Gothenburg West Coast
5
Day Itinerary •
Sweden
Five days in Gothenburg and the Swedish West Coast takes you through Sweden's second city and the most extraordinary archipelago coastline in Scandinavia. Gothenburg is the finest food city in Sweden, its remarkable Haga neighbourhood, the extraordinary Liseberg amusement park and the outstanding Universeum science centre making it a remarkable destination in its own right before you even reach the extraordinary Bohuslan rock and island coast beyond. This route covers the complete Gothenburg and West Coast experience. The extraordinary Gothenburg fish market and the Haga cinnamon buns, the remarkable Marstrand island fortress, the extraordinary Smoegen fishing village, the remarkable Kosterhavets UNESCO National Park and the outstanding Kungshamn seafood coast make it one of the finest food and coastal combinations in Europe.
Best Time To Visit
May to September
Getting There
Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
Getting Around
Tram in city, rental car for coast
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,200 to 2,200 SEK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, coastal walking on rocks and paths
DAY 1
GOTHENBURG
MORNING
HAGA NEIGHBOURHOOD AND KANELBULLAR
Haga is the finest neighbourhood in Gothenburg, its remarkable 19th-century wooden houses, the outstanding cobbled Haga Nygata and the extraordinary cafe culture making it the most charming district in Sweden's second city. Cafe Husaren at the top of the street serves the largest cinnamon buns in Sweden, a remarkable tradition that makes Haga the finest fika destination in Gothenburg. The extraordinary atmosphere of the old wooden houses at any time of year is outstanding. Free. Drive: 20 min tram
MIDDAY
FESKEKYRKAN FISH MARKET
Feskekyrkan, the Fish Church, is Gothenburg's extraordinary indoor fish market built in 1874 in the form of a Gothic church. The remarkable display of fresh west coast seafood, the outstanding herring, prawns and lobster and the extraordinary atmosphere of the finest fish market in Sweden make it the best culinary experience in Gothenburg. The fish market is surrounded by outstanding seafood restaurants and the remarkable Rosenlund canal. Entry free. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
LISEBERG AND UNIVERSEUM
Liseberg is the finest amusement park in Scandinavia, its extraordinary combination of thrilling rides, remarkable traditional features and the outstanding concert culture making it unique. The Universeum science centre next door is the finest science museum in Sweden, its extraordinary tropical rainforest, remarkable shark tank and the outstanding Swedish nature exhibition all outstanding. Entry Liseberg approx 130 SEK, Universeum approx 210 SEK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gothenburg Museum of Art on Gotaplatsen, free on Thursday evenings, has the finest collection of Scandinavian art outside Stockholm with remarkable works by Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn. Entry standard approx 100 SEK, free Thursday evenings.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Husaren, Haga The finest cinnamon buns in Sweden in the most charming neighbourhood. | Lunch: Feskekyrkan fish restaurant The finest fresh seafood in Sweden's greatest fish market. | Dinner: Sjömagasinet, Gothenburg The most celebrated seafood restaurant in Gothenburg. Book ahead.
