Gothenburg wants you to take it easyyy… 🦦

Just off the coast, around 20 islands scatter across the sea. Gothenburg's archipelago is overflowing with cute lil' fishing villages, low-key snorkelling spots, cliff-edge hikes and, of course, those classic Swedish saunas floating on the water or tucked into rocky coves.

Here’s how to properly switch off and inhale all that nature, on four of Gothenburg’s seriously zen islands.

Good things come in small Swedish packages…

With fewer than 400 people calling it home, Vrångö feels like a little world of its own. Go for untouched scenery, secret beaches and sparkly swimming spots.

The Södra Slingan southern loop will take you on a curved hike along the coast, then head north for a dip at Vrångö beach.

What you really came for is Kajkanten’s floating sauna raft. Bobbing in Vrångö harbour, the wood-fired sauna and hot tub are open all year, with a ladder straight into the sea. Grab a spa day pass and have your dinner on the raft, or bring your own eats.

Catch ferry 281 from Saltholmen to get to Vrångö Island.

Swimming, snorkeling and fresh fish straight from the boat. Now you’re just showing off Styrsö... 😏

Stroll or peddle around Styrsö Skäret, the whole island is car-free. Then make your way up to Stora Rös, the highest point on the island, for a delicious spread of the whole archipelago.

Up in Tången Town, the harbour is lined with white wooden houses, and once a week you can buy fish straight off the boat from the local fisherman.

If you want to level things up, grab a day pass at Kusthotellet Hotel. Their spa was one of Sweden’s first, and they’re not messing about either. Sauna, salt spring, heat spring, and an outdoor pool that stays at a toasty 38°C all year.

Utterviks Badplats is a top spot in the archipelago for snorkelling, you can even paddle out to the wee island in the distance and cannonball from the rocks.

Hop on Västtrafik boats 281 or 282 from Stenpiren (central Gothenburg) and get off at Styrsö Bratten to get there.

Summer dances and beaches galore. Brännö is ya’ boy.

The island has built a solid reputation for having some of the most legendary swimming spots.

Ramsdal is the main event: big open bathing area, cliffs, sandy stretches, and a diving board in summer. Up north, Gröna Vik keeps things a little softer, smaller beach, a grassy patch for sprawling out, and a wooden bridge with a ladder down into deeper water. You can even paddle across to Rivö, an uninhabited island only reachable by swimming, kayak or boat.

And then there’s dancing at Brännö Brygga. Every Thursday from late June to early August, a live band plays and people pour in to dance in the evening sun.

To get there, head to Saltholmen and board either ferry line 282, which goes to Brännö Husvik in the south of the island, or line 293 to Brännö Rödsten in the north east.

Hönö brings the buzz to the archipelago. Bigger island, more going on, still very much about the sea. Hönö is easy to reach from Gothenburg (the ferry crossing takes just 12 mins), which means it stays lively year-round.

Havskatten Hotel and Hostel has a sea-facing sauna and hot tub you can book for a few hours. When it’s swim time, you’ve got options. Badplats Hönö Lapposand and Virgin Bay are favourites for a reason, they’re sandy, spacious, and have solid docks for jumping. But honestly, if you just wander the coastline you can find your own little swim spot.

Kastor Boat Trips will take you on seal watching trip, but if you fancy your sea life in your belly they’ve got crab fishing excursions as well. Bread with your crab? Bake your own traditional flatbread (Hönökaka) over an open woodfired oven.

Then off to the Halse Långe nature reserve for an easy walk, barbecue spots and more swim stops.