Sweden

August 1 2024

The place you need to visit in Northern Sweden

around.the.world.in.flip.flops Scandinavia, Sweden 2

Sweden is such a gorgeous country, with plenty of beautiful places to explore and so many different landscapes from North to South. Even though people don’t usually realize that, Sweden is actually a very long country.

Measuring around 1600 kms from North to South, it means that you can experience beaches in the South and the Arctic in the North of the country. If you are considering to head North and visit the Arctic, the place I’m gonna tell you about is the perfect addition to your travel bucket list.

📍 Abisko

This tiny town in North Sweden is one of the most special places I have ever visited and gave me some of the most treasured travel experiences of my life. Here are some reasons why you should visit it too 👇🏼

❄️ It’s located above the Arctic Circle

Abisko is one of the northernmost places in Sweden. In fact, it’s located so far North that it’s 250 kms above the Arctic Circle.

If you ever visit Sweden, going above the Arctic Circle is one of most special experiences you can have there. It’s a country full of beautiful places but nothing compares to the experience of seeing the unique Arctic landscapes with your own eyes.

That part of Sweden is so wild and unpopulated that it can be hard to find a base to explore the area from, but Abisko is the perfect place for it.

🚞 It’s easy to get there, even though it’s an isolated place

When I talk to some people who are planning to visit Sweden, I advise them to go to North Sweden because going there is one of the most incredible travel experiences I ever had. Even though the pictures are amazing and people do think it’s a great place to explore, they usually seem scared to venture up there.

I understand that it seems like a difficult project to go to the Arctic, but if you’re concerned about that, Abisko is the perfect place for you. Even though it’s located in a really isolated place in Northern Sweden, it’s well connected in several different ways.

If you are a fan of night trains and very long train rides, you can take a direct train from Stockholm to go there. It’s one of the most beautiful train rides I’ve ever done and I can guarantee you it’s an experience in itself! Read all about it here

If you would rather get there faster, there are direct flights to Kiruna – a city that is located about 90 kms away from Abisko and has direct train connections to Abisko.

Find the cheapest flights to Kiruna here ✈️

Book your train tickets in Sweden here 🎫

💚 It’s one of the best places in the World to see the Northern Lights

There are many great places in Sweden to see the Northern Lights and sometimes you can even see them in Stockholm or in the south of the country, but if you wanna make sure you see a great Aurora show, your best bet is to go to Abisko.

Abisko is such a good place to see the Northern Lights because it has a special microclimate that keeps the skies clear at almost all times. Besides that, it’s so isolated that there is almost no light pollution there. Those are the main conditions to see the Northern Lights, so Abisko has become famous for being the best place in Sweden and even one of the best places in the whole World to see Aurora Borealis.

If you want to have that bucket list experience in Abisko, make sure you visit during the Aurora season: from September to early April.

Click here to book a Northern Lights tour with hotel transfers in Abisko 💚

Click here to book a Northern Lights tour in Abisko with transfers from Kiruna 🚐

☀️ You can see the Midnight Sun if you visit Abisko during summer

I have visited Abisko only once so far and it was during summer. My goal was to see the Midnight Sun and I had such high expectations for that experience but it was even better than I imagined!

What is the Midnight Sun? Besides the Aurora Borealis, this is another very special phenomenon that happens every year above the Arctic Circle. It’s known as the Midnight Sun because the sun never sets during the summer, which means that you can literally see the sun at midnight.

Pictures taken around midnight on June 26th

When can you see it? Anywhere that lies above the Arctic Circle, has at least 1 full day when the sun doesn’t set. The further up you go, the longer period you will have with endless sunlight, which means that the dates when you can see the Midnight Sun change depending on the place you go to within the Arctic. Since Abisko lies more than 200 kms above the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t set for almost 2 months: between May 25th and July 17th.

Here is a comparison of the how long the Midnight Sun period lasts in different locations in Sweden 👇🏼

🚶‍♀️ There are amazing hikes around Abisko

If you are visiting Sweden and love hikes, Abisko is definitely the right place for you! No matter if you are a very experienced hiker who is looking for long hikes or a beginner who wants to go on an easy hike just to see the beauty of Abisko, there are options for everyone. Click here to check the 10 best hikes in Abisko

The most famous hike in Abisko is called Kungsleden and it has become known around the World. It’s 108 kms long and it was created to show hikers the most beautiful places the swedish mountains have to offer. You can read more about this iconic hike here.

