Vrångö – the southernmost island with a rich fishing heritage

Vrångö is the southernmost island in the Gothenburg archipelago, and the boat trip to get there takes between 35 and 50 minutes. Around 350 people live on this car-free island all year round, where you can get around on foot, by bicycle or by flat moped. The island is best known for its beautiful nature and its fine sandy beaches. There are several swimming spots here, and many consider Vrångö to be the best island in the archipelago for swimming.

The settlement stretches like a ribbon across the island, and both the northern and southern areas outside the built-up area are protected nature reserves. For those who want to stay overnight, Kajkanten Vrångö offers accommodation in a harbour-side environment, and at Hamnkrogen Lotsen you can enjoy a meal with a view of the harbour. A visit to the old pilot lookout is well worth the time – from here you have a panoramic view of Vinga lighthouse, Fotö, Hönö and the mainland.

Styrsö – archipelago hub with village life, a hotel and restaurants

Styrsö is located in the heart of the southern archipelago and has around 1,400 permanent residents. The island offers shops, cafés, restaurants and guesthouses as well as excellent swimming opportunities, from sandy beaches to bathing jetties and smooth granite cliffs. From Stora Rös, the island’s highest point, there is a sweeping view of the archipelago and further out to the open sea.

Styrsö consists of four smaller villages with their own distinct character, from the historic village of Byn to the former fishing community of Tången and Bratten’s more distinct seaside resort feel. For those who want to stay overnight, Kusthotellet Styrsö offers comfortable accommodation, and if hunger strikes while you explore the island, you can eat at Tångbaren in a harbour-side setting. If you want to experience something extra, Algblomman offers seaweed safaris on the island, where you get the chance to experience the archipelago’s pantry.

Brännö – Traditional island with bridge dancing and child-friendly beaches

Brännö is a lively island in the southern archipelago of Gothenburg with around 900 permanent residents, known for its traditional summer dances and its strong maritime heritage. The island is characterised by narrow alleys and wooden houses that create a charming, small-scale atmosphere, and from the former pilot lookout there is a wide view of Vinga and the fairway towards the harbour.

There are plenty of bathing opportunities here, from child-friendly beaches at Ramsdal to the sandy beach in Gröna Vik with bathing jetties, and via a small bridge you reach Galterö – an area with untouched nature and rich bird life that is popular for kayaking and summer grazing sheep. For those who want to stay overnight there is Brännö Värdshus and Pensionat Baggen, and at LeShack you can eat in a relaxed environment. Don’t miss the classic pier dance at Brännö Husvik on Thursdays during the summer, which you can also get there by boat from Stenpiren with Styrsöbolaget.

Donsö – maritime heritage and magnificent nature

Donsö is a characterful island in Gothenburg’s southern archipelago where fishing and shipping still play an important role. Around 1,500 people live here year-round, and the island offers scenic walking trails, inviting swimming spots and beautiful coastal environments both to the north and south.

There are cafés, shops, a bakery and a smokehouse, as well as hotels and restaurants serving fresh, locally caught fish and seafood. A short bridge connects Donsö with the neighbouring island of Styrsö, making it easy to discover two islands in the same day. For overnight stays, Isbolaget Hotell & Restaurang is an excellent option, at Popsicle you can eat in a relaxed environment, and a visit to the unique Hamnaffären, where everything from screws to Italian delicacies and vintage clothing is sold, is an experience in itself.

Vinga – iconic lighthouse at the farthest point towards the North Sea

Vinga is Gothenburg’s westernmost point and the childhood home of Swedish music legend Evert Taube, and the island is well worth a visit for its magnificent nature. It is ideal for a day trip but is not part of the regular public transport, and is instead reached by tour boats departing from Hönö in the northern archipelago, for example with Hönö Båtturer, Kastor Boat Trips or Marine Events. During the summer, boats also leave from the city center with Strömma. On board the boat you can eat during the trip, or visit the small café Winga Vänner in the harbour, and don’t miss the guided lighthouse tours with Winga Vänner, which are given on weekends in spring and autumn and daily in summer.

Fotö – island with a calm and relaxed atmosphere

Fotö is a quiet gem in the Gothenburg archipelago with around 600 permanent residents and a genuine island feel characterised by the sea and everyday life. The island is ideal for those who want to explore on foot, with coastal walking paths along the Gothenburg archipelago trail, nice swimming areas and diving towers. During the summer months, life gathers around the guest harbour, where you can take a break at Café Boa, and the island’s sauna is an experience in itself – book an appointment and enjoy what is very much the archipelago’s most beautiful view from the sauna window.

