The Stockholm Archipelago is one of the world’s great island-scapes, a vast constellation of approximately 30,000 islands, skerries, and rocks stretching from the heart of Stockholm eastward into the open Baltic Sea. The landscape shifts dramatically from the lush, inhabited inner islands with their red-painted summer cottages and bustling harbors to the windswept, bare-rock outer islands where seabirds wheel above granite cliffs sculpted by ice and salt spray.

Exploring the archipelago by ferry is a quintessential Swedish summer experience. The island of Vaxholm, often called the gateway to the archipelago, charms with its pastel-colored waterfront and historic fortress. Further out, Grinda and Finnhamn offer pristine swimming from smooth rock slabs into crystal-clear water, while the remote islands of Uto and Sandhamn evoke a sense of peaceful isolation that feels worlds away from the capital just an hour’s sail behind you. Many islands have simple hostels, campgrounds, and the classic Swedish right of public access, allowing visitors to pitch a tent, forage for berries, and swim from virtually any shoreline.

Pro tip: Purchase a Waxholmsbolaget five-day pass for unlimited travel on the archipelago ferries and spend at least two or three nights island-hopping to fully appreciate the range of landscapes. Pack a picnic from Stockholm’s Ostermalms Saluhall market hall, as dining options on the smaller islands are limited. Kayak rentals are available on several islands for those wanting to explore the quieter channels between the islets.