Vaxholm Travel Guide

  Vaxholm
by DSwede
 
  • Vaxholm
      Vaxholm
    by DSwede
  • Old Homestead Museum
      Old Homestead Museum
    by DSwede
  • Vaxholm's Old Battery
      Vaxholm's Old Battery
    by DSwede
  • Waxholms Choklad
      Waxholms Choklad
    by DSwede
  •   Vaxholm
    by ImageBankSweden
 

Pro

Thoomuch profile photo

  Fantastic place in summertime 


Con

Thoomuch profile photo

  So near a big city and still you dont have that feeling 


In a nutshell

Thoomuch profile photo

  A bit of "old" Sweden in a nutshell that still is here... 

 

Explore Vaxholm

Things to Do  

The old fortifications and battery

The old fortifications and battery, Vaxholm

 DSwede Says:  Vaxholm was still a military installation until 2006, when the military pulled out for good.There were a few small artillery batteries and bunkers protecting the northern slope of the island, where invading forces would first come into sight. Now, the storage bunkers are... 

Old Homestead Museum

Old Homestead Museum, Vaxholm

 DSwede Says:  The old town of Vaxholm was originally a humble fishing community. There were seven boats of fishermen that worked out of the protected north harbor. They sold most of their catch to the big city, not the local town, but that and more details can be learned at the museum.The... 

Old Vaxholm

Old Vaxholm, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  Just stroll around the old wooden part of Vaxholm. Let yourself get lost meandering up and down alleys full of lovely cottages. Very romantic on a sunny evening...or winter's day. 

Bogesund Castle

Bogesund Castle, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  As the Stockholm region is so full of castles, not least along Lake Mälaren, I have a hard time visiting them all in the short summer season and Bogesund is still on my to do list. Having said that, it is such a cool building that I think it shall have to be prioritised... 

Town Hall

Town Hall, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  The lovely town hall today doubles as the tourist office with lots of brochures and other assistance as well as information about the rest of Sweden and a souvenir corner. To be ctd. 

Vaxholm Fortress

Vaxholm Fortress, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  Vaxholm with its position en route to Stockholm meant it was perfect when it was decided to build a fortress in the archipelago to defend the capital. In 1549 the first structure was built on the little island outside Vaxholm, initiated by King Gustav Vasa. Later it was... 

Restaurants  

Restorante Portobello: Decent Italian, but touristy feel

Restorante Portobello: Decent Italian, but touristy feel, Vaxholm

 DSwede Says:  The main waterfront of Vaxholm has a few restaurant options. We passed by the larger ones near the hotel and opted for the slightly smaller, less trendy Restaurant Portobello.There are about 10 tables inside and maybe 10 tables outside on the patio. The patio does have a... 

Waxholms Choklad: Good homemade chocolates

Waxholms Choklad: Good homemade chocolates, Vaxholm

 DSwede Says:  This is a rather small shop, catering their homemade chocolates and sweets to anyone with a sweet tooth. Prices vary depending on the selection and are either per piece or per kilo, depending. A variety of ~10 pieces may cost 70Nok. The truffles are very good, with options... 

various: Baltic herring

various: Baltic herring, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  You will soon see that herring is a major thing on Vaxholm menus, whether served from a cheap kiosk or at an expensive restaurant with proper lingonberry jam in the harbour. I won't recommend the place where I had this one as it was far from the best I have had but there is... 

Nightlife  

Badholmen: VT island!

Badholmen: VT island!, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  A whole island just for us! Yes, this is the one - let me know if you fancy a Euromeet or so :))) You can rent the place for up to 220 people, but it is also open to anyone on Fridays and Saturdays in July when a boat takes you there from Vaxholm at 18.30 or 19.30 if you... 

Transportation  

Vaxholmsbåtarna.

Vaxholmsbåtarna., Vaxholm

 Dizzyhead Says:

Getting to Vaxholm without the ferry

Getting to Vaxholm without the ferry, Vaxholm

 DSwede Says:  We opted to take the ferry only one way between Stockholm and Vaxholm. This was a disition based on the fact that we had already spent a lot of time on boats, seen numerous islands and wanted to save our money.The ferry is nice, but particularly for those on a budget, it can... 

By boat

By boat, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  You can get here by bus from Stockholm too but that would be cheating. Boat is the way to arrive in Vaxholm in style and it couldn't be simpler as it is along most commuter boat routes all year round and with a whole buch of extra departures summertime when Stockholmers go... 

swim or boat

swim or boat, Vaxholm

 Thoomuch Says:  to come to the fortress you have to go by boat......it takes about 10 minutes....if you dont want to swim ofcourse.. 

Local Customs  

Archipelago lifeline

Archipelago lifeline, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  The boats between Stockholm and the hundreds of islands do not carry just people but also goods. Vaxholm is one of the last points easily reached from the mainland, where locals and summer cottage owners alike can buy building material for their homes and get it delivered to... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Rindö

Rindö, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  Rindö is a 5 kilometre island visible from Vaxholm and where the yellow road ferries shuttle to all day long so you can even get here by bus from Vaxholm. That is unless you approach it from Värmdö east of Stockholm with its main road. On Rindö you find Oskar-Fredriksborg... 

Build to protect.......

Build to protect......., Vaxholm

 Thoomuch Says:  The fortress was built to protect the capital Stockholm from the Russian navy.......when it was finnished it was already to old fashioned to use for that........ 

Sports & Outdoors  

Go swimming

Go swimming, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  OK, the water temperature is not Mediterranean but we get heatwaves in Sweden too, and if nothing else, you can sunbathe on the warm cliffs right in the middle of Vaxholm and watch the world and several boats go by. There is even a tiny beach where kids like to play. Yep,... 

Favorites  

Hembygdsgården

Hembygdsgården, Vaxholm

 Sjalen Says:  Did you see my intro picture? Well that's one of the views you can have from the old Heritage house and cafe in town, right opposite picturesque Norrhamn. Either that, or you can sit in the back garden which overlooks Rindö and the other islands and where you have to be... 

For tourists

For tourists, Vaxholm

 Thoomuch Says:  http://www.visitvaxholm.se/index_2.aspists,for tourists, have a look at the webside (above) information in swedish, english and german. 

The Place

Plan a Vaxholm vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Vaxholm locals

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The People

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Our Members Say
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 The old fortress is now an holiday destination. There is an café, a spendid restaurant, sauna....and more...and ofcourse the absolute splendid wiew from every... 

2 members live in Vaxholm

 

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Top Vaxholm Writers

1

Vaxholm

Thoomuch profile photo

 Vaxholm is an pittoresque small town outside Stockholm on the seaside in the archipelago. It is famous for it´s beauty and for it´s castel/fortress that is situated on an island right outside the... 

2

Archipelago’s Gateway to the Capital

DSwede profile photo

 During the early 16th century, King Vasa ordered a military post be made at what is now Vaxholm in order to protect the water corridors leading to Stockholm. If you see the water charts, at that time,... 

3

Capital of the inner archipelago

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 Vaxholm is the only town in the inner Stockholm archipelago and therefore known as its capital. Because of its proximity to the capital itself, it is a popular place for daytrips, especially as it is... 

4

Vaxholm

Dizzyhead profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Vaxholm. I'd love to share with you the 1 tip I've written, the 0 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

5

Vaxholm in winter

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Vaxholm. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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