A day trip to Grinda island
Many thanks to Carmen 🇦🇺 and Jordan 🇺🇸 for this moment (and for the pictures)
If you’d like to visit the Stockholm archipelago (and I highly recommend you do), Grinda Island is the ideal place (when the weather’s fine) for a day trip! Sparsely populated, the green island is entirely classified as a nature reserve, and offers breathtaking Swedish landscapes. When we visited in mid-September, people on the whole island could be counted on the fingers of one hand: a change of scenery guaranteed! The journey includes a ferry trip in the archipelago, hiking in the forest and on the cliffs, a stroll along the coast, a lunch break and a typical sauna by the water. Ready?
📸 Pierre
📖 Grinda in the archipelago
The Stockholm archipelago is a unique place in the world, formed during the last ice age 11,700 years ago. The accumulation of ice at the archipelago’s present location caused the earth’s crust to sink, creating depressions in the ground. As the ice melted, the depressions were filled with water and more than 30,000 islands were formed.
Grinda Island has probably been inhabited since the Middle Ages, at least since the 1500s. The island was acquired several times until 1998, and is now managed by the Archipelago Foundation.
The island covers an area of 1.7 km², with a coastline of 8.4 km.
⛵️ Getting to Grinda from Stockholm
Two companies operate from Stockholm to the island, and tickets can be purchased directly on board. I recommend looking at the timetables on the companies’ websites a few days in advance, and arriving 30 mins early at the boarding gate to ensure a good seat.
Vaxholmsbolaget :
- About a 2h journey
- 125 kr per person
- Departure from Strömkajen, close to the Gamla Stan old town
Out of season, there are usually only one or two times a day, but that’s more than enough! The ferry is very comfortable (tables, on-board catering) and the view is beautiful.
Strömma :
- About a 1h20 journey
- 140 kr per person
- Departure from Strandvägen, also close to the Gamla Stan old town
🏝️ [tl;dr] Visit the island
https://maphub.net/heyitspierre/une-journee-a-lile-de-grinda
My recommendations for visiting Grinda?
🌳 Hike in the forest and on the island’s cliffs to admire the beauty of the landscape (~ 2h30 for 7 km, the walk is accessible to everyone, map is above)
🍽️ Take a well-deserved break and enjoy traditional Swedish meatballs at the authentic Grinda Wärdshus inn, next to a wood fire with a view of the harbor and red houses.
⚓️ Stroll along the island’s pontoons and coastline
🧖 Enjoy a moment alone in the world in a typical Swedish sauna by the water (500 kr for an hour for 1 to 4 people, book at least an hour in advance at the Grinda Wärdshus inn: it takes an hour to warm up and bookings can only be made for whole hours)
As a bonus, here are a few hiking tips:
🇸🇪 There are yellow and blue markers on trees along the trail to help you get your bearings.
📜 Here’s a great article on hiking with lots of details and tips
🗺️ I recommend using the Relive app, which allows you to locate yourself on the map in real time as well as retrace your route once you’ve finished.
⛵️ Departure for Grinda
Difficult wakeup at 6:30 am, but for a good reason! First inevitable stop at the incredible Bageri Norrmalm to fill up on Kanelbulle, then off to Strömkajen for boarding at 8:15 am. Comfortably settled in, 2 hours of Swedish postcards flash in front of our eyes (take a walk outside on the deck, it’s cold but worth it).
📸 Pierre
We arrive at our destination: only one other person gets off with us, so it looks like being a quiet day.
🌳 Hiking in the Grinda forest
For our adventure, we start hiking on the island, gradually working our way into the Swedish forest.
📸 Pierre
We arrive in front of a magnificent apple tree full of fruit and then on the first beach. The walk continues and we reach Klubbudden, the highest point of the island, with a 180º view of the sea and the other islands.
📸 Pierre
The rest of the hike follows the coastline, so don’t hesitate to step aside to admire the landscape.
📸 Pierre
The long loop ends at the inn.
🍽️ Typical break at the inn
After 7 kilometers of hiking, our stomachs are begging for comfort. We enter the Grinda Wärdshus inn: the wood fire crackles and its smell fills the decorated hall.
📸 Carmen
Despite the price, I highly recommend the famous Swedish *meatballs*: it’s simply delicious, all with a view of the coast and the red houses.
📸 Pierre
⚓️ Stroll along the coastline
The digestive stroll is pleasant, the archipelago as far as the eye can see, and we’re out of season, so the port is rather quiet.
📸 Carmen
🧖 Sauna and Swedish bath
The serious business begins. The Källviken sauna is a small red wooden house, typically Swedish, on the edge of water and rocks. No one around, alone in the world, the moment is more than pleasant. A small pontoon allows you to jump into the cold water after a ten-minute sauna.
As mentioned above, 500 kr for an hour for 1 to 4 people. Reservations must be made at least one hour in advance at the Grinda Wärdshus inn: about an hour’s warm-up time and reservations can only be made for whole hours.
📸 F.EDDE
📸 Carmen
✨ Back to square one
Unfortunately, it’s already time to head home, back on the ferry to Stockholm with a magnificent sunset over the archipelago. The day was very relaxing, soothing and a change of scenery. I’ll be back! 👋
📸 Pierre