MARSTRAND
Marstrand is one of Sweden's most popular summer destinations. Here you can enjoy sun, swimming, sailing, hiking, culture and history in a beautiful archipelago environment. Here you will get some tips on what you can do and see when you visit Marstrand in Bohuslän. There is something to do for everyone who wants to be close to the sea. There are sailing races to participate in or watch. You can learn about history by visiting Carlstens Fortress or eat well at one of the many restaurants on Marstrand. Here at Marstrand and Koön there is activity all year round, even though it is in the summer that many of the bathing and event guests come.
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Contents of this page
Accommodation options
xThere are many different accommodation options at Marstrand, depending on your taste and budget. You can choose between hotels, hostels, cottages, camping or boat moorings. One of the most famous hotels is Grand Hotel Marstrand, which is located on Marstrandsön. Here you can stay in luxurious rooms with a view of the harbor and with the Carlsten fortress behind you, up on the mountain. If you prefer a more personal and charming accommodation, you can try one of the many B&Bs on Marstrandsön. There you can also find cozy houses and apartments to rent. For those who want to be close to nature, there is a campsite on Koön. Marstrand is also often visited by arriving by boat. The guest harbor is often very well visited.
Book a hotel room at Marstrand
To make your search for the exact accommodation you are looking for hotel rooms, it is recommended to use the search service hotels.com They have a wide range of accommodation in several price ranges. They also offer every ten nights free. Accommodations that we have compiled information about specifically for Marstrand are nice accommodations such as Marstrand's Sea Hotel, Nautical and Grand Hotel Marstrand, but there are so many more. search Hotels.com for the complete range for Marstrand.
Rent a house on Marstrand.
Depending on the type of travel reason you are visiting Marstrand for, your need for accommodation may vary. If you are perhaps several people, such as a family or group of friends, who want to get together and rent a house, that is also an option. Recommends that you apply cottage summer, which is a booking service for renting houses. They have a wide range and are well established on the market.
Camping at Marstrand (Koön)
The campsite is on Koön, which is the island on which Marstrandsön is located, when you arrive via the road. It is nicely located on the north side of Koön and is only about a 5-minute walk to the ferry over to Marstand. read more about Marstrand family camping here.
Hiking on Marstrand
Marstrand is a small island, with great opportunities for walks and hiking trails. Below I have given some examples of places where you can have a nice walk or a more hiking-like feeling.
Go on the Quay
When you arrive at Marstrandsön, you step straight into an idyll of west coast feeling with period houses and a quay with all kinds of boats. So, the first recommendation is that you actually choose to go right or left immediately after the ferry. If you chose left, you will soon come to Strandverken, a small smaller fortress. You will then have the opportunity to see the marina. very nice walk of maybe 10 minutes. If you chose right at the ferry, then Marstrand's business life opens up. This round is longer and you pass shops and restaurants along the quay. When you arrive at Societetshuset, you turn up, to the left, towards a stone-paved street. Then, you wander back towards the central parts again. The distances are not long, so it can take about 15-20 minutes with a few short stops along the way.
The big round
If you want to go for a slightly more substantial walk in an hour or so. Then you should start from the Strandverken mentioned above. From there you continue along the edge of the sea. Then you will soon come to a swimming beach, then a steep staircase and then you are up on the mountains on the south side of Marstrand. Then follow this path along the water. In time, you will reach the left part, the far end of the island. There is, among other things, a nude bath. Many people bathe along this entire stretch between Strandverken and the outermost part of the island. To then come back, you continue the trail and then pass a lighthouse and some military buildings. Then, it becomes a forest and then you arrive at the Societetshuset again. As a child and youth, I swam and jogged along this stretch many times, but you never get tired of the view. Because every new day is like a new painting to look at.
Less round.
As I said, the big round is very nice. But, if you don't want to walk quite as far as the big round, you can still start walking it. But, you then turn off on one of the different paths that exist. One of the paths leads you up to Carlsten's fortress, which is mighty in itself. You, again turn to the center of Marstrand then, through a steep hill downwards. Also a nice round, then.
Hike on Koön
Mastrandsön is really nice to walk on. But, Koön, which is the island you come to before Marstrand, is also a good hiking spot. Koön is therefore where you park your car or get off the bus. Here you have 3 different hiking trails to choose from. Blue, Green and Black led. To learn more about these joints, read my article about them. Press here to get to hiking on Koön.
