Stockholm archipelago ferry operators: who runs what?
Waxholmsbolaget runs all year and serves 299 piers in summer, Strömma's Cinderella boats leave from Strandvägen from 30 April to 27 September 2026, and SL's commuter boats, routes 80 and 89, serve the inner archipelago and Lake Mälaren.
Taking a boat to the archipelago from Stockholm is easy once you know which operator suits your route, budget and timing. Archipelago traffic is split between tax-funded public transport, commuter boats and commercial fast tourist boats.

Waxholmsbolaget: the regional backbone, all year
Waxholmsbolaget has served the Stockholm archipelago every single day, all year, since 1869.
Northern archipelago 365 days a yearSouthern archipelago
299 piers in summer
- Coverage: In summer, Waxholmsbolaget serves 299 piers, from the northern to the southern archipelago.
- SL ticket: Between 44 piers – from Strömkajen in the city centre to Vaxholm and the surrounding area – all types of SL ticket are valid all year. Further out, you need to top up with a Waxholmsbolaget ticket.
- Booking: No seat reservations – boarding is first come, first served.
- Profile: Scheduled public transport to both larger islands and small piers.

Strömma & the Cinderella boats: the commercial fast lane
Strömma Kanalbolaget runs commercial routes with the Cinderella boats as well as several classic excursion ships.
- Strandvägen
- Nacka Strand
- Gåshaga
- Vaxholm
- Grinda
- Gällnö
- Eknö
- Telegrafholmen
- Sandhamn
- Focus: Fast trips from Strandvägen (berth 14) to Vaxholm, Grinda, Gällnö and Sandhamn. The 2026 season runs from 30 April to 27 September.
- Comfort and service: The ticket guarantees you a place on board but not a specific seat – on fully booked departures you may have to stand for part of the trip. There's a cafeteria and bar on board.
- Travel time: The trip to Sandhamn takes about 2 hr 30 min. You choose your boarding and landing piers when you book.

SL commuter boats: routes 80 and 89 in the inner archipelago
The regional public transport company SL links the city centre with the inner archipelago islands via scheduled commuter boats.
- Nybroplan
- Allmänna gränd
- Saltsjöqvarn
- Finnboda hamn
- Kvarnholmen
- Blockhusudden
- Nacka strand
- Lidingö/Dalénum
- Frihamnen
- Ropsten
- Klara Mälarstrand
- Lilla Essingen
- Ekensberg
- Kungshättan
- Tappström (Ekerö)
- 80Route 80: Perfect for shorter trips and commuting.
Other operators: Blidösundsbolaget, Roslagens Sjötrafik and water taxis
Besides the main operators, there are more shipping companies:
Blidösundsbolaget
s/s Blidösund
Operates services under contract for Waxholmsbolaget, among others, and in summer runs music cruises on the steamship s/s Blidösund from Skeppsbron.
Water taxis
Private water taxi companies can take you to piers and at times outside the regular timetable. Price and availability vary.
Is the SL card valid on the Stockholm archipelago ferries?
All SL tickets are valid on commuter boats 80 and 89 and on Waxholmsbolaget's boats between 44 piers from Strömkajen to Vaxholm and the surrounding area. From 14 September to 29 April, SL period tickets of 30 days or more are valid on all Waxholmsbolaget services – but never on Strömma's boats.
Understanding the ticket system on the water can be confusing. Below you'll see exactly where your regular SL card is valid, when you need to buy an extra ticket and which boat passes are best value for your trip.
High season30 April–13 September
Low season14 September–29 April
Schematic – not a map. Waxholmsbolaget lists which piers are in the SL area.
Example: Strömkajen → Grinda in July
- Strömkajen → VaxholmAn SL ticket is enough
- Vaxholm → GrindaTop up with a Waxholmsbolaget ticket
SL tickets fully valid on the commuter boats
On the scheduled commuter boat routes you travel on exactly the same terms as on the metro or the bus. Just tap your regular SL card or single ticket:
- 80Route 80 (Nybroplan – Nacka strand – Lidingö/Dalénum – Frihamnen – Ropsten): Perfect for quick trips in the city and out towards Lidingö.
- 89Route 89 (Klara Mälarstrand – Tappström): For trips west on Lake Mälaren.
