Boat trips with the Stockholm Card 2026
Stockholm is built on 14 islands - there is hardly a city you can experience better from the water. Over ten boat tours are included in the Stockholm Card, from a 30-minute trip to a full-day archipelago excursion.
- Over 10 boat tours included in the Stockholm Card.
- From a 30-minute trip to a full-day archipelago tour.
- City routes and archipelago experiences covered.
- 5 % discount with code CITYVERG05.
Which boat tours are included in the Stockholm Card?
These boat tours are covered by the Stockholm Card. You can also choose four of them in the cheaper Essentials Pass - the rest are only included in the All-Inclusive Pass. You can see which tour runs in which month in the seasonal calendar directly below.
The hop-on hop-off boat tour can also be selected in the Essentials Pass - but it counts as one of your three selected attractions. As with almost all water activities in Stockholm, the timetable depends on the season; you can see the current status in the seasonal calendar and at the pier on site.
Seasonal calendar - which tour departs when?
A quick overview of which tour you can expect in which months. The main season on the water is in the summer months; in winter, it is mainly the guided winter boat tour that remains.
| Tour | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights boat trip | ||||||||||||
| Djurgården Boat Trip | ||||||||||||
| Hop-on-hop-off boat tour | ||||||||||||
| Drottningholm boat tour | ||||||||||||
| Vaxholm & Fjäderholmarna | ||||||||||||
| Birka & Artipelag | ||||||||||||
| Gustavsberg archipelago tour | ||||||||||||
| Guided Winter Boat Tour | ||||||||||||
| Canal tour town hall |
This calendar is a guide based on typical seasonal times. The exact timetables are determined each year and can change depending on the weather or bookings; the operator Strømma is responsible for this. Especially at the end of the season in April and October, it is worth taking a quick look at the current timetable before making any firm plans.
City boat tours - the classics
The city tours stay in the centre and take you through the canals and around the islands. They are the best first orientation if you are just getting to know Stockholm - and most of them can be easily incorporated into a full day of sightseeing.
Boat trip to Stockholm's highlights
2 hrs. 15 min.The most popular tour and a good way to get started: in just over two hours, you will glide past the most important landmarks - the old town Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, the City Hall and the green shores of Djurgården. There is commentary on board so that you can immediately categorise the city. This tour is available in both the All-Inclusive Pass and the Essentials Pass.
Royal Djurgården Boat Trip
1 hr.A compact tour around the museum island of Djurgården and through the tranquil Djurgård Canal. At just one hour, it is perfect as a relaxed end to the day, for example after a morning at the Vasa Museum or Skansen. It is included in the All-Inclusive Pass and the Essentials Pass and is one of the best-rated tours in the programme.
Hop-on hop-off boat tour through Stockholm
flexible - seasonalThe boat equivalent of the well-known sightseeing bus: you can hop on and off at several piers in the city at your own pace. The combination with the hop-on hop-off bus, which is also included in the All-Inclusive Pass, is particularly practical - so you cover water and land with the Stockholm Card. The boat line only runs seasonally and is suspended in winter.
Canal tour to Stockholm City Hall
1 hour - currently closedThis one-hour canal cruise takes you to the striking Stockholm City Hall, the venue for the annual Nobel Prize banquet. Important and honest: The tour is currently temporarily closed and cannot be booked at the moment. It remains listed on the Stockholm Card, but the operating status may change - check it on site or shortly before travelling.
Archipelago experiences - out on the water
The Stockholm archipelago has around 30,000 islands and is one of the most beautiful boating areas in Europe. These tours take you out of the city and into the archipelago - from a quick 30-minute crossing to a full-day excursion. All archipelago tours are only included in the All-Inclusive Pass.
Boat tour to the Fjäderholmarna islands
30 min.The fastest archipelago escape: In just half an hour you can be on Fjäderholmarna, the nearest archipelago island. Small craft workshops, cafés and waterfront walks await you there. Ideal if you only have half a day, but still want that real archipelago feeling.
