Orust
Orust is Sweden’s 4th largest island and is located in Västra Götaland County. Orust municipality includes the island of Orust as well as several smaller surrounding islands, islets and skerries. Orust has around 15,000 inhabitants, but during the summer the number of people in the municipality will multiply. In addition to being an attractive place to live in, it is also a popular destination. There is a lot to see and do here. Visit picturesque communities with cozy restaurants and shops, go for walks or take a dip in the sea.
Tjörn
Tjörn is the 7th biggest island in Sweden. Tjörn municipality comprises the island Tjörn and more than 1500 surrounding smaller islands, islets and skerries, many of them are uninhabited.
In the summer, the population increases from 15,000 to 45,000 people. You reach the island via Tjörnbron in the south or the Skåpesundsbron in the north.
There are nice walkways and cycle paths, cozy restaurants and nice shops.
Hälleviksstrand
Hälleviksstrand is a charming fishing village on Orust where time feels as if it’s slowing down. Here, you are met by traditional boathouses, piers, and an authentic archipelago atmosphere, alongside cozy cafés, restaurants, a kiosk, and beautiful swimming spots. From Hälleviksstrand, water taxis run to popular islands like Käringön and Gullholmen. The area also offers calm waters perfect for kayaking, with rental options available nearby. You will find swimming areas with diving towers, a beach, and activities such as tennis and boules. A place for tranquility, the scent of the sea, and the true essence of Bohuslän.
Mollösund
Mollösund on southwestern Orust was a fishing village as early as the 16th century. Its a part of the summer to walk the bridgeturn and look at what is happening in the harbor where its hustle and bustle with people and boats Mollösund has a grocery store, kiosk, fish shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries, museums, craft stalls and much more.
Gullholmen
Gullholmen is one of the Swedish West Coast’s oldest fishing villages. A car-free summer island with restaurants, shops, boutiques and lovely swimming. It never gets boring. Here there is a grocery store, fish shop, restaurants, bar, ice cream kiosk, museum, galleries, craft stalls and more.
In the northern part of the island, the houses are built almost down in the water. Here is Stenstugan, which is one of the oldest houses on the island, it is today a museum. The skipper’s house from the 19th century is worth a visit. The rooms and equipment remain in their original condition and the house with associated boathouses has become a maritime and fishing museum.
On Hermanö, only the eastern side is built up. The rest of the island is one of Bohuslän’s largest nature reserves, with a lush rift valley and a barren west side.
Nösund
Nösund is a wonderful small community that has a little of everything but above all it is a seaside idyll. There are lots of rocks, salty baths, two bathing stands, one with a jumping tower. A small harbor and wonderful nature. The pilgrimage route goes past Nösund, so there are also good hiking opportunities.
Nösund also has an inn with a restaurant, fine spa and performances by famous musicians who also boast an incredibly beautiful sea view.
Nösundsgården is a hotel / hostel and has tapas and seafood evenings and some local performances during the summer.
Käringön
If you want to experience a typical fishing community, you should visit Käringön. About 130 people live here all year round. 180 of the island’s 200 houses were built before 1920. There are no street names on Käringön. Each house has instead been given a number and the number serves as an address.
A walrus, which was transported to the island by a summer guest, stands by the bridge as a portal.
The houses have been built very densely. A nice hike is to walk from the bridge up to Lotsutkiken. Along the road you will find small outbuildings and garden plots in the same condition as in the 19th century. One of the fishermen’s cottages is furnished as a museum. Käringön has a grocery store, smokehouse, fish shop, restaurants, cafes, bar, galleries, museum, craft stalls and more.
Flatön
These three idyllic islands located at Orust northwest coast. The easiest way to get here is by car ferry from Fröjendal to Malön. There is a bridge connection between Malön and Flatön.
Flatön and Ängön are green islands with lots of forest, cliffs, small cottages and farms where there is also a small church on Flatön. At Handelman’s flink you can shop in the seafood stall, eat in the restaurant, stop at the café and in the shop you can buy an ostrich caramels or nice souvenirs.
Malön is barren and used to be no seaside resort, but rather a beautiful nature area in a quiet and undisturbed environment. On Malön there is a campsite that has a kiosk.
Edshultshall
Edshultshall is a paradise for those who love salty seas and cliffs. Here you only have a few minutes over the pier to find your own cliff for a day. At the cliffs you have a panoramic view of boating and you can also glimpse the lighthouse Kråkesundsgap. If you rent a cottage from us in Edshultshall, you can also get the opportunity to rent the sauna along the cliffs for a cheap price. There is also a swimming area and the opportunity to get out to sea or one of the car-free islands by boat taxi.
Stocken
Stocken is a very small coastal community, but like other fishing villages, it is characterized by a very dense and seemingly completely unregulated settlement. The residential buildings are of varying ages, but externally they are well cohesive and often also well preserved.
The oldest written information about the Stock is derived from a tax register dated 1617. During the fruitful herring period of the 18th century, the population of Stocken increased.
Slussen
Slussen is best known today for its guest house, which every year attracts many famous artists. Here you can experience fantastic concerts in the small cozy format, while enjoying a delicious dinner.
In Slussen there is a large swimming area with jetties, diving towers, changing rooms & swimming school. In the community there is also a cozy cafe / shop, which serves vegetarian snacks, ice cream & coffee and has a surprisingly wide range of vegan & fairtrade products, from groats to sweets & shampoos. Sometimes a musician comes by and there is a spontaneous concert on the leafy outdoor terrace that hangs over the water.
Svanesund
Svanesund is located by the strait between the eastern side of the island and the mainland. It is the second largest urban area on Orust, after Henån. Here you will find a large swimming area with several jetties and diving towers as well as large lawns to be on. The bathing area is handicapped accessible and child-friendly with good parking facilities.
The last weekend in July, the Svanesund Festival usually takes place. This festival is one of the West Coast’s largest events with about 2000-4000 people per night.
Ellös
If you are looking for a quiet place with beautiful nature, proximity to the sea and at the same time want access to amenities such as:
Restaurants, fish shop, gym, two bathing places, bakery, kiosk, some small levely shops, pharmacy, health center, bank, and grocery store and a wonderfully beautiful golf club seaside course and sea fishing, then Ellös is perfect. From here, the bus also leaves several times a day.
In the vicinity of Ellös there is also Stocken’s camping which rents out bicycles and sea kayaks, so you can experience paddling between Kobbar & Skär. Garden walks at Morlanda manor. Open garden in Bergakungen’s hall. Tofta farm with entertainment and good food as well as the children’s farm at Dahle, m.m.
Kyrkesund
Today, almost only summer guests live in Kyrkesund. It’s located on one side of Kyrkesundet, on the other side is Härön where you can take a ferry from Kyrkesund. On Härön there is restaurant Magasinet where you can enjoy fresh fish cooked with care & love. On the island Kålhuvudet at the southern inlet to the strait, a cod cookery was built in 1780, which is today preserved as a rare cultural monument.
Skärhamn
Skärhamn is the island’s largest town. Here is a culture house with a library. Many shops and most of them are open all year round. Here you’ll find a grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store, boat accessory store, clothing stores, electronics store, fish and seafood store etc.
Skärhamn is best known today for the Watercolor Museum. Since its inception in 2000, the museum has exhibited art by, among others, Salvador Dali, Bill Viola, Louis Bourgeois, Elsa Beskow, Anders Zorn and Lars Lerin.
In Skärhamn there are several restaurants and cafés. If you like ice cream, then the ice cream bar Sommardröm, they are Bohuslän’s largest ice cream bar.