Gräsö i Roslagen - en naturskön pärla

Writer: Helena Bergström

Gräsö is a scenic island located just outside Öregrund in Roslagen. The island is surrounded by beautiful cliffs and there are several nature reserves on the island. Here you will also find camping, hostels and a beautiful old church.

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Gräsö in Roslagen

People have lived on Gräsö for a long time and graves and artefacts from the Iron Age have been found. The population of the island has lived on agriculture and fishing, and in 1719 the island was hit hard by the Russian raids. The Russians burned farms and cottages, and people had to flee headlong. Over time, the island recovered and by the end of the 1880s there were just over 1400 people living here. Today, around 600 inhabitants live here, according to Wikipedia.

Gräsö is located in Östhammar municipality in Uppland, just outside Öregrund. You can easily get here by a short car ferry from Öregrund.

From Öregrund to Gräsö

After two nights in Öregrund, we felt like new adventures and took the small car ferry to Gräsö. The ferry is free, runs frequently and only takes 5-10 minutes.

READ MORE: Öregrund in Roslagen - an idyll by the sea
READ MORE: Grisslehamn in Roslagen - 7 tips on things to do

Gräsö church

When you drive ashore on the island, Gräsö Church is directly to the right. We chose to stop and look around. What a fantastically cute and different church building! The church, with the freestanding bell tower, was inaugurated in 1697. It was vandalised during the Russian ravages in 1719, and has since been renovated in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

At the church is also the cute little "Temple of Nature". The temple dates from 1996 and is inspired by the Bible's paradise.

The Russian altar - memory of the Russian ravages of 1719?

We also read that you can see the "Ryssaltaret" in Klockarhagen below the church, and went in search of it. There is a five-pointed elevation in the ground, but what exactly is this? It is not known with certainty, but according to the theories it could be:

An altar used by the ravaging Russians in 1719.
An older chapel under Gräsö manor house
Built in honour of King Charles XI, who in 1673 contributed 3000 daler copper coins to the construction of the church.

Gräsö information centre

Right next to the church is the island's information centre. This little house is unmanned, but it's really very nice and informative.

Inside the house there is attractive and interactive information about the history, culture and nature of Gräsön. You can, for example, open the small numbered boxes in the cupboard and at the same time activate a voiceover. There are also various brochures that you can take with you. So good that Peter felt compelled to fill in a little evaluation sheet!

Gräsö Gård nature reserve

Right next to the church is also the Gräsö Gård nature reserve (and this is where we found the Russian salt cellar). There are also plenty of beautiful flowers here.

And then there are cows! Most of them stayed put and watched us as we passed by, but one of them was stressed out and looked more or less panicked.

READ MORE: Lingnåre cultural reserve - historical trails in Uppland
READ MORE: Ängskärs sea campsite in Uppland - and three caravan sites

Idön and Äspskär

We drove to the far south of the island to see a little more and came down to Äspskär and Idön's nature reserve. There are signs about different hiking trails, but it was raining at the time so hiking was not at all attractive. For us it was a break with lunch in the motorhome.

Gräsöbadens camping

We decided to stay on Gräsö for the night and stayed at Gräsöbadens camping. This is a really nice campsite with a beautiful location by the water and nice, well-kept camping pitches. There is mini-golf and bicycle hire, a sauna and a hot tub. Restaurant Doppingen is also located by the water, for those who prefer a restaurant meal.

The cost per day is a bit higher than what we usually pay for a night in a motorhome, but this time we decided it was worth it. We even went all out and chose an extra nice (and therefore more expensive) spot right by the water. We had to pay 525 SEK, but we didn't regret it. What a fantastic afternoon and evening we had here! We value standing with this view incredibly highly, and this felt like one of our top experiences in Sweden.

We have had a really nice day on Gräsö. Have you also been here? What can you tell us?

More to see and do in Uppland

Facts about Gräsö

Landscape: Uppland
County: Uppsala County
Municipality: Östhammar municipality
Length: 30 kilometres
Width: 6 kilometres
Residents: 665 (2015)

Things to see and do on Gräsö

Nature reserve: Idekvist bog, Idön nature reserve, Gräsö farm nature reserve and Norrboda-Jomala nature reserve.
Hiking: Västerbystigen, Askskär hiking trail and others.
Cycling: Short Tour (4.5 km), Middle Tour (20 km) and Full Day Tour (40 km).
Bathing places: Storsand, Gräsöbaden and others.
Attractions: Gräsö Church and the Russian Altar.
Islands: Many smaller islands are located around it, such as Örskär and Rävsten.

Accommodation on Gräsö

Camping: Gräsöbadens camping (Västerbyn 296)
Hostels: Gräsö Gård hostel (Gräsö Gård 1)
Holiday village on the island of Rävsten: On Rävsten, southeast of Gräsön, is the Rävsten holiday village.

