Gekås Ullared is now Sweden's biggest tourist destination, with around 4.8 million visitors every year. For the first time ever, we have taken a look around this famous discount department store. Join us on a tour through Gekås Ullared!
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Gekås Ullared
Gekås Ullared was founded in 1963 by Göran Karlsson (GK or Ge-Kå) under the name Ge-kås Manufaktur. In the decades since, the company has grown explosively and is now a tourist destination with huge visitor car parks and busloads of customers.
The phenomenon has become so big that there are even TV series set in and around the department store: Ullared and Ullared - The Hunt for the Bestseller. We've never been here before, but we're a bit curious about what it is that attracts so many people. Finally our turn to visit!
Gekås Ullared is located in Falkenberg municipality in Halland, 33 kilometres east of Varberg.
What is Gekås Ullared?
To describe the Gekås Ullared department store, you have to use some numbers. Everything here is gigantic. Let's start with some numbers that describe the size of the department store. The figures are taken from the department store's own website:
- 82 cash outflows
- 3500 car parks
- 7500 customers are accommodated at the same time
- 9000 shopping trolleys
- 10 000 shopping baskets
- 40 000 square metres of retail space
In other words, crazy big! Of course, it is also traded a great deal in the department store. Here are some figures to help describe the shopping that takes place:
- Over 100 000 unique items are available in the range.
- 1.2 million trousers (including jeans) are sold per year.
- 5.9 million toys are sold per year.
- SEK 50 million is the value of all goods in the store.
- 100 million bull moulds are sold per year.
- 135 million goods pass through checkouts over the course of a year.
In order to really understand how big this is, we also choose to present some of the department store's record figures:
- Most visitors/year: 4.9 million customers visited Gekås in 2019.
- Most visitors/day: 29 900 customers visited Gekås on 30 July 2019.
- Best sales/year: 5.6 billion shopped by customers in 2019.
- Best sales/day: 41.7 million was spent in the store on 9 November 2019.
- Longest queue: 1.4 kilometres of queue was measured on 30 October 2010.
- Most buses/day: 127 buses full of customers arrived on 4 February 2017.
The average customer is a 43-year-old woman living in Götaland. She goes to Gekås during the day and drives 23 kilometres one way. She visits the department store 2-5 times a year. She spends almost five hours in the store and shops for about SEK 3300.
Coming to Gekås Ullared by motorhome (or caravan)
As a first-time visitor, it was a slightly shocking experience to arrive at Gekås Ullared by motorhome. Long before we could imagine a department store, we saw campsites, parking spaces, car parks... Had we arrived? No, it is just to realise, this is a gigantic area. For motorhomes there is:
- Camping Shopping centre with space for 300 motorhomes and caravans, just south of the department store.
- RV park Sönneräng at the central warehouse on road 153, 1.5 kilometres east of Ullared.
- RV park Gekåsbyn reception, can be pre-booked and is open when needed.
- Car parks for motorhomesand also caravans, can be found in several places at the department store. Signs show where motorhomes and caravans can be parked.
We stood in a car park for motorhomes, and then we started looking around in confusion. Where should we go? Where was the department store? There were no signs for Gekås and we were way too far away to get a visual, but then we saw people coming with shopping trolleys filled with goods ... in that direction, of course, we would go!
Shopping at Gekås Ullared - our experiences
We were lucky enough to arrive at Gekås Ullared at a rather quiet time - a Monday morning at the end of August. Despite this, it was a myriad of impressions! Step 1 was to pick up a shopping cart in the (huge) cart stable. We have probably never seen this many shopping carts at once before!
Then we entered the department store. Phew, where to start? Here you can find kitchenware, hygiene products, cleaning equipment, clothes, sports equipment, tools, toys and well... everything.
Maybe some hair products? A knee pad for gardening? A hat? I (Helena) tried on some items of clothing and was almost about to consider a purchase, no, it didn't happen.
What about a t-shirt for Peter? Haha, no, it did not go home. But what about the men? According to Gekås Ullared's customer surveys, 64 per cent of customers are women and 36 per cent men. Many men certainly like Ullared, but we also saw men who preferred to sit in the recliner outside the motorhome while the wife (presumably) did the shopping ...
A new happy luggage tag then perhaps? No, there was no such thing actually. So what was it then? Well, we took the opportunity to stock up on disposable items and such. We think it is very practical to have access to paper plates and paper cups in the motorhome, for quick lunches when it is difficult to stand and wash dishes.
We also checked out the Outlet House in Ullared (not the house in the picture below). There you will find well-known brands at "Ullared prices". It was fun to look around and we tried on a few things, although there was no bargain this time. In the house there is also a shop that sells sex toys. We had not expected that! But haha, no, there was no shopping there either ... We had to settle for the disposable items!
Ice cream and other food items
What if you get hungry? Well, there are of course plenty of restaurants both in and around Gekås Ullared. Inside the department store, you can park your trolley outside any restaurant/coffee bar while you eat or take your coffee.
There are also restaurants outside the department store, serving hamburgers, grills, prawn sandwiches and churros. Or why not try the 'Ullaredsmålet'?
We eat in the camper van as often as possible, because we travel so much and for so long, but we do enjoy an ice cream from time to time. So even now!
There was no "Gekås Special", but rather a cone with hazelnut and punchrussin ice cream.
Good and perfect with some new energy after an exhausting round at Gekås Ullared. Because even if it was a quiet day, and even if we shopped quite limited, it is still a slightly exhausting experience to get through the department store ... Now we have at least experienced Sweden's largest tourist destination and know what everyone is talking about!
