As a person who lives in Stockholm I often get asked what to do when visiting the city. Although there’s plenty to see within the city, I’d recommend doing a day trip to some of the towns and islands nearby or to see more of Sweden. Here are my favourite day trips within one hour of Stockholm.
1. Vaxholm
Vaxholm is a personal favourite of mine and a nice way to experience the archipelago. The town is easy to get to by catching the ferry from Strömkajen in the city centre (near the Royal Castle). A good thing to know is that you can ride the boat on an SL-ticket.
Vaxholm is pretty small so you will be able to see everything in one day. There are a few good swimming spots, so if you are visiting Vaxholm during the summer make sure to pack your swimsuit. The town is full of calm little paths, wooden houses and cosy cafés.
Make sure to stop at Vaxholms Hembygdsgårds Café. I can’t stress this enough, it’s one of my favourite cafés and there’s a whole table of pastries and cookies. It also has the best outdoor seating right by the water. It’s very popular though, so be prepared to queue for a table.
Another popular thing to see in Vaxholm is the Vaxholm Fortress, which once guarded Stockholm’s sea approach. The island has a small museum, some walking paths, and a restaurant. It’s worth a detour if you’re interested in local history.
2. Sigtuna
Sigtuna is Sweden’s oldest town and is located next to Mälaren, between Stockholm and Uppsala.
What I like the most is simply walking through the town centre. You pass church ruins, colourful wooden houses here and there, and narrow little cobbled lanes. It’s all close by, and you get a sense of how the town has evolved over the years.
There’s also a nice waterside path where you can have a picnic or a swim. It leads to the small harbour where you’ll find the popular restaurant Våfflan Hamnkrog that serves the best waffles and ice cream in town.
It’s quite nice to explore Sigtuna and the surrounding area by bike. One tip is to bring a bike on the commuter train to Märsta, then pedal out to one of the nearby castles. It’s an easy way to turn a short visit into a full day trip.
3. Norrtälje
Norrtälje is a coastal town in Roslagen about a one-hour ride from Stockholm by bus. The town gets pretty crowded during the summer holiday in July, so the best time to visit Norrtälje is late May or early June. The town centre is pretty small, (like the rest of the places on the list) so you can easily see it in 2–3 hours.
Norrtälje is the gateway to the northern part of the Stockholm archipelago, so a lot of things revolve around the water. There’s a nice walking path down at the harbour lined with local restaurants.
Don’t miss to make a stop in Societetsparken where you can relax a bit on the grass, maybe bring some lunch with you. Don’t be surprised if you see some locals play ”kubb” on the grass, a traditional Swedish game that’s popular in the summer.
If you’re planning to stay longer or explore more of the area, here’s a guide with all my best tips for Norrtälje.
4. Fjärderholmarna
Fjäderholmarna is probably the most common day trip from Stockholm and it only takes about 30-minute by boat from Nybrokajen in the city centre. Despite being so close to the city, the island has a distinct archipelago feel with red wooden buildings and rocky shores.
Most people come here to swim and sunbathe on the rocks. There are short walking paths around the island so it’s easy to get around, and plenty of small shops selling traditional Swedish crafts. The island is not that big, but there are also a few cafés and restaurants where you can eat lunch. My favourite one is Röda Villan on the far end of the island. During summer it’s also common to have some live music, especially in the evenings.
It can get a bit crowded around the dock, so my recommendation is to come a little bit earlier in the day if you want to find a quieter spot.
5. Västerås
Västerås isn’t always the obvious choice for a day trip from Stockholm, but if you’re looking for something more genuine and less “touristy” then this is it. The old quarter has cobbled streets, wooden houses and a large cathedral that gives the old town its iconic feel.
Even though the city is nice my recommendation is to take the Elba ferry to Östra Holmen, a small island just off the city’s shore. There’s a sandy beach, walking trails and a small restaurant where you can have lunch by the water.
It’s a more low-key option than Vaxholm or Fjäderholmarna and usually much quieter. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds but still get a mix of Swedish history and nature Västerås is a good choice.
If you’re curious about what else to do in the area I’ve shared more tips in my full Västerås guide.
