WHAT IS NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK?
Nämdöskärgården National Park is Sweden’s 31st national park and the first marine national park in the Baltic Sea. It covers 25,300 hectares in the outer Stockholm Archipelago, of which 97 per cent is sea. The park encompasses over 1,300 islands, skerries, and rocky reefs, forming one of the largest continuous archipelago landscapes in the Baltic.
The Swedish government formally established Nämdöskärgården National Park in June 2025, and it was officially inaugurated on 5 September 2025 with a ceremony on the island of Bullerö, the park’s main entrance. The park is located in Värmdö Municipality, about an hour by boat from Stockholm.
Nämdöskärgården National Park was created to preserve a representative and diverse marine and archipelago landscape in the Baltic Sea in a largely unaltered condition. It is Sweden’s second national park with a marine focus (after Kosterhavet on the west coast) and the third national park in Stockholm County, alongside Ängsö and Tyresta. The park was developed through collaboration between Naturvårdsverket, Länsstyrelsen Stockholm, Havs- och vattenmyndigheten, and Värmdö Municipality. In 2026, Travel + Leisure named Nämdöskärgården National Park a Global Vision Honoree.
A LANDSCAPE SHAPED BY ICE AND SEA
The landscape of Nämdöskärgården National Park has been shaped by glaciers and the slow rise of land from the sea. The result is a wild and varied terrain: sparse rocky pine forests, maritime deciduous woodlands, fissure valley formations, and open skerries where the granite meets the Baltic. Below the surface, the brackish waters harbour mussel banks, seagrass meadows, and shallow bays rich with marine life.
Parts of Nämdöskärgården National Park have been protected since the 1960s. The former Bullerö and Långviksskär nature reserves, established in 1967 and 1983 respectively, now form the core of the national park.
WHY WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK
A personal note from Jakob, co-founder of The Kayak Trail
I have been a sea scout since I was seven years old, and a sea scout leader from the age of seventeen. I spent my summers in the archipelago, sailing through these waters during our camps, and often visiting the very islands that are now part of Nämdöskärgården National Park. For me, these islands hold a special place in my heart.
Adam, my friend and co-founder, spent time in these same waters kayaking with his uncle. This is before we got to know each other. It is our individually built but shared connection to this place that led us to set up our kayak operation at Stavsnäs, as close as you can get by road to this outer archipelago area. It is the ideal starting point for kayak tours into Nämdöskärgården National Park.
We are very happy that this beautiful area now receives the highest level of protection that nature in Sweden can get. We are proud to call these waters our home turf and to welcome our guests here for kayaking in one of the most spectacular corners of the Stockholm Archipelago.
Nämdöskärgården National Park is best experienced on a tour of five days or more, giving you time to truly take in the landscape. That said, it can also be reached on a shorter trip of three to four days if you have some kayaking experience and are happy to paddle a bit further each day. Just reach out and we will plan your tour together!
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK
Bullerö, the main entrance
The island of Bullerö is the main entrance to Nämdöskärgården National Park and offers a taste of almost everything the park has to offer. You can hike along paths through flowering meadows, explore landscapes shaped by centuries of farming and grazing, swim from granite cliffs, or simply sit and watch the sea eagles soar overhead.
At the entrance area by Rävängen, you will find information about the national park’s nature and history. The exhibitions in the hunting lodge of Bruno Liljefors, a renowned Swedish wildlife artist who owned the island in the early 1900s, are well worth a visit. Bullerö also has a campsite, cottages for overnight stays, and a sauna.
Wildlife in Nämdöskärgården National Park
Nämdöskärgården National Park is home to rich and varied wildlife. White-tailed eagles are a common sight, soaring above the islands. Grey seals rest on the outer skerries. Large flocks of seabirds gather on the water and along the rocky shorelines. In the shallow bays, the underwater world is full of life, with mussel banks, kransalger (charophytes), and a rich diversity of marine species.
On land, the meadows of Bullerö are known for wildflowers, including orchids. The vegetation on the outermost islands is reminiscent of mountain landscapes, with low-growing birch, heather, and even cloudberries.
Exploring Nämdöskärgården National Park by kayak
Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore Nämdöskärgården National Park. By kayak, you can reach islands and skerries that are impossible to get to by ferry, paddle through calm waters between the islands, and experience the park at your own pace. The combination of open water, sheltered bays, and hundreds of small islands makes Nämdöskärgården National Park an extraordinary kayaking destination.
