Speed Boat & Floating Sauna in Stockholm Archipelago

Ride the archipelago fast, then soak in silence on the water

A six-hour private activity in the Stockholm Archipelago pairing a high-speed RIB boat ride out to a floating sauna with three hours of traditional wood-fired sauna sessions and Baltic swims. The boat holds up to 12 guests; a live guide in English or Swedish narrates the route and the sauna ritual. Towels, life jackets, overalls, goggles and firewood are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Speedboat ride and floating sauna experience

• Speedboat ride through Stockholm Archipelago
• Pass by inhabited and uninhabited islands
• See historic sites and summer houses
• Visit Vaxholm, Capital of the Archipelago
• Arrive at floating wood-fired sauna near Gällnö Island
• Warm up in traditional sauna
• Take refreshing swim in Baltic Sea
• Relax and enjoy panoramic island views
• Return to central Stockholm by speedboat

The Experience

The day starts with a 75-minute speedboat ride from central Stockholm out into the archipelago. You're in a RIB—a rigid inflatable boat built for speed and open water—heading toward Gällnö Island, one of the most sheltered corners of the archipelago. The route passes inhabited and uninhabited islands, summer houses dating back to the 17th century, and Vaxholm, the historic provisioning stop where local sailors still gather. The guide points out the waterways locals use, and you wave to fellow sailors as you pass. By the time you reach the floating sauna, you've seen the archipelago the way people who live there do.

The sauna itself is a wood-fired structure anchored in a hidden bay near Gällnö, surrounded by pine-covered islands and silence. You heat up in the crackling steam, take in the view through the sauna window, then cool off with a swim straight into the Baltic. The rhythm repeats for three hours—sauna, swim, sauna, swim—the Swedish bastu tradition in its most authentic form. Towels, overalls and a beanie are provided; the firewood is already burning. Bottled water and goggles are on hand, and life jackets stay with the boat.

The return journey follows the same route back to central Stockholm by speedboat, so the full experience—the ride out, the sauna hours, the ride back—holds together in a single afternoon. The boat is private to your group, which means no strangers in the sauna and no schedule dictated by other departures.

What’s included

• Speedboat transport from central Stockholm to the sauna and back.
• three hours in a private wood-fired floating sauna.
• towels, life jackets, overalls, goggles and a beanie.
• bottled water.
• firewood.
• a live guide in English or Swedish.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rib Stockholm

Is this one for you?The six-hour commitment means you can fit this into a single afternoon without rearranging the rest of your day, and the private boat keeps the sauna experience to your group alone—no shared sessions, no strangers, no schedule beyond your own pace in and out of the water.

Top questions

How long is the boat ride each way to the floating sauna?

The speedboat ride from central Stockholm to the sauna near Gällnö Island takes 75 minutes each direction, with the return journey following the same route back to the city.

What happens during the three hours at the floating sauna?

You alternate between heating in the wood-fired sauna and swimming in the Baltic Sea. The sauna is traditional Swedish bastu style, and you can repeat the cycle as many times as you want during the three-hour window.

What islands and sites do you pass on the speedboat ride?

The route passes both inhabited and uninhabited islands, summer houses from the 17th century, and Vaxholm—known as the Capital of the Archipelago—where local sailors stop to provision before heading out to sea.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The activity includes towels, life jackets, overalls, goggles, bottled water, firewood and a beanie. Bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes; meals and beverages beyond water are not included.

Can the boat accommodate a large group, or is it just for couples?

The private boat holds up to 12 guests, so it works for friends, families or company outings. The whole boat is booked for your group alone.

Is a guide included, and what language do they speak?

A live guide in English or Swedish is included and narrates the route through the archipelago and the sauna experience.