Click here to book a guided sunrise hike in Abisko 🌄

🏔️ The views are amazing and there is an easy way to see them from above

If you want to experience the amazing Arctic landscapes of Northern Sweden without having to go through long hikes, Abisko is the perfect place for you.

Really close to the few hotels you have to choose from in Abisko, you can find a really easy way to and enjoy the views from up high: the Aurora Sky Station.

To get up to the Aurora Sky Station, simply take the chairlift up to Mount Nuolja and in about 20 minutes you will be 900 meters above sea level and enjoying the unique Arctic views of that beautifil area. Up there, you can start hiking trails as well or simply relax with a swedish fika at their cafe.

You can take the chairlift to go up to the Aurora Sky Station both in winter to see the Northern Lights and in summer to experience the Midnight Sun. Read more about it here

I hope that I managed to show you how beautiful and special Abisko is and that this blog post convinced you to add it to your travel bucket list! You’ll be making precious memories and I’m sure you will fall in love with the Arctic just like I did.

Would you like to help this project at no extra cost to you or even get some discounts? Use these affiliante links when you’re planning your trips and you’ll be helping me more than you know 💗

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July 28 2024

This Train Will Take You To The Land Of The Northern Lights And The Midnight Sun

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Are the Northern Lights on your bucket list? And can you imagine taking a train to a place where the sun doesn’t set for months on end during the summer? That’s the unique journey I’m gonna take you on today and I hope it becomes a part of your travel wishlist by the end of this blog post!

The Polar Express, from Stockholm to the Arctic

I lived in Sweden for more than 7 years and experienced so much in that beautiful country but nothing came even close to the unforgettable train ride I took to the Arctic. This magical train ride has gotten the nickname of Polar Express and that’s a perfect name for it: it will take you all the way from Stockholm’s city center to the wilderness of Northern Sweden in what is one of the longest and most beautiful train journeys in the whole Europe.

Stockholm – the beautiful city where you will start this journey

📍 Stockholm Central Station

Stockholm is such a gorgeous city and there is so much to see and do, so I hope you take some days to explore it before this adventure.

When you’ve explored the best that the Swedish capital has to offer, head to Stockholm’s Central Station: that is the exact place where your Arctic adventure will start.

Stockholm’s main train station is an attraction in itself. It dates back to the 19th century and it’s so majestic both inside and out. Trains depart from there to all corners of Sweden and even Norway! But I dare say that the train you will take is headed to the most special of all destinations on the departure board.

🚞 SJ Train to abisko

After you bought your tickets on the SJ website, it’s time to board your train and get ready for one of the most special train rides of your life. The SJ train that will take you to Abisko in Northern Sweden is actually headed all the way to Narvik, in Norway. You can choose to go all the way to the end destination and explore Sweden’s gorgeous neighbor but, if you wanna take my advice, hop off the train in Abisko this time and explore one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Get your train tickets here

Here is what you need to know about the SJ Train to Abisko:

🥪 You can bring your own snacks but there is a bistro on the train, so there are some basic food options onboard

🌙 It‘s a night train: this train takes 17 hours to complete the journey from Stockholm to Abisko in Northern Sweden, so you will depart in the afternoon and arrive on the day after.

💤 Luckily, there are several different options (for all budgets) to sleep on the train:

💲 The absolute cheapest option is of course to sit all the way. It‘s not the most comfortable option but you gotta do what you gotta do when you‘re on a tight budget!

💲💲 Here is a comparison of your options if you are willing to spend so more money to have a bed. Click here to learn more about these different compartment options

2nd Class Sleeping Compartment before and after making the beds

🛤️ The train ride

Once you‘re all set with your train tickets and you‘re on the way North, it‘s time to enjoy this beautiful train ride! The landscape you will enjoy is completely different depending on which time of the year it is. During winter, you‘ll see a white winter wonderland; during summer, you‘ll see endless sunsets.

That difference is due to the location of this train route. Since it‘s heading to the North of Sweden, the Polar Express actually crosses the Arctic Circle and continues traveling across the area of Sweden that is located above it.

Are you wondering how you will know when you crossed the Arctic Circle? I was so surprised by this when I took this train! There is actually an announcement onboard telling all passangers that we‘re crossing it and you can even see small blue signs marking the exact place where the Arctic Circle is located. Isn‘t that super cool?

Besides that bucket list moment of crossing the Arctic Circle, this train ride is filled with some of the most beautiful scandinavian views I‘ve ever seen and it made me fall in love with Sweden even more. The lakes, the Nature, the picturesque wooden train stations and all the wildlife you will see are some of the most special travel experiences you can have in Scandinavia.

