If you are well prepared it is a fantastic time of the year as you will be more or less alone. Some days are beautiful and some days are brutal.
Below you will find the key factors.
The ferry timetables
The Winter timetable reigns until April 1st, 2026 making it quite challenging. Use either the google travel planner on each section page on the website or use the App ”res i sthlm” (works in English). NOTE: Some ferries need to be pre-booked the day before so make sure you always check.
IF you have a monthly or yearly public transport card (SL) you travel for free on the ferries from September 14th, 2025 until April 29, 2026.
Water & open toilets
Most of the public water in the archipelago is not winterized. This means that most of this water is turned off in the end of October so as to not burst pipes when the temperature goes down below zero. ALL hand pumps work year round.
Flush toilets are also closed for the same reasons. Some of the dry toilets are still open.
Accommodation & food stores
Some accommodations are open during the weekends, make sure that you have a booking if you plan to stay in a hotel or similar. Direct links to the various accommodation options are available on each section page. Do NOT leave it to chance. The campgrounds are open with the restriction on services (water & toilets).
The various food stores in the archipelago are sporadically open. Check out the Q&A on the website, where you will find more current info.
NOTE: During the winter months it might make more sense for you to be based on the mainland and to do day trips if you do not want to camp, which can be quite hard-core. It can be worth creating your own little hub in either Nynäshamn, Stockholm, Vaxholm or Norrtälje from where you can do day trips.
Make sure you bring enough food, water, clothes to be self-sufficient during the winter. The ferries all have cafeterias and toilets on-board.
If you need to use the forest then walk away from the trail, dig a hole, take your paper with you and cover up the hole.
WINTER 2026
Until April 1st
Note that when there is ice in the archipelago the ferries need to adapt. Make sure you check out the ferry schedule the day before the day you are actually going out. As mentioned above, some ferries need to be pre-booked.
Ferry departure point
Stockholm city (strömkajen) & Vaxholm – many food and accommodation options (Hotel, B&B and Campground). Good for day trips.
Grinda LINE 11 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun (Tue – Thu from Vaxholm and Lillsved only) – Grinda Wärdshus opens at Easter. Public water is closed off since October. Dry toilets are open year round – At the info center above the Southern ferry quay, by the beach southwest of Grinda Wärdshus and by the gas station west of Grinda Wärdshus. A defibrillator is found in the Wärdshus; accessible when there is someone there. Camping only in the designated campground just south of the Northern ferry quay.
Svartsö LINE 13 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun (Tue – Thu from Boda Brygga) – Skärgårdshotellet is open year-round. Check with them before you go. On the south east side of Skärgårdshotellet there is a toilet, water and a defibrillator which is open year-round, the middle door. The food store is open year-round. Opening hours are found here. Inside is a toilet which you can pay to use when the food store is open. There is a defibrillator by the entrance which is always accessible. No campground.
Ingmarsö LINE 13 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun (Tue – Thu from Boda Brygga) – The B&B is closed until Easter. By the Southern ferry quay the food store is open year-round. Opening hours are found here. There is a dry toilet by the guest harbor. No campground in the winter.
The rowboats between Finnhamn and Ingmarsö will be put back in the water, if the winter allows by mid- April. The exact dates will be communicated on the website under news.
Finnhamn LINE 13 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun (Tue – Thu from Boda Brygga) NOTE that the return takes you to Boda Brygga where there is a bus.- The hostel is closed until Easter. There are hand water pumps that are open year-round. In the cottage village. On the north-eastern shore of Paradisviken you can find dry toilets that are open year-round. Camping only in the designated campground South of the hostel.
Möja LINE 14 Mon, Fri return to either Sollenkroka or Boda Brygga from where there is a bus – Jeppes restaurant in Långvik is open most of the year. Opening hours are found here. The hostel opens around Easter. The food store is open year-round. Opening hours are found here. Toilet and water at Jeppes according to opening hours, for customers or at a fee. Defibrillators are found year-round at Jeppes, Ramsmora fishing harbor, Möjahallen, Löka guest harbor and Berg Kyrkviken guest harbor. No campground.
Ferry departure point
Åsättra brygga (Ljusterö)
Waxholm ferry Line 10. Several times daily when no ice.
Svartsö, Finnhamn and Ingmarsö. See services above.
Ferry departure point
Furusund
Furusund is accessible year round by public bus from Norrtälje (and of course by car). The same bus also goes to Yxlan with the car ferry from Furusund. Make sure you do NOT miss the bus back. Accommodation and food is available at Hotell Furusund – Thursday to Sunday. No campground on Furusund.
