reading
- Compare our range of hiking tours.
- When to go hiking.
- Read our blog article about the Stockholm Archipelago.
Where Is It...?
