The Bohuslän coast is one of Europe’s most inviting for sea kayaking: smooth pink granite, thousands of islands and skerries, and genuine fishing villages such as Smögen, Fjällbacka and Grebbestad. The water is salt and virtually tideless, and the coast runs all the way from Göteborg up to the Norwegian border in Bohuslän.
Paddling along the coast
Inside the outer cliff islands, sheltered routes run in the lee, while the open fjords and the outer belt challenge the experienced. Around Orust, Tjörn and Fjällbacka, sounds and inlets weave between the islands, and farthest out you meet the open Skagerrak. Seals, porpoises and rich birdlife belong here, and the red boathouses glow against the grey granite. Farthest north lies Kosterhavet, Sweden’s first marine national park.
Good to know
Rent a sea kayak at Orust Kajak or Nautopp Kajakcenter in northern Bohuslän. At Lysekil there is Kajak i Grundsund. The coast is open and wind-exposed – check weather and waves, plan crossings and stay inside the islands if you are unused. Always wear a life jacket. See more rentals and routes on the map.