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.