Travel + Leisure Names Stockholm Archipelago’s New National Park a Global Vision Honoree

Nämdöskärgården National Park, located in the Stockholm Archipelago, has been named a 2026 Global Vision Honoree by Travel + Leisure, recognizing destinations shaping a more sustainable future for travel.

Located on Sweden’s Baltic Sea coast about an hour from Stockholm, Nämdöskärgården National Park protects a vast marine archipelago landscape while opening new opportunities for responsible nature-based tourism.

Officially inaugurated in 2025, the national park spans more than 25,000 hectares (over 60,000 acres) in the outer Stockholm Archipelago — one of Europe’s most distinctive coastal environments, stretching across more than 30,000 islands, islets, and rocky skerries.

Visitors can explore the national park through low-impact experiences such as kayaking, boating, hiking, and wildlife watching, offering a slower and more nature-focused way to experience Sweden’s archipelago.

Sweden’s relationship with its coastlines runs deep. The country has more islands than any other nation in the world - over 267,000 in total - making its archipelagos a defining part of the landscape and a natural foundation for conservation-led tourism.

Beneath the surface, the marine environment is rich in biodiversity. Blue mussel beds, red algae communities, and underwater meadows of vascular plants and stoneworts provide important habitats for a wide range of species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

“Being recognized as a Global Vision Honoree highlights the importance of protecting nature while making it possible for people to experience it responsibly,” said Susanne Andersson, CEO of Visit Sweden. “Nämdöskärgården reflects Sweden’s approach to travel - where conservation, local communities, and meaningful visitor experiences go hand in hand.”

“The national park consists of 97 percent sea and the area is appreciated by boaters. We need to work together to preserve the high natural values as well as values for outdoor recreation,” said Ann-Sofi Andersson at Stockholm County Administrative Board, manager of the national park.

“Stockholm Archipelago is proud to be recognized on Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Honorees list of visionary sustainable destinations that prioritize sustainability as a key part of their strategy for the future,” said Marie Östblom, Manager at Stockholm Archipelago. “The archipelago reflects the values that define the destination, and together with Sweden’s capital - Stockholm’s 14 islands and the archipelago’s 30,000 islands - we share a responsibility to safeguard future visitor flows.”

About the Awards
Every year, Travel + Leisure presents its Global Vision Awards, acknowledging individuals, products, destinations, and organizations pioneering sustainable and eco-friendly travel. These visionaries are focused on the future of travel - and are dedicated to ensuring that we, as humans, can continue to explore the world without damaging it as we go along.

The full list of honorees will appear in the April 2026 issue of Travel + Leisure and online at: www.travelandleisure.com

About Nämdöskärgården National Park
Nämdöskärgården is Sweden’s newest national park, located in the outer Stockholm Archipelago in the Baltic Sea. The protected area safeguards a unique marine and archipelago environment rich in underwater biodiversity while enabling nature-based tourism built around conservation and responsible access.

Media resources

For more information and press images:

• Nämdöskärgården National Park
  
  
• Cover Photo: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Archipelago (Download)
  
  
• Stockholm Mediabank
  
  

For more information and press images on Stockholm Archipelago:

• VisitSweden.com: Explore the Stockholm archipelago
  
  
• VisitStockholm.com: Discover the Stockholm Archipelago
  
  
• Imagebank Sweden
  
  

For interviews or media inquiries:

Marie Östblom, Manager Stockholm Archipelago, marie.ostblom@stockholm.se

Josefin Haraldsson, Head of PR at Visit Sweden US, pressusa@visitsweden.com

Further reading

New Marine National Park: Sweden's East Coast Unveils Nämdöskärgården – A Baltic Sea Gem

With most islands in the world, Sweden offers five to travelers

Stockholm Archipelago Earns Another Honor, Named One of TIME’s Greatest Places of 2025

Sweden’s Stockholm Archipelago Makes National Geographic’s "Best of the World” List for 2025"

About Visit Sweden:
Visit Sweden is a marketing company owned by the Swedish government. It is a national tourism organization to promote the destination Sweden to increase the country's attractiveness that contributes to tourism consumption, export earnings and employment. Visit Sweden works together with the Swedish tourism industry to effectively reach the most desired target groups for long-term sustainable tourism. Visit Sweden is based in Stockholm with local representation in several foreign markets. Visit Sweden has close to 50 employees.