With its extensive coastline and shimmering lakes, Sweden offers some of Europe’s finest spots for a sunny boating holiday. When summer heat hits, both locals and tourists flock to the water to enjoy refreshing swims, delicious food, and the unique harbor atmosphere. For those out on a day trip by boat, it’s crucial to find the right harbor that offers excellent services, a lively ambiance, and convenient, secure docking options.
The 5 Best Harbors for a Sunny Day Trip:
- 1. Marstrand (West Coast): A sailing metropolis with hundreds of spots, day docks, fortress walks, and luxurious seafood restaurants.
- 2. Sandhamn (Stockholm Archipelago): A classic archipelago idyll with good day spots, sandy beaches, bakeries, and a famous inn.
- 3. Smögen (Bohuslän): The iconic wooden pier with its colorful boathouses, cliffside swimming, fish markets, and vibrant pier life.
- 4. Visby (Gotland): A state-of-the-art guest harbor protected by breakwaters, just outside the city walls with access to both sandy beaches and city life.
- 5. Kalmar (Småland): A central harbor in the Kalmar Strait with views of the Öland Bridge, perfect for combining boating with the castle and the city’s outdoor cafes.
Marstrand is the undisputed sailing metropolis of the West Coast, offering a fantastic blend of historical setting, luxurious restaurants, and sunny swimming cliffs. The harbor is one of Sweden’s largest and most visited guest harbors during the peak summer season, where you’re greeted by a bustling crowd as soon as you step ashore on the long wooden pier. There are hundreds of modern mooring spots with full services for both large and small vessels, and for day visitors, there are specially marked spots for short stays. Once ashore, you can easily walk up to Carlsten Fortress to enjoy the expansive sea views or wander along the beautiful trails around the island leading to fantastic, sun-warmed swims. Along the quay, outdoor cafes are plentiful, where you can enjoy fresh seafood in the blazing sun, and the harbor boasts top-notch facilities with access to electricity, fresh water, and waste disposal.
In Stockholm’s outer archipelago lies the legendary island of Sandhamn, attracting thousands of boat guests each year, with the Royal Swedish Yacht Club running the large and well-maintained marina adjacent to the village. The harbor is known for its lively atmosphere where elegant sailboats jostle with smaller motorboats. For those just stopping by for the day, there are good chances of finding a vacant spot at the outer docks, and harbor masters are often on hand to direct day visitors to the right place. From the boat, you’re just a stone’s throw from the famous, expansive sandy beaches at Trouville. The classic inn and cozy bakeries also offer perfect snacks and meals during your stop, making this the ultimate destination for a sunny day trip.
The iconic and colorful fishing village of Smögen offers a world-famous guest harbor where boating life is at the absolute center during the summer months. The several hundred meters long Smögen Pier is lined with picturesque boathouses, shops, and cafes, making it one of Sweden’s most photographed tourist destinations and a dream for all sun-seeking boat owners. The harbor can accommodate a huge number of boats, but it quickly fills up on warm July days, so it’s helpful to arrive early in the morning to find a good day spot. It’s very convenient to dock alongside or with a stern anchor, depending on the pier you choose. After docking, you can buy fresh shrimp directly from the fish market on the quay, and the fine swimming spots with their characteristic granite bathing ladders are just a short walk away, as the atmosphere on the pier on a clear blue summer day is hard to beat.
In the middle of the Baltic Sea lies Gotland, and Visby guest harbor is the perfect base for a sunny medieval holiday. The harbor is hugely popular and has been upgraded in recent years to maintain the highest standards, and here you are also sheltered behind sturdy breakwaters right outside the historic old town and city wall. For day visitors cruising along the Gotland coast, there are designated zones to dock. Once moored, you can easily roll out a bike or stroll straight into the cobblestone alleys and rose bushes. Right next to the harbor area are lovely sandy beaches and large, open grassy areas for sunbathing, and there is an enormous selection of ice cream parlors and restaurants just above the boat’s moorings where the service is excellent, with access to everything a boat owner might need during their short stop.
Kalmar has been voted Sweden’s best summer city several times, and the central guest harbor places you right in the heart of the action. The harbor is strategically located in the Kalmar Strait with a beautiful view of the Öland Bridge and the sea, and the central location means you can moor your boat right in the city within easy walking distance of everything. For day guests, the harbor is very welcoming with clear signage and wide, stable piers that make it easy to maneuver in the basin even if you have a slightly larger family boat. Just a stone’s throw away rises the magnificent Kalmar Castle, which is a perfect day trip destination. The city offers fantastic opportunities for shopping, museum visits, and sunbathing on the city-close beaches, and after a wonderful day on the sea, you can sit down at one of the harbor’s many pleasant outdoor cafes, as Kalmar guest harbor truly combines the best of vibrant city life and relaxed archipelago life.
