Overview
A centre-based, self-guided walking tour, staying in the capital but island-hopping in Stockholm’s main, magnificent islands. This tour really gets into the heart of Stockholm’s unique topography and marine heritage, as it is made up of 14 islands and 57 bridges, the most famous being the Old Town of Gamla Stan. You also get to explore some of the greater Stockholm Archipelago which is made up of an incredible 24,000 islands and islets stretching out into the Baltic Sea, all within a hiking heartbeat of Stockholm. Visits include Lovön, Vaxön and Djurgården Island Islands, with elegant and historic sights on each.
- Stockholm
- Gamla Stan
- Vaxön Island
- Drottningholm Palace
- Vasa Museum
- Djurgården
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in 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.
- Accommodation: Hotel Arcadia or similar in Stockholm
Day 2: Three-islands hike | 17km
Today’s route explores three of the capital’s fourteen islands; Kungsholmen, Södermalm and Gamla Stan. The route clings to the coast, offering plenty of opportunities to stop for a quick dip as you explore the residential area of Kungsholmen and the trendy neighbourhood of Södermalm. The last island of today’s route is Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s original city centre and home to the Royal Palace, the monarch’s official residence. This island is also home to Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm’s smallest alley, at only 90cm wide in places. Spend some time in the area’s cafés and restaurants sampling Swedish delicacies before returning to the accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 4.5h, 17km, ↑100m, ↓100m
- Accommodation: Hotel Arcadia or similar in Stockholm
Day 3: Stockholm Archipelago/Vaxön Island | 16km
Spend the day exploring the wider Stockholm Archipelago , beginning with a bus and boat trip to the western part of Vaxön Island. From here, follow a trail through the forest towards Vaxholm, often known as the capital of the archipelago. Spend some time in the island’s cafes and shops or visit Bogesund Castle, constructed between 1642–1650 by Count Per Brahe the Younger, before returning to Stockholm by boat.
- Walking for the day: 4.5h, 16km, ↑60m, ↓50m
- Accommodation: Hotel Arcadia or similar in Stockholm
Day 4: Drottningholm Palace/Lovön Island | 17km
Take a boat to Lovön Island and spend the day visiting Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 17th century and one of the best-preserved palaces in Sweden, and the Royal Family’s home residence. Stroll through its impressive rooms and vast park, pausing for lunch at a café before returning to Stockholm by boat.
- Walking for the day: 4.5h, 17km, ↑110m, ↓110m
- Accommodation: Hotel Arcadia or similar in Stockholm
Day 5: Djurgården Island | 15km
Take a boat to Djurgården Island, part of the Royal National City Park and home to some of the city’s most famous museums and cultural attractions, including Vasa Museum, Gröna Lund, the Abba Museum and Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum.
- Walking for the day: 4h, 15km, ↑40m, ↓40m
- Accommodation: Hotel Arcadia or similar in Stockholm
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a centrally-located hotel in Stockholm for the duration of the tour. This hotel has some excellent responsible tourism practices and has been awarded the international Green Key environmental label. Please note that twin rooms are not offered as standard in Sweden. It will generally consist of a double bed with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view images of the hotel
- Hotel Arcadia (Stockholm)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of our usual 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. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy-moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with a basic level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades).
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 trip is available from May until September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Daytime summer temperatures range from 15-25C, but as the air is relatively humid, warm days often feel warmer and cold days feel colder. The best time to visit is June-August, with the warmest month being July. For more information, see our blog post, Best time to go to Sweden.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Stockholm airport.
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.
By plane: There are regular train connections between Stockholm Airport and Stockholm city centre (25mins). For timetables and further information, visit SJ or use the Omio planner above.
By car: Parking is available at the hotel’s garage from 310 kr (Swedish Krona SRK) per night – payable locally, reservation is not possible.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation in Stockholm
- 5 breakfasts
- Detailed digital route notes, route descriptions, places of interest and GPS data
- Phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Local transport
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- 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
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights
