Discover Värmdö: Archipelago, Hiking and Culture

Värmdö combines its proximity to the sea with an old cultural landscape. Its thousands of islands make up a large part of the Stockholm Archipelago. The highlights below are quite different: from hiking trails on Värmdö to a national park accessible only by boat, as well as design and photography destinations in Gustavsberg.

Nature Between the Sea and the Cultural Landscape

Värmdö has 44 nature reserves and one national park. In Björnö Nature Reserve, you can hike through typical archipelago scenery, with open cultural land, forests and rocks. You can swim there from the rocks or at Torpesand sandy beach. This makes it easy to combine your stay with a hike through varied landscapes or a swim at one of the places mentioned.

Hiking and Trails

The Värmdöleden is about 25 kilometres long and divided into three stages. Several possible starting and ending points give you flexibility in choosing your route. For the most part, the trail passes through scenic areas of cultural and historical interest. If you’re looking for a shorter route instead of planning a longer hike in stages, there’s an easy 1.7-kilometre trail along the Kolström waterway, from Ingarö Church to Dyviken. It passes through part of Ingarö’s old parish centre and is also suitable for wheelchair users.

Värmdö also has many trails and paths for training, hiking and walking. Along the trails are rest areas and wood-fired barbecue spots where you can prepare food. Information boards help you discover the local nature and places of cultural and historical interest. Naturkartan provides information about trails, swimming spots, rest areas and outdoor barbecue spots. Siggesta Gård has three mountain biking trails. At Gustavsbergsbadet, visitors can swim, bathe, work out and relax.

Nämdöskärgården: National Park and Getting There

Nämdöskärgården National Park comprises 1,353 islands, islets and skerries; 97 percent of its area is water. Here you can hike, climb, swim and snorkel. Unlike the trails on land, visiting the national park requires a boat trip: it can only be reached by boat.

During the main season, excursion boats run from the winter harbour at Stavsnäs on Värmdö to the entrance near Bullerö. Check the sailing times before your visit. You should bring your own food for your stay in the national park; drinking water is available there only in limited quantities. This information is especially useful when planning a trip to the archipelago.

Porcelain, Photography and Culture

The Gustavsberg factories and their history with well-known Swedish designers are of national importance. Gustavsbergs Porslinsmuseum is located in Gustavsberg in a former drying house at the porcelain factory. It showcases the history of Gustavsberg porcelain from the 19th century to the modern era and opened in 1915. A visit to the museum offers a distinctive way to explore the town’s porcelain history.

Fotoparken is a permanent outdoor exhibition of contemporary photography in Gustavsberg. The exhibitions are free to visit at any time of year. Skärgårdsmuseet explores old images and stories from the Stockholm Archipelago; groups can book guided tours there year-round. Together with the hiking trails, national park and attractions in Gustavsberg, these offer different options for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kalvsvik, Runmarö, Stavsnäs, Skälvik, Sandhamn, Ingaröstrand, Möja, Gustavsberg

Go to the main travel overview: Värmdö.