Other tips on hiking
There is also very good hiking if you are willing to travel some distance from Marstrand before starting your tour. If you are applying outside the area, it is recommended Bohusleden, Kuststigen and the website to Västsverige.com Swedish Tourist Association, Bohusleden The coastal path
Other suggestions for tours are perhaps the most popular, the Soteleden, which is part of the Bohusleden. It requires you to travel some distance from Marstrand and this hiking trail stretches from Kungälv to Strömstad. Here you can hike along cliffs, forests, meadows and the sea. You can also visit one of the smaller islands in the archipelago, such as Åstol, Animal Island or Tjörn. There you can experience the calm and beauty of the Bohuslän nature.
Swim at Marstrand
Marstrand is a paradise for beach lovers. Here there are many different bathing spots to choose from, both sandy beaches and rock bathing. On Marstrandsön you can swim at Societetshuset, Strandverket or Bergsudden's bathing area. If you want more adventure, you can take the boat to one of the other islands in the archipelago, where you can find more pristine and scenic bathing spots.
Here you will now get some more tips on bathing areas, depending on what you want. But, first want to mention that it is not popular to swim in the harbor area. Boat owners and other people strongly dislike swimming there. Above I mentioned the "strandverken", which is the fortress located on the southern part of Marstrandsön. At the beach works there is a "children's pool" and trampoline, which makes it a popular place for families with children to swim. If you walk further out along the edge of the sea, on the path that leads you west, you will pass many good places for a swim. There is room for everyone, without crowding. Here I spent many days in my youth with friends. It is also in this area that the famous sailing competition "Swedish Match" takes place, when many thousands of people come to Marstrand for a week to watch the sailing.
(The pictures above are from when the competition boats in the Ocean Race stayed in Marstrand for a few days. The next stop was in Gothenburg.)
Another good place for a swim is if you walk along the whole quay, to get to the Societetshuset. It is at the northern entrance to Marstrand. There is also "Båtellet", a hotel with a focus on bathing. But, outside the jetty, there is a sandy beach and good steps down into the sea. I have bathed there many times in the evenings, when I have also enjoyed the sunset that goes down on the horizon.
Restaurants at Marstrand
Marstrand has a large selection of restaurants for all tastes and budgets. Here you can enjoy fish and shellfish from the local sea, but also international dishes from different parts of the world. Some of the most popular restaurants are the Grand Hotel Marstrand, called "Teman", which are known for their lobster au gratin and Ahnell on the dock has its fish soup. Arvidsson kiosk & Fish says fish fish, but also good quality of their fast food. It is not possible to mention all the restaurants. Look up Marstrand tourist office, for the latest information.
But some restaurants worth mentioning are
The inn
Located in the middle of the quay. It is a restaurant with a short menu, but with many visitors. Typical place if you want to be seen and see people. The restaurant seating is mainly outdoors, but there is good shelter in case of bad weather.
Lasse-Majas
Classic restaurant that has existed on Marstrand for all these years. They serve varied food, but pizza is popular. You will find the restaurant near the ferry camp, where you disembark when you arrive in Marstrand
Johan's pub
Johan has run a pub in Marstrand for many years, but the first years as an employee at various restaurants. You've had his own for a number of years. Varied food and very pleasant environment. The restaurant is located by the "poplar pilen" tree, behind Grandhotell.
The Society House
Here you have Marstrand's jewelry, if you ask me. It is King Oskar the Second who had this building built, as a summer residence, over a hundred years ago. The restaurant is located at the northern entrance. I haven't eaten there in years, but sitting on the porch and having dinner with the sunset shimmering can't go wrong regardless. The Societetshuset is something extra in my heart, because I myself worked there for four summers.
Grand or Tenan
Hotel Grand., also called TENAN. lies magnificently in the park along the quay. They have many good dishes, but Tenan's crayfish au gratin and Africana are probably the most famous dishes.
Experience culture & history
Marstrand has a long and exciting history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. Here you can see traces of different eras and events that have shaped the island and its inhabitants. A must is to visit the Carlsten fortress, which was built in the 17th century to protect Marstrand from enemies. Here you can see how the soldiers lived and worked, as well as hear stories about imprisoned pirates, dramatic sieges and ghosts. You can also take a guided tour of Marstrand's church, which is one of Sweden's oldest wooden churches. There you can see beautiful paintings, sculptures and tombstones from different times. If you are interested in art, you can visit the Strandverket Art Museum, which displays contemporary art in an old military building. There you can see works by both Swedish and international artists, as well as participate in workshops and events.
