Väddö sea baths and camping in Roslagen

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | Väddö havsbad och camping is beautifully situated by the Åland Sea, with a sandy beach, forest and lovely natural areas right next door. We spent two nights here with our camper van during a midsummer weekend. The campsite itself was quite simple and a bit worn when we visited it, but the location was fantastic and we had two great days of swimming, cycling trips and discoveries on Väddö in Roslagen.

Väddö sea bathing and camping by the Sea of Åland

Väddö sea bathing and camping, also known as Sandvikens Havscamping, is located on the eastern side of Väddö with a view of the Sea of Åland. Väddö is a long, narrow island in northern Roslagen, in Norrtälje municipality, about ten kilometers northeast of Stockholm.

The campsite is located in a scenic area where the forest meets the sea. There are campsites for motorhomes, caravans and tents as well as a number of cottages. The biggest asset is undoubtedly the proximity to the water and the fine sandy beach.

It is a good location for those who want a quiet holiday with swimming and nature experiences, but also for those who want to discover Väddö and the rest of Roslagen.

A midsummer weekend at Väddö seaside resort and camping

We spent two nights at the campsite during the Midsummer weekend 2020. We didn't really have any special plans, but mostly wanted to get away with the camper and celebrate a quiet Midsummer near the sea. And for that purpose the place was very suitable!

The campsite was quite simple and gave a somewhat worn impression when we were there. But we hadn't come here for luxurious facilities, but for nature, the sea and the opportunity to relax for a few days. We had a really nice midsummer weekend, and we also had time for several nice excursions in the surroundings.

Services and facilities at Väddö sea bathing and camping

We arrived quite late in the evening, when the staff had already gone home for the day. Luckily we were quickly contacted by phone and were able to check in using a code and a small key box at the reception.

So far everything worked well. However, it became much more difficult to find our campsite in the dark! The map of the area was small and high up, and we had difficulty seeing the numbers of the campsites. We never really figured out what we were supposed to use the key for. However, the next day we received excellent help from a nice, newly hired woman at the reception.

The service buildings served our needs, but our impression upon our visit was that the facility could do with a refresh. Of course, this was our experience at the time, and we don't know how much has changed since then. According to the campsite's current information, there are, among other things, service buildings with toilets and showers, a kitchen with cooking facilities, a playground, mini golf, and a kiosk or café.

Sandy beach and beautiful nature at the campsite

The biggest asset of Väddö sea bathing and camping was the beautiful nature. The campsite is located right on a sandy beach, and it is not far from forest paths, small roads and beautiful coastal environments. Here you can spend the days swimming, walking or just enjoying the proximity to the sea.

For us, the campsite was also a good starting point for discovering more of Väddö. We had the electric bikes with us and went on several small excursions. It turned out that there was a lot to see nearby!

Cycling trip along the Roslagsleden trail

During our bike ride, we came into contact with Roslagsleden, a long hiking trail that stretches from Danderyd north of Stockholm to Grisslehamn on Väddö. The trail is approximately 190 kilometers long and divided into eleven stages. It runs through varied nature with forests, lakes, cultural landscapes and coastal environments.

Of course, we didn't plan on doing the entire trail, but were content to explore a small part of the area with our electric bikes. It's a great way to see around Väddö, where small roads and paths lead to both historical sites and beautiful natural environments.

Old Grisslehamn – a small fishing village with an exciting history

One of the places we discovered during our bike ride was Gamla Grisslehamn, a small and charming fishing village on the eastern side of Väddö. This is actually where the original Grisslehamn was located, which for a long time had an important role in postal traffic between Sweden and Finland via Åland.

In 1754, the place was hit by a major fire. After the fire, it was decided to move the post port and the name Grisslehamn further north, to the place where today's Grisslehamn is located. An important reason for the move was that the crossing to Eckerö on Åland became somewhat shorter from the new port.

Today, Old Grisslehamn is a quiet little place with charming houses and small fishing boats. It is almost hard to imagine that this was once an important link in the postal connection between Sweden and Finland.

The old shooting boat Svalan

In Gamla Grisslehamn we also saw the old shooting boat Svalan. According to the information on site, the boat was probably built on Singö and bought around the turn of the last century for herring fishing in the area. Over the years, it has been both damaged and renovated several times.

In the 1980s, the boat also participated in the historic Postal Rowing across the Åland Sea, then under the name Naucléra. It's little discoveries like this that we like when we're out and about. Suddenly you're standing in front of an old boat and get a little piece of local history in the process!

Rönnskärs udde nature reserve

During the bike ride we also came to the Rönnskärs udde nature reserve, which is located on the eastern side of Väddö towards the Sea of Åland. It is a small nature reserve with forest and cliffs on the coast. The place is especially famous among birdwatchers, as in the autumn you can see migratory birds passing over the sea.

There are also interesting traces from the Ice Age here, including ice grooves on the rocks. We passed the entrance to the reserve and continued our exploration along the coast. For those who like birds and coastal nature, the area may be worth a visit on its own.

Amazing cliffs at Haken

We continued with the electric bikes towards a place called Haken, not far from the campsite. Here we left the bikes and walked up to the cliffs by the sea. And what a view!

This was one of our absolute favorite experiences during our stay on Väddö. The cliffs, the sea and the open horizon created a fantastic environment. Sometimes you don't need more than that. Just sit down for a while, look out over the sea and enjoy nature.

Älmsta and the bridge over the Väddö Canal

When we later left Väddö with the camper, we stopped in Älmsta, where the bridge crosses the Väddö Canal and connects the island to the mainland. We happened to arrive just as it was time for the bridge to open, so we had the opportunity to see how the bridge was opened to let the boats through.

It became another little memory from our midsummer weekend in Roslagen! Älmsta is also a natural stop for those traveling to or from Väddö. Here you will find shops and other services.

More to see and do in Roslagen

• Things to do in Norrtälje
• Things to do in Grisslehamn
• Things to do in Öregrund
• Things to do in Uppland