The saying goes “West coast, best coast” and that might be true when it comes to Sweden’s west coast. With beautiful cities like Gothenburg, Malmö and the archipelagos, Sweden’s West Coast has plenty to offer. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or live nearby and are looking for a new weekend trip on the west coast of Sweden, you’re in for a treat.
Sweden’s west coast is one of the first areas in Sweden that I visited and one of the reasons we loved the country. While we now live on the east coast of Sweden, we still take plenty of trips to the west coast to explore the islands and towns around here.
Towns on Sweden’s west coast that we love the most include Marstrand and the Gothenburg archipelago (especially the northern islands).
Below I’ve included some of my favourite places to visit on the west coast of Sweden. Pack your bags, and plan your trip to the Swedish West Coast.
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Map of places to visit on Sweden’s West Coast
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Marstrand
Marstrand is a much-loved island on Sweden’s West Coast. It’s where you’ll find some pretty wooden houses, plenty of natural beauty and, for those that love history, there’s a lot of that too.
In the centre of Marstrand, you’ll find Carlstens Fästning. This fortress was one a royal sanctuary and is now somewhere you can explore yourself with guided tours.
Marstrand is definitely quite a fancy place. When we visited I was surprised at how many luxury yachts there were moored up in the harbour. There are also lots of stylish-looking restaurants in Marstrand. Many of them serve delicious seafood that Sweden is well-known for. For shoppers, you’ll enjoy the boutiques and designer fashion.
If you’re looking for more outdoor things to do while visiting Marstrand on Sweden’s West Coast, then be sure to take a boat out to the Pater Noster lighthouse, or enjoy some cycling, walking and swimming at various points around the island.
Koster Islands
On the far western edge of Sweden near the Norwegian border, the Koster Islands are the perfect getaway for adventure and outdoor activities in Sweden.
These beautiful West Coast Sweden islands are the westernmost inhabited spots in the country, and their waters are the saltiest too. It’s also where you’ll find Sweden’s only marine national park.
The marine park is home to around 6,000 species including corals and seaweeds. It’s also got loads of activities to offer such as kayaking, paddle-boarding, and snorkelling in its clear waters. It’s one of our favourite places to go with our paddleboards and another plus (for us) is that there are no cars on the islands here. You can get around by walking or by bike which is what we love about our trips here.
We enjoy wandering coastal paths, exploring the forests and strolling around the peaceful fishing harbours.
If you want something a bit more structured, then hop on a boat for a whirl around the Weather Islands or chase lobsters on a safari during your trip to this National marine park.
Dyrön
Dyrön offers a classic Swedish island experience.
If you’ve got a boat you’ve got to head here since it’s one of the best places (we think) for sailing in Sweden.
Whether you’re here for a day trip or want to stay a bit longer, you’ll find so many beautiful views and a village that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard. Enjoy a typical Swedish sauna experience by diving straight into the waters or take an afternoon walk along the scenic seaside trails.
Ljungskile
Ljungskile is a little bit more off the beaten path when it comes to places to visit on Sweden’s west coast. It’s easy to get to though since you can drive north on the E6 from Gothenburg.
This small town is best known for Musselbaren, a restaurant that celebrates the local delicacy of fresh mussels, served on a lovely outdoor terrace during the sunny months. You can even take a mussel safari and head off on a boat in search of your own mussels. As part of the tour, you’ll get a cookery lesson too.
Härön
Härön might not be the most talked-about island off Sweden’s west coast, but it’s just a quick ferry trip from Kyrkesund Harbour and totally worth the journey.
You’ll get to visit a cute old fishing village where houses stretch along the shoreline, connected by lovely paths leading down to the sea.
Our favourite part of Härön is the nature reserve. Here, you can wander all day on a loop trail that weaves through marshes, woods, and past rocky cliffs, showing off the beauty of the Bohuslän region. Also, make a point to check out St. Olovs Valar and Utsiksplats Kyrkesund back on the mainland for views across the island.
And if you’re here in the summer, don’t pass up the chance to grab lunch at Magasinet Härön.
Skärhamn
Skärhamn is another must-visit spot on Sweden’s west coast and a great place to visit if you’re doing a bit of a West Coast road trip in this area as we love to do with our camper van.
