Publication date: 01/10/2024
From Sweden, sailing in the Baltic Sea
It’s a relatively unknown territory for sailing and motorboating. Yet Sweden offers magnificent landscapes in which to evolve on the water, as part of an outing lasting from a few hours to several weeks.
Whether alone, with a partner, family or friends, the Baltic Sea offers comfortable cruising opportunities: Sweden’s east coast boasts a number of charming harbours and anchorages, where you can enjoy a wide range of nautical and land-based activities. Fishing is another popular leisure activity.
On Sweden’s east coast, a different kind of sailing
Compared to other territories, Sweden’s east coast is a unique sailing area. As the gateway to the Baltic Sea, an inland sea with a surface area of almost 380,000 km² and an average depth of 55 meters, it is a sailing destination with many advantages. But it also presents a number of difficulties.
The advantages of sailing in Sweden
With its wild, unspoiled, evergreen landscapes, Sweden’s east coast is first and foremost an ideal cruising destination for a change of scenery. Thanks to nature, yes, but also thanks to the many ports of call: they’re the perfect places to soak up the country’s culture!
The area is particularly pleasant from the end of May onwards: the days are longer, allowing boaters to enjoy their sailing to the full. As a rule, they encounter constant, perfectly balanced winds, which do not raise the sea. The anchorages on Sweden’s east coast are often very well sheltered.
With no tides or currents, crews enjoy easy sailing, especially in summer. In July and August, temperatures reach 30 degrees, making swimming a pleasure! As for the ports of call, they are more lively…
Cruises on Sweden’s east coast remain comfortable until the end of September, even if sailing is sometimes more sporty.
A much less famous destination than other sailing areas – the Mediterranean, for example, or the Caribbean – Sweden’s east coast is also much less crowded. When cruising, Swedish waters, ports and anchorages are quieter, with fewer crews and fewer boats, even at the height of the high season.
From the boater’s point of view, this means he can sail more flexibly, without having to plan a precise itinerary in advance. Cruising without booking all your nights in advance? That would be unthinkable in the Mediterranean, for example!
The difficulties of navigation in Sweden
While choosing the east coast of Sweden as a sailing destination offers a number of advantages, there are still a few difficulties to overcome when navigating the territory. For boaters, knowing about them means checking that the area does indeed correspond to their skills, their vessel and their cruising program.
Here, according to our team, are the main points that should arouse your vigilance:
- Finally, as the waters to the east of Sweden are on the route of many cargo ships, it’s good to know that, in certain areas, maritime activity can be intense… with ships of a different size than yours!
- As the region is populated by numerous channels, it’s important to know the marine markings at your fingertips. That way, you can interpret the marks correctly and avoid putting yourself in danger.
- Depending on your itinerary, you may have to navigate under bridges. Take your unit’s dimensions into consideration!
- In the Baltic Sea, you may encounter shoals, which are relatively frequent and sometimes not indicated on charts and plotters. You’ll probably be more at ease with a shallow- or medium-draught vessel.
- As a general rule, but even more so off the usual roads, we recommend that you keep a constant lookout. This, in particular, to avoid any nasty encounters with the many pebbles.
Not-to-be-missed ports of call in Eastern Sweden
When sailing along Sweden’s east coast, it’s easy to stop off at many charming places, without having to make long motor or sailing trips. A number of islands and harbours in close proximity to each other make for great discoveries, even with limited cruising time.
Stockholm
The capital of Sweden, Stockholm is the country’s largest city. Its 188 km² surface area stretches over a total of 14 islands, on the border between Lake Mälar to the west and the Baltic Sea to the east. This atypical geography has earned the city its nickname of Venice of the North.
Stockholm alone is worth a cruise on Sweden’s east coast! During your stopover, you’ll discover Old Stockholm with its cobblestone streets, locally known as Gamla Stan. In this district, Stockholm Cathedral and the Royal Palace are two of the monuments not to be missed. The tour continues with a visit to New Stockholm or Norrmalm, with its parks, cinemas and shopping centers.
Throughout Stockholm, culture lovers will be delighted by the presence of over a hundred museums and numerous heritage buildings – many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Stockholm archipelago
Once they’ve visited the capital, boaters can head for the Stockholm archipelago, or Skärgården. This is a magnificent sailing playground, particularly appealing to lovers of nature and authentic places. During your stopover, the islands offer a range of activities on land and at sea. With fishing gear, a kayak or a Stand-Up Paddle on board, your crew will enjoy their surroundings even more!
You won’t be able to stop off at every one of the 30,000 islands that make up the archipelago… But we’ve put together a few of the must-see stops below:
- Finnhamn
- Finnskar
- Grinda
- Gällnö
- Möja
- Nassa-Fjarden
- Sandhamn
- Utö
- Vaxholm
Gotland Island
Gotland is Sweden’s largest island. Sailors appreciate the unique atmosphere of the city of Visby, the island’s only town, which provides a unique opportunity to discover medieval Sweden during a stopover. Visby has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995…
Öland Island
A little further south, Öland is another Swedish island to discover on a Baltic Sea cruise. This island in south-east Sweden is best known for its remarkable cultural heritage and natural riches – such as its World Heritage landscapes. Don’t miss the opportunity to hike its many trails, in close contact with the local flora and fauna!
Finland and the Åland Islands
After discovering these Swedish destinations, why not set sail for Finland? Some 80 nautical miles from Stockholm, the Finnish archipelago of Åland comprises 80 islands in the Baltic Sea, covering more than 1,500 km². They are also an ideal destination for a cruise to the east of Sweden…
Svinninge Marina, your marina in eastern Sweden
Easily accessible from all major European cities and ideally located – at the entrance to the Gulf of Stockholm – Svinninge Marina is the perfect starting point for discovering the country’s east coast by boat. A member of the Port Adhoc network of European ports and marinas, Svinninge Marina offers 1,200 berths afloat and 700 berths ashore – both indoor and outdoor – year-round.
For a short or long stay, a visit to our port will enable you to truly appreciate this sailing area!
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