THE ARCHIPELAGO OF GOTHENBURG
Gothenburg's archipelago is a fantastic destination for anyone who loves nature, sea and culture. Read about some of the best things to do and see in this beautiful part of Sweden.
The Gothenburg archipelago is divided into the northern and southern archipelago.
Gothenburg's northern archipelago is mainly reached via Lilla Varholmen, out by Hjuvik. From there, a number of car ferries go to the various islands. These ferries are free of charge.
You mainly get to Gothenburg's southern archipelago via Saltholmen, in Långedrag. Many of the ferries depart from there. There are often passenger ferries and you can use Västtrafik's tickets.
Below you can read about the islands in Gothenburg's archipelago.
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Contents of this page
Accommodation Gothenburg's archipelago
There are many different ways to live in Gothenburg's archipelago, depending on your budget and preference. You can choose between hotels, hostels, cabins, campsites or even boats. If you want a luxurious experience, you can book a room at one of the fine hotels on the islands, for example Styrsö Skäret, Vrångö Hotell, The archipelago hotel Hönö or Brännö Inn. If you prefer a more simple and affordable option, you can rent a cabin or a room in one of the many hostels in the archipelago, for example Donsö Hostel, Vargö Hostel or Björkö Hostel. If you want to be close to nature, you can camp at one of the campsites on the islands, for example Hönö Camping, Rörö Camping or Källö-Knippla Camping. If you want a different and exciting experience, you can rent a boat and sleep on board, either in your own harbor or in one of the guest harbors in the archipelago.
Hiking in the area
Gothenburg's archipelago is perfect for hiking, as there are many beautiful paths and trails to follow. You can walk along the coast and enjoy the view of the sea, the cliffs and the boats. You can also hike inland and discover forests, meadows and small villages. There are hiking trails for all levels, from short and easy walks to longer and more challenging tours. Some of the most popular hiking trails in the archipelago are:
The steering wheel
A 5 km long tour that goes around the island of Styrsö. The trail passes through different environments, such as sandy beaches, cliffs, forests and meadows. The trail is well marked and easy to follow.
The wrong side
A 2.5 km long tour that goes around the island of Vrångö. The trail offers fantastic views of the sea and surrounding islands. The trail is also well marked and easy to follow.
The hen beer trail
A 9 km long tour that goes around the island of Hönö. The trail runs along both the coast and inland, showcasing the island's diverse nature and culture. The trail is partially marked and has some steep sections.
The tube joint
A 4 km long tour that goes around the island of Rörö. The trail goes through a nature reserve that is home to many birds and plants. The trail is marked and has some rocky sections.
Bathing places
Gothenburg's archipelago has many fine bathing spots to choose from, both for sunbathers and swimmers. You can find both sandy beaches and rock pools, depending on your preference. Some of the best swimming spots in the archipelago are:
Styrsö Bratten bathing place
A large sandy beach on the island of Styrsö, with docks and toilets. The beach is child-friendly and has a playground nearby.
The seaweed bath
A smaller sandy beach on the island of Vrångö, with docks, changing rooms and toilets. The beach is quiet and cozy, with a view of the harbor.
Foot island bath
A rock pool on the island of Fotö, with piers, changing rooms and toilets. The pool is popular with both children and adults, and has a barbecue area nearby.
Rødöbadet
A rock pool on the island of Rörö, with piers, changing rooms and toilets. The bath is beautifully located by the nature reserve, and has a sauna nearby.
Swimming spots Öckerö Municipality.
Bathing areas Gothenburg Municipality
Restaurants in Gothenburg's archipelago
Gothenburg's archipelago has many nice restaurants to visit, both for lunch and dinner. You can find both traditional and modern food, with a focus on fish and seafood. Some of the best restaurants in the archipelago are:
Styrsö Skäret
An elegant restaurant on the island of Styrsö, which serves high-class food with local ingredients. The restaurant has a beautiful view of the sea and a cozy atmosphere.
Fishing nest Vrångö
A family restaurant on the island of Vrångö, which serves good food with fresh ingredients. The restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area.
The customs house
A popular restaurant on the island of Hönö, which serves delicious fish and shellfish in various forms. The restaurant is right by the water and has a lovely outdoor seating area.