Here you find a mix of city-close marinas and genuine archipelago gems.
| Harbor / Marina | Type | Address | Harbor Fee (Approx. per day) | Website |
| Wasahamnen | City/Guest Harbor | Djurgårdsvägen 30, Sthlm | 450 kr | wasahamnen.se |
| Bullandö Marina | Full Service | Bullandö, Värmdö | 400 kr | bullandomarina.se |
| Sandhamns Gästhamn | Classic | Sandhamn | 600 kr | sandhamn.se |
| Nacka Strand Marina | City Close | Nacka Strand | 350 kr | nackastrandmarina.se |
| Vaxholms Gästhamn | Archipelago Town | Hamngatan, Vaxholm | 380 kr | vaxholmsgasthamn.se |
| KSSS Saltsjöbaden | Historic/Club | Hotellvägen, Saltsjöbaden | 420 kr | ksss.se |
| Grinda Gästhamn | Nature/Entertainment | Grinda | 350 kr | grinda.se |
| Fjäderholmarna | City Close Island | Stora Fjäderholmen | 300 kr | fjaderholmarna.se |
| Nynäshamns Gästhamn | Sea Close | Fiskargränd, Nynäshamn | 320 kr | nynashamn.se |
| Dyvik Marina | Full Service | Åkersberga | 350 kr | dyvik.se |
| Sune Carlsson Båtvarv | Historic | Saltsjöbaden | 450 kr | sunecarlssonbatvarv.se |
| Ingarö Varv | Service | Ingarö | 300 kr | ingarovarv.se |
| Dalarö Gästhamn | Historic | Hotellbryggan, Dalarö | 330 kr | dalaro.se |
| Utö Gästhamn | Holiday Gem | Gruvbryggan, Utö | 450 kr | uto.se |
| Pamaps Marina | City/Accommodation | Karlbergs strand, Solna | 400 kr | pampas.se |
| Lidingövarvet | Full Service | Islinge Hamnväg, Lidingö | 380 kr | lidingovarvet.se |
| Navishamn | City/Club | Djurgården, Sthlm | 350 kr | navis.se |
| Svinninge Marina | Large/Service | Åkersberga | 320 kr | svinningemarina.se |
| Stocksunds Marina | Villa Town | Stocksund | 300 kr | stocksundsmarina.se |
| Gustavsbergs Gästhamn | Culture/Porcelain | Gustavsberg | 280 kr | gustavsberg.se |
| Saltsjö-Duvnäs Marina | Private | Saltsjö-Duvnäs | 350 kr | sdmarina.se |
| Gåshaga Marina | Modern | Lidingö | 400 kr | gashagamarina.se |
| Linanäs Gästhamn | Ljusterö | Linanäs | 300 kr | linanas.se |
| Möja (Berg) | Genuine | Berg, Möja | 250 kr | moja.se |
| Biskopsö | Nature Harbor | Biskopsö | 150 kr | skargardsstiftelsen.se |
| Rindö Marina | Industrial Chic | Rindö, Vaxholm | 300 kr | rindomarina.se |
| Huvudsta Marina | City Close | Solna | 250 kr | huvudstamarina.se |
| Bergshamra Marina | Roslagen | Bergshamra | 280 kr | bergshamramarina.se |
| Norrtälje Gästhamn | City Harbor | Norrtälje Hamn | 300 kr | norrtalje.se |
| Arholma Nord | Outpost | Arholma | 250 kr | arholmanord.se |
| Rånö Gästhamn | Calm | Rånö | 280 kr | rano.se |
| Finnhamn | Nature/Activity | Finnhamn | 320 kr | finnhamn.se |
| Svartsö Gästhamn | Living Island | Alsvik, Svartsö | 300 kr | svartso.se |
| Sandhamn Telegraf | Calmer City | Sandhamn | 500 kr | sandhamn.se |
| Hundudden | Djurgården | Djurgårdsbrunn, Sthlm | 350 kr | hundudden.com |
| Breviks Marina | Lidingö | Brevik | 300 kr | breviksmarina.se |
| Morarna (Gålö) | Nature | Gålö | 200 kr | morarna.se |
| Tyresö Marina | Lake Close | Tyresö-Strand | 280 kr | tyresomarina.se |
| Karlslunds Marina | Southern Suburb | Haninge | 300 kr | karlslundsmarina.se |
| Stora fjäderholmen | City/Food | Fjäderholmarna | 300 kr | fjaderholmarna.se |
Gothenburg (30 harbors)
The West Coast harbors offer cliffs, saltwater, and fantastic fish restaurants.
