Blidösund is the name of the strait between the two islands Blidö and Yxlan, in the northern parts of the Stockholm archipelago. It is also the name of the last coal-fired steamer in the archipelago. In Stockholm, Blidösund departs from Skeppsbron, just in front of the Royal Palace. Phone 08-411 71 13 for details about departure times etc.
Blidösund is probably most well known for the music cruises in the summer evenings, from May to August, where the audience can enjoy good jazz, blues or rock music. Steamships are well suited for this purpose, since the engine sound is like a whisper. The music cruises are mostly round-trips from Stockholm.
During the summer, Blidösund operates a regular passenger tour each weekend on her traditional route since 1911, between Stockholm and Blidösund. She leaves Stockholm Friday afternoon. The lovely trip to Blidö takes 4 1/2 hours, and she continues all the way to Norrtälje (six hours in total). Excellent food is served in the restaurant. From Norrtälje, there is a one hour bus-trip back to Stockholm, making this a round-trip for those who want. She returns to Stockholm the same way on Sunday afternoon.
Different excursions are made during the weekends, in the northern archipelago. Connections are made by other boats and buses from Stockholm.
In December, you can enjoy Julbord (traditional Christmas smorgasboard) on roundtrips from Stockholm.
s/s Blidösund has her own supporting association, Föreningen s/s Blidösund, with around 3000 members, which helps finance the maintenance of the ship. It is now very well restored, close to its original condition. The steam engine is still fired manually with coal.
Built 1911 at Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Gothenburg. LOA 35,3 m. Beam 6,8 m. 374 passengers. Compound steam engine 320 hp. Coal-fired.
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Last update: May 18, 1995, by Klas Orsvärn (klasorsv@sics.se).