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Go on a road trip in West Sweden – with your own car or on public transport

11 action packed road trips

Explore West Sweden and Gothenburg on a road trip. Here are eleven suggestions for routes taking you through the three counties in the region, packed with beautiful scenery, historic houses, local flavours, relaxing spas and exciting history and culture. Most of the places can be easily reached on public transport. Scroll down to read more and plan your road trip in West Sweden. 

Not Quite
Fine dining at Thörnströms
View over Baldersnäs Manor

Road trip through Dalsland – Sweden in miniature

Dalsland is wilderness, repurposed industrial heritage sites, stately manor houses and genuine experiences. Spending a few days here is said to be like travelling through Sweden in miniature. This relatively small area is stuffed with culture and art, forests and lakes – and restaurants and hotels uniquely shaped by their surroundings.

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Houses
Sea food at Hotell Kungshamn Suites
pilane

Road trips to shellfish, art and spas on the Swedish West Coast

Northern Bohuslän is a region of rocky bluffs and coastal meadows, oysters, seafood and spa experiences – as well as cosy accommodation in picturesque fishing villages. Our tip is to go in spring or autumn to get a more genuine experience of coastal life outside the high season.

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Southern Bohuslän is full of pretty seaside villages and food inspired by the sea, world class art and culture – and a fascinating history. Spring and autumn are the best times to experience what life on the Swedish West Coast is really like, outside high season.

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Dinner with friends
Pizza with stuffing from the Swedish west coast.
People enjoying Kajkanten Vrångö

Take a day trip to Gothenburg’s archipelago

Whether you enjoy a seafood platter in a nice restaurant, try your luck at fishing from a jetty or have a salty dip from a sunwarmed rock you can be sure of one thing: the sea and the islands are a big part of the Gothenburg experience. Here are some suggestions for anyone travelling to Gothenburg who’s thinking about having a day trip to one of the islands right next to the city.

Trip to Styrsö-Donsö-Vrångö

Trip to Hönö

Uschi Disl at the Spa

Road trip with a bit of everything Next to Gothenburg

Do you like beautful gardens, nice shops, saunas and spas, golf, fantastic food and drink made from local ingredients and historic sites like well preserved castles? Then you’ll have a lot to explore on the 70 kilometre stretch between Mölndal and Alingsås.

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The castle Läckö Slott
Different cheeses and marmalades. A hand taking a piece of cheese.
golf players at Skaftö Golfklubb

Road trips to local flavours, elegant castles and exciting history

Läckö-Kinnekulle. From traditional market shopping and cosy cafes to rolling farmland and a beautiful archipelago. In the area around Läckö-Kinnekulle unique experiences trip over each other. In just a couple of days you’ll get your fill of pretty villages, fascinating historic sites and delicious dinners made from local ingredients.  

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Skaraborg.  Charming small towns, an elegant castle and a restful spa resort. Sweden’s foremost bird watching lake, and West Sweden’s best golf course. Art, design and a mecca for cheese lovers. Discover Skaraborg’s hidden gems – and take a detour to a medieval abbey along the way.

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Women at Sammels Farm
Mormor Bättys Kringlor
The Textile Museum in Borås

Road trip to gardens, culture and shopping between Gothenburg and Borås

Here’s a suggestion for a colourful road trip to blooming visitor gardens in the area between Gothenburg and Borås. On this round trip you’ll also pass places to shop, farm cafes, restaurants, cosy accommodation, textile mills and cultural attractions.

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Kinnekulle
Läckö Castle and the trail Biosfärleden
Woman enjoying cinnamon buns and coffee

Road trip from Gothenburg to Lake Vänern

A road trip through this part of Sweden is actually many trips, because Swedish nature and culture are best experienced on two feet, with many stops along the way. We’ve listed the 6 best stops between Gothenburg and Lake Vänern for you.

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Summer in the archipelago of Bohuslän
Couple enjoying off season on the island Tjörn

Road trip along the unique Swedish west coast

So hop in your car and explore the coastal region in less than a week, experiencing the highlights at your own pace. To make it easy for you we’ve planned a route with 6 stops, taking you on a relaxed road trip through this unique part of Sweden.

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Kinnekulle

Travel on public transport

Västtrafik travels to many of the places in the trip suggestions. Plan your trip on the Västtrafik To Go app or at vasttrafik.se. You can also choose which type of ticket you want, for example single ticket or multi-day 1-3 day ticket.

Find your nearest charging station

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Plan more experiences

Meet the Locals

There are lots of ways you can experience everyday life or a place through someone else’s eyes. You’ll find inspiring stories, tips and indeed a fair few ordinary folk here who we call “Locals”.

To Meet the Locals
Boat in Gothenburg archipelago.

Boat experiences

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Men looking

Explore the nature

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Last updated on: 12 April 2023