Waxholmsbolaget: all SL tickets valid between 44 piers
Between Strömkajen in the city centre and Vaxholm and the surrounding area, all types of SL ticket are valid all year on Waxholmsbolaget's boats.
- Area: From Strömkajen to Vaxholm and the surrounding area – Ytterby brygga furthest north and Ålstäket furthest east.
- Further out: If you're going to Grinda, for example, you travel on an SL ticket to Vaxholm and top up with a Waxholmsbolaget ticket for the rest of the way.
- Exception: SL tickets aren't valid on the boats to the southern archipelago via Baggensstäket (routes 17, 18 and 19), for example to Utö and Nämdö.
Waxholmsbolaget: low-season rules for 30-day SL cards
Outside the SL area, regular SL tickets aren't valid. In the low season, however, you can travel on all Waxholmsbolaget services with the right period ticket.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The low season, 14 September–29 April, is marked in green.
- Period: 14 September–29 April.
- Requirement: An SL period ticket valid for 30 days or more – a 30-day, 90-day or annual ticket.
- Exception: SL tickets valid for less than 30 days only work within the SL area.
- On board: Tap your SL card or app ticket and you get a paper ticket, which you hand to the crew when you get off.
Strömma and Cinderella: no SL integration
Commercial operators such as Strömma Kanalbolaget and the Cinderella boats run entirely separate ticket systems:
- Their own ticket: You buy your ticket from Strömma. The SL area covers Waxholmsbolaget's boats – the Cinderella boats aren't included.
- Price per route: You choose your boarding and landing piers when you book. Adults from SEK 190, children aged 0–5 free and 6–15 half price (2026 season).
Smarter island hopping with dedicated boat passes
If you're planning several stops over a few days, single tickets are rarely good value. These period passes are recommended:
| Pass | Validity | Adult price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waxholmsbolaget 5-day ticket“Båtluffarbiljetten, the island-hopping ticket” | 5 days from the first trip | SEK 595 | Unlimited travel on all Waxholmsbolaget services |
| Waxholmsbolaget 30-day ticket | 30 days from the first trip | SEK 530 | Temporarily half price until 1 December 2026 (reduced price SEK 325) |
| SL 30-day ticket | 30 days | Price being checked | Valid on all Waxholmsbolaget services 14 September–29 April. 90-day and annual tickets are also valid. |
| Strömma Cinderellaklippet | 10 trips of your choice | from SEK 2,195 | Between any piers you like on the route |
| Strömma Season card | The whole season, personal | from SEK 4,930 | Unlimited travel on M/S Cinderella II |
Where the ferries leave from: choosing the right quay
To Sandhamn, the Cinderella boat from Strandvägen takes about 2 hr 30 min and Waxholmsbolaget's direct boat from Strömkajen about 3 hr 45 min (weekends only, 19 June–16 August). Via bus 433 to Stavsnäs, about 50 minutes, and a boat of just over an hour, it takes around 2 hours.
Choosing the right departure pier decides how smooth the trip will be. If you're taking a boat to the archipelago from Stockholm, there are two main strategies: board directly in the city centre for a relaxed, scenic trip, or take the bus out to an archipelago harbour on the mainland to cut several hours off the time on the water.
To Sandhamn: three waysScale 0–4 hours
Waiting time when changing at Stavsnäs isn't included. Times according to Waxholmsbolaget (timetables 15A and 16A), Strömma and SL route 433, 2026.
Strategy 1 · Board in the city centre
Strömkajen and Nybrokajen: the central quays in the city
For trips starting directly from the city centre, there are two quays to know:
Strömkajenby the Grand Hôtel
- Metro: Kungsträdgården
VaxholmGrindaSvartsöFinnhamnSandhamn (summer)
The main terminal for Waxholmsbolaget's scheduled services. The boat to Vaxholm takes about an hour and to Grinda an hour and a half.
Nybrokajen and Strandvägen
- Tram and bus: Nybroplan
VaxholmGrindaGällnöSandhamn
Strömma's excursion boats leave from Nybrokajen and Strandvägen. The Cinderella boats leave from Strandvägen, berth 14, and take about 2 hr 30 min to Sandhamn.