DAY 2
MARSTRAND ISLAND
MORNING
MARSTRAND ISLAND FERRY
ferry Marstrand, accessible by car ferry from Koön and then foot ferry to the island, is the finest sailing and bathing destination on the Swedish west coast. The extraordinary car-free island with its remarkable wooden houses, the outstanding Societetshuset hotel and the fine harbour packed with racing yachts in summer is outstanding. The remarkable Carlstens Fästning fortress above the town is the finest coastal fortress in Bohuslan. Ferry included. Drive: 45 min drive + ferry
MIDDAY
CARLSTENS FORTRESS AND ROCK BATHING
Carlstens Fästning, the extraordinary 17th-century fortress above Marstrand, is the finest coastal fortification in western Sweden. The remarkable guided tours of the fortress include the extraordinary prison cells where the famous robber Lasse-Maja was imprisoned in the 19th century. The remarkable smoothed granite rocks around the island offer the finest bathing on the west coast. The view from the fortress ramparts over the Bohuslan archipelago is outstanding. Entry fortress approx 120 SEK. Drive: 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
MARSTRAND VILLAGE AND SAILING CULTURE
Marstrand's remarkable wooden village with its extraordinary traditional seafood restaurants, the outstanding sailing heritage and the remarkable evening atmosphere of the finest island on the Bohuslan coast are all outstanding. The extraordinary combination of fortress, wooden village, sailing boats and the open sea makes Marstrand the finest single destination on the Swedish west coast. Return by ferry for the night. Free to walk.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Koön island on the mainland side of the Marstrand ferry, with its remarkable nature reserve and outstanding bathing rocks, is less visited than Marstrand itself and has the finest natural coastline near the island. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gothenburg hotel Good breakfast before the Marstrand drive. | Lunch: Marstrand harbour restaurant Outstanding west coast shrimp and seafood on the island harbour. | Dinner: Return to Gothenburg or overnight Marstrand Finest west coast evening in the sailing capital.
DAY 3
SMOEGEN FISHING VILLAGE
MORNING
SMOEGEN FISHING VILLAGE
Smoegen is the most extraordinary fishing village on the Swedish west coast, its remarkable wooden boardwalk stretching along the harbour with traditional boathouses painted in red and yellow, the outstanding lobster pots stacked on the quay and the extraordinary smell of the largest open-air fish auction in Sweden making it the finest single village on the coast. The remarkable view of the Bohuslan islands from the boardwalk at sunset is one of the finest in western Sweden. Free. Drive: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
SMÖGEN SHRIMP AND BOARDWALK CULTURE
The Smögen shrimp, caught locally and sold fresh from the boats at the harbour, are the finest in Sweden. The extraordinary tradition of buying a bag of shrimp and sitting on the boardwalk to peel them while watching the harbour is the quintessential west coast experience. The remarkable boardwalk cafe culture, the outstanding fish stalls and the extraordinary atmosphere of the finest fishing village in Bohuslan are all outstanding. Free. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
HALLO ISLAND NATURE RESERVE
Hallo, the extraordinary nature reserve island accessible by boat from Smoegen, has the finest combination of bare granite, wildflowers and open sea of any island on the Bohuslan coast. The remarkable lighthouse, the outstanding bathing from the smooth granite rocks and the extraordinary seabird colonies in the breeding season are all outstanding. The view from the highest point of the island over the Bohuslan archipelago is remarkable. Boat approx 100 SEK return.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Sotenkanalen between Kungshamn and Hunnebostrand, a narrow canal through the mainland rock connecting two bays, is the most remarkable artificial waterway on the Swedish west coast. The boat trips through the canal are extraordinary. Free to walk beside.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Smoegen or Kungshamn hotel Good breakfast on the west coast. | Lunch: Smögen boardwalk shrimp Fresh shrimp on the extraordinary boardwalk. The finest west coast lunch. | Dinner: Smögens Fiskekrog The finest seafood restaurant on the Smögen boardwalk. Book ahead.
