Lighthouses of Sweden: Stockholm Area

This page covers lighthouses of the greater Stockholm area of Sweden as well as the municipalities of Norrtälje, Österåker, and Vaxholm lying to the northeast of Stockholm. The coastline of this area includes the northern part of the maze of islands and waterways known as the Stockholm Archipelago. The many channels and passages require a large number of lighthouses, but nearly all of them are located offshore or on isolated islands; only a few are easily accessible to the public.

Lighthouses of the eastern and southern portions of the Stockholm Archipelago are described on the Värmdö to Nynäshamn page.

The Swedish word for a lighthouse is fyr. The front light of a range is the nedrefyr (lower light) and the rear light is the övrefyr (upper light). Aids to navigation in Sweden are maintained by the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket). Many of the major lighthouses have resident attendents, and guided tours can often be arranged. The Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet) works for the preservation of the lighthouses.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. SV numbers are from the Sjöfarsverket light list (Fyrlista) as reported by the Swedish Lighthouse Society. Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116.

General Sources
Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet, SFA)
The Society has a large web site, and some of the information is available in English as well as Swedish. An interactive map links to pdf pages (in Swedish) for the major lighthouses, and there is a list of photos available.
Svenska Fyrar på Norrlandskusten av Esbjörn Hillberg
Photos by Hillberg posted on the SFA web site.
Online List of Lights - Sweden
Photos of navigational aids posted by Alex Trabas.
Lighthouses in Sweden
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Lista över fyrar i Stockholms skärgård
Swedish Wikipedia's list of lighthouses of the Stockholm Archipelago; photos are available for many of them.
Lighthouses in Sweden
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Henning Jensen's Lighthouse Pages
Photos and comments for about 20 lighthouses, posted by an employee of the Maritime Administration who helps maintain the lighthouses.
Fyrar
Photos taken from the sea, posted by Bosse Arnholm.
Fyr Vi Har Passeret (Lighthouses We've Passed)
Photos of Baltic lighthouses taken by two Danish sailors, Jette and Ole.
Schwedische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Söderarms Fyr
Söderarms Fyr, Åland Sea, August 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Björn Johansson

Norrtälje Lighthouses

Singö Area Lighthouses
Note: Singö is a large island just off the coast at the border between Stockholm and Uppsala counties. There are fewer than 400 permanent residents, but the island has several thousand summer homes. It is accessible by bridge.
Understen (1)
1848. Inactive since 1916. 13 m (43 ft) round rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is unpainted. The station includes several keeper's houses and auxiliary buildings plus a tall communications and maritime traffic control tower. T. Redelius has the photo at right and a photo of the entire station, SFA has a photo of both Understen lighthouses by J. Hopfinger, Swedish Wikipedia has an article with a photo from the 1950s, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse has a postcard photo (taken from the gallery of the newer lighthouse) that shows the original appearance of the station. This light station stands in the northern entrance to the strait connecting the Gulf of Bothnia to the Baltic Sea, west of the Åland Islands; this strait is called the Åland Sea (Ålands hav) in Sweden. A 9 m (30 ft) daybeacon was built here in 1809; after it was destroyed by a strom in 1839 it was replaced by an 11 m (36 ft) beacon. The 1848 keeper's house is one of the surviving buildings. The station is staffed by resident caretakers in season. Located on a small island about 9 km (5.5 mi) northeast of Singö and about 20 km (13 mi) northwest of the westernmost of the Ålands. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-402.
Understen (2)
1916 (station established 1848). Active; focal plane 48 m (158 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 39 m (128 ft) round 2-stage concrete tower with lantern and gallery; the lower stage is tapered and the upper stage is cylindrical. Lighthouse painted white with a broad black band around the upper stage. The 3rd order Fresnel lens in use was installed in 1922. SFA has a photo of both lighthouses by J. Hopfinger, T. Redelius has a photo of the station, Trabas has a very distant view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a postcard view of the newer tower, and Google has a satellite view. Located near the older lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-071; SV-2201; Admiralty C6288; NGA 10016.
Understens Fyr
1848 Understens Fyr, Åland Sea, August 2006
Flickr photo copyright T. Redelius; permission requested
Singö Stångskär
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5.5 m (18 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red with a white roof. SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, Trabas has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island off the northeast coast of Singö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-342; SV-2234; Admiralty C6282; NGA 10004.
Svartklubben
1820. Active; focal plane 19.5 m (64 ft); two long (2 s) flashes every 15 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) old-style round cylindrical stone tower with an off-center lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a black horizontal band at the top of the tower. Gittel Larsson's photo is at right, SFA has a good closeup photo by J. Alm, Trabas has a good photo, a nice view of the station is available, Huelse has a postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This historic lighthouse marks the west edge of the passage between Sweden and the Åland Islands, at the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia. The tower was originally built to carry an open fire. A lantern was added in 1842; the present lantern and 4th order Fresnel lens were installed in 1899. Located on a small island off the eastern tip of the island of Singö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-386; SV-2228; Admiralty C6290; NGA 9992.

