Things to do in Gothenburg’s archipelago

4 islands to visit year round

Explore Gothenburg’s archipelago. You’ll find tips here for outings with hiking, boat trips, events, cosy cafes and restaurants, as well as accommodation for anyone wanting to lengthen their stay. Plan a trip to Gothenburg’s archipelago.

Please remember to check the destination’s opening times before your visit.

Hönö

Styrsö

Donsö

Vrångö

Things to do on Hönö

Hönö is and island full of life all year round, boasting many magical beauty spots. There are cliffs, fishing boats, fishermens’s huts, cosy places to eat, shops and wonderful natural surroundings. Come and enjoy this gem in Gothenburg’s archipelago.

Hike Gothenburg’s Skärgårdsled, the Archipelago Trail

Gothenburg’s Archipelago Trail stretches 34 km through five stages – from Hyppeln in the north to Fotö in the south, plus a separate path on Knippla. Start the hike from the ferry stop on Hönö, which you can easily get to with Västtrafik on the free ferry from Lilla Varholmen.

Cosy accommodation and hot saunas

At Havskatten Hotel and Hostel, and Nimbus you can book accommodation and enjoy a sauna, and Skärgårdshotellet in Hönö Klåva offers accommodation, good food and walking packages. You can also experience the unique accommodation at Hönö Sjöbodar, where you’ll stay in cosy huts right by the water, an unmistakeable slice of island life.

Tips! Don't forget your swimwear, whatever the season.

Eat well with a view of the archipelago

Tullhuset restaurant in Hönö Klåva is a convivial fish and seafood restaurant with fantastic views of the sea and Vinga Lighthouse.

Franses Skärgårdspub is situated in what used to be Hönö’s fishing net factory. You can enjoy good food here with a beautiful panoramic view of the sea.

Restaurant Skafferiet serves really good ingredients in a lovely relaxed setting. Breakfast, lunch and a la carte, all year round.

Tours to Vinga Lighthouse & adventures at sea

Join Marine Events for a spot of sea fishing or book a seafood package with fishing, dinner and night in a hotel with Kastor boat trips. Hönö Båtturer do guided history tours with seal safaris and a stop at Vinga Lighthouse. Choose whichever takes your fancy.

Shop Local in Hönö Klåva

Stroll around the fishing boats and huts and discover the many shops in Hönö Klåva. You’ll find everything from clothes and home furnishing to toys and local delicacies here.

How to get to Hönö

From Lilla Varholmen ferry stop on Hisingen you can get the free ferry to Hönö, which takes around 12 minutes to get there.

It’s easy to get here by bus from central Gothenburg. Plan your journey with Västtrafik’s journey planner.

Experiences on Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö

Styrsö is the main centre in the southern part of Gothenburg’s archipelago. Distances are small here, the roads narrow and buildings idyllic. From Styrsö there’s also a bridge across to Donsö. Scenic Donsö is a walking friendly swimming paradise, with sandy and rocky beaches around the whole island.

Vrångö is the southernmost of the all year round inhabited islands in Gothenburg’s archipelago. It’s known for its lovely nature and offers a choice of sandy beaches and the rocky beaches typical of Bohuslän.

Eat and sleep well on Donsö

Enjoy a good espresso at Café Popsicle in the harbour. On the menu there’s both fika and food made from local ingredients, inspired by the sustainable sea, with both mussels and seaweed.

Eat well in the former ice factory. At the end of the harbour pier on Donsö lies Isbolaget, where you can get something tasty to eat and have a comfortable night’s stay. Both lunch and dinner are served but opening times vary so do check their website before you visit.

Take a trip to Styrsö

Cycle – hire a bike at Isbolaget or Popsicle and cycle over the bridge to Styrsö. At Popsicle you can also buy a packed lunch when you hire bikes.

Hike – Pack the picnic basket and take the boat out to Styrsö for a walk. There are some lovely walking trails on the south side of the island.

Stay comfortably – check in at Kusthotellet Styrsö, an archipelago gem with sea views, good food and a spa.

Explore Vrångö – the southermost island in the archipelago

Hamnkrogen Lotsen- enjoy the fish and shellfish catches of the day as well as the view over the harbour entrance.

Stay at Kajkanten- book an archipelago experience with accommodation in a fishing hut. Add a touch of luxury to your stay and book a seafood platter with delicacies from the local waters, which will be delivered to your hut. You can also book the relaxation raft with wood fired sauna, hot tub and a bathing ladder so you can enjoy a dip in the sea.

Sunset from the pilot’s lookout – definitely worth a visit. The pilots used to sit here and watch for ships, to help navigate their way in to Gothenburg. Nowadays you can enjoy the panoramic view of, among other things, Vinga Lighthouse, the Öckerö islands and the mainland.

Hike – pack a picnic basket and take the boat out to go walking on Vrångö. The island boasts two fantastic walking trails of 4 and 3 kilometres respectively, one of which is an accessible trail.

How to get to Styrsö/Donsö/Vrångö

Ferry stops: There are some departures from Stenpiren in the centre of Gothenburg, or more frequent crossings from Saltholmen to Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö. Plan your journey with Västtrafik’s journey planner.

Explore more destinations close to Gothenburg

There’s a whole lot to discover in Gothenburg. And there’s even more to explore outside the city. All you have to do is ride just a few stops beyond the city limits to enjoy some really memorable experiences. We’ve chosen eight destinations that are especially worth a visit. You can easily and quickly reach all of them with public transport

Last updated on: 28 May 2026