Doing a cruise in Stockholm archipelago is a great idea — here are the best options

Last September, on our way up to Tromsø from Paris by car, we stopped for two days in Stockholm. The original plan included a trip to the ABBA museum if the weather was bad, but since the sky was clear and we’d spent the previous days cooped up in the car, we quickly changed our minds: straight to the port for a boat trip through the archipelago. I’ll be honest, that was far more appealing to me than ABBA, but my wife wasn’t so keen (so we’ll have to go back).

Once there, we discovered there are a good dozen cruises departing from Stockholm, all more or less similar on paper but with nuances that really change the experience. Rather than another article telling you it’s “magical” and “unmissable,” here’s a practical guide to help you choose the right cruise for your needs, without making the wrong call.

Why take a cruise in the Stockholm archipelago?

The archipelago has around 30,000 islands and islets, stretching from the city to the Baltic Sea over nearly 80 km. It’s hard to imagine Stockholm without this maritime hinterland: the city itself sits on 14 islands, and Swedish weekend culture at the “stuga” (a red wooden countryside cottage) is mainly lived out here.

In practical terms, a boat trip lets you:

• see Stockholm from the water, which completely changes your perspective on Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace and Djurgården;
• get out of the city without having to rent a car or kayak;
• enjoy an activity that adapts to the weather (open deck if it’s sunny, heated lounge otherwise);
• fill half a day smartly if you don’t feel like going from one museum to the next.

It’s the activity most locals recommend on a sunny day. And honestly, if you have a sunny slot on your trip, that’s where to put it.

Before choosing: understanding the two main types of tours

This is the point that’s never clear on booking sites, and yet it’s the one that avoids disappointment:

1. Tours that stay in the Djurgården canal and the inner harbour
Short (50 min to 1h45), often cheaper, they circle the city islands (Djurgården, Skeppsholmen, Södermalm) without really going into the archipelago “as you’d imagine it.” Ideal for a first look at Stockholm from the water, but don’t expect rocky islets and red houses along the Baltic.

2. Tours that actually venture into the inner archipelago
2 to 3 hours on average, they pass through Fjäderholmarna, Stora Höggarn, Tegelön, sometimes further. This is where you start seeing the typical landscapes with fir trees, granite rocks and small houses. It’s the most common format, and the one I recommend if it’s your first time.

Note: none of the classic “tour” cruises make stops on the islands. If you want to get off and walk around, you need either a full-day excursion (such as to Vaxholm or Sandhamn), or the public Waxholmsbolaget ferries, which are not sold on GetYourGuide.

The most-booked cruise in Stockholm

If you don’t want to think too hard and go for the safe bet, it’s the classic Strömma cruise that gathers the most reviews (over 11,000) with a solid rating. Three duration options to fit your schedule.

Which cruise for which need?

I’ve sorted the options by traveller profile, starting from the most likely use. For each, I’ve highlighted the details that make the difference.

You want the safe bet, in English or with an audio guide

If this is your only boat trip of the stay and you want something structured, in your language or at least with a multilingual audio guide, two options stand out.

Strömma “Archipelago Tour” Cruise — flexible duration 1h30, 2h30 or 3h

This is the default Stockholm cruise: 11,000 reviews, operated by Strömma (the city’s biggest operator) on classic boats with an onboard cafeteria. The big advantage is being able to choose the duration based on your available time. The 2h30 is the sweet spot for going a bit further than the first islands. Live guide in English and Swedish only, from €33/person. Downside: the boat is very large, sometimes packed in high season, and getting a window seat requires arriving early.

Guided island tour with French-speaking guide — Scandic Tours, 2h

For French speakers who want a live guide in French, this is the only clear option on the list. Small groups, guide varies by session (Pedro is mentioned several times in reviews), light snacks and drinks available on board. From €32/person. Slightly lower rating (4.1/5) as some travellers find the advertised 2h is in practice closer to 1h30. Choose it mainly for the language.

You want the most authentic experience with a characterful boat

Almost all operators offer “historic boats” but some really stand out.

M/S Vindhem tour with Swedish fika — SKS Tours, 2h

Restored vintage boat, warm atmosphere, option to enjoy a real “fika” break (coffee and Swedish pastry) on board. Heated lounge in winter, panoramic open decks. Bonus: it’s one of the few boats accessible for wheelchair users. From €29/person. Some reviews point to a “mass tourism” feel in high season; less true in mid-season.

Classic wooden boat — Sightseeing Ride, 1h45

Small wooden boat, 4.7/5 on 327 reviews, limited capacity (so never overcrowded). Bar on board with non-alcoholic drinks. For a more intimate experience than the big Strömma boats, at a fair price (€34/person). Many reviews mention the guides’ humour.