Views from the train ride between Stockholm and Abisko

📍 Abisko

Like I mentioned above, you can take this train from Stockholm all the way to Narvik, in Norway. It’s a popular destination to visit in Northern Norway and I’m sure that it’s such a special experience to take the Polar Express all the way there, but if you want to visit one of the best places in the World to see the Northern Lights and one of the most beautiful places to see the Midnight Sun, hop off the train at Abisko Turiststation.

That was my final destination on this train ride and during the few days I spent in Abisko, I fell completely in love with Lappland as I’m sure you will too.

Read more about Abisko here and I’ll leave you with some visual proof of why you should add this place to your travel bucket list.

Did you like this blog post? Then maybe you would like to help my project at no extra cost to you or even get some discounts! In that case, use these affiliante links when you’re planning your trips and you’ll be helping me more than you know 💗

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July 12 2024

The Best Museums To Visit In Stockholm

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There is so much to see and do in the gorgeous capital city of Stockholm that you will probably have a hard time deciding what to include on your itinerary.

I lived in Stockholm for more than 7 years and explored so much of the city while I was living there, but some of my all-time favorite activities to do in Stockholm are actually visiting museums.

Disclaimer: I am quite the museum nerd, so I might be biased. But I‘m being completely honest when I say that these museums are something truly special and would leave you with unforgettable memories even if you are not usually that fond of visiting museums while traveling.

Skansen

Skansen is one of the places in Stockholm that you absolutely shouldn’t miss. It is the World’s oldest open-air museum, established in 1891, and it includes historic buildings from all over Sweden, as well as a Zoo.

The tickets are not the cheapest but I can guarantee you that it‘s more than worth it if you are interested in the swedish History and culture. You can easily turn this into a whole-day activity because the Skansen open-air museum takes up a huge area in the island of Djurgården and endless things to see and explore.

Captura de ecrã_13-7-2024_0637_www.getyourguide.com

Get your Skansen tickets here

Going to Skansen for the first time was an absolute dream for me. I didn’t research much before I went there and I hadn’t been to any open-air museum before, so you can only imagine how amazed I was when I found myself surrounded by historical buildings that were transported all the way to Stockholm from all corners of Sweden and put in a museum that makes its visitors feel as if they are travelling back in time.

The cobblestone streets leading to charming backyards took me all the way back to the 1800s and little did I know that the whole experience was about to become even more fantastic.

When I reached a cute little square, surrounded by wooden buildings and their adjacent vegetable gardens, I noticed a sign on a door: “Turn the key to open the door“.

Suddenly I felt like a kid again. I turned the key, pushed the door open and suddenly I was in a store from centuries ago. A friendly woman behind the counter welcomed me in and explained that she worked at that store from the 1800s. As I am sure she noticed, I was absolutely fascinated by all the exotic things on display all over the store, so she asked me if I would like to see what the most popular items were – to which I answered with an enthusiastic “Of course!”.

She took up some boxes of spices, salt and many other products that were essential for the customers shopping at that store in the 1800s, while explaining how the products made their way to Sweden in boats coming all the way from Asia and other far-away places.

That was just the beginning of one of the most unforgettable days I ever had during my 7 years in Stockholm.

That store is in one of 190 museum buildings that are located at Skansen. They are original wooden buildings that were basically taken apart and brought to Stockholm to be rebuilt, instead of being abandoned and left to decay in the places where they were originally built.

Not only are they from all corners of Sweden, but also from different time periods. By visiting Skansen, you will be able to enter several farmsteads and see how families of different social status used to live in different parts of the country, you will get to see how an old pharmacy looked like back in the days and how a day in a primary school looked like. There is even a post office, a church, several different stores and apartments to show how people lived back then.

Getting to enter those buildings is amazing in itself but the most special thing about Skansen is that you will find actors in most of those houses making it all come to life by explaining more about the building itself and the life of people during the time period when it was built.

While you’re there, make sure to pack a picnic to eat in one of the many green areas of the open-air museum. After that, it’s the perfect time to enjoy one of the most famous and cherished swedish traditions: Fika.

The typically swedish coffee-break with a bun has become World-famous and Skansen has some of the best and most picturesque places I’ve ever seen in Stockholm for Fika: Kafé Petissan.

This cafe has by far one of the most beautiful and traditional interiors I have ever seen and it’s the perfect place to enjoy your Fika indoors lit by a candlelight as snow falls outside during winter. If you are visiting during the summer, enjoy your Fika in the sunshine on their outdoor seating area surrounded by Skansen’s historic buildings.

