Discover Ornö: Nature, History and the Archipelago

Ornö combines extensive natural areas, island history and varied trails to create a destination offering many different experiences. Among forests, wetlands, coastal paths and historic sites, you can plan your days in many different ways. A car ferry operating year-round connects Ornö with Dalarö and makes it easier to plan a trip in which nature experiences and culture have an equal place.

Nature among forests, islands and water

The Norra skogen nature reserve covers 389 hectares. It is characterised by coniferous forest and contains pine forest on rocky ground, mixed woodland, marshes, wetlands and a large part of Lake Nybysjön. The protected area is accessible exclusively on foot. From the Östra Hässelmara ferry terminal, Nybysjön is a little more than 1.5 kilometres away as the crow flies. Anyone wishing to explore this part of Ornö should include the walking distance in their day planning.

The Sundby nature reserve covers the southern part of Ornö and almost 30 smaller islands. Typical archipelago bird species can be found there. A trail in the Sundby nature reserve leads to Stenhuset, the ruins of Sundby’s first manor, and through the old oak landscape at Mane äng. This allows you to combine the natural area with traces of the former cultural landscape.

History along trails and in exhibitions

A chapel probably already stood on the site of today’s Ornö kyrka at the end of the 14th century. A larger church was built there in 1652. At the Ornö Museum, you can see permanent exhibitions featuring objects and photographs from Ornö. There are also rooms furnished like historic archipelago farmsteads. Near Hässelmara, an Early Bronze Age burial ground, heaps of fieldstones at a settlement site from that period and an information board commemorate the island’s early settlement.

Other historic sites represent different periods. Rosirska gravkapellet was built as a funerary chapel in 1771, belonged to the old church and survived the church fire of 1881. Långviksgruvan, also known as Lugnets gruva, operated from 1914 to 1965 and was used for feldspar mining. The Lervassa Trail adds to these impressions with information boards about the history of the school, cultural life, and Ornö’s agricultural, fishing and military history.

Trails for active and relaxing days

Ornö is easy to explore by bicycle. Another option is the Ornö section of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail: it passes through forests and along coastal paths and is the longest section of the trail. You can start it in Hässelmara, Ornöboda, at the Lättinge jetty or near Ornö kyrka. The section between Hässelmara and Bodal offers opportunities for swimming. Several sections of the Ornö trail are accessible with a pram or wheelchair and for people with reduced mobility.

The water should also be part of your trip planning. Kayaking around Ornö is possible; single and double kayaks can be rented at Kayakomaten in Kyrkviken. For a viewpoint, plan a visit to Telegrafberget. The hill rises 61 metres above sea level and offers views of Dalarö, the expansive bay of Mysingen and, in clear weather, the remote island of Huvudskär.

Choose the right location for your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Ornö, you can first decide which combination should define your trip: extensive nature, historic discoveries, days of cycling and hiking, or time by the water. The various starting points of the Stockholm Archipelago Trail, the year-round car ferry and the opportunity to go kayaking provide practical guidance. Anyone wishing to bring together different interests within the family can include nature reserves, the museum and historic sites in their shared plans without choosing the same type of trip every day.

If you would like to expand your search, you can also visit the pages for Handen, Muskö, Tungelsta, Västerhaninge, Haninge, Österhaninge, Vendelsö and Utö.

To the higher-level travel overview: Haninge.