Tall Ship Sailing from Copenhagen to Sweden
Sail from Copenhagen to explore the Danish islands of the Kattegat Sea and the Swedish archipelago of Gothenburg.
Set sail aboard traditional wooden schooner Aron for a tall ship holiday from Denmark to Sweden – island hopping the open waters of the Kattegat Sea from Copenhagen to the stunning archipelago of Gothenburg. Departing from the Danish capital, this hands-on sailing voyage navigates through remote Viking islands and pristine coastlines, with the wind deciding the finer details of the route.
From the unique seaweed-thatched houses of Læsø to the granite skerries of the Swedish coast, this voyage offers the perfect balance of sailing, exploration, and life aboard a beautiful historic vessel. No experience is needed – just a sense of adventure.
- Gothenburg Archipelago
- Remote islands & wildlife watching
- Hands-on sailing, learn the ropes
- Unique seaweed-thatched Læsø houses
- Private cabins, full board
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Talk to the team
Telephone: +44 (0)1872 487288
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7804 472592
A Tall Ship Holiday from Denmark to Sweden: Sailing the Kattegat
Copenhagen → Anholt → Læsø → Gothenburg Archipelago → Gothenburg
Join Aron in Copenhagen, one of Europe’s most walkable and genuinely fascinating capitals, with easy transport links from the UK and a character all of its own. The colourful Nyhavn waterfront, the historic architecture, and the world-famous Tivoli Gardens make it well worth adding a few days to your tall ship holiday in Sweden and Denmark to explore the city before you sail.
Setting the sails from Copenhagen, Aron will use the wind to decide her route north through the Kattegat Strait – the open sea between Denmark and Sweden. She hopes to visit the Danish islands of Anholt and Læsø before crossing to the Gothenburg archipelago on the Swedish coast. The wind and weather will shape the week, and the skipper and crew will plan the route with guests as you board. With a good rhythm of sailing days and time ashore, you’ll quickly find yourself settling into life at sea.
Anholt & Læsø: The Remote Danish Islands of the Kattegat
Few parts of Denmark feel as far from the modern world as the islands of the Kattegat – and that’s precisely their appeal.
Anholt sits midway between Denmark and Sweden, a small island of around 150 people who rely on fishing and sustainable tourism. Rich in Viking history and shaped by centuries of battles and changing hands, it’s a place with real depth beneath its quiet surface. Wander the tranquil beaches, watch for seals on the shorelines, and keep an eye out for the abundance of seabirds that nest across the island.
Læsø is famous for something found nowhere else in the world – its seaweed-thatched houses. Nineteen surviving roofs are known to be over 300 years old, a building tradition born of necessity when a great sandstorm buried the island in salt, killing the trees and forcing locals to turn to driftwood from shipwrecks and the island’s abundant seaweed. The result is one of the most unusual and quietly beautiful architectural traditions in Scandinavia. Beyond the houses, Læsø offers a beautiful coastline and pristine white beaches, which are a natural haven for those who like their islands unhurried and unspoilt.
The Gothenburg Archipelago: Sweden’s Western Island Wilderness
After crossing the Kattegat, Aron arrives in one of Scandinavia’s most rewarding sailing grounds. The Gothenburg archipelago is a sprawling collection of islands, islets, and bare granite skerries off the western coast of Sweden. The place is scattered with islands of all shapes and sizes, many with privately owned traditional red Swedish summer houses and lighthouses. Arriving here by tall ship is, without question, the finest way to meet it.
Officially, there are around 8,000 islands in the archipelago, though Aron will focus on the southern islands closest to Gothenburg. Donsö is one of the larger islands and an important port, with great views across the archipelago from its hilltop. Vargö is a nature reserve with excellent swimming, fishing, and coastal walking, its birdlife dominated by gulls, eider ducks, and forest birds. Vrångö, the southernmost island, is a quiet community that still relies on fishing and is especially known for its beautiful nature reserves and sandy beaches. Thanks to Sweden’s allemansrätten – the freedom to roam, Aron can moor up alongside the smooth-faced rocks almost anywhere, opening up corners of the coast that no ferry or road can reach.
The voyage ends in the port city of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, with picturesque canals, leafy boulevards, and a genuinely relaxed character. It’s a rewarding place to spend a night or two before heading home.
