Day trips from Strömstad

Using Västtrafik trains or buses you can get from Gothenburg to Strömstad in about two and a half hours. There is a wide variety of accommodation in Strömstad.

Scandic Laholmen is right next to the sea in the centre of Strömstad. If you’d prefer to stay a little off-centre, you can stay, eat, and relax at Strömstad Spa, which is equally close to the sea.

There are two large camping facilities about 6 kilometres outside Strömstad: Lagunen Camping and Cottages and Daftö Resort. Bring your own caravan or motorhome, or stay in one of the high-quality cottages. More accommodation options in the area can be found here.

Day trip to Ursholmen, Sweden's most westerly lighthouse

2 July – 10 August Selin charter departs from Strömstad's north harbour via the  Koster islands to Ursholmen. On Fridays during the period of 5 July - 2 August you can also travel to   Koster and Ursholmen from Resö, an island you can reach by bridge approximately 30 kilometres south of  Strömstad. None of the sailings need to be booked in advance. 

On Wednesdays and Fridays, from 26 June to 9 August, Kust Event sails from  the north harbour in Strömstad via Lagunen Camping and Cottages and the Koster Islands to Ursholmen. Book your trip in advance with Kust Event or in the reception at Lagunen Camping and Cottages. 

Ursholmen is actually two small islands, Yttre and Inre Ursholmen, which are separated by a narrow sound forming a large, natural harbour. These days Ursholmen is a popular destination outside Strömstad, about 4 km southwest of the Koster Islands. It used to be Sweden's most westerly inhabited island when the lighthouse-keepers and their families lived here. The lighthouses were electrified in 1965 and no longer needed any supervision. The lighthouse-keepers and their families moved, but their houses remained.

There is a large population of harbour seal in the area around Ursholmen. On the way there you pass through the Koster Sea, which has the widest variety of species of all Sweden's waters. If you are lucky you may well see some seals in their natural environment. Kosterhavet national park is Sweden's only national marine park and its main entrance, naturum Kosterhavet, is on Sydkoster by the Ekenäs ferry quay.

Don’t forget to take a packed lunch for your day trip, as well as swimwear if you want to take a dip!.

Day trip to the Nord-Långö Nature Reserve with the Alaska garden

The Nord-Långö Nature Reserve that lies just outside Strömstad was started in 1976 to conserve the unique archipelago landscape of northern Bohuslän. There are small copses of trees on the north of the island, while the south mostly consists of flat rocks and heath land.

Discover the stone and flower garden called Alaska, which was built on Nord-Långö by a one-time gold digger called Hilma.  She left Sweden as a young woman in 1896 to travel to America, where she panned for gold among other things. After many years Hilma returned and built up this fascinating garden made of stones, shells and cement. There are large temples, arches, bridges, benches and other curiosities to see. 

There are many paths around the island, making it easy to stroll and discover different viewpoints and swimming places. Don’t forget to pack your swimming things!

There is a café open in the summer, perfect after a walk and a visit to the Alaska Garden. 

To get to Nord-Långö, or Norra Långön to use its real name, take a boat from the north harbour in Strömstad during the summer months. Selin charter runs tours on Mondays to Saturdays from 25 June to 11 August 2018. The crossing takes about 20 minutes one-way.

Dinner in Strömstad

Round off the day with a lovely meal in one of the restaurants in Strömstad.

The next day you can continue to explore the islands outside Strömstad: take a tour to the Koster Islands and go cycling or walking, or visit Norway for the day with Nadir Hvaler Fjordcruise and go to Skjærhalden in Yttre Hvaler National Park.