Strategy 2 · Bus to an archipelago harbour
- 626Åsättra brygga
- 670Vaxholm
- 433Stavsnäs vinterhamn
- Commuter train + 839Dalarö
Stavsnäs vinterhamn: the fastest way to the outer archipelago
If you want to reach the outer islands of the middle and southern archipelago, it's worth skipping the city-centre boats and travelling via Stavsnäs vinterhamn on Värmdö instead.
Stavsnäs vinterhamnVärmdö
- SL bus 433: from Slussen, about 50 minutes
- SL bus 434: stops here on some departures
SandhamnRunmaröNämdöHarö
Served by Waxholmsbolaget all year. The boat trip to Sandhamn takes just over an hour.
Åsättra, Dalarö and Vaxholm: strategic hubs
Depending on which part of the archipelago you're heading for, the mainland harbours are often the most time-efficient choice:
Vaxholm
- SL bus 670: from Tekniska högskolan, about 30–40 minutes from there
Waxholmsbolaget's boats to Grinda, among other places, go via Vaxholm.
Åsättra bryggaLjusterö
- SL bus 626: via Åkersberga station and the car ferry to Ljusterö
Norra SvartsöNorra IngmarsöHusaröFinnhamnMöja
The key harbour for the northern archipelago.
DalaröHotellbryggan
- Commuter train: to Handen
- SL bus 839: on to Hotellbryggan in Dalarö
KymmendöOrnöFjärdlångUtö
The gateway to the southern archipelago. The most frequent Utö services, however, leave from Årsta brygga.
Archipelago ferry tickets, prices and boarding
A Waxholmsbolaget adult single costs SEK 61–186 depending on distance and is valid for 180 minutes, and the Cinderella boats cost from SEK 190. The boats don't take cash.
Getting to grips with tickets and pier rules in the Stockholm archipelago is easy once you know the difference between scheduled public transport on the water and commercial fast boats. Here's how to pay the right price and make sure the boat actually stops at your pier.
Zone fares vs. fixed prices
What a boat ticket to the archipelago costs depends entirely on which operator you travel with and how far out you're going:
Adult single ticket, Waxholmsbolaget 2026. You'll see which fare level your trip has when you search for it.
Easy payment: the SL app, card payment on board and ticket kiosks
The archipelago boats don't take cash – you pay by card or with your phone.
How to travel on an app ticket
- 1Search the tripSee which fare level applies
- 2Buy in the SL appCard or Swish
- 3Tap on boardThe ticket reader prints a paper ticket
- 4Hand in the ticketTo the deckhand when you get off
- The SL app: Waxholmsbolaget's own app closed in spring 2025. You now buy single tickets in the SL app and pay by card or Swish.
- Card on board: On Waxholmsbolaget's boats you can buy a single or return ticket with Visa or Mastercard.
- Strömma: Book online with a card, Swish or Apple Pay. On many sailings you can also buy a ticket at the kiosk at the departure point or on board, if there's room.
- Waiting rooms: The waiting rooms in Vaxholm and Stavsnäs are open when boats are running, but they aren't staffed.
Raising the semaphore: how to signal the boat at the pier
A crucial detail if you're taking a ferry in the Stockholm archipelago from smaller islands is that many piers are request stops (signalbryggor). The boat doesn't stop unless someone is getting off or someone has signalled from the shore.
- Say where you're getting off: Tell the crew on board which pier you're going to – otherwise the boat may pass it.
- Book in advance: Some departures from smaller islands only run if someone has booked the trip. It says so in the timetable.
The trip step by step
Step 1
Before the trip
- Search the trip and see which fare level applies
- Buy the Waxholmsbolaget ticket in the SL app
- Strömma: book online
Step 2
On the pier
- Check whether the sailing has to be booked in advance
- Raise the semaphore towards the boat
- In the dark: signal with a torch
Step 3
On board
- Fold the semaphore down when you board
- Tap your ticket and take the paper ticket
- Tell the crew where you're getting off
Step 4
Getting off
- Hand the paper ticket to the deckhand
Practical tips: bikes, dogs and pushchairs on the archipelago ferries
On Waxholmsbolaget, an ordinary bike travels free if there's room, cargo bikes and tandems count as freight at SEK 120, and pushchairs are free with a child under 7 – otherwise SEK 65.
When you board a ferry to the Stockholm archipelago, the size of the ship and its safety requirements decide what you can bring. Keep the following rules in mind to avoid problems at the gangway.