Facts about Gräsöbadens camping

Location: On the waterfront, overlooking Öregrund
Camping plots: 400 pitches for caravans, motorhomes or tents.
Cottages: 5 4-bed cottages
Service: Service centre, mini-shop, fresh bread sales, waterfront restaurant and more.
Activities: Mini golf, boules, table tennis, volleyball, bike hire, sauna and hot tub hire and children's activities. Reception can be contacted about excursions and events.
Opening hours: 29/4 - 4/10 (2020). For exact opening hours see the campsite's website.
Prices: Motorhome/caravan from SEK 375 excluding electricity (2020). For exact prices see the campsite's website.
More info: You can find more information at the campsite's website.

Finding Gräsö

Car: Car ferry runs from Öregrund. The ferry is free and takes 5-10 minutes.
Bus: Bus lines 775 and 811 run from Öregrund. Check the timetable on ul.se.

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

READ MORE: Campsites and pitches in Uppland
READ MORE: Things to do in Uppland - sights and experiences

14 Comments

Add yours →

Monet says:

But what a place you have found! Now we have booked ourselves at Klockargården one night next week. In the centre of Öregrund by the bell tower. Room with space for a dog and a private patio, very charming with an indoor garden and a gift and interior design shop. Food and wine in the room if you want. First trip during our quarantine but we expect to be able to keep our distance! Thanks for the tips!

05 July 2020 - 8:04

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But what fun that you have booked in Öregrund! It sounds like a super cosy place you have found !!! Hope it will be nice (and that you get nice weather)!
  
  05 July 2020 - 8:34
  
Eva says:

When the children were small, we often went to Gräsö and the campsite with the free pitches (no straight lines there indeed). The older the children got, the longer the caravan we had. In the end, the biggest concern was not getting on or off the ferry. However, it always went well, except the time the car in front of us had a total engine failure. The captain had a timetable to keep and was upset. Eventually we all had to help push the car off the ferry. ?

05 July 2020 - 8:56

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Exciting with the ferry? Nice that you have been a lot on Gräsö!
  
  06 July 2020 - 12:19
  
Ama de casa says:

There are really many gems in Sweden's oblong country 🙂 I have never visited Gräsö, probably not this year either. However, we continue to look around in Spain's square country 😀.

Have fun!

05 July 2020 - 9:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, this year it's time to discover Sweden! May read about Spain on your blog ???
  
  06 July 2020 - 12:20
  
Ruth i Virginia says:

Looks absolutely marvellous. Peter in the 3rd photo from the bottom - HEAVENLY.
Cows in the pasture and old farmhouses. Love!

Speaking of Russia - When I was a kid, my mum warned me:
"If you're not good, the Russians will come and get you."
Wonder if they were in Dalarna too? 🙂

05 July 2020 - 11:58

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you like the photo! It was a lovely afternoon and evening! How far the Russians got...? Not a clue ... only know that they ravaged the coast, but what do I know? If nothing else, they seem to have spread terror for a long time ...
  
  06 July 2020 - 12:26
  
Emma, Sol som sol? says:

What a little Swedish gem you found! Amazing that it didn't cost anything to take the ferry across. I guess it's part of the road network and paid for with the road tax all vehicle owners pay. Nice, in any case!

Everything looks so neat, clean and tidy, the little information centre is fantastic, the gaps make you curious and you absorb the information in a different way than if you just read on an A4. Creative!

05 July 2020 - 12:58

BP says:

Gräsö doesn't beat Öregrund, but it's still quite charming. The drone images are outstanding, and the little information kiosk with the lovely bench is really good.
It is also important to take as many drone pictures as possible. Because soon you will need a "driving licence". No, I'm not kidding. Saw it yesterday on TV.

05 July 2020 - 18:36

Lena - gott för själen says:

Wow, what a place you got! Can believe you enjoyed it. Don't really remember if I've been out there. Looks nice in any case.

Hug Lena

06 July 2020 - 6:06

Pernilla Ericsson says:

Gräsö also has an ICA store with fantastic staff. And with an adjacent opportunity to refuel your motor vehicle.

06 July 2020 - 8:56

Reiselinda says:

Gräsö is almost at home with us, so we have been there many times. Very nice coffee place along the north of the island (although parking can be a bit difficult) and Djurstens fyr and some of the small harbours are also nice in addition to what you have looked at!

18 July 2020 - 15:38

Peter Petterson says:

You are lucky that the bulls did not attack you on Gräsö. So there were no cows. Greetings. P.P.

09 May 2021 - 13:44

Gräsö in Roslagen - a scenic gem

Writer: Helena Bergström

Gräsö in Roslagen

From Öregrund to Gräsö

Gräsö church

The Russian altar - memory of the Russian ravages of 1719?

Gräsö information centre

Gräsö Gård nature reserve

Idön and Äspskär

Gräsöbadens camping

More to see and do in Uppland

Facts about Gräsö

Things to see and do on Gräsö

Accommodation on Gräsö

Facts about Gräsöbadens camping

Finding Gräsö

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14 Comments

Monet says:

Helena says:

Eva says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Ruth i Virginia says:

Helena says:

Emma, Sol som sol? says:

BP says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Pernilla Ericsson says:

Reiselinda says:

Peter Petterson says:

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