By the Stockholm By Boat captain team · Last updated

Waxholm

Vaxholm, also spelled Waxholm, is the town on the island of Vaxön at the narrow inner entrance to Stockholm through the archipelago, and the main town of Vaxholm municipality. By private boat from Strandvägen, the trip takes about 45 minutes by motorboat or 1h 25min by yacht. Recommended stay: half day, full day.

The town at the inner entrance to the archipelago, with Vaxholm Fortress, a lively harbour front and a guest harbour.

Aerial view of Vaxholm Fortress on its island, with the town of Vaxholm behind it in the Stockholm archipelago

Vaxholm, also spelled Waxholm, is the town on the island of Vaxön at the narrow inner entrance to Stockholm through the archipelago, and the main town of Vaxholm municipality. The area was settled long before the town. Destination Vaxholm says there were Viking Age villages on Bogesundslandet, Rindö and Resarö, that Vaxön began to be settled in the late 13th century, and that Vaxholm received its town charter in 1647. The town grew up on Vaxön, opposite the fortress. In 1548 Gustav Vasa ordered a new and stronger fortress at Vaxholmen and had the Oxdjupet strait blocked with stones, which forced shipping to take the narrow route past Vaxholm. The fortress turned back a Danish attack in 1612 and Russian forces in 1719, which is why the municipality's guide to the fortifications calls Vaxholm "Stockholm's lock". The present citadel, Kastellet, was built in 1833–1863 in granite. Stockholms läns museum describes walls more than two metres thick, barracks for over a thousand men and an armament of 156 cannons. A test firing in 1872 showed that the walls could no longer withstand modern guns, and the defence moved to the Oscar-Fredriksborg fort at Oxdjupet. Today Kastellet houses Vaxholm Fortress Museum, which moved there in 1964 and shows the fortress as it looked in 1854, as well as a restaurant and conference venue run by Strömma. A cable ferry runs to Kastellet from Strandgatan in the town centre, and Waxholmsbolaget serves Kastellet all year. From the late 1860s and well into the 20th century, Vaxholm was a popular seaside resort. Destination Vaxholm describes cold and hot bathhouses and summer guests from Stockholm who came for the fresh air. Today the harbour front has restaurants, cafés and shops, and the town has a guest harbour. Waxholmsbolaget's boats from Strömkajen take about an hour, and SL bus 670 from Tekniska högskolan takes about 50 minutes. Vaxholm is also a stop on Strömma's Cinderella boats from Strandvägen to Grinda. From Strandvägen, the distance to Vaxholm is about 11 nautical miles, according to Båtturistguiden's distance table. Cruise time is about 45 minutes at 15 knots in a motorboat and about 1h 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 45 minutes, yacht 1h 25min

Waxholm at a glance

TypeIsland
Travel time by motorboat45 minutes from Strandvägen
Travel time by yacht1h 25min from Strandvägen
Distanceabout 11 nautical miles from Strandvägen
Best time to visitJune-August
Recommended stayHalf day, Full day
AmenitiesToilet, Restaurant, Seating, Parking, Café, Drinking water, Shower, Trash bins, Wheelchair access, ATM, Shop, Bus stop, Wi-Fi, Fuel, Pet friendly, Baby changing, Guest Harbor
Coordinates59.4024, 18.3540

Where to dock at Waxholm

Waxholm has a guest harbour.

Pictures from Waxholm

Colourful wooden houses and sailboats along the rocky shore in VaxholmCinnamon buns and pastries with small Swedish flags in a café display in VaxholmYellow and red wooden houses by the water in Vaxholm at golden hourA white passenger boat passing the stone walls of Vaxholm FortressThe waterfront hotel and promenade in Vaxholm, with Swedish flags flyingVaxholm Fortress from above, with the town of Vaxholm across the strait

Go to Vaxholm 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

Is it Vaxholm or Waxholm?

Both spellings are used. The town and municipality are officially Vaxholm, and the W spelling survives in names such as Waxholmsbolaget, the company that runs the archipelago boats.

How long does it take to reach Vaxholm by boat?

From Strandvägen the distance is about 11 nautical miles: about 45 minutes at 15 knots in a motorboat and about 1h 25min at 8 knots in a yacht. Those are estimates, and speed limits apply in the sounds around Vaxholm.

What is Vaxholm Fortress?

Gustav Vasa began the fortress in 1548 to guard the entrance to Stockholm. It turned back attacks in 1612 and 1719. The present citadel, Kastellet, was built in 1833–1863 and now houses Vaxholm Fortress Museum, a restaurant and a conference venue.

How do you get to Kastellet?

A cable ferry runs to Kastellet from Strandgatan in central Vaxholm, and Waxholmsbolaget serves Kastellet by boat all year.

Can you get to Vaxholm without a private boat?

Yes. Waxholmsbolaget's boats from Strömkajen take about an hour, SL bus 670 from Tekniska högskolan takes about 50 minutes, and Strömma's Cinderella boats stop at Vaxholm on the way from Strandvägen to Grinda.

When is the best time to visit Vaxholm?

The best time to visit by boat is June to August, when the harbour front is at its liveliest. Vaxholm is a town with year-round services, so it also works outside the summer season.

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.

About us · Stockholm By Boat home

Visit Waxholm by private boat

Book a private motorboat charter or a yacht charter, request a quote, or browse all destinations.