Bikes on the archipelago boat: fees and limited space
Space for bikes is limited, and the deck crew always has the final say on safety on board.
| Waxholmsbolaget | SL commuter boat | The Cinderella boats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular bike | Free | Free | Fee on board |
| E-bike | Outdoors on deck | On deck – otherwise the battery in the container | Not allowed |
| Cargo bike, tandem | SEK 120 (freight) | No information | Not allowed |
| Bike trailer | SEK 120 | No information | No information |
The crew on board decides whether there's room and can refuse. According to Waxholmsbolaget, SL and Strömma, September 2026.
Bike hire is available on some islands – check the destination's own page.
- Waxholmsbolaget: A regular bike travels at no extra cost, if there's room. If it's full, the bike stays on the pier.
- SL commuter boat (routes 80 and 89): Bikes are taken at no extra cost if there's room. The crew may direct you to a later departure.
- The Cinderella boats: Bikes if there's room, for a fee paid on board. The bike is hung over the rail.
- E-bikes: Placed outdoors on deck with Waxholmsbolaget and SL. If there's no room there on the commuter boat, you take out the battery and put it in the container on deck. The Cinderella boats don't take e-bikes.
- Cargo bikes, tandems and bike trailers: Count as freight with Waxholmsbolaget and cost SEK 120. The Cinderella boats don't take cargo bikes.
Dogs on the archipelago boat: rules and designated areas
Dogs and other pets are welcome and travel free on the regular archipelago services.
- On a leadThe dog must be kept on a lead on board. Smaller pets travel in a bag or cage.
- Designated areasSigns on board show where there are seats for passengers travelling with pets. Most of Waxholmsbolaget's ships also have a pet-free area for people with allergies.
- The Cinderella boatsPets are allowed, but not in the cafeteria – sit outdoors or in the designated area.
- Guide dogsGuide and assistance dogs may sit with their handler outside the pet areas too.
Pushchairs and wheelchairs: accessibility when boarding
Pushchairs
SEK 0with a child under 7
SEK 65without a child or with an older child (Waxholmsbolaget)
- Pushchair area: Park the pushchair in the pushchair area or wherever the crew shows you. On the Cinderella boats the pushchair is left at the entrance, and a foldable one is preferable.
Wheelchairs
- The gangway: You board and leave via a gangway. At low water it can slope steeply.
- Different ships: Accessibility varies: Waxholm I has wheelchair spaces, while Storskär has no lift and a steep staircase down to the cafeteria. The journey planner shows which ship is running, and Waxholmsbolaget describes each ship.
- Cinderella II: The main deck is wheelchair-accessible, with a wide gangway, level thresholds and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. With a replacement boat it may be different.
- Check before you travel: The ship in the timetable can be swapped at short notice – call customer service on +46 8 600 10 00 if accessibility is crucial.
Help and assistance
Accessibility line 020 120 20 22. With a mobility service card (färdtjänst) from Region Stockholm, you and a companion travel free. Assistance between the boat and SL services must be booked at least an hour in advance, including at Strömkajen, Stavsnäs and Dalarö.
Frequently asked questions
4 questions

01Can you buy a boat ticket on board?
Yes, on Waxholmsbolaget's boats you can always buy a single ticket on board. Payment: Visa or Mastercard – the boats don't take cash. You can also buy the ticket in the SL app and tap it on board. Strömma and the Cinderella boats: Book online in high season to get a place on board. On many sailings you can also buy a ticket on site or on board if there's room, but if a departure sells out online, no tickets are sold on board.
02Which islands can you reach on a regular SL ticket?
With a regular SL ticket – including a single ticket and a 24- or 72-hour ticket – you can travel on: Route 80: Nybroplan–Nacka strand–Lidingö/Dalénum–Frihamnen–Ropsten. Route 89: Klara Mälarstrand–Lilla Essingen–Ekensberg–Kungshättan–Tappström (Ekerö). Boarding at Kungshättan is booked by text message. Waxholmsbolaget within the SL area: All SL tickets are valid all year between 44 piers from Strömkajen to Vaxholm and the surrounding area. SL tickets valid for 30 days or more: Valid on all Waxholmsbolaget services in the low season, 14 September–29 April.
03What is the fastest boat route to Sandhamn?
The fastest way combines bus and boat via Värmdö:
- Bus 433 from Slussen to Stavsnäs vinterhamn (about 50 minutes).
