Stockholm Archipelago: Known mainly only to the Swedes as a sailing region. What surprised me the trip to Sweden How to get here and how much it costs

Day 1. Stockholm

Settlement on the boat, acquaintance, briefing, sightseeing.

Day 2. Trek to Vaxholm Island

On this day we will visit one of the most beautiful citadels in Sweden - Vaxholm Fortress, whose powerful stone bastions rise between the islands of Vaksyon and Rindo. The black gaps of loopholes, witnesses of more than one naval battle, seem to be watching the peacefully sleeping town. The gray waves of the bay come close to the impregnable walls of the citadel. It occupies a strategically important place and, in fact, blocks all access to the capital. It is called the Swedish Krostadt. The "Vaxholm Line" includes not only the citadel itself, but also a couple of dozen forts and batteries on the islands of the Stockholm archipelago.

Day 3. Trek to Sandhamn Island

Sandhamn is an island in the Stockholm archipelago, famous for hosting the Royal Regatta every year. Here is the Royal Yacht Club, a spa hotel, many restaurants and cafes. This island, located on the edge of the archipelago, has beautiful white sand beaches and picturesque cliffs where you can relax from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the Scandinavian nature. We will also visit the neighboring islands, go to a real Swedish bath and visit the lighthouse-fortress that defended these places.

Day 4. Trek to Ute Island

Ute Island is famous for its rich historical heritage. It has been inhabited since before the Viking Age. From the 12th century until 1879, the islanders mined iron here. The windmill, dating back to 1791, offers a breathtaking view. Currently, Utö is one of the most popular resorts in the Stockholm archipelago. Here we will walk along the eco-trails, those who wish can rent a bicycle and go around the island along numerous bicycle routes...

Day 5. Trek to the island of Nynäshamn

Nynäshamn (Swedish: Nynäshamn) is a port city in Sweden, located on the southern tip of the Södertörn peninsula. It is the administrative center. Nynashamn arose as a summer cottage at the crossroads of sea routes. In 1901, a railway connected it with Stockholm, and by 1911 its population had grown to 1,700 inhabitants. Now the city has about 14,000 inhabitants and during the summer periods the same number of guests. A walk through this beautiful city and the surrounding nature of the island will leave vivid and unforgettable impressions.

Day 6. Trek to Dalaryo

We will stop in a cozy harbor near the city. We will walk along its pretty streets, taste the local cuisine and go explore the fort of the same name, built in 1656 on the island of Stokkschersholmen, located two kilometers southwest of Dalarö.

Day 7. Return to Stockholm

We will moor at the starting point, walk around the old city and arrange the final feast. Overnight on a yacht.

Stockholm is a beautiful city that delights its guests with unusual architectural and cultural monuments and no less beautiful natural sights. One of these can be called the Stockholm archipelago, which is a large group of islands located in the Baltic Sea. This picturesque area is considered one of the best holiday destinations in Sweden and is very popular among tourists and residents of the capital.

Islands of Stockholm. Their history and present

Landscapes have changed quite actively throughout their history, this is mainly associated with the annual rise of the land by several millimeters. So, it happened with the archipelago, a few centuries ago it was only a small area where local fishermen lived, and now it is one of the most popular places for recreation not only for residents of the capital, but also for visitors.
reaches a length of almost 80 kilometers and has in its arsenal about 30,000 islands of various sizes and rocks. Some of its islands are proud of their large population and are famous for being the best summer parties, others are almost untouched rocks and grassy hills.
You can travel between the islands with the help of the resources of the Stockholm fleet, which has about 100 snow-white motor ships, which, despite technical progress, continue to move by steam. Such short sea trips often become a great option for a romantic dinner or just an interesting walk.
Each of the islands of the archipelago is a great place for fruitful fishing, on many of them you can even rent a boat or sailboat for this purpose. In addition, in some areas, bicycle or horse rental services are provided.

The Stockholm archipelago: the most remarkable places

Among the incredible variety of natural, special attention should be paid to some of the most interesting islands. These include:
1) Sandhamn is a large island with the glory of the main pier. From it it is very convenient to go on a sea voyage on yachts and ships. In addition, the largest regattas in the Baltic Sea start from this island. Also, its territory is considered the most suitable for a beach holiday.
2) Lidingö is the best place for those who like to stroll through gardens and parks. It is famous for its perennial plantings, which were planted centuries ago, as well as small modern houses, ideal for a modest holiday.
3) Vaxholm - a huge area called a city. Its population reaches 5 thousand people, and the peculiarity is considered to be the widespread placement of exclusively wooden houses and a stunning castle built under Gustav Vaso.
4) Nåttarö is a wonderful island for fans of extreme recreation among mountains and caves.

Where to stay in Stockholm archipelago?