Väddö and Björkö Lighthouses
Note: Väddö is a large island barely separated from the mainland by the narrow Väddö Kanal (channel). The southern part of the island, which projects eastward into the gulf, is often called Björkö.
Stromsviken Övre
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction; also a white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. Trabas has a photo, but the tower is not seen clearly in Google's satellite view. The range guides vessels northbound in the Väddö Kanal. The front light is on a short post in the water. Located on a small island in the middle of the channel about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the north end. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6309.1; NGA 10123.
Svartklubbens Fyr
Svartklubbens Fyr, Singö, March 2012
Panoramio photo copyright Gittel Larsson; used by permission
Simpnäsklubb (Skomakaren) (2)
1944 (station established 1869). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); one long flash every 8 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one narrow green horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, SFA has a photo by J. Hopfinger, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse has a postcard view of the original lighthouse, a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house with an octagonal lantern mounted at one end. Wikimedia has a historic photo showing both lighthouses. The original lantern is on display at Simpnäs (see below). The modern lighthouse stands beside the stone foundation of the original. Located on a skerry off the northeast side of Björkö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-340; SV-2540; Admiralty C6362; NGA 9976.
* Näskubben (2)
1933 (station established 1850). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red with a white roof. Trabas has an excellent photo, SFA has a closeup photo by E. Hillberg, Henrik Ahrnborg has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's house shown in Huelse's postcard view has been demolished, although the foundation remains. Located on a promontory at the eastern tip of Björkö, marking the entrance to the strait separating Björkö from Arholma. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-285; SV-2545; Admiralty C6366; NGA 10036.
* Simpnäsklubb (1) (lantern)
1869. Inactive since 1944. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery from the original Simpnäsklubb lighthouse. Bo Justusson has a good photo (halfway down the page), SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has a satellite view. Located next to a small nautical museum maintained by the Björkö-Arholma Sailors Association on the waterfront of Simpnäs, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the present lighthouse. Site open, tower closed.
* Simpnäsgrynnan
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red. Chris Goldberg's photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, SFA has a closeup photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located offshore about 600 m (0.4 mi) southeast of the Simpnäs waterfront. Accessible only by boat, but easily seen from shore. Site open, tower closed. SV-2557; Admiralty C6371; NGA 10044.
Dejeudden (1)
Date unknown. Apparently inactive. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red. Trabas has a photo showing that the light has been moved to a post mounted on a small equipment shed next to the lighthouse. These lights have not been found in Google's satellite view. Located on a point of land about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) south of Simpnäs. May be accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6372; NGA 10048.
Simpnäsgrynnans Fyr
Simpnäsgrynnans Fyr, Simpnäs, June 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Chris Goldberg
Svedudden
Date unknown. Actove; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red, lantern white with a red roof. Trabas has a photo and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a point of land marking the narrowest point of the passage between Björkö and Arholma, about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Simpnäs. May be accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6373; NGA 10060.