Fika at Kafé Petissan

Special events at Skansen:

Skansen is worth a visit no matter the time of the year, but there are definitely some seasons when your visit is going to be extra special.

If you visit during the darkest time of the year, in December, you might be lucky enough to see their Lucia celebrations – which is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all swedish traditions. In December there is even a Christmas Market there that you definitely shouldn‘t miss either. If you are looking for the most popular place to celebrate New Year‘s Eve in Stockholm, it‘s actually also at Skansen – that‘s even the celebration that is broadcasted on national TV in Sweden.

If you visit during the summer, you might get to experience another one of my favorite swedish traditions: Midsummer. That‘s the time of the year when Sweden is at its best, enjoying endless daylight and happy swedes coming out to soak up the sunshine. Going to Skansen during the summer time and especially during their Midsummer celebrations will leave you loving Skansen even more: the whole open-air museum comes to life with flowers, decorations and events to celebrate the longest days of the year. Make sure you are there to see them rising the Midsummer pole and take part in one of the most cherished swedish traditions by dancing around it pretending to be frogs.

Vasa Museum

Even though the Vasa Museum’s theme is not as broad as Skansen’s, since it only focuses on the Vasa ship that is on display in the middle of the Museum, it is a must visit while you are in Stockholm. It is one of the most visited museums in the whole Scandinavia and that is for a good reason.

Vasa is a Swedish warship that was built between 1626 and 1628 and sank straight after beginning its maiden voyage, due to a faulty design. The sunken ship was forgotten for quite a while at the bottom of the sea, but after lying there for 333 years, a great effort was made to take it up to surface and let the World appreciate its beauty and History.

On April 24th of 1961, thousands of people gathered in Stockholm in order to witness the amazing feat of bringing up a sunken warship from the 17th century. Nowadays, visitors of the Vasa Museum can see it on an amazing display that is sure to take your breath away even if you couldn’t care less about ships. Trust me, I have seen really reluctant and uninterested tourists completely change their minds about Vasa Museum as soon as they entered the door and saw the huge majestic warship in its full splendor at the center of the museum.

Learn more about Vasa on this guided tour

ABBA Museum

Is there anything more iconic in Sweden than ABBA? This band completely took the World by storm with hit after hit in the 70s and 80s and the four band members become international symbols of Sweden like no others.

It might have been difficult to get close to the 4 pop stars in the old days but it‘s super easy nowadays for anyone who visits Sweden: just go to the ABBA Museum in central Stockholm. You‘ll be in ABBA World, with their original outfits on exhibition, quizzes you can take to test your knowledge about the legendary band and even exact replicas of places that were important to the band members throughout their lives and music careers.

If you‘re not convinced yet that this museum needs to be on your Stockholm itinerary, let me give you the major selling point: at the ABBA museum, you can become ABBA‘s 5th member. The museum has a hologram stage where you can stand next to Benny, Frida, Agnetha and Björn and be a part of the band, performing their hits to your heart‘s content.

Can you imagine a more unforgettable experience to have on your trip to Stockholm?

Get your tickets here

Nobel Prize Museum

Straight in Stockholm’s city center, there’s a museum dedicated to another swedish icon: the Nobel Prize.

Created by the swedish businessman and inventor who discovered dynamite, the Nobel Prize is the result of the fortune that was left by Alfred Nobel to establish it after his death. The goal was to recognize people who “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” every year and that is exactly what has been happening for more than 100 years.

The first Nobel Prizes ceremony took place in Stockholm in 1901 and more than 600 of them have been awarded so far. Nowadays, you can learn all about them at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm.

At this museu located in the heart of Stockholm‘s old town, you will be able to read about previous Nobel Prize winners and their achievements, as well as you can visit temporary exhibitions like a current one that‘s called “These things changed the World”.

Did you know? At the Nobel Museum, even the cafe’s chairs are special. If you turn them around and look at what’s underneath them, you will see that they are all signed by Nobel Laureates.

Get your tickets here

These are just a few of the many great museums you can visit in Stockholm. There are so many of them that it’s not easy to choose which ones to visit, so I hope this list of my absolute favorites helps you plan your trip to Stockholm and that you love these museums as much as I do!

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July 12 2024

Stockholm’s archipelago just 30 minutes from the city center

around.the.world.in.flip.flops Scandinavia, Sweden 5

Composed by more than 30000 islands, Stockholm’s archipelago can be quite overwhelming to explore. People who visit Stockholm often pass on the opportunity to visit the archipelago because they are under the impression that it would take at least a whole day to go all the way out there and come back to the city.

