Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and mid-September, with less frequent departures in September and October. A combined
ticket (Skr375) includes return travel and admission to the palace and Chinese Pavilion.
Stockholm Archipelago
Mention the archipelago to Stockholmers and prepare for gushing adulation. Buffering the
city from the open Baltic Sea, it's a mesmerising wonderland of rocky isles carpeted with
deep forests and fields of wildflowers, dotted with yachts and little red wooden cottages.
Exactly how many islands there are is debatable, with headcounts ranging from 14,000 to
100,000 (the general consensus is 24,000). Whatever the number, it's an unmissable area
and much closer to the city than many visitors imagine, with regular ferry services and
various tours.
There are essentially two ways to visit the archipelago, depending on your preferred
travel style: if time is short, take a boat tour of anywhere from a few hours to a full day,
passing several islands and making brief stops at one or two. Otherwise, you can arrange
your own longer, slower self-guided trip with overnight stays. The area's many comfort-
able hostels, campsites and cushy hotels - plus some excellent restaurants - make the lat-
ter option dreamy if you have a few days to spare.
(Keep in mind that most of the island villages are very remote, with limited options for
dining and groceries; bring some provisions along. There are also bar-restaurants on the
boats.)
If you're not on an organised tour, it can be tricky to figure out how to reach a particular
island. Confusion is augmented by the fact that summer boat schedules aren't published
until a week before they take effect, which makes it challenging to plan travel between is-
lands. Planning is essential, though, as you'll want to book accommodation well in ad-
vance. Luckily, though the timetables change, the routes are consistent year to year.
Waxholmsbolaget
, the main provider for island traffic, divides the archipelago into three
sections: middle, north and south. Within each section, several numbered routes go out and
back, usually once a day, calling at various ports along the way. (Think of them as rural
bus routes, but on water.) The Waxholmsbolaget office in Stockholm has maps and
timetables for all routes and helpful staff to answer questions. And there's a useful trip
planner on its website.
