Do you happen to be in Stockholm on a nice sunny day? Then, perhaps, you should skip Stockholm museums and enjoy one of the major peculiarities – green and clean outdoors. Stockholm has green areas larger than just parks all over the city, which is such a rare case for a capital. More than that you may enjoy the combination of forest and waters if you go just 20 kilometers out of the city – to Stockholm Archipelago.
Below, we suggest Stockholm Archipelago one-day route, which is easier to cover in case you have a car. You may shorten your itinerary if you use public transport.
Vaxholm
The capital of Stockholm Archipelago and the place to start with is Vaxholm. You may easily get there by bus or by boat. Bus 670 (31 SEK) departs from from Danderyd’s Sjukhus; the Vaxholm Ferry (75 SEK) departs from Strömkajen next to Kungsträdgården and near Stockholm’s Grand Hotel (you may buy tickets on board).
If you continue to explore other islands and peninsulas of the archipelago, you may use bridges or free ferries. They are the part of Stockholm road system, which is why, just like roads, they are free. The only ferry you will have to pay for is the one from Växholm to the tiny island housing the Citadel, which is probably less than a kilometer away by boat (only 30 kronas for the return ticket). The view on it is perfect from Växholm.
Today, it is a Vaxholm Fortress Museum, where you can follow an exciting journey through Sweden’s coastal defense history. Even in case the Museum is closed for the day off (it is mostly closed in non-summer season), you can go inside the Citadel. Vaxholm Citadel was completed in 1863 and remained a military facility until the beginning of the 21st century.
Do not forget to take a picture of Vaxholm from the Fortress!
If you are interested in defense and fortification, Stockholm archipelago is the place to see much more. You can visit the canon battery Kullarna in central Vaxholm, the Rindö redoubt, Oskar-Fredriksborgs fort and KA1 on Rindö as well as Fredriksborg’s fortress on the other side of Oxdjupet.
Norrhamnen is an original fishing harbor in Vaxholm. Many of the houses are former fisherman cottages. Now, these are among the most expensive houses in Stockholm, artists’ residences, cafes, and hotels.
You may also want to see Vaxholm bell tower:
The Gallery Roddarhuset offers art exhibitions and vernissages, make sure you check them!
Our favorite part was the shop with this kind of artistic creations from metallic nets.
Bogesund
You can reach Bogesund via the bridge from Vaxholm.
Bogesund is for the most part the place for Nature Reserve developed as an area for open-air recreation. In the broad-leaved forests you can hear the nightingale, one of about 115 bird species that nest here. It offers several walking routes, but the most interesting thing to see is probably Bogesund Castle. It was built in 1640 for Brahe Swedish noble family, but took its fairy tale appearance in 1860s when it was remodeled in the Romantic style popular at that time. Its seven-storey towers, the castle chapel and winter garden date from this redesign.
The castle stood empty for over a hundred years, which protected it from insensitive modernization. After many years of disrepair of the castle, the government adopted a new law on the expropriation of neglected agricultural properties, which is why it was repaired. It is now managed by National Property Board.
When we visited it, it was surrounded by beautiful horses, elderly Swedes walking their hunting dogs, and old cars. Really feels like you got at least one century back!
Rindö
To get to Rindö you take another free ferry.
As we told above, Rindö allows seeing more of defense constructions, such as Oskar-Fredriksborg Fort from the late 1800s. Most of its defense works is underground. Only the tip of the iceberg is visible from the outside. Earlier fortifications tended to be more impressive with high towers and walls. This fort was instead blasted into the ground and covered by earth and turf.
In front of it, at another island, you can see Fredriksborg Fortress.
Near the Fort, swans look for food:
Also, if you come here at around 18.00 you can see the ferry heading to Helsinki or Tallinn.
Varmdö
Varmdö offered something we did not expect: Siggesta Gård farm mini-golf fields, restaurants and other facilities aimed at nice pastime are complemented by alpaca mini-zoo. You may watch these animals forever, and they are certainly the softest thing you have touched.
Finally, you may want to visit one of many glass and porcelain outlets in Gustavsberg.
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