Overview
A seven day, self-guided adventure, hiking the Stockholm Archipelago, which is made up over over 24,000 islands. Follow easy, well-marked trails, starting in the archipelago capital of Vaxholm, and then island-hopping to the pine forests of Svartsö, beaches of Finnhamn and Gällnö, and the 17th-century waterfront village of Sandhamn. This is an idyllic and truly sustainable way to explore Sweden, staying in a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, enjoying traditional Swedish summer festivals, and feasting on fine local food. You even get a chance to hop from island to island by rowing boat on some days.
Please note that although this is a summer itinerary, available between June and August, we do also have another itinerary for hiking the Stockholm Archipelago in spring and autumn.
- Gamla Stan
- Vaxholm
- Vaxön island
- Walk the båtluffaleden
- Gällnö
- Sandhamn
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Stockholm
Arrive in Stockholm and, depending on your arrival time, take some time to explore one of Scandinavia’s grandest capitals, built across 14 islands. Stroll through 13th-century Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s charming old town. Alternatively, stroll around Södermalm, famous for its cool vintage stores, galleries and contemporary boutiques. If you’re keen to start walking, we recommend a wander around Djurgården island, or Stockholm’s Ekopark, a 27km2 green oasis which is also the world’s first national urban park.
- Walking for the day: 4-14km (optional)
- Accommodation: Hellstens Malmgård Hotel or similar in Stockholm
Day 2: Stockholm – Vaxholm – Grinda | 10km
Take the mid-morning boat from central Stockholm to Vaxholm, passing summer houses and pine-covered islands, weaving through the vast archipelago. Today’s walk is a 10km loop that heads along coastal paths and down winding village streets, with opportunities to swim along the way. Time permitting, a visit to the fortress with its defence museum is recommended before taking the afternoon boat to Grinda.
- Walking for the day: 10km
- Accommodation: Grinda Värdshus or similar in Grinda
Day 3: Grinda – Sandhamn – Grinda | 10km
Get on the morning boat to Sandhamn, a waterside village with narrow winding alleys and 17th-century houses. Leave behind the summer buzz in the village for a circular loop around the island, passing beaches and windswept pines. Walk past Fläskberget beach and viewpoint, the island cemetery where worn gravestones still bear names of sailors from around the world, and then on to Trouville beach on the far side of the island. Trouville is very popular with Stockholmers in summer months, with its stretch of white sand and refreshing Baltic waters. We recommend a visit to the Sandhamn bakery on your way back, before heading to Grinda on the late afternoon boat.
- Walking for the day: 10km
- Accommodation: Grinda Värdshus or similar in Grinda
Day 4: Grinda – Svartsö | 12km
Set up for a morning walk to explore Grinda and its coastal walk along the eastern shore of the island. Arrive at the jetty in time to hop on board the archipelago boat bound for Svartsö with its typical archipelago landscapes of pine and oak forests, open meadows and well-preserved villages. Two inland lakes are also accessible where beavers have been known to enjoy their peace and tranquillity. Your bags are transferred from the hotel to Grinda jetty, then you take your bags with you from Svartsö jetty to the hotel (150m).
- Walking for the day: 12-15km
- Accommodation: Svartsö Skärgårdshotell or similar in Svartsö
Day 5: Island-hopping trail | 12-15km
Today is all about island-hopping, using archipelago boats and rowing boats to get around. Start with a walk to the eastern end of Svartsö and take an archipelago boat to Brottö, before continuing on to Ingmarsö, with a lively harbour town. Follow the båtluffaleden (island-hopping trail) across the island passing a local bakery and Femsund swimming area. Take the bridge over to Kålgårdsön before a short walk to the end of the island to hop over to Finnhamn, this time by rowing boat. Once on Finnhamn, pick up the båtluffaleden again heading past beaches and open countryside to the jetty, where you catch the boat back to Svartsö.
- Walking for the day: 12-15km
- Accommodation: Svartsö Skärgårdshotell or similar in Svartsö
Day 6: Gällnö and Karklö | 10-13km
After a morning walk on Svartsö to visit its inland lake, continue on to the jetty at Skälvik to catch the boat to Gällnö, heading through a cluster of small islands that make up the central archipelago. The lively village of Gällnö, with a café and country store, is well worth a visit before heading to the far end of the island. Time permitting, take the chance to row the short distance over to Karklö for a 2km loop around this peaceful island. Finally, head back to Gällnö jetty, detouring to the beach for a swim before hopping on the next boat to Stockholm. Your bags are transferred from Svartsö (Skälvik jetty) to Stockholm on this day.
- Walking for the day: 12-15km
- Accommodation: Hellstens Malmgård Hotel or similar in Stockholm
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Hellstens Malmgård (Stockholm)
- Grinda Värdshus (Grinda)
- Svartsö Skärgårdshotell (Svartsö)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days, and day five includes a picnic lunch. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the hotel you are staying at or at local restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a basic level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). Daily walking distances are flexible, and the longest day is 15km.
The trail follows well-maintained footpaths, and trails are waymarked. We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This tour is available from late June to August on selected Saturdays and Sundays only.
Daytime summer temperatures range from 15-25C, but as the air is relatively humid, warm days often feel warmer and cold days feel colder.
For spring and autumn departures, please consider our Stockholm Archipelago Walking Holiday in Spring and Autumn.
For more information, see our blog post, Best time to go to Sweden.
Important update: all departure dates for 2026 have now sold out. We are currently working on the 2027 departure schedule and bookings will be available soon.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The closest airports are Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) and Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO).
By train or bus
- By train: If you are able to travel to Sweden without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with Stockholm offering high-speed connections to many major Scandinavian cities. For more details, visit the national rail operator SJ, or use the Omio planner above
- By plane: There are regular train connections between Stockholm Airport and Stockholm city centre (25mins). Flygbussarna Airport Coaches run buses from Skavsta Airport to the centre of Stockholm (80mins), which takes about 80 minutes. For more information and tickets, visit Flygbussarna or use the Omio planner above
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- 1 picnic lunch (day five)
- Luggage transfers: Stockholm – Grinda (day two), Grinda hotel to Grinda jetty (day four) and Svartsö hotel to Svartsö jetty (day six)
- Strömma boat tickets: Vaxholm to Grinda (Day 2), Grinda to Sandhamn (Day 3), Sandhamn to Grinda (Day 3) and Gällnö to Stockholm (Day 6)
- Detailed journey documentation and practical information: personalised trip notes and maps (emailed before departure and a hard copy provided at first hotel; one set per room)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- Waxholmbolaget boat tickets not listed as included (five journeys approximately 420 SEK total per adult, payable locally by card only)
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own – upon request only
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights in Stockholm are bookable upon request
