Stockholm waterfront stays on the ferry route
Stockholm waterfront stays on the ferry route
Eva-Lotta Jansson
Available for hire
If you're a nature lover visiting the city of Stockholm, you can enjoy the best of both worlds by staying at a waterfront hotel, surrounded by nature. And you can even take the ferry there, if you know where to stay!
I love taking the ferry from the inner city -- home, and to the archipelago beyond. So I've made a guide with a few hotels along the inlet to Stockholm, if you also want to treat yourself.
I've chosen hotels and B & B/hostels with gorgeous water views -- easily accessible by ferry* -- along the inlet to Stockholm.
We start on a hostel ship in the very heart of Stockholm, across the pond from the Royal Castle, and end at a hotel on a small islet that's actually an old military fort.
Because I live near Stockholm's inlet, myself, I've not needed to stay at hotels, but I've chosen stays in naturally beautiful locations that I like to visit myself, and where I know the docks* well. If you find the guide helpful, and book through my links here, I may get a commission from the sale (at no extra cost to you).
*Ferry traffic and boat type may vary depending on season, and docks/jetties. So it's important to check boat availability and time tables (with the hotels, transport cos.) ahead of time.
If you'd like some more visual inspiration from on and off the water, come along for a virtual boat ride on my Instagram account!
I'd also be happy to create a custom guide with travel recommendations for you. You'll find the link in my bio.
Excited for your trip to Stockholm, where you can hail a... ferry! :-)
Updated ago
2
Share
(Hotel destinations in order of proximity from central Stockholm)
STF Af Chapman & Skeppsholmen Vandrarhem
@Evalottafilms
Af Chapman is a full-rigged steel ship moored on the islet Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm, Sweden, now serving as a hostel B&B. The beautiful ship has amazing views over Stockholm’s inlet, across the waters from Old Town and the Royal Castle.
The ship and nearby Skeppsholmen buildings is a grand Stockholm address to call "home," for a few nights, or more!
There’s a walking bridge across to the mainland city, where archipelago boats docks just a few minutes away outside Grand Hotel. There’s also a commuter ferry connecting the islet to Gamla Stan and Djurgården.
The ship and nearby buildings form the hostel B&B. Until planned renovations of the ship are finished in December 2023, rooms are available in the newly renovated adjacent buildings, according to the Swedish Tourism Association, STF.
Add to
Details
Hotel Skeppsholmen
@Evalottafilms
Hotel Skeppsholmen, named after the lush islet where it’s based right at the mouth of the Baltic Sea in Stockholm.
The beautiful 300-year-old building has a rich historic background, starting with being built as the Royal guard quarters; then housing the poor and homeless in the 1700s; to be refurbished at the end of the last century to serve the Swedish Navy administration and Royal Officers Society.
My paternal grandfather was once based here as a Naval director, and, later on, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing distinguished guests meeting here.
It’s a historical gem with fine dining, gardens and views over the inlet to Stockholm.
Islet Skeppsholmen is easily accessible by a walking (and driving bridge), to the docks at Strömkajen, in front Nationalmuseum and Grand Hotel. You can also take a short (2 - 7 mins) ferry ride to/from the tip of the islet over to Djurgården or Nybrokajen in Gamla Stan.
Add to
Details
Hotel J
@Evalottafilms
Hotel J is accessible by (among other options) a commuter ferry from Nybroplan, a jetty just below Old Town in Stockholm.
The modern hotel is nestled among trees with its own gorgeous views over the water and old-fashioned swimming jetty.
Built in a rapidly-growing suburb along the water’s edge in Stockholm, the hotel still appears as a calm oasis, coupled with old-world charm in red-brick Tornvillan, used for dining and meetings.
Add to
Details
Skepparholmen Nacka
@Evalottafilms
Skepparholmen is a hotel set in a nature-rich environment along Stockholm’s inlet that I like to call home. So let's be sure to take very good care of nature both here, and everywhere, when visiting! 😊There are lovely views and walks here among the trees, and overlooking the water.
You’ll most probably take a ferry with Vaxholmsbolaget or SL here, from Strandkajen outside Grand Hotel, or Nybroplan in Old Town. Depending on the boat type, it will take about 25-40mins.
You can take a swim, and I there is a spa…
Add to
Details
Kastellet Bed & Breakfast
@Evalottafilms
If you ever wanted to stay in a fortress guarding the inlet to Stockholm, this would be it! The Swedish King Gustav Vasa had it built in the 1500s to defend the kingdom from shipborne attacks.
The fortress, and B&B, named Kastellet, is technically outside of Stockholm, on an isle on the middle of the inlet, located in the city of Vaxholm (about an hour+ from Stockholm by boat).
I’m still including it in my list of cool and scenic places to stay in Stockholm's inlet, this at the furthest point. That's because the city of Vaxholm is often looked upon as the portal to the rest of the wider Stockholm archipelago. You can make other, longer boat trips from here.
The fortress islet itself can be accessed by the Kastellet ferry, an electrically powered cable ferry across the channel from Vaxholm. Many of the larger ferries can also stop here, if you ask. However, because it’s an islet, there is no other public transportation here.
Great place to see gorgeous views, old canons and sneak into old, dark fortress corridors and stairwells up the roof.
Great place if you like a bit of quietude with the ocean and the fortress ruins after the other tourists have left the island for the day. But, beware, there’s probably no way to get “home,” after a late pub crawl in town, or off the island if you get scared of ghosts!
Add to
Details
Ferry transport & timetables:
The places/docks I'm describing here are serviced by ferries run by the public transport agency. Cool isn't? :-)
And that works great! However, if you are not used to taking the ferry, it can be difficult, even for Swedes who live here to figure out what ferry runs where and when, and what ticket is valid where and when. That's because schedules and types of valid fares vary throughout the year, due to weather changes (such as ice) and to serve different types of passengers, including work commuters and summer travelers.
But, if in doubt, you can check both Waxholmsbolaget's (the boats) own schedules, the general public transport planner (SL), or simply ask at the ticket office on the boat. (I'm including the links for you below). I'd also suggest asking your hotel for assistance, if you need it.
Get a taste of the views:
* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eva-Lotta Jansson
Available for hire
Start exploring the natural beauty of Stockholm with me, including the archipelago!
Stockholm and its medieval city center is, in fact, built on 14 islands and sits on the banks of the archipelago, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea.
The vast Stockholm archipelago, made up of about 24,000 islands, fans out 80km from the inlet, and has fabulous boat connections departing directly from city central, making the islands accessible to visitors.
With such an array of choice at varying distance, it will be important to pick your destinations ahead of time. If you’d like to experience the area with the enthusiastic eyes of a visitor, but the ease of the local, I can give you some suggestions.
After living abroad for many years, working as a photojournalist and filmmaker, I've been rediscovering Stockholm, my home, with the lens. And what’s been the most fascinating to me is nature and the sea, and how very fortunate we are to be able to access it all right here, in our equally beautiful city.
I’ll aim to provide you with some itineraries, maps and location guides to make it easier to choose among the gems. Feel free to make suggestions (as this page grows), or inquire about hiring me as a photographer and filmmaker or location scout.
You’ll find my Instagram handle and website below. See you in the travel guides!
Explore related destinations
Read more about places in this guide
Powered by Thatch
The home for unique & authentic travel
The home for unique & authentic travel
Powered by Thatch: Where great trips are made.
© Eva-Lotta Jansson 2024 • Help • Privacy • Terms • Copyright • Become a Seller • Seller Academy • About • Careers • Blog • Explore Places