Our kayak centre at Stavsnäs Vinterhamn is the closest starting point to Nämdöskärgården National Park. From Stavsnäs, you can paddle directly into the park within a few hours.
HOW TO GET TO NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK
By public ferry
During summer (June to September), regular boat services run from Stavsnäs Vinterhamn to the national park. The Bullerö line goes to Bullerö and Rågskär. The Nämdö line goes to Skogavik on Braka. Stavsnäs Vinterhamn is reachable by bus from Slussen in Stockholm (about 50 minutes) or by car.
By boat taxi
Several companies offer boat taxi services from Stavsnäs to the smaller islands in Nämdöskärgården National Park. Most islands have jetties, but on smaller skerries the boat will dock by the rocks.
By kayak
Kayaking from Stavsnäs into Nämdöskärgården National Park is one of the most rewarding
ways to visit. You set your own pace and can explore islands that are not served by ferries.
Our kayak centre at Stavsnäs Vinterhamn is the ideal starting point. Book the Self-Guided
Kayak Expedition and paddle directly into the national park.
Good to know
There are no shops, restaurants, or cafés in Nämdöskärgården National Park. Bring your own food and drinking water. On Bullerö, there is a campsite, cottages, a sauna, showers, and toilets. Accommodation on Bullerö can be booked in advance.
On our self-guided kayak expedition, all camping equipment is included and ready for you at the kayak centre. You can also add our food package, so you have everything you need for the entire trip without having to plan a single meal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK
-
Nämdöskärgården National Park is located in the outer Stockholm Archipelago, in Värmdö Municipality. It is about an hour by boat from Stockholm, with the main departure point at Stavsnäs Vinterhamn.
-
Yes. Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore Nämdöskärgården National Park. Some particularly sensitive areas are closed to all vessels, but the vast majority of the park is open to kayakers. The Kayak Trail’s centre at Stavsnäs is the closest starting point.
-
Yes. You may camp for up to two consecutive nights in the same place in most of the national park. On Bullerö, the designated campsite allows up to seven nights. Some areas are closed to camping. Fires are only permitted at designated fire pits or in a grill on legs.
-
During summer, regular ferries run from Stavsnäs Vinterhamn to Bullerö and other islands in the park. You can also reach the park by boat taxi or by kayak. Stavsnäs Vinterhamn is about 50 minutes from Stockholm by bus or car.
-
White-tailed eagles, grey seals, large flocks of seabirds, and rich marine life including mussel banks and seagrass meadows. On land, the meadows of Bullerö are known for wildflowers and orchids.
-
Bullerö is the main entrance to Nämdöskärgården National Park. The island has hiking trails, a campsite, cottages, a sauna, and exhibitions in the hunting lodge of Swedish wildlife artist Bruno Liljefors.
-
25,300 hectares (over 60,000 acres), of which 97 per cent is sea. It encompasses over 1,300 islands, skerries, and rocky reefs.
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK
Nämdöskärgården National Park has the highest level of nature protection in Sweden. Key rules: camp up to two consecutive nights (seven on Bullerö campsite); fires only at designated pits or grills on legs; dogs on lead at all times; motorised vessels max 5 knots within 100m of land; bird protection areas off-limits during breeding season; no drones; no picking plants or collecting mosses/lichens; some areas closed to all vessels including kayaks. Full regulations available on the official Nämdöskärgården National Park website.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
The information on this page is based on official sources from the Swedish authorities responsible for Nämdöskärgården National Park:
Sveriges Nationalparker: sverigesnationalparker.se/park/namdoskargardens-nationalpark/
Länsstyrelsen Stockholm: lansstyrelsen.se/stockholm/besoksmal/nationalparker/namdoskargardens-nationalpark.html
Naturvårdsverket: naturvardsverket.se – Nämdöskärgården blir Sveriges 31:a nationalpark
EXPLORE NÄMDÖSKÄRGÅRDEN NATIONAL PARK ON OUR SELF-GUIDED KAYAK EXPEDITION
Our Self-Guided Kayak Expedition (5–8 days) takes you through the outer Stockholm Archipelago and into Nämdöskärgården National Park. You paddle to Bullerö, explore the national park’s islands by kayak and on foot, and wild camp on secluded skerries along the way.
We provide all the equipment you need: kayaks, camping gear, cooking equipment, route planning, and a thorough introduction with one of our certified wilderness guides. You also get 24/7 guide phone support throughout your trip.
A typical itinerary includes a day of kayaking into Nämdöskärgården National Park, camping on Bullerö, hiking the island’s trails, and enjoying the sauna before continuing your journey through the archipelago.