| Harbor / Marina | Type | Address | Harbor Fee (Approx. per day) | Website |
| Lilla Bommen | City/Guest Harbor | Gothenburg City | 450 kr | grefab.se |
| Långedrags Marina | Classic | Talattagatan, Gbg | 400 kr | grefab.se |
| GKSS Långedrag | Club/Sailing | Talattagatan, Gbg | 420 kr | gkss.se |
| Hönö Klåva | Archipelago Town | Klåva Hamnväg | 350 kr | hono.se |
| Marstrands Gästhamn | Elite/Event | Marstrand | 650 kr | marstrand.se |
| Björlanda Kile | Giant Marina | Hisingen, Gbg | 300 kr | grefab.se |
| Hinsholmskilen | Southern Suburb | Hinsholmen, Gbg | 320 kr | grefab.se |
| Torslanda Lagun | Calm | Torslanda | 280 kr | torslandalagun.se |
| Öckerö Hamn | Fishing/Tradition | Öckerö | 300 kr | ockero.se |
| Fotö Gästhamn | Cozy | Fotö | 250 kr | foto.se |
| Styrsö Bratten | Seaside Town | Styrsö | 350 kr | styrso.se |
| Vrångö Hamn | Archipelago Feel | Vrångö | 320 kr | vrango.se |
| Källö-Knippla | Genuine Island | Knippla | 280 kr | knippla.se |
| Rörö Hamn | Nature Reserve | Rörö | 300 kr | roro.se |
| Eriksbergstorget | City/Residential | Eriksberg, Gbg | 380 kr | grefab.se |
| Sannegårdshamnen | City/Calm | Hisingen, Gbg | 350 kr | grefab.se |
| Saltholmens Marina | Hub | Saltholmen, Gbg | 400 kr | grefab.se |
| Hovås Marina | Exclusive | Hovås, Gbg | 450 kr | hovasmarina.se |
| Björkö Gästhamn | Living Island | Björkö | 300 kr | bjorko.se |
| Donsö Hamn | Shipowner Island | Donsö | 350 kr | donso.se |
| Halsvik (Styrsö) | Nature | Styrsö | 200 kr | styrso.se |
| Fiskebäcks Marina | Fishing/Service | Fiskebäck | 300 kr | grefab.se |
| Lilla Varholmen | Ferry Close | Hisingen | 250 kr | grefab.se |
| Killingsholmen | Service | Billdal | 320 kr | killingsholmen.se |
| Gotenius Varv | Industrial/City | Hisingen | Quote | gotenius.se |
| Amundö Marina | Nature Close | Brottkärr | 400 kr | amundomarina.se |
| Lindholmen Marina | Tech/City | Lindholmen | 380 kr | goteborg.se |
| Hjuviks Marina | Seaside Town | Hjuvik | 300 kr | hjuvik.se |
| Jungman Jansson | Food/Harbor | Önnered | 350 kr | jungmanjansson.se |
| Bua Hamn | Surf/Fishing | Bua (Near Gbg) | 250 kr | bua.se |
Skåne County (30 harbors)
Here you encounter sandy beaches, open horizons, and proximity to the continent.
| Harbor / Marina | Type | Address | Harbor Fee (Approx. per day) | Website |
| Dockan Marina | Modern City | Malmö City | 400 kr | dockanmarina.se |
| Falsterbokanalen | Strategic | Höllviken | 350 kr | fbk.nu |
| Skanörs Hamn | Beach Gem | Skanör | 450 kr | skanor.se |
| Ystad Gästhamn | Gateway to the East | Ystad Marina | 320 kr | ystad.se |
| Simrishamns Marina | Österlen | Simrishamn | 330 kr | simrishamn.se |
| Helsingborg City | The Sound | Norra Hamnen, Hbg | 420 kr | helsingborg.se |
| Båstad Hamn | Event/Fest | Hamngatan, Båstad | 500 kr | bastad.se |
| Lomma Hamn | Modern/Popular | Lomma | 380 kr | lomma.se |
| Limhamns Småbåtshamn | Large/Malmö | Limhamn | 350 kr | smabatshamnen.se |
| Landskrona Gästhamn | Öresund | Lustbåtshamnen | 300 kr | landskrona.se |
| Borstahusen | Genuine | Landskrona | 320 kr | borstahusen.se |
| Kiviks Hamn | Apple Kingdom | Kivik | 300 kr | kivik.se |
| Torekov Hamn | Exclusive/Cozy | Torekov | 450 kr | torekov.se |
| Mölle Hamn | Kullaberg | Mölle | 400 kr | molle.se |
| Arilds Hamn | Idyllic | Arild | 250 kr | arild.se |
| Vikhög Hamn | Untouched | Vikhög | 200 kr | vikhog.se |
| Barsebäckshamn | Historic | Barsebäck | 300 kr | barsebackshamn.se |
| Klagshamn | Nature | Malmö South | 250 kr | klagshamn.se |
| Gislövs Läge | Söderslätt | Trelleborg | 280 kr | gislovslage.se |
| Skateholm | Nature Harbor | Skateholm | 150 kr | skateholm.se |
| Abbekås Hamn | Food/Inn | Abbekås | 320 kr | abbekas.se |
| Kåseberga | Ales Stones | Kåseberga | 350 kr | kaseberga.se |
| Skillinge Hamn | Classic Österlen | Skillinge | 300 kr | skillinge.se |
| Åhus Gästhamn | Ice Cream/Summer | Åhus | 350 kr | ahus.se |
| Nogersund | Sölvesborg (Near) | Nogersund | 280 kr | nogersund.se |
| Lagunens Marina | Malmö | Limhamn | 350 kr | lagunen.se |
| Höganäs Hamn | Ceramics/City | Höganäs | 320 kr | hoganas.se |
| Viken Hamn | Charming | Viken | 300 kr | viken.se |
| Domsten Hamn | Small/Near | Domsten | 250 kr | domsten.se |
| Råå Hamn | Fishing/Hbg | Råå | 330 kr | raahamn.se |



