Discover Ornö

Ornö combines protected forests and wetlands with coastal trails, viewpoints and historic sites. When planning your trip, you can focus on different things: landscapes and birdlife, walking or cycling tours, and the island’s history.

Natural areas and views

Norra skogen Nature Reserve covers 389 hectares. Coniferous forest characterizes the area, along with pine woodland on rocky ground, mixed forest, bogs and wetlands. A large part of Nybysjön is also included. Sundby Nature Reserve covers the southern part of Ornö and nearly 30 smaller islands, where typical archipelago bird species can be found. While Norra skogen brings together various forest and wetland habitats, Sundby also draws attention to the smaller islands and their birdlife.

A notable viewpoint is Telegrafberget, 61 meters above sea level. From there, you can enjoy views of Dalarö and the wide bay of Mysingen; on a clear day, the remote island of Huvudskär is also visible. The clear-weather caveat is especially important for views of Huvudskär.

Trails and active days

Ornö is easy to explore by bicycle. On foot, the Ornö section of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail runs through forests and along coastal paths. It is the longest section of the trail and can be started at Hässelmara, Ornöboda, the Lättinge pier or Ornö kyrka. These four starting points offer different options for planning a tour.

Another hiking option is the trail in Sundby Nature Reserve: it leads to Stenhuset, the ruins of Sundby’s first manor estate, and through the old oak landscape at Mane äng. You can also swim along the section of the Ornö trail between Hässelmara and Bodal. Several sections of the Ornö trail are accessible with a stroller or wheelchair, and by people with limited mobility.

You can also go kayaking around Ornö. Single and double kayaks can be rented from Kayakomaten in Kyrkviken. Check whether the kayak you want is available before your trip.

Churches, museum and island history

A chapel probably stood on the site of today’s Ornö kyrka as early as the end of the 14th century. A larger church was built there in 1652. Permanent exhibitions at the Ornö Museum display objects and photographs from Ornö; there are also rooms furnished to resemble historic archipelago farmsteads.

A Bronze Age burial ground is located near Hässelmara. Stone cairns are found at a settlement site from this period, along with an information board. Another historic building is Rosirska gravkapellet: built in 1771 as a burial chapel, it belonged to the old church and survived the church fire of 1881.

The island’s industrial history is also part of its story. Långviksgruvan, also known as Lugnets gruva, was in operation from 1914 to 1965 and was used to mine feldspar. The Lervassa Trail has information boards about the history of schools and cultural life, as well as Ornö’s agriculture, fishing and military history.

Getting there and finding your way

A car ferry runs year-round between Ornö and Dalarö. Check the timetable and any booking requirements before setting off. Norra skogen Nature Reserve is accessible only on foot. The straight-line distance from the Östra Hässelmara ferry pier to Nybysjön is just over 1.5 kilometers.

Discover more destinations: Tungelsta, Dalarö, Österhaninge, Vendelsö, Handen, Haninge, Muskö, Utö.

Return to the main travel overview: Haninge.