- Waxholmsbolaget's boat from Stavsnäs to Sandhamn (just over an hour).
- Total travel time: About 2 hours, all year, not counting waiting time at the change.
If you want to go direct from the city centre without changing, the Cinderella boats from Strandvägen are fastest, about 2 hours 30 minutes (30 April–27 September). Waxholmsbolaget's direct boat from Strömkajen only runs at summer weekends and takes almost four hours.
04Do the archipelago boats run every day in winter?
Yes, Waxholmsbolaget has served the archipelago every single day, all year round, since 1869. How often boats run differs between the seasons – the timetables change four times a year and some routes only run for part of the year. Ice: When the ice sets in, regular services can't run to some islands and piers. Waxholmsbolaget then arranges special replacement services, for example with hovercraft, and the replacement vessels often have room for fewer passengers. Current service information is under Trafikläget on waxholmsbolaget.se and in the SL app.
Sources
Details checked against these sources in September 2026.
The facts on this page are based on these sources. Under each one you can see which details we took from it. Opening times, prices and departures change – always check with the source before you go.
- Blidösundsbolaget: About us and music cruisescontract operator for Waxholmsbolaget; s/s Blidösund from Skeppsbron in summer
- SL: The SL ticket is valid to Vaxholm from 30 April – all year · in Swedishpress release 2025-04-25
- SL timetable commuter boat 80 Nybroplan–Ropsten · in Swedishvalid 17 August–12 December 2026
- SL timetable commuter boat 89 Klara Mälarstrand–Tappström · in Swedishvalid 17 August–12 December 2026
- Strömma: FAQ about the Cinderella boatsdeparture point, piers, 2026 season, seats
- Strömma: The Cinderella boats – travel times and prices
- Strömma: Season cards & discount cards on the Cinderella boats
- Waxholmsbolaget: All SL tickets are valid between 44 piers · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget: Low season – some SL tickets valid on all services 14 September–29 April · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget: 5-day ticket · in Swedishisland-hopping ticket
- Waxholmsbolaget: 30-day ticket · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget: Single ticket 180 minutes · in Swedishfare levels
- SL timetable bus 433 Slussen–Djurö · in Swedishvalid 17 August–12 December 2026
- SL timetable bus 434 Slussen–Överby · in Swedishvalid 17 August–12 December 2026
- SL timetable bus 839 Rudsjöterrassen–Dalarö · in Swedishvalid 17 August–12 December 2026
- SL timetable bus 626 Danderyds sjukhus–Ljusterö · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget route timetables · in Swedish10A Åsättra, 11A–13A Stockholm, 16A/17A/23A Stavsnäs, 19A/20A Dalarö
- Waxholmsbolaget timetable 15A Stockholm–Vaxholm–Sandhamn · in Swedishsummer 19 June–16 August 2026
- Waxholmsbolaget: Destinations Sandhamn, Utö, Grinda, Vaxholm · in Swedish
- Strömma: Day trips – departing from Strandvägen and Nybrokajen
- Waxholmsbolaget: Buy your ticket in the SL app and travel with Waxholmsbolaget · in Swedishapp discontinued spring 2025
- Waxholmsbolaget: Tickets and prices · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget: Before and during your trip · in Swedishseat booking, waiting rooms, telling the crew
- Waxholmsbolaget: Remember the semaphore · in Swedish
- Strömma: FAQ · in Swedishpayment, ticket kiosk, buying on site
- Waxholmsbolaget: What you can bring on the boat · in Swedishbikes, pushchairs, animals
- Waxholmsbolaget: Accessibility on board · in Swedish
- Waxholmsbolaget: The ships' accessibility · in Swedishincluding Waxholm I, Storskär
- Waxholmsbolaget: Assistance · in Swedish
- SL: Bikes on board · in Swedishcommuter boats
- Waxholmsbolaget: About us · in Swedishservices every single day, all year, since 1869; 299 piers in summer, from the northern to the southern archipelago
- Waxholmsbolaget: Service updates · in SwedishTrafikläget
- Waxholmsbolaget press release: The water is starting to freeze in the Baltic · in Swedishreplacement services in ice, 2021
- Waxholmsbolaget: Our service contractors · in Swedishincluding hovercraft services
