Experiences
Classic Wooden Boat Tours in Stockholm: Champagne, Birthdays and a Guide
A calm two-hour tour on a classic wooden boat in Stockholm, with a guide telling the story of the city, champagne on board and a perfect setting for a 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th birthday.
By Stockholm By Boat · · 6 min read
A classic wooden boat tour in Stockholm is the calmest and most elegant way to see the city from the water. You step aboard a restored wooden boat with varnished woodwork and polished details, a licensed captain takes you out from central Stockholm, and a guide tells the story of Stockholm as the city glides past. The tour lasts two hours, it can be a champagne boat tour, and it is one of our favourite ways to celebrate a 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th birthday.
Below you will find why a wooden boat feels different, a short history of the wooden boat tradition in Stockholm, the classic wooden boats in our fleet and how the guided tour, the champagne and a birthday trip work.
Why choose a classic wooden boat in Stockholm?
A modern motorboat is about speed. A classic wooden boat is about the setting. The pace is unhurried, the conversation flows, and the boat itself becomes part of the experience: warm wood, brass fittings and the lines of a boat built to be admired. It suits guests who want a calm setting rather than a party, and it suits occasions where the people on board matter more than the distance covered.
It is also a private boat tour in Stockholm. The boat is yours for the trip, the captain is included, and you do not need a boating licence. Most of our charters depart from Strandvägen in central Stockholm.
A short history of wooden boats in Stockholm
Stockholm has always been a city on the water. It is built on islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, and to the east the Stockholm archipelago spreads out with tens of thousands of islands, islets and skerries. For centuries, boats were simply how people, goods and post moved between the city and the islands.
In the 1800s, steamboats took over the archipelago routes and opened the islands to summer visitors from the city. Some of the classic white archipelago steamboats still sail from Stockholm in summer today.
In the early 1900s came the private motorboats. Boatbuilders built elegant launches and motorboats in mahogany and other fine woods, finished with varnish and brass, and wood remained the natural material for boats until fibreglass took over in the decades after the Second World War. The classic wooden boats that survive are carefully restored and maintained, and they are part of Stockholm's living maritime heritage. On Fjäderholmarna, 15 minutes from Strandvägen, there is even an exhibition of traditional wooden boats.
Our classic wooden boats in Stockholm
These are the classic wooden boats in our fleet. Each boat page has photos, what is included and the boat's details.
Helena: a mahogany boat for sightseeing
Helena is a beautifully crafted mahogany boat, made for relaxed sightseeing through Stockholm's waterways. When the weather allows, you travel under the open sky, close to the city and the sea. Guided sightseeing is available on Helena, and guests are welcome to bring their own drinks.
Loris: a mahogany speed yacht from the early 1900s
Loris is a fast, beautifully restored mahogany speed yacht from the early 1900s and an authentic part of Stockholm's maritime heritage. On board you find polished brass fittings, Art Nouveau interiors, genuine carpets and leather seating. Loris suits a city cruise as well as a longer trip among the archipelago islands.
Sara: a classic wooden vessel under Stockholm's bridges
Sara is a charming classic wooden vessel, beautifully restored, with warm wooden details, inviting deck space and timeless Scandinavian character. She glides beneath Stockholm's bridges and is made for an intimate, refined cruise for private and corporate groups.
Ellinore and Eva: historic ships for bigger celebrations
For a larger party, two of our event boats carry the same classic feeling. Ellinore is an early 20th century wooden vessel with three salons, elegant dining rooms and a spacious outdoor deck. Eva is a ship more than 100 years old, carefully renovated with a beautiful wooden interior. Both include kitchen and serving staff, so food can be part of the trip.
The two-hour wooden boat tour with a guide
Our classic wooden boat tour lasts two hours. On board, a storyteller and guide tells the story of Stockholm while the captain takes care of the boat, so you can sit back, listen and watch the city go by. It is a private boat tour in Stockholm with a guide, for people who want to understand what they are looking at, not just see it.
Two hours is long enough to feel that you have been somewhere, and short enough to fit before a dinner or after a lunch. Tell us about your group and the occasion when you book.
A champagne boat tour in Stockholm
The trip can include a champagne tour. Glasses on the table, a bottle on ice and the city sliding past the varnished wood: few settings suit a toast better than a classic boat on Stockholm's water. Tell us when you book, and we will arrange it.
A birthday boat trip in Stockholm: 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th
A classic wooden boat is perfect for celebrating a 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th birthday. The setting is calm, everyone can sit together and talk, and the boat makes the day feel special from the moment you step aboard. Combine the two-hour guided tour with a champagne toast, and the birthday becomes a story of its own.
For a bigger party with lunch or dinner on board, Ellinore and Eva are made for it. For more birthday ideas on the water, read our guide to a birthday celebration on a yacht in Stockholm.
How to book a private wooden boat tour in Stockholm
Send us a booking request with your date, the size of your group and the occasion, and tell us if you would like the champagne tour and the guide. We will suggest the right classic wooden boat and come back with a plan. You can also reach us through our contact page.
Want to go further out? Our guide to the best islands in the Stockholm archipelago by boat lists travel times from Strandvägen, and if you would rather stay out for several days, read about our multi-day yacht charter in the Stockholm archipelago, where you sleep on board and island hop.
Questions and Answers
Which classic wooden boats can you charter in Stockholm?
Our fleet includes Helena, a mahogany boat for sightseeing, Loris, a restored mahogany speed yacht from the early 1900s, and Sara, a classic wooden vessel. For bigger groups, Ellinore is an early 20th century wooden vessel and Eva is a ship more than 100 years old with a wooden interior.
How long is the classic wooden boat tour?
The tour lasts two hours. A storyteller and guide tells the story of Stockholm on board while the captain takes care of the boat.
Can we have champagne on the boat?
Yes. The trip can include a champagne tour. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it.
Is a wooden boat tour a good way to celebrate a birthday?
Yes. A classic wooden boat is perfect for celebrating a 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th birthday. The setting is calm, everyone can sit together, and you can combine the guided tour with a champagne toast.
Is the tour private?
Yes. The boat is private for your group and a licensed captain is included, so no boating licence is needed.
Where does the wooden boat tour depart from?
Most of our charters depart from Strandvägen in central Stockholm. Tell us your preferred meeting point when you send your booking request.