There are places in Sweden that don’t just invite you to unplug—they dare you to disappear. Not forever, of course, but just long enough to breathe in the pine-scented air, dip your toes in a quiet lake, and fall asleep under a canopy of stars, cradled in the warmth of a glass cabin on a hidden island.

These remote escapes aren’t on most travel itineraries. They don’t make headlines or trend on booking sites. But they exist—scattered across Sweden’s sprawling archipelagos and shimmering lakes. They offer something far more valuable than luxury: silence, simplicity, and stars.

If you’ve ever dreamed of living inside a Scandinavian fairytale—this is it.

1. Henriksholm Island – Dalsland

Tucked deep within Lake Vinery, Sweden’s largest lake, you’ll find Henriksholm Island, a tiny, privately-owned oasis where a handful of glass-walled cabins known as the 72 Hour Cabins offer guests a front-row seat to the rhythms of Swedish nature.

These cabins are minimal on purpose: no Wi-Fi, no distractions—just you, the forest, and the wide, open sky. The floor-to-ceiling glass makes you feel like you’re part of the landscape, whether it’s glowing with summer light or wrapped in the hush of early autumn.

What makes Henriksholm special is how untouched it feels. Eagles soar overhead, deer wander at dawn, and the only sounds are the crackle of a campfire or the occasional loon call across the water.

What to do:

Kayak through glassy coves Forage for wild berries Read by lantern light with the lake just feet away

How to get there:

Take a train to Dals Långed and then a boat transfer to the island. Most stays are part of an organized package through West Sweden.

2. Kållandsö Island – Vänern Archipelago

While Henriksholm feels like a retreat, Kållandsö leans into romantic seclusion. Home to the storybook Läckö Castle, this island floats like a forgotten dream in Lake Vänern. But hidden away from the main tourist path is a secret: eco-friendly floating cabins called Naturbyn tucked among the trees and along the lake’s quiet edges.

These cabins are made of timber and glass, and they invite you to live slowly—watching the sky blush pink at 10 p.m. in summer, or savoring a steaming mug of coffee as fog lifts off the water.

There’s no electricity here. Instead, you’ll find candlelight, outdoor showers, and a deep quiet that slips into your bones.

What to do:

Row a wooden boat at sunrise Watch the stars from your glass bed Wander Läckö Castle’s gardens by day

How to get there:

Drive or take a bus to Lidköping, then a short drive or cycle to the island. Naturbyn’s cabins must be booked in advance and often sell out months ahead.

3. Stora Kalholmen – Stockholm Archipelago

Most people visiting the Stockholm Archipelago stick to popular spots like Vaxholm or Sandhamn—but if you venture deeper, you’ll find Stora Kalholmen, a small, protected island with one of the most peaceful overnight stays in Sweden.

Here, a modern glass cabin with panoramic views sits tucked between smooth granite cliffs and whispering pines. The design is sleek but soft—Scandinavian minimalism with a soul. On clear nights, the Milky Way appears above the sea. On foggy mornings, the island feels like it’s floating in a dream.

This spot is ideal for couples, artists, or anyone seeking stillness.

What to do:

Swim in the brackish Baltic Sea Sketch or journal in the quiet morning light Hike the forested trail that rings the island

How to get there:

Take a ferry from Stockholm to Svartsö, then arrange a boat taxi to Kalholmen. Some stays include transfers and meals.

4. Glaskogen Nature Reserve – Värmland

Technically not an island, but Glaskogen’s remote lakes and peninsulas feel like archipelagos. This 28,000-hectare reserve near the Norway border is dotted with hidden camping spots and a few remarkable glass cabins that look out over dark, still waters.

One cabin, perched on a tiny islet only reachable by canoe, offers total solitude. It’s a place where mist rolls off the lake at dawn, and the only lights at night are stars and the occasional flicker of aurora borealis.

Glaskogen is raw, wild Sweden. Here, sleeping under glass isn’t a luxury—it’s part of the experience.

What to do:

Canoe from lake to lake with a thermos of coffee Light a fire and cook outdoors Fall asleep to the sounds of owls and loons

How to get there:

Drive from Arvika or Karlstad to the Glaskogen entrance. Some cabins require hiking or paddling in—making the journey as magical as the destination.

5. Urnatur – The Wilderness Retreat, Ödeshög

On the forested shores of Lake Vättern sits Urnatur, a “wood hermitage” that blends traditional Swedish craftsmanship with modern eco-design. While not a true island, the treehouses and glass shelters are nestled within an island of trees—so isolated, you’ll forget the rest of the world exists.

Urnatur’s glass cabins are poetic spaces: some elevated in the trees, others on mossy ground. Meals are cooked over open flame, and evenings are spent in candlelit saunas or beneath constellations.

It’s the kind of place that makes time dissolve.

What to do:

Try forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) Cook your own meals over a campfire Journal or paint with zero distractions

How to get there:

Take a train to Ödeshög and arrange a transfer. Urnatur offers seasonal stays and workshops.

Final Thoughts

Sweden’s hidden islands and quiet lakes remain peaceful and untouched. Their beauty unfolds gently, like a secret meant only for you. Spending a night in a glass cabin here means trading noise for stillness, screens for starlight, and daily distractions for a rare kind of clarity.