Grebbestad – The Oyster Mecca with a Rich Cultural History

A Popular Pier Walk with Salty Flavors

Grebbestad is a town in Tanum municipality, located halfway between Gothenburg and Oslo. It is one of Bohuslän’s most popular seaside resorts, bustling year-round with a rich cultural history. The harbor area is lined with fishing boats, picturesque boathouses, cafés, shops, and restaurants. Here you’ll find the popular pier walk with several restaurants serving fresh fish, shrimp, oysters, lobster, crab, and langoustines. Enjoy the day’s catch at eateries that once housed a canning factory and telegraph station in the early 1900s. Recommended restaurants include Grebys, Telegrafen, and Tanumstrand.

Approaching Grebbestad, you’ll see the town’s neo-Gothic church standing proudly above the white and red archipelago houses. Arriving by boat, you’ll dock at Grebbestad’s guest marina — a full-service facility with plenty of berths.

Harvest Seafood and Wild Oysters

Fishing and maritime industries have long been vital to Grebbestad. Today, the trawlers mainly catch shrimp and crayfish, but what truly puts Grebbestad on the seafood map are its wild oysters, Ostrea edulis. Did you know that 90% of Sweden’s oyster production comes from Grebbestad and Tanum?

You can join fishing trips and help haul lobster, crayfish, and crab traps — or pick oysters directly from the seabed along the shore. The best time for seafood is autumn and winter when the water is cold and fresh. An old rule says only months containing the letter “R” are the proper shellfish months.

Swim, Paddle, and Island Hop

Grebbestad offers child-friendly beaches with sandy shores, piers, and diving platforms. The beautiful archipelago environment invites you to discover your own swimming paradises among islets and bays. The popular nature reserve Tjurpannan, just north of town, features smooth cliffs sloping down into the salty turquoise water. Find everything you need to know about kayaking in Tanum here.

Many consider the waters around Grebbestad among the best in the world for paddling. Book kayak rentals, guides, and adventure packages, with or without meals and accommodation — or try Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP).

If you want to island-hop, several boat tours are available for booking. A recommended destination is the Väderöarna Islands — Bohuslän’s westernmost stop. Here you’ll find a beautiful hiking trail, a lookout tower, and an inn offering food and lodging year-round.

Orchid Walks and Ancient Sites

Just above town begins the three-kilometer-long Falkeröd Trail, which follows old paths and roads past several ancient monuments, including Greby Burial Ground. With over 180 visible graves, it’s the largest burial site in Bohuslän. At the Otterön nature reserve, south of Grebbestad, you can hike along unique shell banks amid rich flora, including many orchid species. The Swedish national poet Evert Taube wrote “Så länge skutan kan gå” (As Long as the Ship Can Sail) during his summer stay on Otterön in 1954.

Comfortable Stays by the Sea

About ten minutes south of Grebbestad lies Tanumstrand, a modern tourist resort offering accommodations and a wide range of year-round activities. Stay at the hotel or in a cabin and enjoy seasonal menus at the restaurant. Boat and equipment rentals are also available for saltwater archipelago adventures.

In Grebbestad, you can also stay at campgrounds, inns, hostels, B&Bs, or guesthouses — whatever suits you best.

Ancient Remains and Maritime Trade

Grebbestad is rich in ancient remains from the Iron Age and rock carvings dating from 1700 BC to 300 BC. These relics show the area has been inhabited for a long time, but the town is first mentioned in written records from the early 1600s. The community developed greatly during the 1800s, with shipping, trade, and the canning and fishing industries as primary livelihoods. The area’s granite-rich bedrock attracted many stonemasons in the late 19th century. The stone industry took off in Bohuslän, and Grebbestad also became a prominent seaside resort, with both cold and warm baths.

At Vitlycke Museum, you can travel back in time. This family-friendly experience center is part of the Tanum World Heritage Site, located in an area with around 600 rock carving sites and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join guided tours of the carvings, experience bronze casting, plant dyeing, or try your hand at archery.