Sunday Funday: Exploring the Stockholm Archipelago by Boat
One of the most magical parts of my Stockholm adventure was our “Sunday Funday” exploring the incredible Stockholm Archipelago. After spending time discovering the city, it was wonderful to escape onto the water and experience one of the things that feels most deeply connected to Swedish life: the relationship between people and the sea. The archipelago is not just a beautiful landscape it is part of the Swedish way of life. Many locals have both a city home and a countryside summer house, often passed down through generations, where families gather during the warmer months to reconnect with nature, swim, relax and enjoy the slower pace of island life.
The Stockholm Archipelago is one of the largest archipelagos in Sweden, consisting of around 30,000 islands, skerries and rocky islets stretching out into the Baltic Sea. It creates an extraordinary natural environment of forests, peaceful coves, rocky shores and open water, stretching from the areas close to Stockholm city out towards the outer islands of the Baltic coastline. Visit Stockholm – Stockholm Archipelago
So we got to the docks and we met a very fluffy poodle, which I’m highly allergic to but admired from a distance. We boarded the gorgeous boat with Hahn Charter. From the moment we stepped aboard, the experience felt incredibly special. The captain and first mate were wonderful hosts, making everyone feel welcome as we travelled away from the city and into the peaceful waters beyond. The boat itself was gorgeous, and the journey became part of the experience rather than simply a way of getting somewhere.
Travelling through the archipelago gave us a completely different perspective of Sweden. The city slowly disappeared behind us, replaced by endless views of forests, rocky islands and beautiful coastal homes. We learned how important the archipelago is to Swedish culture, with many people having both a city residence and a traditional summer house by the water. These inherited properties are often passed down through families and become places where generations come together to enjoy nature, swimming, fishing and long summer evenings.
The journey took around an hour and a half from Stockholm’s marina to our first island destination. There was something incredibly calming about being surrounded by water, watching the islands pass by and experiencing the slower rhythm of life that defines this part of Sweden. I was giggling because normally by the traditional yearly boat trip, the groups gone by have been a bit hungover aha! I think we were pretty much together as a group as I took an early night the day before lol!
Our first stop was Värmdö, one of the larger islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. Here we experienced the wild beauty of Swedish island life. Unlike the city, this was a much more rural experience, with peaceful forests, rocky shores and coastal waters where families come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The island felt wonderfully untouched, with wild blueberries and raspberries growing in the woods and visitors gathering the fresh berries as we arrived. There was a toilet… Well a hole in the ground in a cabin so just be wary and bring hand sanitiser!
The wildlife in this region is incredible. We learned about the animals that inhabit the archipelago, including sea eagles, elk, deer, rabbits and, more occasionally, seals. It was fascinating to discover that such a rich natural environment exists so close to one of Scandinavia’s busiest capitals.
One of the absolute highlights of the day was meeting Lina by the Bay, who creates nature-based experiences in the Stockholm Archipelago. Lina shared her knowledge of the area, the traditions of island life and her own connection to the natural surroundings. She introduced us to one of the most memorable Swedish experiences of the trip: baking cinnamon buns over an open fire.
Using wooden sticks, we wrapped the pastry dough around them before slowly cooking the buns over the flames. Once they were warm, golden and perfectly baked, after mine nearly fell into the flames and went awry, we covered them in butter before dipping them into sugar, cinnamon and cardamom. Eating a freshly made Swedish cinnamon bun straight from an open fire, surrounded by forests, sea views and it was gorgina!
Lina was super cool, she was talking about her work as a graphic designer but her passion lies in the natural world. I loved seeing someone with a similar story because I started out with art myself, and wanted to do this site because of the same reason. It was about connecting with nature, slowing down and sharing traditions. We gathered around the fire with cheeses, snacks and got our selfies in.
After leaving the island, we continued our journey towards Idöborg, another beautiful destination within the archipelago. Surrounded by forests, water and peaceful landscapes, Idöborg felt like a true escape from everyday life. The island offered a completely different experience because it’s a sort of in the works retreat, with a relatively new restaurant and some yoga style residences, they perform concerts and all sorts. It’s amazing!
I have to say my fav time was sitting on the top deck of the boat. We had DJ Uwern at the helm playing Swedish music while travelling through Swedish waters, from ABBA to Robyn, Agnes and Avicii. It felt like the perfect soundtrack to a day that captured everything I had come to love about Sweden: nature, community, music, friendship and a genuine appreciation for enjoying life’s simple pleasures. I still keep hearing that ‘I’ll follow, I’ll follow you’ song which I live for.
Exploring the Stockholm Archipelago reminded me that Sweden is not just about beautiful cities, famous design and global brands. It is about connection and traditions, but it’s facilitated in a system that really works for people. The energy is chilled and I noticed a stark contrast between the UK. So a day spent travelling between islands, cooking over an open fire and sharing stories with new friends was one of the most authentic and unforgettable experiences of my visit. It showed me a side of Sweden that you simply cannot discover from the city streets alone.
