Granite islands, villages without cars and shrimp on the quay, less than an hour from the city:
how the ferries work, which islands to pick, and which boat tours really land.
Inclusions checkedWhich tours land on an island, and which stay on board
Real guest ratingsLive GetYourGuide figures, shown as they are
Refund terms per tourEvery option here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead
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Tours
Choose your archipelago boat tour
In the centre, the classic guided cruise on the M/S S:t Erik, the most booked trip out to the
islands. On the left, the same ship in the evening with a seafood buffet and live music. On the right, a small
sailing boat with a skipper and fika in a quiet bay.
An evening on the same classic ship with a welcome drink, a shrimp, salmon and herring buffet and a troubadour, past Styrsö, Donsö and Brännö in the southern archipelago.
What's included
3 hours in the southern archipelago on the M/S S:t Erik
A welcome drink
A large buffet of shrimp, salmon, herring and salads
The classic ship out through the harbour, past Nya Älvsborg fortress and among the southern islands. You stay on board: the cruise shows the islands, it does not land on them.
What's included
2.5 hours on the M/S S:t Erik from Lilla Bommen
A live guide in English and Swedish
Open sun deck, indoor saloon, restrooms
Café, restaurant and bar on board, paid on the spot
No stops ashore: you see the islands from the deck
A skipper sails a small group out towards the islands as the evening light changes. Help with the sails if you like, then coffee and a cinnamon bun on deck in a quiet bay.
What's included
About 3.5 hours on a sailing boat from Stenpiren
A skipper and a short safety briefing
Help with the sails or steer, no experience needed
Lunch on the cruise, a guided island hike, a hot rod road trip to the northern islands, a sauna boat, sunrise and shrimp sails, and a private hot tub cruise
The first row is the honest baseline: the public ferry from Saltholmen takes you to the southern
islands on an ordinary tram ticket, and you can walk, swim and eat there for as long as you like. A tour adds a
guide, a meal, a sail, a sauna or a hot rod, but most of them never set foot on an island.
Option
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On your own, public ferry
Tram 11 to Saltholmen, then Västtrafik boats 281 to 284
Walking, swimming and eating on the islands: one Västtrafik ticket covers the tram and the ferry, and you stay as long as you like
Tram 11 reaches Saltholmen in about 35 minutes; the southern boats then take 6 to 30
minutes to most islands. Bring a warm layer on any boat: it is windy on deck, even in July.
What the tour pages don't tell you
The cruise shows the islands. The ferry lands.
The southern islands are part of Gothenburg's public transport. Tram 11 runs to Saltholmen, and from
there Västtrafik boats call at Asperö, Brännö, Köpstadsö, Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö all year, on the same
ticket as the tram. You need no tour to reach them, and no car: the southern islands have no cars.
The most booked tour, the guided cruise on the M/S S:t Erik, is a lovely way to see the harbour, the
old Nya Älvsborg fortress and the islands from the deck, but it does not stop. Nor do the lunch and
shrimp-buffet versions, or the sailing tours, which anchor in a bay. The one tour here that walks on an island
is the guided Brännö and Galterö hike.
8
inhabited islands in the southern archipelago, none of
them open to cars, and every one on the Västtrafik ferry network from Saltholmen.
Tram 11SaltholmenOne ticketNo carsCruises stay on board
An island lane without cars in the southern archipelago.
01
How far?
About 35 minutes by tram to Saltholmen, then 6 to 30 minutes by boat.
02
Which ticket?
One Västtrafik ticket for the tram and the ferry.
03
When?
June to August for swimming; the ferries run all year.
04
A car?
Leave it behind: the southern islands have no cars.
How a day on the islands works
From the tram stop to the islands
A day in the southern archipelago follows the same easy rhythm: tram, ferry, a walk and a swim,
seafood on the quay and the boat back as the evening light turns gold.
01
Tram to Saltholmen
Tram 11 from the city centre, or tram 9 in summer, to the end of the line at the Saltholmen ferry terminal.