Hönö – hub in the northern archipelago with restaurants, shops and activities

Hönö is located in the northern part of the Gothenburg archipelago and is known for its lively marina with several restaurants and cafés as well as a wide range of activities, such as kayaking and diving. The island has a strong fishing heritage that you can delve into at the Fishing Museum in Hönö Klåva, where the harbour is lined with restaurants and cafés with sunny outdoor seating by the water.

The island is characterized by smooth granite cliffs and scenic walking trails, especially in the Ersdalen nature reserve in the northwest and along the southwest side of the island. There are several popular bathing spots here, from well-equipped piers near the harbour to quieter bays such as Jungfruviken and Halse Långe on the other side of the island, making Hönö a destination that suits both those looking for activity and those who want to relax. For overnight stays, you can choose between Skärgårdshotellet Hönö and Havskatten, eat well at Tullhuset or Franses, and don’t miss boalder climbing in Ersdalen nature reserve and the small beach Hästen.

Rörö – a peaceful island with unique nature and open landscapes

Rörö is the northernmost of the inhabited islands in Gothenburg’s northern archipelago and offers a unique nature experience where open moorland, heather and shingle fields meet the sea. Most of the island is a nature reserve with a rich flora and fauna, which makes Rörö a popular destination for both nature lovers and birdwatchers. Here you can follow winding paths through the open landscape, hike out to the shingle beach on the west side or take a dip at one of the bathing areas.

The barren, treeless terrain provides fantastic views of the archipelago regardless of the season, and during the summer sheep and horses graze openly on the lands to keep the landscape open and alive. The village has a shop and a local history museum, and in the harbour is Röröboa Gelato & Restaurant, known for its homemade ice cream as well as hamburgers and salads. For those who want to discover more of the island, the hike to viewpoints such as Fyrvala and Grevens Vale is a must.

Åstol – the rocky island with white wooden houses

Located between Tjörn and Marstrand on Sweden’s west coast, Åstol is a small, car-free island characterised by its densely packed white wooden houses set amongst dramatic, sea-carved cliffs. Around 200 people live here year-round, and the island is easily reached by ferry from Rönnäng, making Åstol an excellent day trip destination with sweeping sea views, picturesque boathouses and a striking natural setting.

The narrow alleys on this island lead through a compact fishing community where cafés, outdoor restaurants, a gallery and small services contribute to the relaxed atmosphere. With salty dips, unique rock formations and a light shaped by the surrounding sea, Åstol offers a tranquil archipelago experience in the heart of Bohuslän. For those who want to stay longer, accommodation is available at Tjörns Havspensionat in Rönnäng, where the ferry to Åstol departs, or in boathouses at Dyröns Värdshus on the neighbouring island of Dyrön, and at Åstols Rökeri you can eat fish and shellfish. Also, don’t miss the popular water slide for children at the natural saltwater pool.

Marstrand – Sweden’s sailing mecca and home to Carlsten Fortress

At the far end of Sweden’s west coast, where the archipelago meets the open sea, lies Marstrand – one of the country’s most iconic coastal destinations. The town is known for sailing, swimming and a lively harbour life, and attracts with car-free streets, charming neighbourhoods and a dramatic coastal environment. The island is reached via a short ferry crossing and offers sea views in all directions, with Carlsten’s fortress rising majestically above the buildings.

Boats gather along the quays in Sweden’s largest guest harbour all year round, and in early July Marstrand transforms into the country’s sailing centre in connection with major international regattas. With excellent restaurants and cafés, beautiful coastal walks, salty dips and a vibrant life, Marstrand combines maritime history with relaxed island charm. For overnight stays, there are Kurhotellet Marstrand, Marstrands Havshotell and Grand Hotel Marstrand, while Arnell på Kajen and Carlstens Våffelcafé are popular stops for food and coffee. Don’t miss walking around the entire island and visiting the historic Carlsten Fortress.

Bonus: Hamneskär / Pater Noster – the island on the horizon

Hamneskär is a small island located just under ten kilometers from Marstrand and is one of Sweden’s approximately 1,700 state-owned kronoholmar and is part of the protected nature reserve Pater Noster archipelago. It is here that the Pater Noster lighthouse rises from the sea, built in 1868 and extinguished in 1977, with its name taken from the surrounding Pater Noster skerries – a dramatic collection of 97 islands and skerries. Long before the lighthouse was built, sailors are said to have recited the Lord’s Prayer when the skerries came into view, hoping to make it through the treacherous waters alive, where strong currents and hidden ground have caused countless shipwrecks over the centuries.

For over a hundred years, the lighthouse keepers lived out here, completely on the island and the sea’s terms, and today the door to the lighthouse keeper’s residence has been reopened. After careful renovation, the historic building from 1868 has been transformed into the internationally award-winning Pater Noster Hotel, where you can both stay and eat, and where one of the highlights of your stay is to let your gaze rest on the magnificent views of the sea and horizon.