I’m not gonna lie: that is partly true, with many islands being quite far away and requiring a whole day-trip kind of project.

But, if you are in Stockholm and want to experience the archipelago without investing too much time on the trip, you will be pleased to know that there are options that don’t require you to spend much of the precious time you have available for you Stockholm trip.

Fjäderholmarna

Fjäderholmarna are commonly known as the islands where Stockholm’s archipelago begins. Just a quick 30-minute boat ride away from the city center, you can get a taste of the archipelago’s charm and beauty.

The moment you catch one of the regular boats (during high season) to the islands, in either Slussen or Strandvägen, your archipelago experience begins. You will get to see Stockholm from the water, which is a very unique and worthy experience in itself for those visiting the city. Passing by Gamla Stan (the Old Town), you will get to see Södermalm on one side and Djurgården on the other, with the emblematic Gröna Lund amusement park and Vasa Museum building. It’s such a beautiful sightseeing boat tour, at the same time as it is a fast way of getting to the archipelago’s closest islands.

Get your boat tickets here 🛥️

When you arrive to the islands of Fjärderholmarna, you will find a cozy pier welcoming visitors to an island that is so close to mainland but still feels like a world away. With Sweden’s traditional red wooden houses all around, it is the perfect welcoming card for those starting to explore the archipelago.

While on the island, visitors can visit its most famous restaurant: Fjäderholmarnas Krog. It is open during the summer season and offers great food as well as privileged water views. For those who are visiting Stockholm during winter but who are still interested in visiting the archipelago, going to this restaurant in the islands of Fjäderholmarna might be the perfect choice, since it offers a charming Julbord (Christimas buffet) from the end of November onwards, allowing visitors to combine their archipelago experience with a unique Christmas experience in the North.

Another popular café & restaurant is Rökeriet. Offering seafood and typical Swedish dishes, this charmy restaurant is another great choice when you are on the islands of Fjäderholmarna. This modern and sophisticated restaurant built right by the water offers Christmas buffets as well.

But perhaps the coziest place of all on these beautiful islands is Röda Villan: in this charming low-key café with plenty of colorful flowers decorating the garden, guests can enjoy a cup of coffee, some cakes or even light meals – either inside or on the many tables available in the garden. With a stunning view over the water and surrounded by trees, cliffs and even a small beach, this is a perfect place to take a relaxing break while exploring the archipelago. Make sure to stay an extra while and go down to the cliffs by the water if the afternoon is coming to an end – the sunsets from there are gorgeous.

Apart from restaurants and cafes overlooking the water, those who visit the islands of Fjäderholmarna get the opportunity to see and experience much more.

If you are looking for chocolate, head to the popular Fjäderholmarna Choklad. Inspired by the island’s History, two sisters started this company where they produce their own delicious handmade chocolate – one for each relevant year of Fjäderholmarna’s History. Pass by the store to buy some tasty pralinés you can eat on the boat trip back to Stockholm or some cute chocolate bars to offer someone special.

For some original souvenirs from Fjäderholmarna, visit Textilt Uttryck and support this local business producing beautiful trays, coasters, noteboooks and many other items with unique patterns.

When it’s time to head back to Stockholm, simply take the boat from the same pier where you arrived and in less than half-an-hour you will be back in the city center – after getting to enjoy many amazing views once again on the way back.

Check this tour if you would like to see Fjäderholmarna from the water on a boat trip from Stockholm:

Captura de ecrã_12-7-2024_141336_www.getyourguide.com

Book this Sighteseeing Cruise here ⛴️

Did you like this blog post and would you like to help my project at no extra cost to you or even get some discounts? Use these affiliate links when you’re planning your trips and you’ll be helping me more than you know 💗

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July 12 2024

Stockholm’s Archipelago – A Treasure Hidden In Plain Sight

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When people travel to Sweden, they usually expect to see the beautiful capital city of Stockholm, the breathtaking Aurora Borealis up in Lappland or the unspoiled nature that Sweden has to offer everywhere in the country.

One thing that people often miss though, is that Stockholm has an amazing archipelago composed by thousands of islands and islets waiting to be explored. On many of the islands, there is just peaceful Nature to discover, since they are not inhabited; while many other islands in the archipelago are filled with picturesque swedish cottages composing tiny towns that are a pleasure to explore.

