The 10 Best Boat Tours and Cruises in Stockholm

The Swedish capital, Stockholm, is a city built on the Baltic Sea archipelago, which encompasses an impressive system of islands and numerous bridges. Because of this, boat trips are one of the best things to do in Stockholm, whether you want to take in the surroundings or explore some of the smaller islands in more detail.

You can hop on a classic boat to sail under Stockholm's bridges and explore the canals in an eco-friendly way on an electric boat. You also have the option of discovering the coast of Sodermalm Island and the municipality of Nacka on a speedboat, travelling along the coast of Södermalm and Skeppsholmen Island on an amphibious bus, among other adventures that I will tell you about in a moment.

There are many boat trips you can take during your stay of at least two days in Stockholm, but the most popular is undoubtedly the tour under the city's bridges. From the canals, you will see at least 15 of these monumental structures and discover an amazing contrast between urban and natural landscapes.

This adventure usually starts at the Strömkajen pier, where you will board a traditional boat. You can sit on the deck or stay in the main cabin, relax and enjoy the view while breathing in the fresh air and taking amazing photographs.

Throughout this experience, you will gain a different perspective of the old town and its main buildings, such as the Royal Palace with its Baroque architecture. You will also be amazed by the lush natural scenery of Djurgården Island, known for hosting some of Stockholm's best museums.

On this boat trip under Stockholm's bridges, you will also have the opportunity to sail past Södermalm Island, located south of the city centre, and the small island of Lilla Essingen, which is home to a residential area with large apartment blocks. You will also pass by the island of Stora Essingen, which is home to several villas.

Useful information

• Price: the price of this boat trip starts at approximately £36 per person.
• Duration: the experience lasts around 2 hours.

Enjoying the Stockholm archipelago from the sea is another adventure you can embark on during your trip. You will see a series of historical monuments and natural areas of great scenic beauty. You will also learn about the cultural importance of the islands and destinations along the way.

This activity, considered one of the best tours of Stockholm from the sea, usually departs from the City Hall pier. There, you will board a boat and, accompanied by a guide, sail along the coast on a round trip from the Swedish capital to the town of Vaxholm.

As the boat moves away from the mainland, you will begin to get a fairly broad view of the city, seeing, for example, the City Hall from a different perspective. You will also identify other places of historical importance such as the Royal Palace, St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Parliament Building, among others.

With this panoramic cruise through the Stockholm archipelago, you will not only have the opportunity to enjoy a privileged view of this amazing system of islands, some of them populated and others deserted. You will also learn about the archipelago: cultural aspects, historical facts and even religious information. All this thanks to the commentary provided by a guide on board.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of the activity is around £36 per person.
• Duration: the tour usually lasts approximately 3 hours.

With this type of tour, you will not only see different perspectives of the city, but you will also learn about the monuments and natural spaces hidden in the islands of this archipelago. All this while enjoying an exciting adventure aboard a speedboat, which is ideal if you are travelling alone, with friends or with children in Stockholm.

This adventure departs from one of the piers in the old town, giving you a panoramic view of the 17th-century buildings of Gamla Stan from the water. You will travel in the company of a guide along the main waterways of the Swedish capital and you can make a few stops to see the islands as you go.

Some of the places you will visit on this speedboat tour of the Stockholm archipelago include the following:

• Vaxholm Fortress, a 17th-century national monument that houses a museum.
• The Royal Canal at Djurgårdsbrunns, surrounded by lush vegetation.
• The coastline of the island of Sodermalm, one of the longest in Stockholm.
• A series of islands, some of them rocky and uninhabited, while from others you will see the facades of picturesque houses and fishing villages.

Useful information

• Price: the approximate price of this experience is £100 per person.
• Duration: the speedboat tour of Stockholm lasts approximately 60 minutes.

Kayak tour of Stockholm's central islands

Another way to see Stockholm from the water is by kayak, which is ideal if you're a water sports enthusiast. You'll paddle through the calm waters of the city, taking in some of the most iconic sights of the Swedish capital as you go.

For this tour, you'll need to meet up with your guide, either in the city centre or in the old town bay. Before getting into the kayak, you will receive some basic tips to ensure you have a smooth ride on the water. Then you will start paddling and enjoying the surroundings.

During this kayak tour of Stockholm, you will have the opportunity to see tourist, historical and cultural attractions such as:

• The City Hall, located on the island of Kungsholmen, right on the water's edge, whose tower stands out for its three golden crowns.
• Riddarholmen Church, where Swedish monarchs from King Gustav II to King Gustav V are laid to rest.
• The Gamla Stan area, known as the historic centre of the Swedish capital.
• Langholmen Island, which among other gems houses a museum commemorating the musician Carl Michael Bellman.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the experience starts at €58 per person.
• Duration: the adventure lasts around two hours.

The hop-on hop-off boat is the best option for those who want to explore the city's lakes and canals at their own pace. You can hop on and off at any of the nine stops along the island, giving you access to the most popular monuments and tourist attractions.