Life Aboard the Traditional Schooner Aron
Aron is owned and skippered by Danish sailing couple Gorm and Helene, whose love of traditional sailing is evident the moment you step aboard. They believe any sailing voyage is an adventure at your own pace, and on a voyage like this, with open water, longer passages, and the wind setting the agenda, that spirit comes into its own.
Built in 1906, Aron of Svendborg is a fine example of a traditional Marstal sailing ship with solid oak, soft lines, and a powerful spring curve typical of the great working schooners of the Baltic. For those who want to get properly involved with hoisting sails, reading a chart and taking the helm, the crew will teach you the ropes. For those who prefer to watch the Swedish coast slide by from the deck, that’s equally welcome. Travelling aboard Aron is also a genuinely sustainable choice; Gorm and Helene prioritise ecology and local produce wherever possible.
- Cabins: Private bunk cabins below deck, simple and comfortable
- Meals: Full board, Danish-inspired, home-cooked food with local produce
- Sailing style: Hands-on if you want it, relaxed if you don’t
- Crew: Gorm and Helene are a warm, experienced, and deeply knowledgeable couple
- Sustainability: Ecology and local sourcing are central to life on board
Things to note
Sailing vs Shoretime
Night-watches?
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be more than 12 miles offshore.
Our sailing holidays on traditional tall ship Aron of Svendborg are perfect for those looking for a unique, sustainable holiday experience. Get to grips with life on a traditional vessel as you explore the islands of the Baltic Sea under sail.
Getting Involved
Aron is owned and skippered by a Danish couple, Gorm and Helene. Hailing from the Danish port of Svendborg, they have been sailing in and around Denmark all of their lives. The opportunity to share their sailing grounds with guests, showing them where they grew up and introducing them to the history and sailing heritage of the area, is something they are both extremely proud of.
They love nothing more than to welcome guests on board Aron, sharing with them both their floating home and also a piece of maritime history of which they are fiercely protective. (If you get the chance to stop at Marstal – be sure to get Gorm to give you an outside tour of the old shipyard before you take a museum tour!)
Gorm is usually at the helm, plotting the route with Helene and watching the weather. Helene is on hand on deck to guide guests, showing them the ropes. She used to teach sail training on larger tall ships, so her manner is considered, and her explanations of wind direction and sail hoisting are clear and easy to learn. Although guest participation is not mandatory, Gorm and Helene believe it is truly the best part of the experience. It doesn’t matter what your age or ability, there is always something to suit!
Get to grips with hoisting the sails, taking the helm and some basic navigation. Everything on Aron is done as part of a team, from work on deck to preparing dinner and washing up. Everyone takes a turn – there’s something quite holistic about peeling apples on deck, just picked from a local island, sharing cultural stories of culinary delights from around the world (or maybe just your granny’s apple pie recipe!)
Sustainable Sailing
Enjoy the silence of the sea, the wind in the sails and the gentle creak of this beautiful old wooden ship.
Sailing with Aron is not necessarily about the destination (although the islands of Denmark are truly beautiful and perfect to be explored by boat!). Still, the journey itself is the real purpose. Using mainly the power of the steady Baltic winds, sailing with Aron is a sustainable holiday choice in a time when there are increasing climate challenges around us. The impact on the environment is deciding the experiences we choose, and with Aron, ecology, sustainability and local experiences are at the heart of everything on offer. Denmark has a real community spirit from town to town and island to island. Everyone helps each other out, and a lot of the village stores run on a community-funded, volunteer basis. Helene and Gorm are very much a part of this and are building relationships with local artisanal producers across the islands. Helene hopes to use the last section of the cargo hold on Aron to share produce across the islands. This isn’t for financial gain, just to share community spirit.
Dining Aboard
With the fresh sea air comes a healthy appetite, and after a day of traditional sailing, enjoy delicious home-cooked meals aboard. Using local produce or perhaps even throwing a line for our very own catch-of-the-day, Helene is well-versed in cooking up a feast from the galley. The menu ranges from traditional Danish dishes to international flavours. Helene has spent many years travelling the world with tall ships, so her menu is very much inspired.
There is plenty of space both above and below decks to lay up a feast, with the saloon and dining area providing a cosy space for colder evenings. Helene converted the saloon from its previous life as a bar, with her own fair hands, reusing the original materials.