Great amount islands of the stockholm archipelago offers excellent opportunities for recreation and tourism. However, despite the many such areas of land in the middle of the sea, only about a thousand people are considered adapted for living, so choosing a place to stop among all these natural beauties can be called very difficult.
It should be noted that regardless of the islet you choose, the most interesting areas can be visited with the help of regularly sailing boats, steamers and other water facilities.
You can find a place to stay in the open spaces of the most popular natural attraction in Sweden on the most developed islands, which are full of bungalows, houses and even villas. Therefore, the specific room depends on your preferences and the thickness of the wallet. In addition, on the territory of the archipelago there are many hotels with different quality of service and comfortable rooms.

Stockholm archipelago: how to get there?

The islands of Stockholm stretch along the eastern border of the Swedish capital. It can be reached by land transport or by sea. To this picturesque attraction follow:
- buses, for example, passenger cars, following route No. 670.
– trains
- ships and steamers, they depart from the piers of Blasieholmskajen and Nybroviken.

Your ship will sail among the many skerries (small rocky islands), overgrown with pine trees. Here and there you will see exemplary Swedish cottages and boats. These landscapes amaze with their beauty in any weather. On a sunny day, the nature of Sweden will surprise you with the brightness of colors, and on a foggy day you will be fascinated by the fabulousness and mystery of the barely visible silhouettes, and no less surprised how the ship finds its way through this winding section of the path.

The best place for observation is an open area on the upper deck aft. From it you can see the coast both on the right and on the left. Generally speaking, ferries are not cruise ships, so there are no convenient circular decks here, and an inquisitive tourist experiences some inconvenience. There is also an open area on decks 6 or 7 near the boats, but there you will see only one coast.

As they liked to write in Soviet books, the location of Stockholm was not chosen by chance. It is best to sail to the city by ship (the waterway was the most convenient way to deliver goods even now and before). However, you can get to Stockholm only through two narrow straits between the rocks.

At different times, one strait was used, then another. Accordingly, various barriers were built in the strait that was not used. Sometimes simply sunken ships were used as obstacles.

One of the branches, the Oxdeep Strait, is several meters wide; passenger ferries pass through it about an hour before arriving in Stockholm. At this point, the rocks come very close to each other and the ship sails past the Oscar-Fredriksborg Fort. You will see how menacing stone walls of the fortress, erected at the beginning of the 18th century according to the design of the fortifier Axel von Loewin, rise on high granite rocks from the two banks of the strait.

The Oxdeep Strait is so narrow that ships can only pass in one direction, so in the morning a real queue of ferries can accumulate in front of it.

After passing through the fort, a wide area begins, where ships usually disperse - here you can see one or even two "day" ferries that have just left Stockholm and go to Finland.

Fortresses Fredriksborg and Vaxholm on the map

In another strait, located a few kilometers from Oscar-Fredriksborg, there is another Swedish fortress - Vaxholm. This is the oldest fortress of all the fortifications on the east coast of Sweden.

Currently, under the name Vaxholm, it is customary to unite several fortifications that served to defend Stockholm at once. These are, in fact, Vaxholm Castle, Fredriksborg Fortress and Rindo Redoubt, Oscar-Fredriksborg and Siaro Forts.

The first log cabin on the site of the Vaxholm fortress was erected at the beginningXVIcentury, then a stone tower, embankments and bastions were erected. In subsequent years, the fortress continued to strengthen. At that time, Vaxholm fort protected Stockholm from the Danes, and in peacetime it was used to inspect ships and collect taxes from all ships sailing past it.

During the Northern War in 1719, the Russian army approached the fortress Vaxholm attacked her, but the Swedish flotilla gave a worthy rebuff. After this failure, the Russians never tried to take the city again. In 1833-1863 Vaxholm Fortress was rebuilt and acquired a modern look.

The second fortress Fredriksborg was built (1724 - 1733), then a redoubt was built Rindø, and in 1877, Fort Oscar-Fredriksborg. At the beginning of the First World War, the Xiare Fort was built, completely hidden in the ground.

The most famous fortification is Vaxholm Fortress, where the museum is located.the history of the defense of the east coast of Sweden, tourists are brought here and talk about the history of the defense system. Stockholm. By the way, in those days Vaxholm Fortress served as a prison, and now it is used as a hotel and you can stay there for the night.

After you see the first sights of Stockholm (the archipelago and Vaxholm fortress), you should go to the cabin to finally get ready before leaving the city and have breakfast in a cafe.

Nowhere in the world is there such a large number of islands in such a small space as in the Stockholm archipelago. Anyone can admire the beautiful scenery of these places.

Sandhamn

Sandhamn is the eastern island of the archipelago and has almost everything to offer. Here you will find beautiful views and small sandy beaches. There are hotels, restaurants and small shops. But, above all, there is a settlement that is very similar to the fairy-tale world of Astrid Lindgren. The houses are all close together, and it's actually easy to get lost in the alleyways between them. You can go to this island directly from Stockholm by taking a seat on the ship. You can stay overnight at any of the local hotels.

