On the water
The Stockholm archipelago is a water sport enthusiast’s dream. Slap on your lifejacket and see the city at rip-roaring speed in a RIB boat. Or take to the outer waters of the archipelago on a regatta yacht and sail yourself into a unique seascape wilderness with seals (and a skipper) for company.
Indulge the pirate in you with a tour on a historic schooner or in true DIY fashion, hop into a kayak and spend a day pootling around the islands on a ‘wild luxury’ tour, stop for grilled fish and to admire the wow-factor of the sun setting before bunking up in an island cottage for the night.
Off the beaten track
Fancy hiking, biking or boating in the middle of a magical mossy wonderland of deciduous virgin forest, waterfalls, and clear-blue lakes? It’s called Tyresta National Park, it’s covered in ancient pines with an abundance of native wildlife, and it’s just 20 minutes from the city. Go on guided evening wildlife safari tours in the nearby rolling meadows and farmland landscape to spot elk, deer and wild boar. Stockholm in winter? Check out the city ski slope at Hammarby or the open-air ice-skating rink at Kungsträdgården.
Up in the air
If you are going to do a hot air balloon tour once in your life, Stockholm is the spot. With unrestricted city airspace, you can float right over the park-rich city and its islands, and out into the archipelago. Pop some champagne, seal a deal, and have sunset tapas with a bird’s eye view of the cosmopolitan capital.
But if you want to get high without leaving the ground, check out the Swedish Air Force flight simulator. Be a fighter pilot for 20 minutes, feel your stomach sink through your chest, release your inner Maverick and leave like a Top Gun. 20 minutes of training provided but shades and swagger not supplied.