If you have a couple of extra days available during your trip to Stockholm and want to experience true Swedish charm, let me introduce you to 3 magical places in the archipelago.

Grinda

Visiting Grinda feels like stopping the World for a moment. Going to that island was such a weird but wonderful experience for me: it felt like I was standing isolated in the middle of nowhere, which felt so peaceful and magical.

If you take the fastest boar, you can go all the way from Strandvägen (Stockholm) to Grinda in less than 2 hours and the boat ride won’t be waste time at all. On the way, people will get the opportunity to see many islands of the archipelago and all the beautiful houses, docks and boats that make the area so charming and unique.

Get your boat tickets here ⛴️

When you finally come to the island of Grinda, you will find unspoiled Nature that allows guests to truly unwind and be in the moment. With forests, meadows and water all around, Grinda is an incredibly peaceful place to explore.

There are several places to stay on the island, if you want spend the night. Apart from a hotel, there is also a cabin village composed of 27 cabins with privileged water access, a lodge and even a campsite.

Book your Grinda accommodation here 🏡

With delicious food available at Grinda Wärdshus Restaurant (considered the best archipelago restaurant several times), saunas available for rent and water always close by for a swim during the long summer evenings, spending a night in Grinda is one of the most special experiences that nature lovers can have in Stockholm’s archipelago.

While on the island, guests can do anything from just relaxing on cliffs while soaking in the sun, to kayaking around the island in a breathtaking archipelago experience, to playing sports or enjoying long walks in the woods – the possibilities on Grinda island are endless if you are interested in exploring the Nature of Stockholm’s archipelago.

Make sure to check their website before you go, to stay on top of all the fun events and activities available at different times.

Gällnö

Gällnö is another beautifully isolated island in Stockholm’s archipelago that will make you feel like you arrived at the most peaceful place on the planet.

About 1 hour and a half away from Stockholm, Gällnö is well worth a visit if you are looking to explore the swedish Nature that the archipelago is famous for. A bonus is that, just like in Grinda’s case, the boat ride gives passengers the chance to see the archipelago’s unique buildings on the cliffs and the beautiful sailing boats constantly passing by on beautiful summer days. It truly is fair to say that the boat ride to Gällnö is half the fun.

Get your boat tickets here ⛴️

Views on the boat ride to Gällnö

When you arrive in Gällnö, the first thing you will see is the picturesque red wooden building that serves as the waiting room for boat passengers. With old items left a bit everywhere in a truly rustic way and a big sign stating the name of the island, it is a perfect welcoming card to the island.

Way less touristic than Vaxholm and many other islands of the archipelago, Gällnö is known to be much more genuine and a perfect place to experience the true archipelago that still hasn’t quite been found by the masses.

At the island there is one café, one store and a bar, making it a perfectly balanced island for visitors who want to enjoy Nature and relax but still wish to have some services available.

For visitors who are interested in spending the night on the island of Gällnö, there is a hostel in the charming building dating back to 1904, which used to function as the island’s school up to the 1960s.

Another available option for those wanting to sleep on the island is the archipelago’s smallest hotel: Hotel Frans August – with only one room!

The third option for those looking for accomodation on the island is the most original one: 3 small houses on wheels. These wagons are the perfect choice for an unforgettable stay in Stockholm’s archipelago. The first one they built is called Fransvagnen and at about 2 square meters, all that can fit is a bed and it’s the smallest accommodation in the whole archipelago. But what’s even more special about it is that guests are free to open the side of the cabin in order to enjoy the peaceful Nature around. Be aware that they are only avaialable from Midsummer to mid-August though.

Book your hostel stay

The archipelago's smallest hotel

Sleep in a wagon

For visitors who are visiting just for the day, the best way to enjoy the island is to simply walk around and discover the charming places that Gällnö has to offer at every corner. If you are visiting during the summer season, you will find families out having fun in the water and in nature to enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. During the high season you can even head to Gällnö Bar and have some delicious food by the water, or pass by Gällnö‘s cute trading booth and buy everything from fruit, fresh bread, dairy and even fish and meat. This is how alive the Stockholm archipelago is during the summer months.

If you are visiting off season though, you will find a totally different reality. Few people live on the island all-year round and the tourists have mostly disappeared by then too. Whatever food options you might have during the summer might not be available anymore either, so pack a picnic and relax on the meadow while you enjoy the secluded swedish nature around you – it‘s the perfect opportunity to take a break from society.

When you feel like you are done exploring this unique place in Stockholm’s archipelago, it will be time to head back to the boat pier to embark on the beautiful ride back to Stockholm.