Enjoy morning walks down towards the harbour with a coffee, take a swim at Gråskärs Badplats, or visit the Nordic Watercolour Museum.
There are, of course, loads of great restaurants right by the water’s edge and you can sit outdoors when the weather is nice to enjoy lunch with a view.
I recommend planning your trip here for July as that’s when there’s the Wooden Boat Festival. During this summertime festival, the harbour gets full of classic wooden boats which are super cool to look at.
Käringön
The island of Käringön buzzes with activity during the summer but is pretty sleepy at other times of the year.
In summer, the harbour is full of boats and you can get here by ferry which makes things easy since you don’t need to have your own boat.
Once you’ve arrived at this gem of the Swedish west coast, head out to the island’s pretty beaches, admire the classic Swedish wooden houses, or enjoy some fish at the restaurants here such as Simons Restaurant.
Åstol
Åstol is an island within the Gothenburg archipelago and is much loved for the white wooden houses which surround the harbour.
This car-free island is a great day trip from Gothenburg, especially in the summer when more of the restaurants and cafes are open.
But, to really enjoy this island, I recommend staying overnight so you can enjoy it at sunset and when most of the day trippers have gone home.
We love taking a refreshing dip in a rock pool and there are many to choose from!
Donsö
Donsö is another beautiful place to visit in the Gothenburg Archipelago.
This is the southernmost island of the archipelago and is where you’ll find loads of untouched beaches. The ferry ride from Saltholmen is super picturesque or, do what we did, and kayak over from Fiskebacken.
Once you set foot on Donsö pick up a map and discover the walking trails to some of the island’s most pretty spots. Don’t forget to take your bathing suit so you can go for a dip!
When we kayaked over to Donsö we grabbed lunch at Popsicle which is a super cute cafe serving great options for fika and crepes with savoury and sweet fillings.
Svartedalens Naturreservat
While not actually on the coast itself, this nature reserve is in Western Sweden and is such a beautiful place to explore.
You’ll get to wander through the woods and out to the lakes, and pack binoculars to check out the birds! I recommend packing a picnic and a stove so you can make some hot drinks and then enjoy Svartedalens Naturreservat either solo or with friends.
Fjällbacka
Fjällbacka also has a lovely fishing harbour framed by rows of white houses set against dramatic rocky cliffs.
The town is not only a visual treat but also a cultural hotspot, thanks to its association with Camilla Läckberg, a renowned Nordic Noir author who grew up here. Her novels are set in and around Fjällbacka and add a layer of mystery and intrigue to the town.
For the best views, I recommend going up Kungsklyftan Fjällbacka as there are some cool views along the way and you’ll get to check out one of the main attractions: the rock suspended between two rock walls. It’s pretty cool and a bit like the Devil’s Gate in the Lofoten Islands, Norway.
Smögen
Smögen is likely a place you’ve seen plenty of photos of and is what I consider to be one of the prettiest places to visit in Sweden. What used to be a 1970s teen party hub is now a peaceful village known for its attractive wooden waterfront houses, shops, and cosy cafés.
Smögenbryggan is at the centre of the village and it’s where you’ll find the boardwalk which is lined with colourful boathouses. It’s probably one of West Sweden’s most iconic scenes.
A short ferry ride from Smögen is Hållö, an island with smooth rocks that are ideal for sunbathing and sheltered waters that are perfect for swimming.
You can also book fishing day trips to fish for lobster and crab here. And unwinding at the Smögenshafvsbad spa is a great way to add a touch of luxury to your weekend trip here.
Tjörn Island
Tjörn Island is the place to go if you love art, culture, and nature, as you can find all three things here. The island is just south of the Koster Islands on Sweden’s stunning west coast and is known for its art scene.
The main attraction here is the impressive and striking sculpture of a woman’s head by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. It seems to appear from nowhere and is super cool to check out during your visit. However, what many other Sweden blogs don’t mention is that there are actually loads of other sculptures nearby since it’s part of the Pilane sculpture park!
Otherwise, enjoy the slow-paced, relaxed way of life as you wander around the island.
Hannah is the owner and main writer of Outdoor Sweden. Having travelled the world and documented it on ThatAdventurer.co.uk, including 6 years living in Canada, Hannah and her husband have decided to make Sweden their home for the outdoors activities Sweden offers.