Tall Ship sailing to Sweden & Denmark

A Sweden Sailing Holiday Aboard a Historic Tall Ship

Kiel → Danish Coast → Bornholm → Christiansø → Karlskrona

This Sweden sailing holiday begins in Kiel, a working port city at the gateway of the Baltic, where tall ship Iris prepares to cast off for the northeast. 

The Western Baltic at this time of year typically offers low swell and moderate winds, making for comfortable sailing even for those stepping aboard a tall ship for the first time. The exact route will shift with the conditions, but Iris will generally follow the Danish coast before crossing to the island of Bornholm. Her next stop will likely be the car-free outpost of Christiansø, before finally making her way northeast to Karlskrona on the Swedish coast.

Get to grips with life on board as you help set the sails, take a turn at the helm, and learn some basic rope-work under the guidance of Jans and Liv, Iris’s owners and skippers. To cover the voyage, Iris will aim to average around 50 nautical miles a day, which means genuine open water sailing and a real sense of progress across the chart.

Bornholm and Christiansø – Denmark’s Baltic Outposts

Few Danish islands feel quite as remote as Bornholm, sitting out in the Baltic well east of the Danish mainland. Its landscape is unlike anywhere else in Denmark with its granite cliffs dropping to sandy beaches, medieval round churches rising above quiet villages, and the dramatic ruins of Hammershus Castle perched above the northern coast. It’s a place that rewards a slow wander, and Iris will aim to give you time ashore to do just that.

From Bornholm, the course heads northeast to Christiansø, the main island of the Ertholmene with a tiny cluster of islets sometimes called the Pea Islands. Car-free, largely unchanged for centuries, and home to a small community, Christiansø has a feeling entirely its own. Wildflowers line the paths between historic fortifications, and the harbour is one of those places where time seems to slow right down. It’s a highlight of the voyage for good reason.

• Hammershus Castle, Bornholm – Scandinavia’s largest medieval castle ruin, with sweeping views across the Baltic
• Bornholm’s round churches – four distinctive whitewashed churches unique to the island
• Christiansø harbour – one of the Baltic’s most atmospheric stopping points, unchanged for generations
• Ertholmene wildlife – seabirds nest in abundance on the smaller islets surrounding Christiansø

Arriving in Sweden – Karlskrona and the Swedish Coast

The final leg of this sweden sailing holiday carries Iris northeast across the open Baltic towards the Swedish coast, making landfall at Karlskrona, a UNESCO World Heritage city and one of Scandinavia’s finest naval ports. Built across a series of islands in the late 17th century, Karlskrona has a grandeur and a stillness that feels like a fitting reward for the passage north.

The Swedish coastline here is characterised by skerries, inlets, and forests running almost to the water’s edge. There’s a particular quality to the light this far north in summer with long, golden evenings that make anchorages feel unhurried, and the journey feel worthwhile. Depending on wind and timing, there may be opportunities to explore a little of the coast before arriving in port.

For those with more time, the High Coast region further north is a UNESCO-listed landscape of dramatic cliffs and forested islands giving a sense of just how varied Sweden’s Baltic coastline becomes the further you travel.

Aboard Tall Ship Iris – A Traditional Ketch

Iris is a working vessel with real character. Her traditional ketch rig and sturdy steel hull make her a proper tall ship to learn on, and her layout below decks has been thoughtfully adapted for guest comfort. 12 guests sleep in 6 private twin cabins, with generous communal spaces to gather in at the end of each day’s sailing.

• Sleeping: 6 private twin cabins, sleeping up to 12 guests
• Saloon: Large shared saloon with a dining area, separate sofa area, and a small onboard library
• Food: Full board with everyone helping to prepare meals on board
• Experience: Hands-on sailing with guests are encouraged to take an active role
• Crew: Skippered by owners Jans and Liv, with years of traditional tall ship experience

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.