Prehistoric and Viking Age

Archaeological finds suggest people visited or lived on Öja long before written history. During the Viking Age (c. 800–1050), ships traveling between the Baltic Sea and the inland waterways toward Stockholm would have passed the island. Its location made it a natural navigation point.

Middle Ages

By the medieval period, Öja was known to sailors and fishermen. Herring fishing became an important source of income, and the island served as a stopover for vessels navigating the Baltic.

The Lighthouse

The most famous landmark is the Landsort Lighthouse, one of Sweden’s oldest lighthouse sites. Navigation marks existed here before a permanent lighthouse was built.

• The first permanent lighthouse was erected in 1651, making it one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse locations in Sweden.
• Over the centuries, the lighthouse was rebuilt and modernized as navigation technology improved.
• It remains an important aid to shipping today.

Pilots and Maritime Life

For centuries, Öja was home to pilots—highly skilled mariners who boarded incoming ships and guided them safely through the narrow, rocky channels of the Stockholm Archipelago. Pilot families lived on the island for generations, and their work was essential before modern navigation systems.

Fishing, pilotage, and lighthouse service formed the backbone of the local economy.

Military Importance

Because of its strategic location, Öja became important to Sweden’s coastal defenses.

• During the late 19th and 20th centuries, coastal fortifications were built on the island.
• During both World Wars, Sweden strengthened defenses around Landsort, even though the country remained neutral.
• During the Cold War, underground bunkers, artillery positions, and observation posts were constructed to protect the approach to Stockholm.

Some military installations have since been decommissioned, while others remain preserved as part of Sweden’s military heritage.

Today, Öja has only a small permanent population. It is a popular destination for visitors interested in:

Despite its quiet atmosphere today, Öja has spent centuries at the crossroads of Baltic shipping, making it one of Sweden’s most historically significant islands for navigation.

• The historic lighthouse.
• Hiking through pine forests and rocky coastline.
• Birdwatching and nature.
• The preserved pilot village and military history.

Landsort Village/Storhamn
Ferry Landing: Västerhamn  (Österhamn, Norrhamn if heavy wind)


On the island’s southern tip stands the Landsort Lighthouse, one of Sweden’s oldest surviving lighthouses. The first lighthouse was built in the 1660s to replace an older beacon that had previously stood on the site.[3] According to another source, it was built by a Dutch merchant, Johan van der Hagen, in 1658. The wooden lighthouse burned down in 1672, and a new one made of stone was built, which still stands today. The lighthouse is owned by the Swedish Maritime Administration.


As you walk along the trail, you’ll come across beautiful swimming cliffs and gain insight into the island’s history. For example, you’ll pass a plague cemetery and a labyrinth that was meant to serve as protection against the dangers of the sea. Back then, the people of Öja used to seek help from supernatural forces. For example, there’s a giant’s kettle on the island called “Helvitteskällan.” People used to leave offerings there to appease evil forces.

Island owned by the Swedish State its a protected area. Island is about 6 km long and 600 meters wide. Next to the gravel road heading north is a plague cemetery established during the plague years of the 18th century. Not far from there lies a labyrinth—or “Troy Castle”—protected as an ancient monument, featuring a 3,000-year-old pattern.