Vaxholm from Stockholm works as a day trip by boat or bus, with a harbour-town visit and the option to see Vaxholm Fortress Museum. The boat gives you an archipelago route, while bus 670 connects the city with Vaxholm by road.
- Distance: Vaxholm is listed as a 35 km day trip from Stockholm.
- Travel time: The bus journey is approximately 50 minutes; the supplied estimate for the trip from Stockholm is about 60 minutes.
- Boat service: Waxholmsbolaget operates year-round, with more frequent departures in peak season.
- Tickets: SL tickets are valid on boats between Strömkajen and Vaxholm, and can be bought in the SL app or aboard with a payment card.
From Hotel Bema, Vaxholm is a listed day-trip option with an approximately 60-minute travel estimate from Stockholm.
Compare boat and land routes to Vaxholm
You can reach Vaxholm by road or water, and the best fit depends on whether you want the journey itself to include an archipelago boat ride.
Boat from Strömkajen
Most Waxholmsbolaget services departing Stockholm’s Strömkajen pass via Vaxholm. The company runs boat services in the Stockholm archipelago year-round, and these services are part of the county’s public transport system. In summer, departures from Strömkajen are more frequent, with several each day.
On busy summer days, arrive well ahead of departure: seats cannot be booked. If you’re planning to take the boat out and return by bus, check the departure options for both legs before setting off.
Bus 670 from Östra Station
SL bus 670 runs from Östra Station, by Tekniska högskolan, to Vaxholm. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes, and Västerhamnsplan is the stop in Vaxholm identified by the Vaxholm Fortress Museum’s visitor information.
For the land route, you can connect with the bus at Östra Station. For help with getting around Stockholm before you leave, see this guide to Stockholm public transport. If Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is part of your itinerary, see the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport transfer guide.
Plan a walk around the town and harbour
Vaxholm’s harbour and town streets make a straightforward focus for your time in town, with the fortress museum as a separate visit to consider.
Start by orienting yourself around the waterfront, then leave time for a walk through the town. If the fortress is on your list, factor in the ferry crossing from Vaxholm Pier 7 to Kastellet as well as time at the museum; check the current operating details before building your day around it.
Vaxholm Fortress Museum presents the history of the archipelago’s defence over 500 years. Its subjects include naval mines, coastal rangers and civilians who lived at the fortress in the 1890s.
Displays cover the fortress as it was in 1854, a bombproof vault associated with the Crimean War, a commandant’s quarters, a mine battery and a World War II coastal-defence artillery post.
The historic building is not fully wheelchair accessible. Personal assistants or caregivers are admitted free, and dogs are allowed on the Citadel grounds but not inside the museum, except for service dogs.
Check ferry seasons, tickets and connections
SL tickets are valid year-round on Waxholmsbolaget boats between Strömkajen and Vaxholm, as well as nearby stops within the SL area, which includes 44 piers.
You can buy a Waxholmsbolaget ticket in the SL app or aboard with a payment card. Keep the paper ticket issued for your journey until you leave the boat. For a boat day trip, check the service information for your travel dates and allow extra time at the quay during busy summer periods.
The fortress and its ferry have their own operating details, so don’t assume that a boat ticket for the Stockholm route covers that crossing. For group visits, the museum accepts bookings year-round; a booked guided visit takes approximately 60 minutes.
Before you go: Check the official site before you go for current museum opening details, ferry connections and ticket information. Check Waxholmsbolaget for boat services and SL for public transport information.
Allow time for the return journey
Plan your return before you start exploring, especially if you intend to travel back by boat or visit Kastellet.
Choose your return mode early enough to check the relevant connection: Waxholmsbolaget boats run year-round, while bus 670 returns from Vaxholm to Stockholm. If you add the fortress ferry, confirm its service and the last crossing back to town separately, then leave room to reach your onward bus or boat.
For a boat-focused day, build the outing around the Strömkajen departure and return options. For a road-based visit, bus 670 gives you a direct connection between Östra Station and Vaxholm. You can also use one mode each way, provided the connections work for your plans.
FAQs
How do you get from Stockholm to Vaxholm?
Take a Waxholmsbolaget boat from Strömkajen or bus 670 from Östra Station, by Tekniska högskolan. Most Waxholmsbolaget services departing Strömkajen pass via Vaxholm.
Can you use an SL ticket on the boat to Vaxholm?
Yes. SL tickets are valid year-round on Waxholmsbolaget boats between Strömkajen and Vaxholm, along with nearby stops in the SL area.
How long is the bus journey to Vaxholm?
Bus 670 takes approximately 50 minutes from Östra Station to Vaxholm. Västerhamnsplan is the town stop identified in the museum’s visitor information.
Can you visit Vaxholm Fortress Museum with a wheelchair?
The museum is not fully wheelchair accessible because of its historic building. Personal assistants or caregivers are admitted free.