Rörö Hamnkrog
A charming restaurant on the island of Rörö, which serves tasty food with inspiration from the Mediterranean. The restaurant has a fantastic view of the harbor and a cozy atmosphere.
Culture & History
Gothenburg's archipelago has a rich culture and history to discover, both from the past and now. You can visit various museums, churches, lighthouses and other attractions that tell about the life and development of the islands. Some of the most interesting cultural and historical sites in the archipelago are:
Styrsö Homeland Museum
A museum on the island of Styrsö, which shows the history of the island from the 18th century to the present day. The museum has several buildings, such as an old school house, a fisherman's house, a boat house and a pilot house.
Vrångö Fishing Port
A port on the island of Vrångö, which is one of the oldest and largest fishing ports in the archipelago. The harbor has many picturesque boats, sheds and docks to see.
Hönö Klåva
A port on the island of Hönö, which is one of the busiest and most modern ports in the archipelago. The harbor has many shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries to visit.
Suggestions for excursions
Gothenburg's archipelago has many fun excursions to offer, both for young and old. You can go by boat to different islands, cycle or paddle around nature, fish or dive in the sea or just enjoy the peace and quiet. Some of the best excursions in the archipelago are:
Take an Archipelago tour
A boat trip that takes you around the archipelago and shows off the various islands and their attractions. You can choose between different tours, for example the Southern Archipelago, the Northern Archipelago or the Öcker Islands.
Read more: Written information about Gothenburg's various tourist ships.
Bike or paddle tour
A tour that allows you to explore the archipelago on your own, by bike or kayak. You can rent equipment at several places in the archipelago, for example Styrsö Bicycle rental, Vrångö Kayak rental or Hönö Cy
Gothenburg northern archipelago
Below is brief information about each island found in both the Southern and Northern Archipelago.
Little Varholmen:
This is the hub for getting to the northern islands in Gothenburg's archipelago. Several different ferry routes operate here. This is where you should go to get to the northern islands. Lilla Varholmen is very close to Hjuvik, which is a popular area to live in.
Photo island
It is the southernmost island in Gothenburg's northern archipelago. Not the most touristic island, but a more peaceful residential island. But, you can swim well at Vivik. You get to Fotö by going to Hönö, and then taking a bridge over to Fotö.
Hönö
This is a well-populated island all year round, as there are many permanent residents. But, in the summer there will be even more. Thousands of people walk on the quay daily, on the sunniest days. Hönö is popular to visit, as it is easy to get there by car, but also by boat. Take a ferry with the car from Hjuvik at Hisingen. You can swim at Jungfruviken with a sandy beach and bathing jetty.
Grötö
Grötö is Öckerö municipality's smallest island. There is accommodation on the island, but it is somewhat cumbersome to commute to Gothenburg for work, as there are many changes. But, as a tourist it is a nice place to visit. You can go by ferry from Björkö. You swim at Knötten on the west side.
Öckerö
This island has many year-round accommodations. It's almost like a small town. Öckerö has many nice places to visit. There are regular ferries from Hjuvik, or actually Lilla Varholmen.
Kalvsund
Kalvsund is a smaller island with a few, but enthusiastic inhabitants. There is a museum to visit, which is based on a legend named Ernst Bremer, who was "king of smugglers" in the early 20th century. You come to Kalvsund via Björkö.
Björk Island
Björkö is one of the larger northern islands in Gothenburg's archipelago. However, much of the surface is natural land. This means that there are many hiking trails to choose from. Places like Kolvik, Klarvik and Trollvik are plates that are suitable for swimming.
Health island
A smaller island, but very nice.
Källö-Knippla
Källö-Knippla also has a ferry from Lilla Varholmen, but there are several ferries. There are hiking trails and there are bathing spots, such as Tranbärsviken and Ankis.
The hype
This island is the westernmost of the northern islands. This means that you have the entire West Sea in front of you if you sit on a rock to see the view. Bathing is what you do most of all.
Rörö
Rörö has an old history, which is visible in some places. Today, it is fishing that dominates. Very nice nature to visit. You swim well at, among other places, Ers vik, Sandviken and Gula skaren.
Brown cut
Small island with big charm
Albreksund channel
This is the gateway to Marstrand. There is a lot of traffic here in the summer. It is a safe transport route for many boats going either south towards Gothenburg, or if you want to turn bareboard (left) towards the Hakefjorden and Stenungsund.
