Islands around Öregrund

Islands around Öregrund

Öregrund, the well-preserved wooden town in Östhammar Municipality, is the gateway to the northern part of Roslagen's archipelago. From here you can reach islands such as Gräsö, Örskär and the many skerries that make up Gräsö Eastern Archipelago – Uppsala County's largest nature reserve by far.

Gräsö – archipelago island with living cultural landscape

Gräsö is one of Roslagen's largest islands and is located in Östhammar Municipality, northeast of Öregrund. A free car ferry operates across Gräsösundet year-round; the crossing takes approximately five minutes. Bus 811 connects Uppsala with Öregrund, and local bus 854 continues out to the island.

The island's landscape is characterized by the open cultural landscape that has developed through generations of hay-making and livestock farming. Among the nature reserves is Gräsö Gård, a preserved farmstead and nature reserve in one. Popular bathing spots on the island are Gräsöbaden and Storsand. Every summer Gräsö runt – a traditional rowing and sailing event – is held, and in week 28 the art round and local markets take place.

Gräsö Eastern Archipelago – the county's largest nature reserve

East of Gräsö, Gräsö Eastern Archipelago extends. The reserve, established in 2012, covers 54,785 hectares and is Uppsala County's largest nature reserve. The area consists of a shallow sea with thousands of islands, open bays and outer banks. Gräsö Eastern Archipelago forms an ecological boundary between the Bothnian Bay and the Baltic Sea, in the strait known as Southern Kvarken.

The inner islands contain remnants of an old agricultural landscape with strand meadows, pollarded trees and sparse forests. Here there are good conditions for rare plants and flower-visiting insects. On Örskär – one of the archipelago's outermost islands – there is a hostel and café during the season, and in the shallow waters lives the unusual natterjack toad.

Örskär – the lighthouse and the boundary of the sea

Örskär, furthest out at sea east of Gräsö, is known for its lighthouse facility and its unique nature. The island is part of Gräsö Eastern Archipelago nature reserve and is accessible by boat during the summer season. The natterjack toad – one of Scandinavia's rarest amphibians – sings in the shallow waters early in the summer.

Getting to the islands around Öregrund

• Gräsö: Free car ferry from Öregrund, approximately 5 minutes crossing, runs all day year-round.
• Gräsö Eastern Archipelago: Accessible by private or charter boat. Hostel and café on Örskär during the season.
• Öregrund town: Well-preserved wooden town, historic church from 1491. Starting point for archipelago excursions.