Arholma Area Lighthouses
* [Arholma (Arholma Båk)]
1768. Active only as a daybeacon. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical old-style stone tower with a conical roof. Tower painted red with a white horizontal band. Chris Goldberg's photo is at right, Irene Berg has a good photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This tower was never lit and served only as a daybeacon, a function it still performs. Until 1875 it also served as a pilot station. Located atop a rocky bluff about midway on the west side of the island of Arholma. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-085.
Arholma Nedre
Date unknown (station established 1905). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern red. Trabas has a photo, but the light is not seen clearly in Google's satellite view. The rear light is on a skeletal tower. Located on a promontory near the village of Arholma, on the west side of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6370; NGA 10052.
Högskär
1913. Inactive since 1997. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No current photo available, but Huelse has a postcard photo taken in the 1960s and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 400 m (1/4 mi) off the northernmost point of Arholma. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-195.

Arholma Båk, Arholma, June 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Chris Goldberg

Northeastern Stockholm Archipelago Lighthouses
Tjärven
1903. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white or green depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete block tower attached to one corner of a square 3-story concrete block building. The ground floor is unpainted stone, and the upper portion of the lighthouse is painted white. Johan Walter's photo is at right, SFA has a closeup photo by J. Alm, Arnholm has a view from the sea, and Trabas has a very distant view by Ronald Wöhrn, but Google has only a very fuzzy satellite view. The lighthouse formerly had a castellated gallery and a more traditional lantern, as seen in a historic photo in SFA's collection. In 2008, the Sjöfartsverket restored the building and converted the light to solar power. The lantern was to be removed, but this proved to be more difficult than expected, so the new light was installed in the existing lantern instead. Located on a small island about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the Söderarm lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-393; SV-2600; Admiralty C6386; NGA 9576.
Söderarm
1839. Inactive since 2007. 21 m (69 ft) round old-style granite tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band; lantern and watch room painted black. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house and other light station buildings. Björn Johansson's photo is at the top of this page, SFA has a photo by J. Alm, a 2003 photo of the station is available, Arnholm has a view from the sea, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's house is available for overnight accommodations. This lighthouse marked the beginning of the approach to Stockholm for westbound or southbound vessels. Located on a small island about 25 km (15 mi) east northeast of Kapellskär. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Söderarm Fyr. ARLHS SWE-059; SV-2590; ex-Admiralty C6384; ex-NGA 9572.
Remmargrund
1970. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 8 s on, 2 s off. 20 m (66 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted with red and black horizontal bands. Wikimedia has a 2011 photo, SFA has a closeup photo by J. Alm, another photo is available, Trabas has a very distant view, and the lighthouse is barely visible in Google's satellite view. This lighthouse is now the rear light of a range; the front light is on a short post. Located on a shoal about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of the island of Vattungarna. Accessible only by boat, but ferries to Finland pass close to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-320; SV-2610; Admiralty C6387; NGA 9580.
Tjärvens Fyr
Tjärvens Fyr, Åland Sea, July 2009
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Johan Walter
Lerskärsgrund
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery, painted with red and black horizontal bands. Wikimedia has a photo, Trabas has a photo by Ronald Wöhrn, another photo is available, also a 2009 photo showing the lighthouse in need of repainting, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a shoal about 3 km (1.8 mi) east of the island of Fejan. Accessible only by boat, but ferries to Finland pass close to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-235; Admiralty C6390; NGA 9588.
Västerkobb
Date unknown (station established 1939). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a green horizontal band around the lantern. Wikimedia has a photo, Alistair Smith has an excellent photo, and SFA has a photo by J. Alm. Located on the west side of the island of Vidinge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2745; Admiralty C6396; NGA 9360.
Hundskärsknuv (Huvudskäsknuv)
Date unknown (station established 1939). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a red horizontal band around the lantern. Wikimedia has a photo, SFA has a photo (identified as Huvudskäsknuv) by J. Alm, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the western tip of the island of Rödlöga. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2753; Admiralty C6399; NGA 9352.