About 35 minutes
02
Pick your boat
Line 283 for Asperö and Brännö, 281 for Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö, 282 for Brännö Husvik, 284 for Knarrholmen.
6 to 30 minutes
03
On the island
Walk the quiet lanes and granite paths, swim from a jetty or a sandy cove, stop for fika.
A few hours
04
Shrimp and home
A shrimp sandwich by the harbour, then the boat back. Check the last departure, especially outside summer.
How the ticket works, which boat goes where, what to bring and what changes with the seasons.
One ticket: a Västtrafik Zone A ticket covers the tram, the bus and the southern ferries.
How to pay: the Västtrafik To Go app, or tap a contactless bank card on the reader on board.
On board: the crew checks tickets, so have yours ready.
Children: under seven ride with a ticket-holding adult.
Northern islands: the yellow road ferries are part of the public road; there is nothing to buy for the crossing.
281: Saltholmen to Köpstadsö, Styrsö Bratten, Donsö and Vrångö.
282: Saltholmen to Köpstadsö, Styrsö Bratten and Tången, and Brännö Husvik.
283: Saltholmen to Asperö and Brännö Rödsten, the quickest hop.
284: Saltholmen to Knarrholmen and Stora Förö.
North: bus X6 to Lilla Varholmen, the road ferry to Hönö, then island buses 1 and 2.
A warm layer: the wind on deck and on the outer islands is cool even in July.
Swimwear and a towel: for the jetties, the granite slabs and the sandy coves.
Shoes with grip: the granite paths are smooth and can be slippery when wet.
Water and a snack: island cafés are seasonal, and many close outside summer.
The return time: note the last boat back before you set off.
June to August: the most departures, swimming, island cafés open, Thursday pier dances on Brännö in July.
August: usually the warmest sea of the year.
May and September: calmer islands, good walking weather.
Late September: the lobster season opens on the west coast.
Winter: the ferries keep running on a reduced timetable; quiet, windswept and beautiful.
1658Swedish coastThe coast north of Gothenburg becomes Swedish; Carlsten Fortress rises above Marstrand.
1890Vinga lightThe 29-metre lighthouse is built on Gothenburg's westernmost island.
1923LisebergThe city's amusement park opens for Gothenburg's 300th anniversary.
1979Vrångö reserveThe outer islands around Vrångö become a nature reserve.
2025Bus X6The express bus to the Hönö ferry gets its new name.
2027Electric ferriesA new contract brings mostly electric boats to the southern islands.
Where the boats leave
Saltholmen and the city quays
Public ferries from Saltholmen, tours from the centre
Saltholmen, Långedrag, Göteborg
The public boats to the southern islands leave from Saltholmen, at the end of tram line 11 on the city's
south-western tip. The guided cruises on the M/S S:t Erik leave from Lilla Bommen quay in the city centre, next
to the opera house, and the sailing, sauna and hot tub boats from Stenpiren, a few minutes' walk away. For the
northern islands, the road ferry leaves from Lilla Varholmen on Hisingen.
City centre to Saltholmen: about 35 minutes by tram 11
Saltholmen to Asperö or Brännö Rödsten: about 6 to 20 minutes
Saltholmen to Styrsö, Donsö or Vrångö: about 15 to 30 minutes on direct boats
4.4★★★★★ 1,510 reviews · Archipelago cruise with a live guide GetYourGuide figure
★★★★★
The boat trip was very enjoyable. We got very lucky with the weather, so sitting on the top deck was lovely and warm. The views of the islands are great, we even managed to see some seals. A great way to learn about Gothenburg and the archipelago islands.
★★★★★
This was truly a special experience. Our captain was super kind and knowledgeable about the archipelago. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a true Swedish sailing experience around the islands.
★★★★★
This was a very nice excursion. The food was excellent and the views were stunning. Overall it exceeded my expectations.
★★★★★
We had a lovely time on the archipelago cruise. The guide was very knowledgeable and even came round for questions during the cruise. We sat on the upper deck first, but it was quite windy even on a sunny day, so we moved down to the lower outside deck and still had a lovely view.