On Yxlan you can buy food and use the toilet (if you are a customer) at Köpmanholms Lanthandel Grill & Bar. Open daily.
Ferry departure point
Räfsnäs – Accessible by bus from Norrtälje
Daily to Lidö. Note that the return ferry is at 5 pm every day but Sunday when you can return at 14:55.
Lidö – No service available.
Ferry departure point
Simpnäs – Accessible by bus from Norrtälje
Several times daily to Arholma
Arholma – Bull August Hostel open year-round. Water and toilets available there for customers. The food store is open year round. See opening hours.
Ferry departure point
Stavsnäs vinterhamn – Some accommodation options nearby.
Waxholm ferry Line 16
Several times daily.
Sandhamn – The only destination with year-round hotels. Seglarhotellet is open every day. The restaurants Seglarhotellet and Sandhamns Värdshus open-year round. Missionshuset (B&B) is also open. The food store is open year-round. See opening hours here. Toilet and water is open year-round on the south side of the gravel road in the red service building in the middle of the guest harbor. No camping.
Runmarö – The first island after Stavsnäs. The island closest to the mainland. The food store is open year-round. See opening hours here. The only dry toilet is just east of the access road to the guest harbor. See the detailed hiking guide here for the code. No camping.
Waxholm ferry Line 17
Daily morning ferry to Nämdö. NOTE the return ferry is in the evening except on Saturdays where there is a mid-afternoon ferry.
Nämdö
The food store is open sporadically on weekends. Check out the opening hours here. The water in the lake is drinkable when no ice. Filter or boil. The Sauna on the southeast side of Långvik opens in the spring. You can camp next to it and also by the Östanvik ferry quay.
The hotel on Idöborg is open upon request.
Ferry departure point
Dalarö – Some great food and few accommodation options.
Ornö hässelmara
Car ferry. Several times daily. See the timetable here.
The restaurant in Kyrkviken, Ornö krog is open more or less daily for lunch. The food store in the same building is also open daily. Opening hours here. You can use the toilet and access water there if you are a customer. Sundby B&B is open upon request. Ornö Skärgårdshotell is open upon request. The same applies here in regards to water and toilets. There is a dry toilet on the southwestern coast near Mörby where the ”yellow trail” starts. No campground on Ornö.
Waxholm ferry Line 19
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Ornö Boda – The northern most point of SAT Ornö. The various services on Ornö are listed above.
Fjärdlång – Not accessible until after April 1st.
Ferry departure point
Årsta brygga – Hostel nearby
Waxholm ferry line 21 – Several times daily.
Utö Gruvbryggan – Utö Värdshus opens on April 16th. Dry toilets are found above Barnens bad, North of the harbor. The service building in the harbor has a toilet and water when open. The food store is open year round; every other day during this period (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Opening hours 10-17. A defibrillator is found in the hotel reception when someone is there. Camping in the campground just south of the guest harbor.
Ålö – Accessible via the gravel road that runs south from Utö – The North-south connector. Water is available in the hand pumps at Ålö storsand and in the crossing just north of the ferry quay. Dry toilets in the same places. Camping is allowed at Ålö Storsand.
Ferry or bus departure point
Nynäshamn – Several accommodation options for day trips.
Waxholm ferry Line 29 – Ankarudden – Landsort – several times daily.
Bus to Ankarudden from Nynäshamn. Ferry to Landsort. The hostel is open year-round. The hotel at Lotstornet and the restaurant Svedtiljas opens from Easter. Toilet and water available for customers. The campground is just southeast of the Northern ferry harbor. No food store is open during this period.
Waxholm ferry Line 22
Do NOT miss the Sunday return ferry.
Nåttarö – Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun- the first stop on this line. No services available except dry toilets at Nåttarö Storsand. The campground is just east of the ferry quay. On Wednesday & Friday you will have a long day on the island, On Saturday & Sunday you have only 2.5 hours on the island.
Rånö – Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun – No services available except a hand pump for water at the campground. About 1,5 km north of the ferry quay. On Wednesday & Friday you will have a long day on the island, On Saturday & Sunday it is not worth a day trip as the time on the island is too short.
Ålö – Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun – as already described above. On Wednesday & Friday you will have a long day on the island, On Saturday & Sunday it is not worth a day trip as the time on the island is too short unless you hike the gravel road going North to Utö Gruvbryggan for service and the ferry to the mainland or to Spränga brygga. From where you can also get the ferry to the mainland (Årsta brygga). You risk having to camp if you plan to hike Ålö and then try to hike and catch the Saturday or Sunday ferry from Utö.