You will depart from the pier in Stockholm's old town and have the option of taking a complete panoramic tour of the city's central islands. You can also get off the boat at your desired stop to explore the area and then board another boat to continue the tour. It's quite similar to Stockholm's tourist bus, but on water.

In any case, you'll see an unmissable panoramic view of Gamla Stan and sail around Djurgården Island and Skeppsholmen Island, among others. You will also have the opportunity to stop at places such as the City Hall, the Royal Palace, the Stadsgården cultural centre, the Gröna Lund amusement park, the Vasa Museum, and more.

Useful information

• Price: from approximately £60 per person.
• Duration: the entire tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, but this time may be extended if you make any stops.

The Royal Canal is another boat route you can take during your 3-day stay in Stockholm or longer. You will sail through the city centre from Nybrokajen Pier to the island of Djurgården in the southern region, enjoying what is considered the greenest area of the Swedish capital.

Once on board, you will be given headphones so you can listen to some interesting facts about the monuments and natural areas you pass by. All this while you relax on deck and travel along this old canal built in 1834 by order of King Charles XIV.

During the tour, you will travel through the calm waters of this canal lined with forests, gardens and parks that are over 400 years old. And, if you're lucky, you might spot some birds of prey such as herons and owls, which are characteristic of the region.

Upon arriving at Djurgården, you will circle the island, taking in a series of historic buildings. You will also see the large Gröna Lund amusement park in the distance, visited annually by hundreds of tourists and locals; the Nordic Museum, with its imposing neo-Renaissance architecture; and the Vrak, Stockholm's Shipwreck Museum, among others.

Useful information

• Price: this boat trip costs approximately £21 per person.
• Duration: the average duration of this tour is 50 minutes.

Island hopping around Kungsholmen and Långholmen in western Stockholm

Another of the best boat trips in Stockholm is the route through the canals in the western part of the city, namely Kungsholmen and Långholmen islands . There you will find several places of historical and architectural interest that you can see from the sea, giving you a unique perspective.

Due to the location of the islands, this adventure usually departs from the pier at Stockholm City Hall. You will board a boat and set sail. As you move away from Gamla Stan, or the old town , you will see several buildings , including the Royal Palace and the striking tower of the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.

After a few minutes, you will be sailing around Kungsholmen Island, located in Lake Mälaren and dotted with beautiful green areas. In this region, you will see:

• A series of art deco buildings with geometric patterns and vertical windows.
• The Palace of Justice, representative of the modernist architectural style.
• Kristineber Palace, built in 1750.
• Serafen Hospital, considered the city's first modern medical facility, built in 1752.

Next, you will pass by Långholmen Island, which housed the state prison until 1975. Today, the building still stands, but it has been restored and converted into a hotel and youth hostel.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the boat trip is approximately £18 per person.
• Duration: the boat trip takes around 50 minutes.

If you want to break with tradition when it comes to boat trips in Stockholm, then you'll have to hop on the amphibious bus. You'll see the city in a different way and enjoy a unique experience as you travel from the pavement to the waters of the Baltic Sea without having to change to a boat.

The adventure begins with a land tour by bus with an expert guide. You'll pass by the 19th-century Royal Opera House, the lively Birger Jarl Street, the Royal Library with its Nordic classical architecture, and finally the Östermalm district.

Then you'll leave the pavement behind and join a slightly uneven road until you start floating on the water. This marks the start of an amazing panoramic tour where you will see destinations such as:

• The Royal Island of Djurgården, with the Vasa Museum and Gröna Lund amusement park.
• The facades of the buildings in the old town, whose history dates back to the 16th century.
• Skeppsholmen Island, home to the Royal Palace and the famous Af Chapman ship, which was used as a naval station in the 19th century.
• The coastal island of Södermalm, considered one of the largest in Stockholm.

You will then return to the mainland to continue your itinerary, which may include joining a food tour of Stockholm, taking a stroll along Marten Trotzigs Gränd (the narrowest street in the city) or connecting with the transfer service to Stockholm Airport, if this is your last day in the Swedish capital.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of the amphibious bus tour is £27 per person.
• Duration: the approximate duration of this experience is 60 minutes.

Although Stockholm stands on 14 islands, its surroundings and archipelago have more than 24,000 islands in total, which you can see on a day cruise through the waters of the Baltic Sea. You will escape the hustle and bustle of the city, breathe fresh air and enjoy the natural beauty of these idyllic places from the deck of the boat.

Among the islands you will see are the following:

• Kymmendö Island, known for having inspired Swedish playwright August Strindberg in his 1887 novel People of Hemsö.
• Bullerö Island, dotted with picturesque trails and surrounded by several coves.
• Sandhamn Island, with a rich maritime history dating back to the 17th century, wooden houses, lush vegetation and crystal-clear waters.

After this experience, you will return to Stockholm at night to continue exploring the city if you wish. For example, you could join a ghost tour of Stockholm and discover its hidden mysteries or perhaps take a stroll through the discos and clubs to enjoy the lively nightlife.

Useful information

• Price: the cruise can cost up to around £150 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours.