Älmsta

A place on both sides of the canal

Älmsta is located where Väddö canal opens into Väddöviken. This makes the place unusually divided: the northern part — the villages of Hammarby and Norrsundet — lies on the island of Väddö, while Elmsta village in the south lies on the mainland.

The canal is therefore not just a backdrop but the centre of the place. The bridge between the two halves is a bascule bridge that opens as needed, both for commercial traffic and for leisure boats.

A large village already in the 1500s

When Elmsta was first mentioned in 1557, it was already a large village with seven farms. Several ancient burial mounds in the area testify to a considerably older history than that.

The Maritime Museum and the steam launch

Roslagens Sjöfartsmuseum is one of the place's better-known institutions. The museum owns, among other things, the steam launch Elmsta, which in summer operates passenger traffic with round trips on Väddö canal. The dock is located next to Älmsta bridge, in the centre of the place.

The other institution is Väddö folkhögskola.

The bridges to Väddö

The island of Väddö is reached via three bridges. The one in Älmsta is a bascule bridge, the one at Gåsvik is a swing bridge, and the third — Trästabron — replaced an earlier ferry connection.

How to get here

From Norrtälje, take national highway 76 towards Gävle and then turn off at Sonö junction onto regional road 283. Buses run from both Norrtälje and Hallstavik.