The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is one of Sweden’s newest long-distance hiking trails and consists of 20 sections, spread across 20 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. The trail officially opened in 2024, but most of the hikes existed much earlier already. As a result, it turns out that I have already hiked several sections in the past, when it was not yet the Stockholm Archipelago Trail. In the summer of 2026, I hiked the section on the island of Sandhamn and you can read all about it in this article.
About the Stockholm Archipelago Trail
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail was officially opened in November 2024 with the aim of connecting the various existing hiking trails. Another (economic) reason was to accommodate more tourists on the various (lesser-known) islands and to better distribute the tourists between the islands.
Hiking the Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a logistical challenge because you need to travel from island to island by boat. Unfortunately, there are virtually no direct boats between the islands, which means that you often have to return to the mainland before you can continue with the next section. As a true thru-hike this trail is therefore, in my opinion, somewhat less suitable.
In recent years, I had previously hiked on the islands of Utö and Ornö, so this summer it was time to explore the island of Sandhamn on foot.
Off to Sandhamn
The island of Sandhamn is known as the elite island of the Stockholm Archipelago. I’ve heard it can get very busy here, especially during the high season (between June 21 and mid-August) when sailors dock their vessels here. Fortunately, I got there just before the high season (mid-June) so I never really experienced the crowds.
In the high season there is a direct boat from Stockholm to Sandhamn. You can take Cinderella Ferries by Stromma shipping company to Sandhamn, but with this organized trip you hardly have enough time to walk the entire trail. So I took regular public transport from Stockholm. It’s a bit more time consuming but it will also save you quite a bit of money. From Slussen you catch the bus to Stavnäs Vinterhamn (check the SL app for times) and from here the Waxholmsbolaget boat from Stavsnäs Vinterhamn to Sandhamn. This is boat line 16. It’s a ferry that visits a whole series of islands, so it makes several stops and is therefore the way many locals travel. Waxholmsbolaget has several departures per day, so you decide how long you stay on Sandhamn. You can simply buy tickets on board the ship. You can find more information on the website of Waxholmsbolaget.
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail on Sandhamn
The Stockholm Archipelago Trail section Sandhamn is approximately 7.5 kilometers long. The official information states 8.1 kilometers, but my GPS watch showed 7.5 kilometers, which was also indicated by the GPX file on the official website. The trail is easy and takes you completely around the island. It took me just over two hours to complete, plus stops.
What strikes me is that upon arrival, I don’t see any signposts anywhere. It’s only outside the village that I encounter the first blue/yellow marker of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail. I immediately walk into the forest, and not much later, I see a familiar house standing to the left of the trail: the house of Nora Linde from the Sandhamn Murders. Several other people are standing there taking a photo, and although it is not entirely clear, this must be the house where (part of) the series was filmed.
A break at the beach
The trail is always wide and flat, so it’s never difficult or technical. It takes you past several beaches, of which the Trouville Beaches on the south side of the island are the best known. A great place for a lunch break.
The beach on the west coast of the island is a lot quieter though. Most holiday homes and villas are still abandoned, every now and then I come across a construction worker or someone who is working on his cabin to get it ready for summer.
My last stop is at Västerudde beach, for which you have to walk back and forth along the same trail. Shortly afterwards arrive back in the village. Here I immediately lose the trail again, it seems as if there are no markings in the housing area. Just before I reach the center there are two hills that you can climb for a nice view and a little later I’m back in the harbor.
As I travel in the early season, almost all food establishments are still closed. I decide to grab a sandwich at the small supermarket and wait for the boat back to the mainland. It was a nice, short walk. Not very challenging, but very beautiful. I do wonder whether you want to go here in high season, if you, like me, are not crazy about crowds…
Practical info Stockholm Archipelago Trail section Sandhamn
I will end this article with some practical information about this section of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail:
- The GPX files can be downloaded on the Stockholm Archipelago Trail website.
- The section at Sandhamn is easy and suitable for the whole family. The distance is 7.5 kilometers and it took me about two hours.
- If you want to spend the night on Sandhamn, you can do this, for example, at the Seglarshotell. There are also several B&Bs. Camping is not allowed on Sandhamn, not even in accordance with the right of public access.
- There is no food or drinks available for purchase along the way outside of the village.
- Most restaurants, bars, and other attractions are only open between the end of June and mid-August
Sweden for beginners
Are you planning to go on a trip to Sweden for the first time? I’m quite sure there’s a big chance that you will enjoy this amazing country as much as I do.
In my e-book Sweden for beginners you will find everything you want to know about your first trip to and in Sweden. I was once a beginner myself, in 2015 to be precise. Since then I have travelled in Sweden every summer and even moved to the north of Sweden in 2023.
This book will provide you will all the things I would have liked to know before I traveled to Sweden for the first time in 2015 plus much more!
Conclusion and further reading
I truly enjoyed hiking on Sandhamn and am curious about the other stages of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail. I was lucky to be here outside of the peak season, so it was relatively quiet on the island, which really benefitted my experience.
If you want to read more about hiking in Sweden, you may also enjoy the following posts:
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