Twenty-seven thousand islands, islets and rocks spread across a hundred kilometres of Baltic Sea east of Stockholm. You cannot see all of them. But a kayak is the best way to try.
The Stockholm archipelago is one of the great summer adventures available in Europe – calm water, wild camping under Allemansrätten, sauna culture on remote islands, and a quality of silence that feels impossible 40 minutes from a capital city. This is how to do it for the first time.
Getting Out There
Several operators run guided kayak tours of the archipelago from Stockholm – a day trip or multi-day expedition. The most popular route is the outer archipelago around Sandhamn and Möja. Ferries from Stockholm Strömkajen reach the main hubs; from there, hire kayaks locally or bring your own.
Wild Camping
Allemansrätten – the right to roam – means you can camp on any island for one or two nights without permission. Pack light, leave no trace, and the entire archipelago is your campsite. Evening fires on granite rocks as the sun sets at 10pm over the Baltic is the defining image of Swedish summer.
What to Expect
The water in the outer archipelago is clean, calm and surprisingly warm in July and August (18–20°C). The paddling is gentle – the archipelago is sheltered from open-sea conditions. A reasonable day's paddling covers 20–30km. Most first-timers manage the basic technique within an hour.
When to Go
June through August. July is peak season and the most reliable weather. Late June is magical – long days, low crowds, the first real warmth of summer. Book accommodation and kayak hire well in advance for July weekends.