Day 1 on Resarö
Resarö was inhabited as early as the Viking Age. During the 20th century, people with summer houses on the island gradually replaced the farmers, fishers, and miners. Today, over 3000 people live permanently on the calm and charming island.
On Resarö you'll find a small well-stocked grocery store and the bus stop for commuting into Vaxholm and central Stockholm. The time to get there by bus is 20 min and 50 min. By car: 10 min and 35 min.
Walks, bathing places, and kayaking
From the Pearl Cottage you can take a new walk every day on the small roads or in the nearby forest (map).
If you want to kayak around Resarö, you can rent boats 5 km away. It takes about 4 hours around Resarö depending on the weather. Bring something to eat and drink – and sun protector if it's sunny.
During the summer there are several bathing places in the sea within 2 kilometres, click on the map-button below. For two baths in the Resarö forrest "Killingen", you need a more orientation map. It's easy to take a quick dip before or after you go to the Vaxholm and Stockholm. If the sea-water temperature scares you off summertime and during the other seasons: do test a sauna – your endorphins will spin...
Or just relax! Listen to the silence...
During May to mid-July: enjoy the nordic light. From August to April: be amazed by all stars in the night sky. If you're very lucky, the Aurora Borealis can be seen from the north of Resarö (February–March) in late evenings.
The "Pavilion"
At the Paviljongen, which is built in the beginning of the 20th century in Chinese style, you can take a lunch or have a "Swedish fika".
Here, the Swedish traditional Midsummer Eve is celebrated annually (always on a Friday between June 20 and 26). On the Midsummer Day almost everything is closed in Sweden except grocery stores. We've other suggestions for traditional things to do.
A "Swedish fika" is about taking a break to talk, drink coffee (tea or juice) and eat some sweat bread. In the Swedish fika culture, common accompaniments are cinnamon buns, cake with or without cream, and different kinds of cookies.
The Ytterby Mine
The hidden Ytterby mine is world-famous among chemists and geologists – and the Nobel Prize winners within the field like to come here. The are two reasons for this: nowhere else in the world has so many elements (23) been found and discovered (8) in one place.
As early as the 17th century, quartz was mined here for the ironworks in northern Uppland (a part of Sweden). Later, feldspar was also mined for the porcelain and glass industries. The old Swedish Rörstrand porcelain factory, which produced beautiful tableware, owned the mine for a long time. The mining ceased in 1933.
Visiting the mine, do bring a picknick and go to the top. There is a wonderful view over the islands towards Vaxholm. Also, you see the 155-meter-high tower "Kaknästornet" in Stockholm and the "Rindö redutt" on the nearby island Rindö, just next to the island Vaxö where the town Vaxholm is situated.