DAY 4
KOSTERHAVETS NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
KOSTERHAVETS NATIONAL PARK
Kosterhavets, Sweden's first and only marine national park, protects the most extraordinary underwater landscape in Scandinavia. The park around the Koster Islands has the finest biodiversity of any Swedish waters, its remarkable cold-water coral reefs and outstanding sea life including spiny lobsters and seahorses being extraordinary. Sea kayaking through the remarkable island landscape of the park is the finest activity on the west coast. Kayak hire approx 400 SEK. Drive: 30 min drive + boat
MIDDAY
NORTH AND SOUTH KOSTER ISLANDS
The Koster Islands, connected by a short bridge, are the most westerly inhabited islands in Sweden and the finest destination in Kosterhavets park. The remarkable North Koster with its extraordinary bathing beaches, the outstanding cycling paths and the remarkable traditional fishing culture of South Koster are both outstanding. The extraordinary landscape of the park's granite islands, the remarkable seabirds and the fine seafood restaurants are all outstanding. Ferry approx 150 SEK. Drive: Short ferry
AFTERNOON
KOSTER SEAFOOD AND ISLAND RETURN
A final afternoon on the Koster Islands eating the finest seafood on the Swedish west coast. The extraordinary spiny lobster from the cold waters of Kosterhavets, the remarkable fresh crab and the outstanding Koster prawns are all available at the island restaurants and fish stalls. The return ferry to Stromstad through the remarkable Kosterhavets landscape is outstanding. Return to the west coast base for the evening. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Stromstad, the nearest Swedish town to the Norwegian border, has the finest traditional west coast town atmosphere in northern Bohuslan. The remarkable harbour and the outstanding shrimp boats are worth a stop on the way to Koster.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: West coast hotel Good breakfast before the Koster ferry. | Lunch: Koster Island restaurant The finest west coast seafood in the extraordinary national park. | Dinner: Stromstad or Kungshamn Outstanding fresh lobster and crab on the finest west coast evening.
DAY 5
TANUM AND FJALLBACKA
MORNING
TANUM UNESCO ROCK CARVINGS
The Tanum UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bohuslan has the most extraordinary concentration of Bronze Age rock carvings in the world. The remarkable Vitlycke Museum has the finest interpretation and the outstanding Vitlycke rock panel with its extraordinary carved ships, warriors and animals from 1500 BC is the finest single panel on the coast. The remarkable landscape of the carvings, scattered across the extraordinary Bohuslan countryside, is outstanding. Entry museum approx 100 SEK. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
FJALLBACKA, THE FINEST SMALL TOWN
Fjallbacka, the extraordinary small town below the remarkable Vetteberget cliff where Ingrid Bergman spent her summers and where the fictional detective Patrik Hedstrom solves crimes in the Camilla Lackberg novels, is the finest small coastal town in Bohuslan. The remarkable harbour, the outstanding Kungsklyftan gorge cut through the cliff behind the town and the extraordinary Ingrid Bergman square are all outstanding. Free to walk. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
COAST ROAD SOUTH TO GOTHENBURG
drive The coast road south from Fjallbacka through the extraordinary Bohuslan landscape, past the remarkable Hamburgsund strait, the outstanding Kungsbacka and the fine Varberg fortress on the coast, is one of the finest coastal drives in Sweden. The extraordinary combination of granite rock, pine forest and the sea creates the quintessential west coast landscape. Return to Gothenburg for the flight home. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Stangenas, a remarkable tidal lagoon and nature reserve between Tanumshede and Fjallbacka, has the finest combination of wading birds, extraordinary tidal flats and the outstanding Bohuslan coastal landscape of any nature site in northern Bohuslan. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: West coast hotel Good breakfast before the Tanum drive. | Lunch: Fjallbacka harbour cafe Outstanding lunch in the finest small town in Bohuslan. | Dinner: Final Gothenburg dinner Return to the city. Familjen or Bhoga for a farewell Swedish dinner.
Where To Stay
Gothenburg, Nights 1 to 2 Haga or city centre. Approx 900 to 1,800 SEK per night. Smoegen or Kungshamn, Nights 3 to 5 West coast base. Approx 900 to 1,600 SEK per night. Summer booking West coast fills completely July and August. Book at least 6 weeks ahead.
Top Tips
1. Haga neighbourhood kanelbullar are the finest cinnamon buns in Sweden. Cafe Husaren has the largest.
2. Smoegen boardwalk at sunset is one of the finest sights on the entire Swedish west coast.
3. The west coast lobster season opens on the first Monday of October. Book restaurants far ahead.
4. Marstrand is best on a weekday. Summer weekends are extremely busy with sailing visitors.
5. Gothenburg fish market at Feskekyrkan has the finest fresh seafood display in Sweden.
6. Book west coast accommodation at least 6 weeks ahead in summer. The coast fills completely.
Total Budget
1,650 to 2,900 SEK/day