If you want to plan day trips from Stockholm, you landed on the right article ! I’ll suggest 3 places worth the visit if you are staying a few days in Sweden. From boat tours to cute islands in the Stockholm archipelago, including a wonderful botanic garden, I’ll show you the best spots !
You can’t miss this little island near Stockholm when you are coming a few days in the capital !
It’s only a 30-minute boat ride from downtown Stockholm. You can take the ferry here : Strandvägen kajplats 13.
I don’t think it’s useful to book in advance : when you get there, you can purchase the tickets for the next departure. We only waited 20 minutes and there was plenty of space left in the boat.
So where to buy those tickets ? There’s a stand on the waterfront from the company Stromma which does those trips. However, if you want to secure your tickets in advance, here‘s the link.
Round-trip tickets for adults cost 185 SEK (15,5€).
The boat ride in itself is very enjoyable, you will see Stockholm from the water and some small islands along the way.
After 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at Fjäderholmarna. You can walk around the whole island in an hour or even less as it is really small.
You will see many typical Swedish red houses. Why are they all painted red by the way ? Because the biggest copper mine of Europe was in Sweden, and the red pigment was a by-product of this mine. Back in the day, this red color, known as Falu röda, was cheap and a sustainable way to paint houses (it preserves the wood and resists sunlight).
At the beginning of the island tour, you’ll see some boat repair shops and a small boat museum (which is free).
After a little while, you will see many artists studios and shops in pastel-green houses. You can visit and even buy some pieces.
There’s also some cute cafés and benches to sit everywhere in the island, with wonderful views of the Baltic sea.
Make sure to go to the tip of the island, at the water’s edge, as the atmosphere is really peaceful and calm with the view and the little ducks !
You will have plenty of time before the next boat ride to see all the island and even have some breaks to enjoy the scenery, have a coffee or eat a pastry !
When you will see the black little houses of a restaurant, it’s where you were dropped off and where you’ll wait for your ride back to Stockholm.
Another one of amazing day trips from Stockholm is Vaxholm.
This island, often called the archipelago capital, can easily be reached from Stockholm either by boat or bus.
We decided to go by bus as the trip duration was shorter and we wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather !
From T-centralen, take the metro line 14 towards Mörby centrum and stop at Danderyds sjukhus, then the bus 670 towards Vaxholm and hop off at the Söderhamnsplan stop (at the port).
Start your island tour with a stroll along the quays and walk in the historical quarters.
You will pass in front of the Vaxholm fortress (which has nothing special to be honest), then head towards the Hembygdsgårds Café.
Wander in the little streets on the way to get there, as each house is unique and beautifully painted with a wonderful garden.
If you fancy a lunch break, stop at the Hembygdsgårds Café, otherwise you should still have a look inside and check out their awesome outdoor sitting area !
Moving on, you can head back in the little residential streets with the colourful houses. Don’t hesitate go take smaller paths that will lead you to hall beaches or stunning views of the island.
We then walked along the coast around the island, and enjoyed a break on a wooden pontoon on the water (if you bring a swimsuit you can definitely have a swim !). This part of the island is almost deserted, we were alone the whole way.
From there, you can reach the bus stop Eriksövägen and head back to Stockholm, or hop off at the Universitetet södra bus stop (bus 670) to visit the botanic garden presented below.
Last but not least, if you are spending a few days in Stockholm and are looking for a short day trip, I would suggest going to the Bergianska Tradgarden.
It’s a beautiful botanic garden, a few metro stops away from Stockholm city center. From T-centralen, take the metro line 14 towards Mörby centrum and stop at Universitetet.
The garden is free to visit and has 2 glasshouses (do not come on Mondays, they are closed).
The Victoria house inaugurated in 1900, is classified as a historic building. The purpose is to cultivate and show the giant water lily.
Close by, you will see another pond with lots of smaller water lilies, all having beautiful white and pink flowers.
You can wander in the Rhododendron Valley, relax and rest in the Japanese Pond or appreciate the view from the Italian terrace.
Even if you won’t spend a whole day there, it’s a nice spot, not far from the city center and a sight to see if you have a free afternoon.
Other suggestions for day trips from Stockholm :
- Grinda : The second most popular island for tourists in the Stockholm archipelago after Vaxholm. It’s a longer boat ride (1h30 one way).
- Sandhamm : Small fishing port, 1h45-2hours one way from Stockholm.
That’s it for my recommendations on day trips from Stockholm ! If you need more inspiration you can check out VisitStockholm. The website gives many destinations ideas in Stockholm.
If you want to spend a few days visiting Stockholm, check out my article here to know what to see and do.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
