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Grinda Wärdshus

Grinda Wärdshus is the inn in the middle of Grinda, a nature reserve island in the middle Stockholm archipelago, immediately south of Ljusterö. By private boat from Strandvägen, the trip takes about 1h 15min by motorboat or 2h 25min by yacht. Recommended stay: half day, full day.

The inn in a 1906 summer villa in the middle of Grinda, with a sunny terrace over Saxarfjärden and Swedish archipelago food.

Grinda Wärdshus, a historic yellow inn with a red-tiled roof on a hillside on Grinda

Grinda Wärdshus is the inn in the middle of Grinda, a nature reserve island in the middle Stockholm archipelago, immediately south of Ljusterö. Skärgårdsstiftelsen, the Archipelago Foundation, owns and manages both the island and the building. The house is a large summer villa that Henrik Santesson, the first managing director of the Nobel Foundation, had built in 1906. Skärgårdsstiftelsen places it in a period when some of the archipelago's most lavish summer houses were going up around Lindalssundet, in styles such as Jugend, National Romanticism and Swedish Grace. Over the years the house went from a private summer residence for high society to a place open to many, with a guesthouse, bathers, riding camps, children's summer camps and, today, the inn. The house has looked out over Saxarfjärden since 1906, and the inn describes it as a small world of verandas, dining rooms and bars. The terrace gets sun from morning to evening, with a view over the bay. The menus have changed over the years, but the inn says the focus has always been genuine Swedish archipelago food. The Great Dining Room has hosted large weddings and celebrations, and today you can both eat and stay at Grinda Wärdshus. The inn is run by Grinda Wärdshus AB, with the address Södra Bryggan, Grinda, 185 99 Vaxholm. Grinda has two jetties with scheduled boats, Södra Grinda and Norra Grinda. Södra Grinda is the busiest, and the inn says the walk from either jetty takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Waxholmsbolaget and Strömma's Cinderella boats run several trips a day in summer, and Strömma lists a journey time of 1 hour 30 minutes from Strandvägen. The inn can also help arrange taxi boats, charter boats, helicopter and seaplane transfers. The island around the inn is worth time too. Grinda has been a nature reserve since 2000, and Länsstyrelsen Stockholm gives its size as 503 hectares, of which 178 hectares are land. In summer there is a café and a general store, and you can walk to the beaches and the rocks at Källviken, follow the nature and culture trail, or climb to the lookout at Klubbudden, the island's highest point at 35 metres. From Strandvägen, the route via Vaxholm is an estimated 19 nautical miles: about 11 nautical miles to Vaxholm, according to Båtturistguiden's distance table, and about 8 nautical miles on to Grinda. Cruise time is about 1h 15min at 15 knots in a motorboat and about 2h 25min at 8 knots in a yacht. These are estimated cruise times at those speeds, not a scheduled departure, and the actual time depends on traffic, speed limits and conditions on the water.

Best time to visit: June-August

Travel time from Strandvägen: motorboat 1h 15min, yacht 2h 25min

Grinda Wärdshus at a glance

TypeRestaurant
Travel time by motorboat1h 15min from Strandvägen
Travel time by yacht2h 25min from Strandvägen
Best time to visitJune-August
Recommended stayHalf day, Full day
AmenitiesRestaurant, Toilet, Drinking water, Shop, Pet friendly, Trash bins
Coordinates59.4136, 18.5588

Pictures from Grinda Wärdshus

Guests dining on the veranda at Grinda Wärdshus, looking out over red boathouses and the waterSeafood salad with prawns and mussels served at Grinda WärdshusBerry and meringue tart with dessert slices on a wooden table at Grinda WärdshusOutdoor terrace tables between yellow columns at Grinda Wärdshus, overlooking the bayArched entrance of Grinda Wärdshus with the inn's name above the colonnadeGrinda Wärdshus seen from above, surrounded by woodland and lawns

Go to Grinda Wärdshus with our boats

Private boats with a licensed captain from Strandvägen. Cruise times are estimates at 15 knots by motorboat and 8 knots by yacht.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Grinda Wärdshus?

Grinda Wärdshus is in the middle of Grinda, a nature reserve island in the middle Stockholm archipelago, immediately south of Ljusterö. The address is Södra Bryggan, Grinda, 185 99 Vaxholm.

How old is Grinda Wärdshus?

The house was built in 1906 as a summer villa for Henrik Santesson, the first managing director of the Nobel Foundation. It later became a guesthouse and is now the inn, owned and managed by Skärgårdsstiftelsen.

What kind of food does Grinda Wärdshus serve?

The inn says its focus has always been genuine Swedish archipelago food, though the menus change. Check the current menu and opening hours on grinda.se before you go.

How long does it take to reach Grinda Wärdshus by boat?

From Strandvägen via Vaxholm the route is an estimated 19 nautical miles: about 1h 15min at 15 knots in a motorboat and about 2h 25min at 8 knots in a yacht. Those are estimates, not a scheduled departure.

How far is Grinda Wärdshus from the jetty?

Grinda has two jetties with scheduled boats, Södra Grinda and Norra Grinda. The walk from either jetty to the inn takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

When is the best time to visit Grinda Wärdshus?

The best time to visit by boat is June to August, when the terrace over Saxarfjärden is in full use and the café and general store on Grinda are open.

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About Stockholm By Boat

Stockholm By Boat is a Stockholm-based private boat charter company. We arrange private boat trips with a licensed captain in Stockholm and the Stockholm archipelago, and most charters depart from Strandvägen in central Stockholm. Our fleet includes more than 50 motorboats, yachts, sailboats and event vessels, supported by over 40 professional captains. Destination guides like this one are written and kept up to date by our captain team.

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