📣 REMEMBER: Make sure that you are there on time or you might be stuck for the evening. Boats don’t really stop by so often when you are that isolated, so make sure to check the links below and decide which boat you are taking to go back to Stockholm.

Cinderella boats

Waxholmsbolaget

Sandhamn

For those looking for another beautiful and popular destination in Stockholm’s archipelago, Sandhamn is the place to add to your list.

With boats departing from either Stockholm’s city center or Stavsnäs, it is quite easy to get to Sandhamn, especially during the summer months when the boats run more frequently. In under 2 hours, you can go all the way out to the archipelago and enjoy the experience of being almost completely out in the Baltic Sea. Are you up for an adventure? Let’s go!

First of all, and just like I wrote previously, a trip to an island out in Stockholm’s archipelago is worth it because of way more than just the island visit itself. Being on the boat and seeing the archipelago passing you by as you make your way out to some isolated island of your choosing, is half the experience. Take this perfect to experience a swedish Fika from the boat‘s cafe as well and relax while you travel to Sandhamn.

Get your boat tickets here ⛴️

On your trip to Sandhamn you will go through narrow passages between the islands, seeing picturesque colorful houses perched on the cliffs that characterize the archipelago, and you will fall in love with the place way before you even arrived at the island you are going to explore.

When you finally arrive in Sandhamn, you will understand why it truly is a pearl of Stockholm’s archipelago. Just as popular as Vaxholm, but much more further out, visitors going to Sandhamn have the opportunity to see and experience one of the most beautiful islands of the whole archipelago.

For people visiting during the summer months, the island will be lively and full of people who come on their sailing boats to enjoy their much deserved vacations away from city stress. For those who visit the island during low season, it will be hibernating – like pretty much everything else in Sweden – but still extremely beautiful. I visited when the summer season had already passed and we were headed to Autumn. In a way it felt even more exotic to visit such a gorgeous place when all the crowds were gone. It felt like we had the island for ourselves, which is a truly special feeling.

Arriving in Sandhamn, visitors are greeted by a wooden pier right next to the city’s marina where plenty of boats are parked, making it one of the best views available at the island. With some charming shops across the street and a kiosk right at the pier, it is a perfect place to sit and enjoy the surroundings.

When you want to move on and start exploring the island, walk West alongside the water and eventually you will reach a beautiful place next to the popular restaurant Pentaboden, where you will find several red wooden houses, one of them being Sandhamn’s Museum. It was funded by a group of enthuasiasts in 1966 and it’s open daily only during high season, allowing visitors to learn more about life on the island. Even when it is closed, it still makes for great pictures of how rustically charming Sandhamn is. A bonus is that you will get the chance to take in privileged views of Sandhamn’s skyline from there, making it an amazing spot for pictures of the city.

After that, it’s all about walking around and seeing what you find. Do you know that song that goes “Where the streets have no names”? That’s Sandhamn in a nutshel. While the main streets are named, smaller ones aren’t. So much so that the buildings located alongside those streets don’t have an address like we have come to know them – they are simply numbered.

As weird as it sounds, it makes for the perfect atmosphere to simply walk around and discover the island‘s beautiful houses, streets, corners and beaches.

But, if you are feeling like you would just walk around pointlessly without being able to enjoy the island, don’t despair. There are some places of interest to use as reference points.

Kvarnberget is a popular cliff where visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding streets of Sandhamn. From there it is also possible to see the water, the boats passing by, the surrounding islands and the Fläskberget beach where many people usually do kitesurfing.

Heading back to the unnamed streets, visitors can reach the popular bathing place Fläskberget: a beach where both locals and tourists love to soke in the sun when the weather allows for it. Even when the weather is no longer that warm, like in September when I visited, there were still people out there doing water sports.

For those willing to climb a bit, there is a charming white chapel – Sandhamns Kapell – from 1935 at the island’s highest point.

On the other side of the island, visitors can find another beautiful spot called Dansberget (Swedish for “Dancing Hill”). It was once a place where the locals gathered for dances, hence the name, and nowadays it’s a wonderful viewpoint where visitors can admire a big anchor as well as the sweeping of the sea and the archipelago around.

These are just some of the many islands worth visiting in Stockholm’s archipelago. With many more out there to be explored and unbelievable experiences waiting to be lived in the swedish nature, I hope this post made you want to explore the beauty of Stockholm’s archipelago.