Boat trip to Vaxholm
approx. 1 hour 15 minutes per journeyVaxholm is the charming capital of the archipelago - a fortress town with colourful wooden houses, an old citadel and a relaxed harbour promenade. The journey there is already part of the experience, as it takes you past countless small islands. A good choice for families and anyone who wants to spend a whole day outdoors.
Great archipelago tour to Artipelag
Full day excursionThis full-day tour combines nature and culture: the destination is Artipelag, a spectacular art and design museum built into the rocky landscape with extensive natural grounds right by the water. The journey through the inner archipelago is quiet and scenic - a day for anyone who wants to combine art and the outdoors.
Great archipelago tour to Gustavsberg
All-day excursion - seasonalGustavsberg is famous for its porcelain factory - a place rich in tradition with a factory shop, ceramics studios and harbour flair. The tour is seasonal and does not run all year round; check the seasonal calendar below to see when it is available.
Birka — Boat trip to the Viking town
Full day excursionProbably the most extensive water excursion in the Stockholm Card: Birka on the island of Björkö was Sweden's first urban centre over 1,000 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Excavations, a Viking museum and burial mound landscapes await you on the island. With the longest journey and the highest individual price, this tour is the biggest savings lever of the entire Stockholm Card - if you want to go here, you can save a large part of the cost of the Stockholm Card with just this one trip.
Boat trip to Drottningholm and the castle
Drottningholm Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the residence of the Swedish royal family - and travelling there by boat is the most beautiful way to get there. The approximately one-hour trip takes you from the city centre across Lake Mälaren to right in front of the baroque palace complex.
With the Stockholm Card you have two options: the return journey as a complete boat package or a single journey if you only want to travel in one direction. Both are only included in the All-Inclusive Pass.
Recommended combination
A tried and tested daily plan: take the boat to Drottningholm in the morning, visit the palace (included in the Stockholm Card), the Chinese Pavilion and the palace theatre, and return by boat or bus in the afternoon. This way you can enjoy the boat trip as an experience and save on travelling costs.
This excursion fits perfectly into a three-day plan for Stockholm - our itinerary, linked in the related block at the bottom of the page, shows you how to incorporate it into your stay.
Winter boat tour - water adventure from December to February
Most archipelago and city tours pause in winter - this is the honest truth that many providers hide. Anyone visiting Stockholm between December and February should plan their water activities realistically.
The good news: there is a tour that is made just for this time of year. The guided winter boat tour takes you out on the water even when it's freezing cold - warm on board, with a view of wintry Stockholm and the partly frozen archipelago. It lasts around 75 minutes and can be selected in both the All-Inclusive Pass and the Essentials Pass. This makes it the obvious water alternative in winter when the Highlights cruise and archipelago tours are not running.
Winter tip
In winter, plan the water part of your trip around the guided winter boat tour and fill the rest of the day with indoor highlights from the Stockholm Card - the Vasa Museum, National Museum or the Nobel Prize Museum are all sheltered from the weather. So you get a well-rounded programme even in the cold season.
Booking and important information
Unlike many museums, it is not always enough to simply show your Stockholm Card for boat tours. There are a few things you should bear in mind, especially in summer, to avoid standing in front of a fully booked boat.
Departure and landing stages
Most of the guided tours start in the centre at the Strömkajen landing stage. It is located directly in front of the Grand Hôtel and within sight of the Royal Palace. The operator is Strømma. Some city and archipelago tours also depart from piers at Djurgården or Nybrokajen. You can see the exact departure point in the Go City app and at the kiosk on site.
Book in advance - especially in summer
Many boat trips must be booked in advance directly at the kiosk as places are limited. In the high season, popular trips can be fully booked on the same day. A tried and tested trick: visit the kiosk on the first day of your trip and book your favourite tour for one of the following days. Then you can be sure of a place and plan the rest of the day around it.
Scheduled ferries are not included in the Stockholm Card
This is a common misunderstanding: the normal local public transport (SL) ferries are not included in the Stockholm Card. The Stockholm Card only includes the tourist sightseeing and archipelago boats from Strømma, not the public shuttle service. You need a separate public transport ticket for SL ferries.