Kapellskär Area Lighthouses
Note: About 60 km (38 mi) northeast of Stockholm, Kapellskär is the terminal for ferries sailing for the Åland Islands, for Naantali in Finland, and for Paldiski in Estonia.
Kapellskär (2)
Date unknown (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10.5 m (31 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a green horizontal band. Trabas has a photo by Ronald Wöhrn, another photo and a good closeup are available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the northern tip of an island about 800 m (1/2 mi) east of the Kapellskär waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-210; Admiralty C6412; NGA 9608.
Marö
Date unknown (station established 1932). Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red, lantern white with a red roof. Trabas has a photo, SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northeastern point of Marö, an entry point for the northern channel to Stockholm, about 2 km (1.25 mi) southwest of Kapellskär. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2639; Admiralty C6416; NGA 9632.
Västerkobbs Fyr
Västerkobbs Fyr, Vidinge, June 2011
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Johan Fredriksson
Ålandskobb
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete foundation. Lantern painted white with a green roof. Wikimedia has a photo, SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry off the south side of the island of Ålandet, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Kapellskär. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2643; Admiralty C6418; NGA 9636.

Yxlan Area Lighthouses
Note: Yxlan is an island, 25 km (15 mi) long but quite narrow, lying on the south side of the main shipping channel between Stockholm and Finland.
Gryten
Date unknown (station established 1932). Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); four flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a green horizontal band around the lantern. Wikimedia has a photo, SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the center of the channel north of Yxlan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2654; Admiralty C6421; NGA 9648.
Yxlan
Date unknown (station established 1905). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red with a white roof. Wikimedia has a photo, SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the foot of a forested promontory on the southwest coast of the island of Yxlan. Probably accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2658; Admiralty C6422; NGA 9652.
Växlet Norra
Date unknown (station established 1881). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red with a white roof. Wikimedia has a photo, SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry in the channel west of the southwestern tip of Yxlan. Probably accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2666; Admiralty C6423; NGA 9656.

Österåker Lighthouses

Ryssmasterna
Date unknown (station established 1928). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, Wikimedia has a photo, another photo and a third photo are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of Dyvik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6432; NGA 9680.
Sandkullen
Date unknown (station established 1916). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted red with a white roof. SFA has a photo by D. Eriksson, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry in the Östra Saxafjärden sound west of Ljusterö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-2685; Admiralty C6434; NGA 9696.
Vallersvik
Date unknown (station established 1939). Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white with a green horizontal band. Trabas has a closeup, Carlo Pelagalli has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a promontory on the north side of the channel about 1 km (0.6 mi) southwest of Bammarboda. Site status unknown. Admiralty C6444; NGA 9700.
Mjölkö (Mjölkön)
Date unknown (station established 1931). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete pier. Lantern painted green with a white roof; pier painted white. Carlo Pelagalli has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the channel southwest of Mjölkö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6446; NGA 9704.
Östra Ålgögrundet
Date unknown (station established 1931). Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); quick-flashing white light. 7.5 m (25 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone pier. Lighthouse painted white with a narrow green horizontal band. Carlo Pelagalli's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the center of the channel southwest of Stora Algö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6452; NGA 9708.

Östra Ålgögrundets Fyr, Österåker, May 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Carlo Pelagalli

Vaxholm Lighthouses

Sandgrundet
Date unknown (station established 1922). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) lantern mounted on a stone pier. Trabas has a photo, Wikimedia has a photo, Huelse has a postcard view and Google has a satellite view. Located about 700 m (0.45 mi) southeast of the Vaxholm waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-333; Admiralty C6528; NGA 9472.
Kodjupet
Date unknown (station established 1882). Inactive, although the tower is floodlit at night. 4 m (13 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on a round concrete pier. Entire lighthouse is white. Wikimedia has a photo, a distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) west of the island of Vikingsborg. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Not listed by the Admiralty or by NGA.
Brödstycket
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a narrow red horizontal band. Dick Rochester's photo is at right, Carlo Pelagalli has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light is at the point where the northern and southern approaches to Stockholm converge. Located on a small island in the center of the channel about 1200 m (3/4 mi) north of Skarpö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6522; NGA 9456.
Värmdö-Garpen
Date unknown (station established 1894). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 5 s. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Wikimedia has a photo, Carlo Pelagalli has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of the island of Kungsbor, about 800 m (1/2 mi) east northeast of Koviksudde. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty C6568; NGA 9484.
Brödstyctets Fyr
Brödstyckets Fyr, Vaxholm, July 2008
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Dick Rochester
Tynningö
Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Wikimedia has Carlo Pelagalli's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the channel off the south coast of Tynningö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6570; NGA 9496.
Furuholmen
Date unknown (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Carlo Pelagalli has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the west end of a small island about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of Karlsudd. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6544; NGA 9476.
Bogesund
Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round stone pier with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted green. Arnholm has a closeup photo, Trabas also has a closeup, Wikimedia has a photo, a wider view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the channel south of Karlsudd. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6536; NGA 9504.