★★★★★
An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. The island route was unlike anything we have ever done and a truly unique way to see Sweden. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I did it with my 60-year-old dad, who loved it.
★★★★★
We really enjoyed our boat trip on the S:t Erik, a lovely old boat. It was interesting travelling down the river to the sea, and once in the archipelago it was very relaxing sailing past the islands. The guide was great, with just enough information.
★★★★★
This was a fantastic tour on the water, with a chance to see lots of gorgeous scenery, an opportunity to steer a sailboat, and learn a bit about Sweden in the process.
★★★★★
Absolutely superb trip, highly recommended. Lots to see and enjoy, from the old shipyards out to the islands of the archipelago. The English commentary was very informative too.
★★★★★
Great tour from the centre of Gothenburg around some of the smaller islands. Commentary in both Swedish and English. A really beautiful place, I can't wait to come back.
Back in the city
Gothenburg by road and river
An hour for the city itself, before or after the islands. The amphibious bus is the most reviewed
tour in Gothenburg: the main sights by road, then a splash into the river.
Land and Water Amphibious Bus Tour
★ 4.7 · 4,380 reviews · GetYourGuide
An hour for the city before or after the islands. The bus passes Avenyn, Poseidon, Liseberg and the Fish Church with a live guide, then drives straight into the river and cruises on as a boat. Full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Off Gothenburg's harbour mouth, the land breaks up into thousands of islands and skerries: bare,
rounded granite polished by the ice, with red and white wooden houses tucked into the sheltered bays. The
city's tourist board counts over 7,600 islands in the Gothenburg region. Some are skerries for seals and
seabirds, others are villages with a school, a grocery shop and a harbour café, and the inhabited ones are
linked to the city by ferry.
Two archipelagos, two ways in
The southern archipelago belongs to the City of Gothenburg. Its eight inhabited islands, among them
Asperö, Brännö, Köpstadsö, Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö, have no cars: residents get around on foot, by bike or
on small flatbed mopeds. Västtrafik boats leave from Saltholmen all year, and the same ticket you used on the
tram covers the crossing. The northern archipelago is the municipality of Öckerö: about 1,000 islands and
skerries, ten of them inhabited, reached by the yellow road ferry from Lilla Varholmen to Hönö and joined by
bridges. Here you can drive, and the fishing harbours keep more restaurants open all year.
An island pier in the southern archipelago, where the Västtrafik boats call.
The southern islands, one by one
Asperö and Brännö are the closest: Brännö Rödsten is about 20 minutes from Saltholmen, and in
July the island's Thursday pier dances draw crowds from the city. Styrsö is the hub, with sheltered bays and the
EU bathing site at Bratten next to the ferry. Donsö has a busy harbour and a long seafaring
tradition. Vrångö, the southernmost, has sandy coves and a nature reserve with marked trails, and seals rest
on the skerries to its south. Next to Brännö lies Galterö, an uninhabited reserve of heath and granite.
The honest small print: you do not need a tour to visit the islands. The classic guided
cruise and the sailing tours are lovely, but they stay on board and never land. If you want to walk, swim and eat
on an island, take tram 11 to Saltholmen and the public ferry, or book the guided Brännö and Galterö hike.
The northern islands and Marstrand
Hönö, Öckerö, Fotö and Hälsö are joined by bridges, so a bus or a car takes you from harbour to harbour. Hönö
Klåva is the classic fishing harbour, with seafood restaurants and boats out to Vinga, the 29-metre
lighthouse where Evert Taube grew up. Rörö has open moorland for walks and birdwatching. Further north,
Marstrand is a summer town without cars under Carlsten Fortress; in 2026 you reach it by train or bus to
Ytterby or Kungälv, then bus 302 and a two-minute passenger ferry.
The west coast classic: a shrimp sandwich by the harbour.