Check this tour if you would like to see the archipelago from the water on a boat trip from Stockholm:

Book this tour here

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July 11 2024

Vaxholm – The capital of Stockholm’s archipelago

around.the.world.in.flip.flops Scandinavia, Sweden 1

With such a huge archipelago, Stockholm has plenty of beautiful places and towns where visitors can enjoy the swedish charm of being out in the water and arriving to an isolated island full of cute wooden buildings and beautiful Nature all around. But for those wanting to experience a real city in Stockholm’s archipelago, there’s no better option than to head to the capital of the archipelago: Vaxholm.

If you want to reach Vaxholm by road, you are in luck: there is a bus going all the way from the city (at Tekniska Högskolan) to Vaxholm, in less than 40 minutes. Choosing this option guarantees you amazing views of the countryside and water around Stockholm.

Another great way to reach Vaxholm is by boat. There are Stromma and Waxholmsbolaget boats leaving regularly from Stockholm’s city center and taking passengers to Vaxholm in less than an hour. From Strömkajen it is even possible to take a public SL ferry (pendelbåt in Swedish) headed to Vaxholm – plan your trip here.

When arriving in Vaxholm, either by bus or boat, visitors will be greeted by the amazing scenery of the glittering water, the boats constantly passing by and the castle sitting peacefully on an island across the water.

In such a small city, exploring is quite easy and pleasant. Simply head up Hamngatan, a super charming street full of cozy local stores, and then turn right to Rådhusgatan, another quaint little road leading up to the town’s square.

With a lovely yellow gazebo, a big chess board on the ground and the City Hall overlooking it, the main square (Rådhustorget) is one of the many places in Vaxholm that will make you fall in love with Stockholm’s archipelago. After taking a while to relax there and admire the calm vibe of the archipelago, walk down the road to Norrhamnen: a beautiful little harbor where you will be able to see Vaxholm’s typical colorful houses and the boat traffic that gives the town so much life especially during the summer.

That is also the place where you can find find the most popular place in Vaxholm during hot summer days. It’s called Norrhamnsbadet and it’s the local beach where both locals and tourists gather to enjoy the sunny weather and swim in the Baltic Sea. Take a place in the small sandy beach and enjoy a picnic on an endless scandinavian summer day.

Close by the harbor, there’s a charming café with outdoor seating where you can enjoy a relaxing break by the water: Vaxholms Hembygdsgårds Café.

I lived in Stockholm for more than 7 years and went to countless cafes all over the region, but this one was by far the cosiest of them all. Their cake buffet is the best I’ve ever seen in Sweden and the cafe’s interior makes for the most perfect fika experience you could ever wish for. This place is constantly packed with swedes looking to soak in the sunshine with a seaview when the summer weather decides to collaborate, so you might need to wait a while to get a table outside. Once you do, you will quickly understand what all the fuss is about.

Right next to it, there is another harbor where people can take in the views and relax in one of the benches overlooking the water. Walk towards the café and through the outdoor seating, turn left and you will find the most perfect place in the city to sit by the water, as well as a tiny beach where you can venture down to dip your feet in the water. Here is the exact location on Google Maps.

To start exploring the other side of the city, head up Fiskaregaten street, turn left on Vallgatan and then left again on Cronhamnsgränd. A big part of enjoying Vaxholm is walking around the streets and seeing the beautifully decorated houses and gardens, especially during the summer. Take your time to enjoy the relaxed swedish vibe of this idylic island and make sure to stop by the cute small stores scattered around the town.

If you are lucky enough to be visiting Vaxholm on a hot summer day, make sure to get an ice cream at Glass på Hörnet. This place is like an institution in Vaxholm, so there is usually a long line outside waiting to get that yummy gelato.

The last must-see in Vaxholm is, of course, the Castle. Head back to Fiskaregatan street, which then turns into Strandgatan street, where you will get to enjoy privileged views of Vaxholms Kastell.

There are plenty of activities and experiences to enjoy at the castle. Visitors can either spend the night, enjoy a Fika or a light meal at Bistro Kastellet, get involved in activities similar to the currently trendy escape rooms or even visit the biggest museum in Stockholm’s archipelago.

At Kastellet Museum, visitors can learn more about the defense of Stockholm’s archipelago and how Vaxholm’s Castle and fortress played a role in it during 500 years.

Plan your visit to Vaxholm’s Castle here.

I hope you enjoyed this guide of what to see and do in Stockholm’s most picturesque island! Vaxholm is an unmissable place to visit if you are ever in Stockholm, no matter the season, so make sure you head over there for a true swedish experience.