Best of Vaxholm: Stories of Fishermen, Soldiers and Summer Holidays

Stockholm’s archipelago is a world of 30,000 islands and skerries, but its true essence is captured in the charming town of Vaxholm. On this walking tour, you’ll hear the stories behind Sweden’s coastal defense and the summer paradise that wealthy Stockholmers have cherished for over 150 years. From rounded granite rocks shaped by ancient ice to red wooden houses painted with the famous Falu red colour, Vaxholm is a slice of authentic Swedish island life.

This tour starts at the harbor in front of the historic Waxholms Hotel, with views of the imposing Vaxholm Fortress. You’ll weave through the Fishermen’s Town with its distinctive wooden architecture, stroll past centuries-old water pumps, and explore charming streets where Swedish summer life has flourished since steamboats first connected Vaxholm to Stockholm in the 1840s. Along the way, you’ll discover how this strategic defense point has shaped the town’s unique character.

You’ll hear stories about brave fishermen’s wives who rowed fresh herring to Stockholm markets each day, and the tale of a Polish-Lithuanian princess who chose imprisonment with her husband over freedom. The tour ends back at the harbor, where you can continue your exploration of this precious archipelago.

On this 60-minute walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Learn about Vaxholm Fortress which twice saved Stockholm from invasion
• Explore Battery Park (Batteriparken) with its hidden ammunition storage and cannon placements from the 1700s
• Notice the smooth granite rocks shaped by ancient glaciers that characterize the Stockholm Archipelago
• Walk through an authentic fishermen’s village with its old traditional homes
• Hear the story behind the town’s iconic bell tower with its golden rooster (kyrktupp)
• Discover why wealthy Stockholmers built hundreds of elegant wooden villas here between 1860 and 1930
• See Sweden’s oldest charity donation box from the mid-1700s with its touching inscription
• Find the best spots for traditional Swedish fika or authentic local herring dishes

Take this walk through Vaxholm to experience the perfect blend of Swedish defense history, maritime traditions, and summer holiday charm in the capital of Stockholm’s archipelago.