By the Stockholm By Boat captain team · Last updated

Harö

Harö is an island of about 2.8 km² in Värmdö municipality, between Kanholmsfjärden and Rödkobbsfjärden, on the edge of the outer Stockholm archipelago just north of Sandhamn. By private boat from Strandvägen, the trip takes about 2h by motorboat or 3h 45min by yacht. Recommended stay: full day.

A small, old fishing and farming island just north of Sandhamn, with an old village and open meadows, and RO on neighbouring Gummerholmen for food and overnight stays by the water.

Harö – boat trip destination in the Stockholm archipelago

Harö is an island of about 2.8 km² in Värmdö municipality, between Kanholmsfjärden and Rödkobbsfjärden, on the edge of the outer Stockholm archipelago just north of Sandhamn. Harö has probably been inhabited since the Middle Ages; the oldest known map, from the 1640s, shows three farms at what is today Harö by, the village on the northern part of the island. Rich fishing waters and good conditions for hunting and farming made the village grow. The island was long more isolated than its neighbours, and a steamboat connection only came in the 1920s. Much of the old farmland is still open, with traces of the older cultural landscape, and just west of the village rises Kasen, a hill of nearly 40 meters named after the beacon that once stood there. There are three small lakes on the island, and a small bridge at Lerviken connects Harö with Storö to the north. The Storö nature reserve, protected since 1968, covers the western part of Storö and parts of Harö, with pine forest and rock slabs. Inside the sheltered Haröfladen, on the small island of Gummerholmen, is RO, formerly Harö Natur: a restaurant with overnight stays in a glass-walled greenhouse, sea huts by the jetty and cabins in the forest, plus a wood-fired sauna and hot tub. Restaurant guests come by their own boat or taxi boat and do not need to book a berth. RO is reopening in a new form in 2026 and updates its opening hours as it goes, so check before you go. Waxholmsbolaget line 16 from Stavsnäs calls at Harö and at nearby Hagede. From Strandvägen, the route is an estimated 30 nautical miles; Båtturistguiden's distance table gives 31 nautical miles from Stockholm to Sandhamn, just to the south. Cruise time is 2h at 15 knots in a motorboat, and 3h 45min at 8 knots in a yacht. Those are estimated cruise times at those speeds, not a scheduled departure.

Best time to visit: June-August

Travel time from Strandvägen: motorboat 2h, yacht 3h 45min

Harö at a glance

TypeIsland
Travel time by motorboat2h from Strandvägen
Travel time by yacht3h 45min from Strandvägen
Best time to visitJune-August
Recommended stayFull day
AmenitiesGuest Harbor, Restaurant
Coordinates59.3435, 18.8950

Things to do on Harö

Harö by, the old village on the northern part of the island, open former farmland with traces of the older cultural landscape, three small lakes and Kasen, a hill of nearly 40 meters west of the village. A bridge at Lerviken leads to Storö, and the Storö nature reserve has pine forest and rock slabs. On neighbouring Gummerholmen, RO offers food and overnight stays.

Where to dock at Harö

Yes. RO, on Gummerholmen inside the sheltered Haröfladen, welcomes restaurant guests who arrive by their own boat or taxi boat, and you do not need to book a berth. When it was Harö Natur, the harbor was described as having plenty of space and sailboat depth in most of it.

Pictures from Harö

Sailing boats moored in a calm bay at sunset near Harö in the Stockholm archipelagoPizza with cured ham and basil served with red wine at Harö in the Stockholm archipelagoSwedish flag, white house and waterside terrace by a jetty near Harö in the Stockholm archipelagoBreakfast boards with orange juice on a long wooden counter in a restaurant at Harö in the Stockholm archipelagoHarö, Stockholm archipelago – photo 5 of 5

Go to Harö 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

How do you get to Harö from Stockholm?

Harö is just north of Sandhamn, in Värmdö municipality, and is reached by boat from Strandvägen. The route is an estimated 30 nautical miles. Waxholmsbolaget line 16 from Stavsnäs also calls at Harö and at nearby Hagede.

How long does it take to reach Harö by boat?

From Strandvägen, cruise time is 2h at 15 knots in a motorboat, and 3h 45min at 8 knots in a yacht. Those times are based on an estimated 30 nautical miles along the fairways. That is running time at those speeds, not a scheduled departure.

What is there on Harö?

Harö by, the old village on the northern part of the island, open former farmland with traces of the older cultural landscape, three small lakes and Kasen, a hill of nearly 40 meters west of the village. A bridge at Lerviken leads to Storö, and the Storö nature reserve has pine forest and rock slabs. On neighbouring Gummerholmen, RO offers food and overnight stays.

Can you visit Harö by boat?

Yes. RO, on Gummerholmen inside the sheltered Haröfladen, welcomes restaurant guests who arrive by their own boat or taxi boat, and you do not need to book a berth. When it was Harö Natur, the harbor was described as having plenty of space and sailboat depth in most of it.

Is there a restaurant on Harö?

RO, formerly Harö Natur, is on the small island of Gummerholmen next to Harö. It serves food and has overnight stays in a glass-walled greenhouse, sea huts and forest cabins, with a wood-fired sauna and hot tub. RO is reopening in a new form in 2026, so check its current opening hours before you go.

Where is Harö?

Harö is in Värmdö municipality, between Kanholmsfjärden and Rödkobbsfjärden, on the edge of the outer Stockholm archipelago just north of Sandhamn. RO is on Gummerholmen, inside Haröfladen.

Nearby destinations

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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Visit Harö by private boat

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