You want a unique experience: speed, dinner, or amphibious bus

Three options really break away from the classic mould.

Ocean Bus amphibious bus — 1h on land + on water

The concept: a bus that plunges into the water mid-tour. Rating of 4.7/5 on over 5,000 reviews, making it technically the highest-rated in the panel after the RIB. Short format (1h), fun atmosphere, great with children (from age 3). It’s not strictly an archipelago cruise — you stay in the inner harbour — but it’s memorable and original. From €32/person.

• • Info and booking

High-speed RIB boat — Rib Stockholm, 2h

If you want to go further into the archipelago and feel the thrill, this is the only format that truly leaves the inner islands. Thermal suit provided (essential), 4.9/5 on 400 reviews. From €146/person, so significantly more expensive. Not suitable for children under 12, pregnant women or people with back problems.

• • Info and booking

Shrimp or taco dinner cruise with live music — M/S Vindhem, 4h

Evening format (6pm–11pm) with all-you-can-eat dinner, live music and dancing. From €54/person. More about spending an evening than discovering the archipelago — the evening light is lovely in summer when days are long, much less so in winter. More festive than cultural vibe.

• • Info and booking

Lunch cruise on the M/S Östanå I (1906) — Strömma, 2h30

The calm and comfortable option: a beautiful 1906 wooden boat, lunch included (choice of meat, fish or veggie), 2h30 through the inner archipelago. From €51/person. Very good value for money if you want to combine a meal with a cruise.

• • Info and booking

You’re short on time or have a tight budget

Quick electric boat tour — Sightseeing Ride, 50 min

Small open electric boat, silent, 4.8/5. From €25/person, it’s the cheapest option in the panel. The boat passes under bridges and through the canals — it’s more of a city tour from the water than a cruise through the archipelago, but at that price, it’s honest value.

Royal Djurgården Canal Tour — Strömma, 50 min

Even shorter and with an audio guide in 10 languages including French. From €26/person. A good option if you’re in a hurry and just want to tick the “Stockholm seen from the water” box. Doesn’t leave the city.

Comparison table of the different Stockholm cruises

4 recommended accommodations in Stockholm

Practical tips for making the most of your cruise

What’s the best season?

Late spring and summer (May to end of August) remain the best period: long days, light until 10pm, decent temperatures on the water. In September as we did, the colours start to turn but it’s often sunny and much less crowded. From October onwards, it gets dark early on late-afternoon tours (one review even noted that half their cruise took place in the dark in December).

Can you do the cruise in any weather?

A cruise in cloudy or rainy weather loses much of its appeal — it’s even the main recurring criticism in reviews. If you have flexibility, schedule the activity on the clearest day of your trip. Most operators offer free cancellation up to 24h before, which helps.

Open deck or indoor lounge?

On the water it’s always cooler than on land, so bring an extra layer beyond what you’d wear in the city. Many boats provide blankets for the deck. In mid and late season, alternating between the deck (for photos and fresh air) and the lounge (to warm up) is the right approach.

Boarding

Allow 15 to 20 minutes early to avoid queues (and get a good window seat on the larger boats). This comes up often in negative reviews: arriving at the last minute = standing for 2 hours.

What if I really want to go onto an island?

None of the cruises on this list make island stops. For that, two options: a full-day excursion to Vaxholm or Sandhamn (to be booked separately), or the Waxholmsbolaget public ferries that serve all inhabited islands and allow genuine island-hopping at your own pace.

My choice, and what we’d do differently if we’d been prepared

We did the classic 2h cruise, embarking from the city centre and returning to the same spot. It was good, just what you need to get a taste of the archipelago without spending the whole day there. Looking back, if we came back with more time, I think we’d go for the lunch option on the M/S Östanå I — a beautiful old boat, a meal, and 2h30 in the inner archipelago is a better deal than the basic version.

With children, the amphibious bus would probably be the most memorable for them, possibly combined with a ferry to Vaxholm for a proper island outing.

And in the end, we were very right to skip the ABBA museum (my wife disagrees, but there you go). Save it for a rainy day.

Find your Stockholm cruise

Conclusion and other resources

I think I’ve covered everything! I hope I’ve managed to help you figure out which type of cruise might interest you. There really are so many that it’s hard to choose! But that’s also and above all because a cruise through Stockholm’s waterways is a must — the city, its waterfronts, its islands, it’s so beautiful that you shouldn’t miss it, especially if the weather’s good 🙂

I’m gradually writing about Stockholm, here are a few extra resources that should come in handy:

• Which neighbourhood to stay in Stockholm – to avoid ending up somewhere a bit dodgy, here are some very practical location recommendations
• Getting from Stockholm airport to the city centre – the airport is far, but well connected, I explain everything!