Stand-up paddle and kayak separately
In addition to the classic boat tours, the all-inclusive pass also includes do-it-yourself water activities such as kayaking and stand-up paddling. The self-guided stand-up paddle adventure requires a separate reservation - it is not a guided boat tour, but a great water experience for active travellers.
Which boat tour suits you?
Four typical travel situations with a clear recommendation. Choose the one that best suits your stay in Stockholm.
Just a few hours on the water
If you're short on time, take the one-hour Djurgården boat trip or the 30-minute crossing to Fjäderholmarna. Both give you a real archipelago and water experience without taking up a whole day.
A whole day outside
If you have a free day, it's worth making the big leap: Birka for history fans or Artipelag for a combination of art and nature. Both are full-day tours that take you deep into the archipelago.
Travelling with children
Two tours are best suited for families: the boat trip to the Stockholm highlights and the boat trip to the fortress town of Vaxholm. Both offer plenty to see, a manageable duration and space to disembark at the destination. The old fortress is particularly popular with children.
Travelling in the cold season
The guided winter boat tour runs between December and February. It takes you out on the water even when it's freezing and shows you a Stockholm that most summer visitors never see - calm, white and partly icy.
Is the Stockholm Card worth it just for the boat trips?
The short answer: often yes. The Stockholm Card includes an above-average number of expensive boat tours - and if you plan several of them, this alone will cover a large part of the cost of the Stockholm Card. Just two or three boat tours will exceed the price of the 1-day all-inclusive pass.
So that you can categorise this, here are the individual prices of some tours without the Stockholm Card, each for adults:
As you can quickly see, an archipelago tour plus a city trip together are already around the same price as the 1-day all-inclusive pass - and this also opens up all 69 attractions to you. So if you want to get out on the water anyway and also take in a museum or two, the Stockholm Card is almost always cheaper.
You don't have to work out for yourself whether the Stockholm Card is worthwhile for your exact selection: our savings calculator compares your favourite attractions live against the All-Inclusive Pass and the Essentials Pass and tells you which option is the cheapest. You can find it on the prices page and on the comparison page, both linked in the related block.
Frequently asked questions about boat tours with the Stockholm Card
Are all boat tours available all year round?
No. Most city and archipelago tours run seasonally, typically from April to October with the main season in summer. In winter, they largely take a break - this is when the guided winter boat tour in particular runs from December to February. The operator sets the exact times each year, so it is worth checking the current timetable before travelling.
Do I have to book boat tours in advance?
Yes for many tours. Places are limited, and in high season popular tours can be fully booked on the same day. It's best to book directly at the local kiosk on the first day of your trip for one of the following days. This way you can secure your place and plan the rest of the day around it.
Are the SL line ferries included in the Stockholm Card?
No. The Stockholm Card only includes Strømma's tourist sightseeing and archipelago boats, i.e. the guided tours. The normal public transport ferries (SL) are not included. You need a separate public transport ticket for this.
Which boat tour is the best for a first impression?
The boat trip to the highlights of Stockholm. In just over two hours, you will see the most important landmarks from the water and immediately get a feel for the geography of the island city. It is also included in the All-Inclusive Pass and the Essentials Pass, making it a good first tour for Essentials Pass travellers.
Where do the boats leave from?
Most tours start in the centre at the Strömkajen landing stage. It is located in front of the Grand Hôtel and within sight of the Royal Palace. Some city and archipelago tours also depart from piers at Djurgården or Nybrokajen. You can see the exact departure point of your tour in the Go City app and at the kiosk on site.
Which boat tour is suitable with children?
Two tours are best suited for children: the boat trip to the Stockholm highlights and the boat trip to the fortress town of Vaxholm. Both offer enough variety, have a manageable duration and there is space to disembark at the destination. The old citadel is particularly popular with children. If your children have a short attention span, the 30-minute boat trip to the island of Fjäderholmarna is a good choice.
Ready to experience Stockholm from the water?
Get the Stockholm Card and combine archipelago tours, castle boat trips and city tours with a single card. With the discount code CITYVERG05 you save 5 per cent.