Swimming, seafood and seasons
From late June to August the island bays are made for swimming: smooth granite slabs with ladders, jetties
with steps and a few calm sandy coves, and the sea is usually around 17 to 18 °C by August. The west coast is
also Sweden's shellfish coast, with shrimp all year and lobster from late September. The ferries run all year;
in winter the islands are quiet and windswept, and the cafés keep shorter hours.
What to know in one line
Take tram 11 to Saltholmen, pick an island, bring a warm layer and a swimsuit, check the last boat back, and
book a tour for what the ferry cannot give you: a guide, a meal on the water, a sail or a sauna.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about the Gothenburg archipelago and its boat tours.
Is the Gothenburg archipelago worth visiting?
Yes. Bare granite islands, villages without cars, sandy coves and harbours with shrimp sandwiches are less than an hour from the city centre by tram and ferry. The city's tourist board lists the archipelago among its top things to do. Start with the best islands in the south.
How do I get a ferry from Gothenburg to the archipelago?
For the southern islands, take tram 11 (or tram 9 in summer) or bus 114 to Saltholmen, about 35 minutes, then a Västtrafik boat: lines 281 to 284 serve every island. For the northern islands, take bus X6 to Lilla Varholmen and the road ferry to Hönö. Step by step in the ferry guide.
Do you need a ticket for the archipelago ferries?
For the southern islands, yes: the boats are part of Gothenburg's public transport, and one Västtrafik Zone A ticket covers the tram and the ferry. Buy it in the Västtrafik To Go app or tap a contactless card on board. The yellow road ferries to the northern islands are part of the public road, so there is nothing to buy for the crossing itself.
Northern or southern archipelago: which is better?
The south has no cars, is closest by tram and best for beaches, walks and families. The north is reached by road ferry, has fishing harbours like Hönö Klåva, more year-round restaurants and the boats to Vinga lighthouse. Compare them in north or south.
How many islands are in the Gothenburg archipelago?
The city's tourist board counts over 7,600 islands and skerries in the Gothenburg region. In the south, eight islands are inhabited, none of them open to cars; in the north, Öckerö has about 1,000 islands and skerries, 10 of them inhabited.
Does the archipelago cruise stop at the islands?
No. The classic cruises on the M/S S:t Erik, with or without lunch or the shrimp buffet, stay on board for the whole trip, and so do the sailing tours. To walk on an island, take the public ferry from Saltholmen or the guided Brännö hike. More in the boat tours compared.
Can you swim in the Gothenburg archipelago?
Yes, from late June to August. Styrsö Bratten is an EU bathing site with top water-quality marks and a jetty with steps, 300 metres from the ferry. Vrångö has calm, sandy coves. The sea is usually around 17 to 18 °C by August. Swim in the bays, not in the ferry channel.
When is the best time to visit the archipelago?
June to August, for swimming, long evenings and the most boats. August has the warmest sea. May and September are calmer and still lovely for walks. The ferries run all year, with fewer departures outside summer.
Can you bring a bike on the ferry?
Yes, on the southern boats when there is space, with an extra bike ticket. The southern islands have no cars, so a bike is the easiest way to explore Styrsö, Donsö or Vrångö. On busy summer days, walking is often simpler.
How do you get to Marstrand from Gothenburg?
In 2026 there is no direct Västtrafik bus. Take the train or a bus to Ytterby or Kungälv, then bus 302 to Marstrand-Koön and the small passenger ferry, about 2 minutes, across to Marstrand. Check the Västtrafik planner before you go.
Is there a ferry from Gothenburg to Denmark?
Yes. Stena Line sails from Gothenburg to Frederikshavn in about 3 hours 15 minutes, several times a day. Stena Line also sails overnight to Kiel in Germany, in around 14 hours.
Can you visit the archipelago in winter?
Yes. The ferries to the southern islands run all year on a reduced timetable, and the islands are quiet, windswept and beautiful. Many cafés close outside summer, so bring a snack, warm layers and check the return boat before you set off.
Ready to go
Thousands of islands, one day out.
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Dinner cruise
★ 4.73 hours14 reviews
