Sandhamn Yacht Hotel: Stockholm Archipelago Luxury

Centrally located on Sandön island, the Sandhamn Yacht Hotel is the luxury getaway for style, fine cuisine and relaxation.

Sandhamn Yacht Hotel

Sweden has a beautiful breezy kind of summer and Swedes definitely take it seriously. They love being out in the sun and love taking their boats out to sea.

 

A classic getaway option sets them off to the Stockholm archipelago, a series of tens of thousands of islands, isles and skerries across the Baltic Sea. Sandön, the sand island, is one of the most famous city escapes where the Sandhamn Yacht hotel is a destination for a four-star stay, a great meal or a fancy cocktail.

 

Destination: Sandön Island

Sandön island is the posh sailing epicenter of the Stockholm archipelago, reachable from Stockholm by boat or ferry. The journey that lasts up to two hours. The Sandhamn Yacht Hotel is right on the harbor, centered on a small island that is just four miles (7 km) in length. Cars are not allowed here, which I really loved experiencing.  Along with everyone else, I explored the island by foot. Others went around by bicycle.  It was a great way to be a part of the Swedish summer.

The hotel’s front doors are just a short walk away from the lanes that run through Sandön’s charming neighbourhoods of brightly painted rustic cottages. If you’re a Steig Larsson fan, you’ll recognize the best-selling author’s protagonist from his Millennium Trilogy had a writing cabin here. The island’s long sandy beach called Trouville is a popular site to spend time at.

 

Luxury Yacht Hotel Design

Sandhamn’s deep red color exterior and peaked roof is hard to miss, a façade influenced by rural archipelago design.  Swedish architect Fredrik Liljekvist is behind the building’s look, built in the late 19th century for the Royal Swedish Yacht Club. The club’s members still organize fancy regattas from the property. Over the decades, wing additions allowed for new rooms and facilities perfect to cater to the moneyed sailing set.

 

Sandhamn Yacht Hotel Rooms and Amenities

The traditional exterior combines well with its nautical influenced interior. My double room featured two single beds with soft mattress toppers.  The tiled bathrooms have a stand-up shower and Algotherm toiletries.  While my room did not have a particularly interesting view, suites do have great views out to the sea.

In total, the Sandhamn has 79 rooms, three suites and full apartments which are a good option for families.

As for amenities, there is an outdoor and indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and spa treatments are available. The hotel also arranges tours from sailing and other adventures at sea.  I went on a historic walking tour around the island (more on that soon).

Also worth highlighting is the fact the hotel has a summer kids club which is great for families. Baby cots are available upon request.

Hotel Atmosphere and Dining

It was clear that the Sandhamn is the place to be in the archipelago.  The restaurant itself attracts an eloquent evening vibe full of just as eloquently dressed guests.

I dined under the lovely high-ceilings at the Seglar Restaurant, where a menu is a list of chef Johan Wihelmsson’s gourmet creations with influences from Swedish cuisine.

During dinner, a live piano player attracted his own crowd in the adjacent bar which also served lovely cocktails.  The Sandhamn also hosts after sailing parties and even has a summer seasonal nightclub.

In the morning, the restaurant spread out a very rich buffet breakfast. The coffee was excellent. There was an array of hot egg dishes to go along with fresh breads, buttery and flaky fresh croissants and Swedish breakfast delights such as cured meats, local cheeses, yogurt and berry jams and juices.

Pros:

The location is magical.  It has a uniquely luxurious pelagic vibe to it. It’s a place you want to hang around whether to relax or chill or eat well. The Wi-Fi is strong and excellent throughout the property. Super for those who want to sit back with Stockholm’s sailing set.

Cons:

This hotel is for those wanting a rustic island getaway — not a Stockholm city break hotel.

Best For:

The traffic-free island offers a nice romantic feel, so it would be an ideal escape for couples looking for a luxury getaway.

The hotel is also well equipped for families and in Sweden there are many families that love Sandön.  So, it’s a good option for most types of travelers. With rooms, suites and apartments, there are different types of stay experiences to reserve.

For those sailing right on into beautiful Sandön harbor — it’s a great place to be for sure.

For more about this property, check out my hotel review about this stay for The Telegraph.

Sandhamn Yacht Hotel
www.sandhamn.com
Sandön island 130 39, Sweden
+46 8 574 504 00
Standard rooms from 2,590 SEK (€270) in high season and 1,600 SEK  (€170) in low season. breakfast included.

For more about Stockholm, visit my earlier post: 10 Things I Learned in Stockholm in 7 Days.

 

Stockholm and the archipelago are wonderful destinations to explore.

*Travel Greece, Travel Europe was a guest of the Sandhamn Yacht Hotel, as always all opinions are my own.

 

 

Have you ever stayed in the Stockholm archipelago?