Gothenburg’s Best Day Trip: The Gothenburg Archipelago

If you’re looking for information about the Gothenburg archipelago (Göteborgs skärgård, in Swedish!), you’re in the right place! If you’re visiting Gothenburg and can spare the time, a visit to the archipelago is a must – it’s one of the best day trips from Gothenburg!

Gothenburg Archipelago

The Gothenburg archipelago is located off the west coast of Sweden, in the North Sea, specifically in the Kattegat, a 30,000 km² waterway between Sweden and Denmark. It’s home to around 5,000 residents, which swells to over 10,000 in summer (about 6,000 of them). The Swedes love a staycation!

The Gothenburg archipelago consists of two parts: the northern and southern archipelagos. If you want to visit on foot and are short on time, the southern islands are the best option because they are generally easier to reach and car-free.

How to Get To Gothenburg Archipelago

Let’s look at how to get to the northern and southern Gothenburg archipelagos.

How to get to Gothenburg Northern Archipelago

To get to the northern archipelago, a car is your best option. Lilla Varholmen is an island in the northern archipelago accessible by road from the mainland (it’s pretty much connected!). From there, you can catch a car ferry to the islands of Hönö and Björkö. From Hönö, you can reach the islands of Öckerö, Fotö, Hälsö. From Hälsö, there is a ferry to Hyppeln and Rörö. You can’t reach any other islands by car from Björkö.

How to get to Gothenburg Southern Archipelago

Because of the excellent public transport and cycle networks in Gothenburg, getting to Gothenburg’s southern archipelago couldn’t be simpler. The southern archipelago is car-free. The ferry is open to foot passengers only! To get to the Gothenburg archipelago, we recommend you use the Västtrafik To Go app. Scroll down for more information on the app and links to download on Android and iOS.

Tip: when searching for stops in Västtrafik’s To Go trip planner – search for ‘Saltholmen’s bridge’ for boats and buses from Saltholmen, and search for ‘Saltholmen’ for trams.

Getting to Salthomen Ferry Terminal

By Bike

You are not advised to take your bike on board, as the southern archipelago is served only by boats with limited bicycle capacity. They can only be stored on the ferry’s front deck. You may not be able to get it back. Plus, the islands aren’t that big, and some paths are only suitable on foot once you are there. Getting to the Salthomen ferry terminal by bike is easy thanks to Gothenburg’s excellent cycle network. There is a superb bike park at the ferry terminal with ample parking for your bike. From there, jump on the passenger ferry.

By Tram & Bus

Public transport to the Gothenburg archipelago is an excellent option because it’s easy and cheap. You can purchase a 35 SEK ticket valid for 90 minutes, which is long enough to travel from the city to one of the islands. It’s mind-blowingly cheap when you consider you are using a tram or bus and a ferry! You can buy two single journey tickets or a day ticket for 115 SEK. Note: you only need Zone A!

You’re looking for tram #11 or tram #9 (which runs in summer) and bus #114. Allow approximately 30 minutes for either journey from central Gothenburg. Below are the tram and bus routes, respectively.

Gothenburg Archipelago Ferry

Saltholmen ferry terminal is where you will catch the ferry to take you to the southern archipelago. You can catch a ferry to the bigger islands roughly every hour. During peak season, the boats run a little more frequently. You will find some islands have direct ferries, so check the Gothenburg Archipelago ferry timetable for up-to-date information. You can use the Västtrafik To Go app to buy your tickets. Alternatively, you can purchase single tickets on board by card.

For a brief overview, below are the ferry numbers that run all year and the islands they visit:

• 281 Stenpiren–Saltholmen–Köpstadsö–Styrsö Bratten–Donsö–Vrångö
• 282 Stenpiren–Saltholmen–Köpstadsö–Styrsö Bratten–Styrsö Tången–Brännö Husvik
• 283 Saltholmen–Asperö–Brännö Rödsten
• 284 Saltholmen–Knarrholmen–Stora Förö–Saltholmen

Gothenburg Archipelago Islands

Gothenburg archipelago has two separate areas – the northern archipelago and the southern archipelago. Below is the list of islands in each archipelago.

The northern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago are; Björkö, Fotö, Grötö, Hyppeln, Hälsö, Hönö, Kalvsund, Källö-knippla, Rörö, and Öckerö.

The southern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago are: Asperö, Brännö, Donsö, Knarrholmen, Kårholmen, Sjumansholmen, Köpstadsö, Stora Förö, Styrsö, Vargö, Vinga and Vrångö.

Gothenburg Archipelago Map

Västtrafik To Go App

The Västtrafik To Go app is the best option for public transport journeys in Gothenburg. We usually plan trips using Google Maps, but the Västtrafik To Go app offers two advantages over Google Maps for navigating Gothenburg. First, it shows which stop or jetty your transport is departing from, and second, it lets you buy your tickets directly in the app using a credit card. There are other benefits, but these are the most defining advantages over Google Maps. The Västtrafick To Go app is available on Android and iOS.

Things to Do in the Gothenburg Archipelago

So, you’ve finally reached the archipelago, but what do you do?! There are a few things to do to occupy you for a few hours, listed below:

• Go swimming – there are almost endless opportunities to swim around the archipelago, including a few child-friendly spots where the water is shallow, such as Utterviksbadet in Vrångö.
• Go paddling – If you want to experience the archipelago more adventurously, kayaking or canoeing is a good option. You can hire a kayak or even take a tour to explore.
• Enjoy Swedish Fika – There are plenty of places around the archipelago where you can stop for coffee, cake and a bite to eat!
• Go walking – For those fancying a stroll around the islands, there are plenty of places for you to wander, including a few nature reserves like Ersdalen Nature Reserve in western Hönö.
• Take a boat excursion – if you fancy seeing more of the sea, a boat trip is for you! Head o a sea safari to find grey-spotted seals or go fishing for lobster and crab. Boat trips run from Hönö Klåva harbour to Vinga.

FAQs

What is an archipelago?

An archipelago is a group of scattered islands located near one another and surrounded by water. An archipelago is usually in the sea or ocean, but it can also be found in lakes or rivers.

Where is Gothenburg archipelago?

Right next to Gothenburg is the short answer! The longer answer is Gothenburg archipelago is located just a few miles off the coast of Gothenburg in the North Sea and is accessible by ferry and car. A ferry takes passengers to the car-free southern archipelago, and a car and car ferry can get you to the northern archipelago.

How do I get to the Gothenburg archipelago?

The easiest way to get to the Gothenburg archipelago from the Gothenburg centre is to take public transport. The tram or bus will take you directly to Salthomen. From there, jump on the ferry that takes you to the island you want. It’s that simple! To help you get to the Gothenburg archipelago by public transport, use the Västtrafik To Go app to plan your journey and buy your tickets. Alternatively, you can cycle to Salthomen Port and leave your bike at the terminal’s ample bike storage.

Which island to visit in Gothenburg?

Vrångö, Donso, Brännö, and Styrsö are all good options; they are the largest islands in the southern archipelago and are easy to access by ferry. We recommend visiting the southern islands of the Gothenburg archipelago, as they are closer and car-free. You will experience the peaceful surroundings of the islands, where the ambient noise isn’t that of cars and roads but that of the natural world around you.

How many islands does the Gothenburg archipelago have?

The Gothenburg archipelago has over 20 islands. The islands are divided into two archipelagos: the northern and southern. The southern islands are car-free and very peaceful. The only noise of motorised vehicles you will hear is the ferries and the odd motorised scooter the locals use to move things around, like firewood and shopping! You might even see the odd golf buggy or tractor, but vehicles are few and far between either way!

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