Sleeping & Relaxation
Aron can accommodate up to ten guests in a combination of four twin cabins and one 3-berth cabin. Cabin allocation happens once everyone has booked and has boarded. Some cabins are more suited to taller guests, come better suited for couples, etc, so Helene will allocate upon arrival.
Each cabin comes with its own sink, hand-towel, wash towel, full bedding and USB charging points, and all cabins share a toilet. There is a shower aboard Aron if needed, but the shoreside marina facilities are so good, it’s almost a shame not to use them. Aside from the showers, you’ll often find communal BBQs with sheltered seating, and sometimes even a sauna!
The crew have their own private space and cabins in the transom of the ship, and Gorm and Helene sometimes sail with two of their sea-going children (usually if there are other children booked on). So Aron is suitable for all and any ages of children, although as a guide, children under five should have some experience of being at sea.
A Typical Day
Breakfast starts typically around 8-8.30 am, before the plan for the day is discussed. Usually, after breakfast, it’s time to hoist the sails for a few hours before making port after lunch. Afternoons are spent exploring ashore, walking the flat islands to castles, beach-combing, getting fresh ice cream, sea dips, bunk resting, reading a book, or playing cards together. There is no expectation, sometimes the group walks together, sometimes they split up – it’s your holiday, so it’s up to you!
The Scandinavian coastline is a great place to embrace the “hygge” that Denmark is known for, switch off from the demands of the modern world and simply relax.
Sample menu
All food is made on board, and local, fresh produce is at the top of the shopping list.
BREAKFAST
- Continental style: fresh meats, cheeses, warm rolls, soft-boiled eggs, conserves, oatmeal, and fresh pastries
ELEVENSES/AFTERNOON CAKE
- Tea, coffee, cakes and local pastries
LUNCH
- Home-made soup, bread and local cheeses
- Fresh sandwiches, local meats, salad
- Danish buffet: warm liver pate with mushrooms and bacon, potatoes, fresh bread, cheeses, smoked herring and mackerel
- Open sandwiches -“Smørrebrød”
DINNER
- Home-made potato and leek soup with fresh rye croutons and locally caught chilli shrimp
- Local, rolled stuffed pork with garlic-roasted vegetables and a salted lemon and apple salad.
- Local celeriac fritters, sesame new potatoes and fresh greens, salad and fresh bread
- International tapas – a variety of Helene’s dishes from her worldly travels – we won’t ruin the surprise!
DESSERT
- Ice cream from Skaro
- Fresh fruits
- Chocolate Liquorice! (a Danish favourite…)
There is also a huge fruit bowl that guests can help themselves to throughout the voyage!
Aron of Svendborg
Guest berths: 10 Rig: Schooner
Aron is owned and skippered by Danish sailing couple Gorm and Helene, whose love of traditional sailing is evident to see. They believe that any sailing voyage is “an adventure at your own pace”. Travelling on a sailing ship like Aron is a sustainable choice at a time when climate challenges are increasingly shaping the experiences we choose. On board Aron, they prioritise ecology, sustainability and local produce wherever possible.
From long weekends to week-long and even some traditional sail racing voyages, there is something for everyone. Her main sailing area in the South Funen archipelago in Denmark offers balmy winds and gentle waves, making her a great introductory boat for those wanting to experience something new. If you’re a little more adventurous, she explores the Swedish archipelago during the summer and takes part in some traditional sail races too. There is no age limit, either young or old, and there is no need for any sailing experience, just a good sense of humour and a lust for adventure is a must!
Built in 1906, Aron of Svendborg is a fine example of a traditional Marstal sailing ship, with the soft lines and powerful ‘spring curve’ for which these schooners were renowned. Built with solid oak, her flat transom and good sailing characteristics are typical of shipbuilder Lars Jensen Bager of Bager’s shipyard in Marstal.
Both above and below decks, Aron of Svendborg is a beautiful base for exploring the islands and coastline of Denmark and Sweden. She offers private bunk cabins, a spacious saloon area and plenty of space above decks to relax under sail and watch the world go by.
Deck plan
More about Aron of Svendborg
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Short Adventure Sailing Holiday in the Lofoten Islands
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Tall Ship Sailing & Island Hopping in Denmark
Tall Ship Sailing the Hanseatic cities & Baltic Coast, Germany
Inspiration for your voyage
Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below. Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below.
JOURNAL