Furuholmens Fyr, Vaxholm, May 2008
Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Carlo Pelagalli

Stockholm Urban Area Lighthouses and Lightships

Lidingö Lighthouses
Stora Höggarnsbank
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted black, lantern white with a red horizontal band. Trabas has a photo, and the light can be seen in Google's satellite view. Located at the western end of the island of Stora Höggarn, northwest of Kummelnäs. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6539; NGA 9512.
Elfviksgrund (Ålvviksgrundet)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6.5 m (21 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one green horizontal band. Wikimedia has Dick Rochester's photo, Trabas has a photo, P. Eskilsson has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located off Elfviksudde, the eastern point of Lidingö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6546; NGA 9520.
Libertus
Date unknown (station established 1931). Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A photo is at right, Lars Johnson has a closeup, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse displays a directional light for vessels westbound for Stockholm. Trabas has a photo taken during a recent renovation. Located at the northwest tip of a small island in the Lilla Värtan sound, near a junction point for several ship channels and about 1.4 km (0.9 mi) northeast of the Blockhusudden light (see below). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6550; NGA 9548.
* Torsvik
Date unknown. Inactive since the 1990s. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Wikimedia has a photo, and David Thyberg has a photo, but trees obscure the lighthouse in Google's satellite view. Located on the west side of the island of Lidingö a short distance north of the bridge connecting the island to Stockholm. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty C6555.

Danderyds Lighthouses
* Djursholmsudde
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern, painted white. The lantern gives this light an odd, mushroom-shaped appearance seen in silhouette. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Djursholm is an upscale neighborhood in Danderyds about 5 km (3 mi) north of downtown Stockholm. Located at the southeastern tip of a promontory pointing into the Stora Värtan sound. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6541; NGA 9532.
* Aludden
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern, painted white. Similar to its sibling, the Djursholmsudde light (previous entry). Trabas has a photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the southeastern tip of a promontory in Djursholm, about 800 m (1/2 mi) southwest of the Djursholmsudde light. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6542; NGA 9536.
Libertus Fyr
Libertus Fyr, Lidingö, January 2011
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Pgjansson

