Dalarö

Latitud: N 59º 8' 16.33"
Longitud: E 18º 25' 2.07"

Dalarö is one of the southern archipelago's most important and oldest communities. The main southern sea route to Stockholm has passed by here since the Middle Ages and pilot and customs authorities have been important employers. The place has always been of strategic importance for defence of the capital and to the south of the main community on the island is Dalarö Sconce, which was a defence structure until the middle of the 19^th century. Today it is used as a restaurant and conference centre.

Dalarö is characterised by the narrow streets which climb the ridge from the sea and the busy harbour and the classic holiday retreats with their verandahs. During the summer months, many tourists visit Dalarö. You can wander along winding laneways, visit the beautiful 17^th century church and archipelago museum, go shopping in the many shops or eat ice cream and have a coffee by the harbour where the boats sail to nearby Ornö, Utö and Nåttarö. Scheduled services also go to Huvudskär, which lies amongst the outer skerries, where you can stay in the hostel, which is an old customs house.

There are a number of guest harbours on Dalarö which offer a full range of services for visiting boats. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants, hotels and shops. Schweizerdalen is on Dalarö's southern headland on the other side of Lotsberget (Pilot's hill) and here there are holiday homes and white sandy beaches. To the north is the Smådalarö peninsula with its characteristic mill which can be seen from a long way out to sea.

How to Get There
There is a road that goes all the way to the main pier. You can get there by public transport by taking the train to Västerhaninge and then bus number 839.

Accommodation
Dalarö Hotell Bellevue, tel 08-501 504 10
Dalarö Skans
Dalarö Strand Hotellbryggan
Sjöliden Hotell och Konferensanläggning
Smådalarö Gård 

Food
Dalarö Hotell Bellevue, tel 08-501 504 10
Dalarö Krog Mysingen
Dalarö Skärgårdsrestaurang
Våffelstugan
Dalarö Bageri
Dalarö Hamn Café och Grill

Guest Harbours
There are guest harbours in Askfatshamnen, at the hotel jetty and at Marindepån in Vadviken

Natural Harbours
There aren't any natural harbours on Dalarö although there are on the surrounding islands.

Services & Information
Shops
Service Station
Post Office
Bank
Apoteket (pharmacy)
Systembolaget (off-licence)
Tourist Office

Bathing
In Schweizerdalen there is a large area for swimming with a nice beach.

Nature
Dalarö is characterised by a very hilly landscape with nice views across Stockholm's Archipelago from hilltops like Lotsberget and Amerikaberget where the local population celebrate Walpurgis Night. In Schweizerdalen, before Lotsberget, there was a sailing route in the Viking Age which has subsequently disappeared due to the rising of the land. Dalarö Canal passes through here now.

History
The history of Dalarö is tied up with maritime and military interests. Piloting and customs buildings, boatyards and defence buildings have been here since the Middle Ages. Kings, queens and great men have landed here and due to its exposed location, Dalarö has been the host of many dramatic events. Many ships have been wrecked in the rocky waters and the seabed is full of well preserved wrecks. One of the most famous victims of the sharp reefs was Riksäpplet which sank in 1676 outside Dalarö Sconce.

The whole community was burnt down by the Russian Navy in 1719. The only building to survive was the church from the 17^th century, which still remains there today.

During the 19^th century, Dalarö became a popular holiday resort amongst the leading authors and artists of the time. Even royalty spent their summers here. In 1890 the town burnt down again and many of the characteristic wooden buildings were destroyed. Societetshuset, where society of the 19^th century met to socialise and dance during bright summer evenings, survived the fire and is now a registered heritage building.

The community was spared the worst of the demolishing of the 50s and 60s with two exceptions. The traditional hotel and the baths were levelled to the ground to make way for increased motor traffic with a classic councillors motivation from that period "Old 19^th century buildings aren't worth saving".

Other
Touristoffice tel 08-501 508 00       
www.dalaro.se and www.dalaro.info/

Visit Skärgården
e-mail:  info@visitskargarden.se
Telephone: 08-100 222