Vaxholm

Vaxholm is often called the capital of the archipelago. There is a cute little town that can be reached by bus or ship. There is a large castle in the harbor, now it is a museum.

There are quite a few small shops and galleries in Vaxholm. For those who want to combine shopping and visiting the archipelago, this island is the right place. There are many restaurants and small cafes there. Café Silltruten, located on the harbor, is decorated in a 1920s design style.

fiederholmarna

Fjäderholmarna Island is located near Djurgården. And if you have some time, be sure to visit it.
There are restaurants and some nice shops, and there are often various exhibitions. Several glassblowers, potters and blacksmiths also work on the island. Mackmyra has its own branch on the island where you can taste their local whiskey. There is also the Fjederholmarn Brewery, where you can watch how the beer is brewed and then taste it. You can sunbathe on the local rocks, but Fjederholmarna is not the best island for swimming.

utyo

Utö is one of the largest islands in the archipelago. Iron ore was mined in the old, already abandoned mines in the 12th-19th centuries. But now it is a popular place for walking.
Many come to the island for the whole day. Here you will find interesting bike paths and many other interesting sights. On the southeast side there are rocky and sandy beaches. If you have rented a bike on the island, you can visit the Båtshaket restaurant.
You can take a boat to Nynashamn and then take a commuter train.

Grinda

Grinda is ideal for those who want to combine walks in the forest with sunbathing. There is a charming hotel Grinda Wärdshus, which is considered the center of business activity.
Many come here for lunch or dinner, but it's great to stay in a hotel for one night or rent a cottage for a week. The island has many suitable swimming areas with clean beaches. You can also rent a kayak or visit the sauna. Grinda is an hour boat ride from Stockholm.

Finnhamn

Finnhamn is located in the center of the archipelago. There is a village where you can stay in any of the great hostels overlooking the archipelago or choose a place for a tent.
Finnhamn is an active center with boats, kayaks, football, paintball and other sports.

Mya

Möja is one of the most famous islands in the archipelago, with several large villages.
It’s nice to go there on a day trip and, renting a bike, get to its various outskirts. It's a pretty big island! There are three restaurants, one of them, Wikströms Fisk, is open all year round. Ramsmore is home to the Roland Svensson Museum, which displays most of his art.

Landsort

Landsort is the southernmost point of the Stockholm archipelago. The local fishing village is several hundred years old, and Landsort Lighthouse, built in the 1670s, is the oldest in the archipelago.
You can organize a day trip there. To do this, you need to take a bus to the port of Ankarudden, and from there a tourist boat will take you to the island, where you can stay for a night or two. The view from the hotel to the surrounding countryside is simply amazing.

Nottaryo

The most beautiful sandy beaches of the archipelago are located in Nåttarö. You can also rent bicycles there or go on an exciting underwater journey along the specially marked route of the marine reserve. Information boards will tell you a lot of interesting things about fish and underwater plants.

Feuillant

Fejan is a former quarantine station outside Norrtellier, built in the late 19th century when cholera was ravaging Europe. Now it is an interesting secluded place, and the beautiful old hospital building is now a hostel with a beautiful view of the island.

Howwoodsker

The Huvudskär archipelago consists of almost 200 islets and skerries and was inhabited by fishermen and customs officers until the early 1940s. The main island has a classic lighthouse, while the modern hostel is a former customs house. You can get to the archipelago from Dalaro, from where a boat leaves several times a week.

Rödlöga

Rödlöga is one of the best islands in the Stockholm archipelago. There you will have a couple of hours to wander around the island or go to the Truten cafe.

Bulleren

Bullerön is a real pearl in the belt of the islands of the Stockholm archipelago. The famous artist Bruno Liljefors lived there, and the actress Greta Garbo organized evening events.

You can go to the island by tourist boat from the town of Stavsnes, located on the outskirts of the island of Värmdö. On Bullerön you can stay for a night or two. Here is perhaps the most fashionable hostel in the archipelago. In addition, there is a beautiful wood-fired sauna with a fantastic view of the lake, open to all visitors.

Fjordleng

Fjärdlång is home to one of the most beautiful hostels in the archipelago, originally built for financier Ernest Thiel. A gallery of Scandinavian paintings on Djurgården is named after him, which he began to collect from 1896. There are no restaurants, bars or hotels on the island. But there you can walk along the fabulously beautiful rocks and visit the wooden sauna. You can get to Fjordleng by boat from Utø.

Stora Kalholmen

Stora Kalholmen makes the visitor feel a bit like Robinson Crusoe. There is only one large house on the island, built in 1914 as a summer residence. Now it is one of the most beautiful hostels in the archipelago. Stora Kalholmen is an island where you can relax and sunbathe on the beach.

Based on materials from the site https://www.expressen.se "Latest news about Sweden and the world"