Another thing that contributes to a positive experience is that there are no cars on the island. Only those who deliver something, such as food and materials, are allowed to drive on the island. Otherwise, it is car-free.
Look up Marstrand Tourist Office for more information.
Organized excursions
If you want to see more of Bohuslän, you can make some fun and interesting excursions from Marstrand. One tip is to go to Kungälv, which is a historic town dating back to the Viking Age. There you can visit Bohus fortress, which is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Nordics. You can also see the old town hall, which is one of Sweden's oldest wooden buildings, and the picturesque city center with its cobbled streets and wooden houses. Another tip is to go to Gothenburg, which is Sweden's second largest city and a cultural metropolis. There you can shop, eat, drink and have fun in many different ways. You can also visit some of the city's famous attractions, such as Liseberg, Universeum, Castle Forest or the Botanical Garden.
Also recommend you watch Marstrand's website, to find an updated website with suggestions.
Experience performances and concerts
In the summer, there are often concerts at Marstrand. Several performances take place in the various taverns, but also larger concerts take place inside the castle grounds at Carlstens Fästing or at Strandverken.
A recurring theater concert is Stefan Andersson's production of "91-Claist". Which is a music concert about life when the Fortress was a prison in the 17th century and life around it. Very good concert.
The range of nightlife
At night, Marstrand cooks. Especially the weekends in the summer. There are many taverns to choose from and several are open all year round. However, there are many boat tourists who visit Marstrand and it often ends with many sitting in their boats and having a good time. So, just being on the dock in the evening is just a pleasure.
The trip to Bohuslän
It is easy to get to Marstrand in Bohuslän. Most means of transport can be used. To get more information about how to get to Bohuslän, in addition to the information already on this page, you can use our Travel in Bohuslän side.
Living in Bohuslän
Bohuslän has all types of accommodation. Regardless of whether you wish to experience Bohuslänsk nature in a tent or live a luxurious life for a few days in a nice hotel, there are many options for that. For each destination, tips are given on accommodation and how to book it. But, you can also read in our posts and articles about our own experiences as we ourselves have lived in different places. To read more about ACCOMMODATION, you can use our THE HOUSINGDE side.
Discover Bohuslän
A visit to Bohuslän often has a clear purpose, that you want to do something special. It could be to enjoy the summer, the sun and the sea air. Or, activities sailing, paddling or playing golf.
Sometimes it can still be positive to get tips on what to do during your visit to Bohuslän. We have therefore put together a Discover page, which will help you occupy yourself regardless of whether it's sunny, rainy or cold. Read on here to find fun activities and discover new things in Bohuslän.
Comparison table between different places of visit
We have created a table that makes it easy for you to compare different destinations along the coast of Bohuslän. Enter into Comparison table between destinations in Tanum municipality
Travel & transport
Come by car
Marstrand In Kungälv municipality. Regardless of whether you are coming from the south or the north, you turn off the E6 at Kungälvsmotet, towards Marstrand. Then it's 2.5 miles west. You pass, among others, Ytterby, Hålla, Tjuvkil, Instön, Koön. You park the car on Koön, and then take a ferry to Marstrandsön. Keep in mind that it can be difficult to find parking nearby, in the middle of summer. And that the fees are high. Consider taking a bus from Kungälv or Gothenburg if you have the opportunity.
Bring a motor home
There are several different pitches on Koön. Look further at ställplatser.se
Come by boat
In Marstrand you can of course come with your own boat. The guest harbor is large, but you should think about the type or size of boat you have. As well as how much party you want, because there can be a lot of pressure on the docks sometimes, which not everyone appreciates. Find more information at Marstrand Guest Harbour.
Come by municipal bus
Direct buses run from, among other places, Gothenburg, so-called express buses. However, Västtrafik also has other bus lines that make it easy to get to Marstrand. It is Västtrafik that manages these bus transports. A link to west traffic is: https://www.vasttrafik.se. Expect an hour's journey from Gothenburg.
Come by train
There is no train station nearby. The nearest train station is Ytterby or Gothenburg. However, Västtrafik, which manages the transports, combines train and bus traffic in a good way.
Bring a bicycle
If you want to get around by bike at a slightly slower pace, there is, among other things, a bike path between Kungälv and Marstrand. But, it happens on the road periodically. Which can feel a bit difficult sometimes. One tip is to cycle across Kärna. At Ytterby, turn left. Drive towards Kärna and Tofta. Then you cycle on a much less trafficked road
Come by plane
The nearest airport is actually Landvetter.