Marstrand
Marstrand is the last of the islands that can be called Gothenburg's Archipelago, by some anyway. It is a fantastic island that offers a lot. History in the form of Carlstens Fortress, shopping in many stores, high-class food in the restaurants and plenty of good swimming spots around the island. You can walk around the island and discover nice places. If you walk clockwise, the hike starts at Standverken. Then out onto the rocks and further around to a lighthouse. Once you arrive at the north-western part, you suddenly step into the Societetshuset, which is King Oscar II's summer residence. Fantastic building. Personally, I have been to most of the places in this building, as I have worked for several years, both with property renovation on the outside but also in the restaurant industry on the inside. You can of course come to Marstrand by boat. But, you can also take the car via Kungälv - Instön - Koön, and finally take a ridiculously expensive passenger ferry.
Gothenburg's southern archipelago
Gothenburg's Södra Archipelago consists of 34 islands. But, here is presented a selection of them.
To get to many of Gothenburg's southern islands, you must head to Saltholmen, where the ferries depart from. To get to Saltholmen you can take the car, but perhaps the best thing is to use the tram. Line 11 goes to Saltholmen
Val island
An island that lies far to the south. It is the island of canoes. It is the island where the origin of our beloved Evert Taube comes from.
Vrångö
Vrångö is most southerly and it takes quite a while to get there from Saltholmen, close to an hour. But, it is a nice island with a lot of happenings and events. Feel free to walk to Storerös, which is a Bronze Age cairn. Including nice view.
Great Amundön
You don't really think of this island as an island, as it is so close to the mainland and there is a footbridge across from the mainland. We have hiked there several times. To get there, take the car on road 159 towards Askim, i.e. not to Saltholmen. You can choose several different hiking trails on the island. There is no accommodation or shops, only nature.
Kårholmen / Sjumansholmen
These exercises are characterized by the time when everyone would have the opportunity to get out into the archipelago and have a holiday. The houses are many and small. But, as the years have gone by, it has become higher and higher standard. There are ferries here, but not really so hospitable islands, as there are mostly privately owned houses on the island and no shops or restaurants.
Don Island
It is an island full of fishing boats. Many large fishing vessels have their home port here. But, there is also nice hiking, with well-made trails. At Lökholmen you take your dip.
Stora Rävholmen
A smaller island with lots of water activities.
Styrsö
Styrsö is probably the Bohuslän pearl of Gothenburg's southern archipelago. There is a lot to see and experience. You have restaurants, shops, hiking trails and swimming spots, of course. So most of it is there.
Vargo
This is an island that is a nature reserve. But, there is, among other things, a famous restaurant, Stjärnvik, where you can eat. This island also has hiking trails, where you can experience nature without too much crowding.
Knarrholmen
This is an island that the metal union got in the 1940s. Then simple accommodation was created that people could use. Today it is better known as a festival island. You don't disturb anyone and it is easy to get there with a ferry from Saltholmen.
Stora Källö: Most of it is bare rocks, but there are also houses. Most people come to the island via motorboat, as it is a motorboat association that manages most of the service points.
Brännö
It is one of the more active islands and with residents. Brännö is probably best known as "dance on Brännö jetty". But, there are many exercise races on the island and there are of course hiking trails.
Wing
Nothing beats Vinga. The most famous and most mythical island in the entire Gothenburg archipelago. All ships that traffic Gothenburg see or pass Vinga, because the Vinga lighthouse is so well visible from all directions. It is fabulous to come to the island and experience this place.
Aspero
Asperö is close to Saltholmen and the journey will therefore be short. You can walk around the island if you want, or experience a festival in the summer.
New Älvsborg Fortress
Located in the middle of Gothenburg's harbor entrance. Has an interesting history that you can experience on site. The island is nothing more than a large fortress.
How to travel to Gothenburg's archipelago
In order to get to all these islands, you need to use ships and boats of various kinds. You can read about how to transport yourself on our page Travel Bohuslän. Västtrafik handles most of these transports. Of course you can use your car to some of the islands. But, also maybe a bicycle if you wish. read more about Travel Bohuslän here.
Are you looking for accommodation?
if you are looking for accommodation on one of the islands. We recommend that you use either Hotels.com or cottage summer, depending on whether you are looking for a hotel or your own house.