Stockholm City Lighthouses and Lightships
*** Kaknästornet
Date unknown (tower built 1967). Active; focal plane 172 m (564 ft); quick-flashing white light; the tower also carries an aeronautical quick-flashing white light and red aircraft warning lights. 155 m (509 ft) square concrete television and communications tower. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Designed by architect Bengt Lindroos, this tower is a famous landmark on the east side of Stockholm. The top of the tower icnludes a popular restaurant offering a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings. Although the navigational value of the light is questionable, it has long been carried on the Admiralty list. Located in the Kaknäs neighborhood east of Stockholm and north of Djurgården. Site and tower open. Admiralty C6548.
* Blockhusudden (Djurgården)
Date unknown (station established 1905). Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone pier. E.M. Lawrence has a closeup photo, Trabas has another closeup, Wikimedia has a photo, Lars Johnson has a fine closeup , Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The tower is unpainted dark gray stone, lantern painted white. This lighthouse marks the entrance to the Saltsjön, Stockholm's inner harbor. Located off the east end of the Djurgården, the forested island just east of downtown Stockholm. Accessible only by boat, but there are excellent views from shore. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty C6558; NGA 9556.
* Fyrskepp 21 Biskopsudden (Trelleborgsredd)
1899 (Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad, Malmö). Decommissioned 1962. 24 m (79 ft) steel lightship. The vessel has been altered considerably from its original appearance; it has a modern superstructure and a faux light tower with a round observation room. Hull painted red, superstructure white with red trim, light tower white with a red roof. A good closeup photo is available, as well as a wider view, and Google has a satellite view. The ship served the Trelleborgsredd station until 1930, and then the Oskarsgrundet station from 1932 until 1961. Its location thereafter is not known, but in 1988 the ship was rebuilt as a houseboat and office. The original light tower was removed and sold to the owners of the lightship Västra Banken, which has since been relocated to the Le Phare Bleu Marina and Resort in Grenada, in the West Indies. Since 1988, Fyrskepp 21 has been called the Biskopsudden, because it is moored at the marina of the same name. According to Iris Klempau, since 2006 the ship has been for sale for £1 million. Moored at the Biskopsudden Marina on the south side of the Djurgården; ferries arriving in or departing Stockholm pass the vessel. Site open, vessel closed. Site manager: private. ARLHS SWE-442.
**** Fyrskepp 25 Finngrundet
1903 (Gefle Mekaniska Verkstad AB). Decommissioned 1969. 31 m (102 ft) two-masted steel lightship; light tower with lantern and gallery. Ship painted red with white trim; superstructure painted a pale yellow. A good 2007 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This ship served its entire career, 66 years, assigned to the Finngrundet station northeast of Gavö. In 1970 it was donated by the Sjöfartsverket to the Statens Sjöhistoriska Museet, better known as the Vasa Museum, where it has been on display ever since. Moored at the museum, at the western end of the Djurgården. Site open, vessel open for tours daily except Mondays. Site manager: Sjöhistoriska Museet. ARLHS SWE-043.
Fyrskepp 10B Fladen
1892 (Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad, Malmö). Decommissioned 1967. 34.6 m (113 ft) two-masted steel lightship; light tower with lantern and gallery. Hull and light tower painted red, superstructure white. Larry Myhre has a 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The ship served on the Fladen station for all of its career except 1909-1929, when it was on the Grisbådarna station. In 1968 it was sold and converted to a club fishing ship. In 1987 it was sold again, to the film director Hannes Holm. Moored at the northern tip of Skeppsholmen, an island in Stockholm's harbor. Site open, vessel closed. Site manager: private. ARLHS SWE-044.
Lightship Finngrundet
Fyrskepp 25 Finngrundet, Stockholm, August 2007
Flickr Creative Commons photo by François du Plessis
Fyrskepp 32 Vinga (ex-Fladen)
1926 (Hälsingborgs Varvs och Stål Svetsnings AB). Decommissioned 1972. 34.6 m (113 ft) steel lightship; the light tower has been removed. Hull and light tower painted red, superstructure white. Larry Myhre has a 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The ship served on the Fladen station for three years and then for many years on the Vinga station in the Skagerrak. In 1967 it was rebuilt to serve as a residential ship for hydrographic survey expeditions. In 1978 it was sold to the Skeppsholmsgården Foundation, which continued its use as a residential ship, this time for high school students. Since 2007 it has been for sale; there is concern that if it is not sold soon it will be scrapped. Moored at Skeppsholmen, a short distance southeast of the Fladen. Site open, vessel closed. Site manager: private. ARLHS SWE-044.

Nacka Lighthouses
* Järlasjön
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 5 m (17 ft); light characteristics unknown.5 m (17 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted black, lantern white. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The Järlasjön is a lake in the Nacka municipality on the southeast side of Stockholm. The lake is connected by a narrow strait to another lake, the Sicklasjön, which is in turn connected to Stockhilm harbor by the Sickla Canal. Located at the end of a pier on the north side of the lake. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed.
Kungshamn
Date unknown (station established 1905). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white. Trabas has a closeup, a wider view is available, and Google has a satellite view. The light marks the entrance to the Skurusund, a north-south channel intersecting the main channel to Stockholm. Located on the south side of the main channel and the west side of the Skurusund. Site status unknown. Admiralty C6549; NGA 9528.

Järlasjöns Fyr, October 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Kicki Holmén

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Southern Bothnia | East: Åland Islands | South: Värmdö to Nynäshamn | West: Lake Mälaren

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Posted July 16, 2007. Checked and revised July 10, 2012. Lighthouses: 47; Lightships: 4. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.