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
Not too far from Gekås Ullared you will find Grimeton Radio Station, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and an excursion destination. It is also close to both Varberg and Falkenberg, both of which are lovely summer towns with great beaches. In Varberg you can also discover Varberg Fortress and in Falkenberg we can, for example, recommend the much talked about little pizzeria Little Napoli.
What to do in Halmstad - 16 sights and experiences
What to see and do in Halmstad? Halmstad is a pleasant city on the west coast, with...
Varberg's coastal hotel - a place to long to return to
Guest writer: Magdalena I have been to Varberg on a couple of occasions in the past and visited the city's...
Varberg Fortress - museum visit and guided tour
Varberg Fortress is a powerful defence structure with a long history. Danes and Swedes have fought over...
Swedish vineyards - 4 farms with Swedish wine
Do Swedish vineyards exist? Yes, they do, and Swedish wine is also on the rise in...
What to do in Varberg - 13 tips for a lovely west coast town
What to see and do in Varberg? Varberg is a lovely west coast town that offers...
Things to do in Falkenberg - 12 sights and experiences
What to see and do in Falkenberg? Falkenberg is a lovely west coast town with much to offer....
Beaches in Tylösand - Svärjarehålan and Tjuvahålan
Now we have come home to Sweden, after our tour of Poland and the Czech Republic, and our...
What to do in Tylösand - 13 tips for a summer paradise
What can you see and do in Tylösand? Tylösand, located in Halmstad, is in the summer...
Tjolöholm Castle - a visit to a fairytale world
Tjolöholm Castle is a marvellously beautiful building, with sumptuous architecture and exciting technical convenience solutions from the 20th century...
Lilla Napoli in Falkenberg - the pizzeria where you book yourself in
Lilla Napoli in Falkenberg is the pizzeria for those who want to experience an authentic Neapolitan pizza, baked...
Swedish Hallandsvägen - FREEDOMtravel Themed Roads
Svenska Hallandsvägen is a themed road that takes you through beautiful Halland, to experience...
Do you usually shop at Gekås Ullared?
Why or why not? If you shop here - what kind of bargains do you usually find?
Facts about Gekås Ullared
- Landscape: Halland
- County: Halland County
- Municipality: Falkenberg
- Location: Ullared
- Address: Danska vägen 13, Ullared
- Read more: You can find more information at department store website.
About the company
- Type of enterprise: Private limited company
- Industry: Retail trade, discount stores
- Founding: 1963
- Founder: Göran Karlsson
- Owners: Thomas Karlsson
Services and practical information
- Accommodation: The hotel, Hotel Ulla, holiday village, campsite, motel and caravan park.
- Food service: Restaurant, coffee bar, sports bar, salad & food bar, hotel restaurant and Gekåsbyn bistro.
- The shopping bus: The Gekås shopping bus is a free bus that runs between the department store and the Gekås village.
You might also like:
Lilla Napoli in Falkenberg - the pizzeria where you book yourself in
Varberg Fortress - museum visit and guided tour
Kosta Christmas market - a wonderful Christmas atmosphere in the Kingdom of Crystal.
Christmas markets in Sweden - 12 Christmas markets
What to do in Tylösand - 13 tips for a summer paradise
Varberg's coastal hotel - a place to long to return to
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Nils-Åke+Hansson says:
The Grimeton World Heritage Site is also an interesting technology target.
01 September 2021 - 8:05
Helena says:
Yes, it seems interesting! We passed, but then it was closed. Will see if we manage to get past when it is open 😉.
01 September 2021 - 9:54
Ama de casa says:
Ohhhh... Ullared! My dream destination. Lyllo you!
01 September 2021 - 8:42
Helena says:
We thought of you!!! 🙂
01 September 2021 - 9:54
Christian says:
:-). Yes, we also stopped there last year when we went by. I hate these types of places, so I just went in and checked for 15 minutes and then sat in the sun outside with a coffee and waited for the rest of the family - who loved to walk around and "bargain".
01 September 2021 - 8:56
Helena says:
Haha, some understanding of your attitude 😉 In any case, we were happy to be here on a very quiet day without queues!
01 September 2021 - 9:56
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
How nice that you have been to Ullared. I have not been there for at least 15 years now but when I still lived in Vetlanda I went there several times a year because it only took about two hours to drive there. Have spent many hours in line there ... once my mum and I were there on a Saturday and at that time they closed quite early on Saturdays (I think they closed at 14) and even though we were there at 7 o'clock in the morning we did not enter the department store until just before closing time ...
01 September 2021 - 9:03
Helena says:
But wow!!! I have read about long queues, but what you are telling me is great! A little curious anyway, what is it that makes you hold out and not give up in such an eternal queue ...? Well fought though! 🙂
01 September 2021 - 9:57
Across the board says:
Ullared we like to go to It is usually clothes (in good quality!) for the grandchildren. Parlour games, deodorant, and some groceries usually follow. We go there at least once a year 🙈😀.
01 September 2021 - 9:35
Helena says:
It sounds like useful shopping 🙂 Have heard several who buy children's clothes there.
02 September 2021 - 8:38
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Ullared was something I visited in the 80s when it was time to buy winter overalls and Christmas toys for three children. Then it was about a third of what it is today. Nowadays, we can go in once in a while if the road passes by and there doesn't seem to be a lot of people. Then it's car care products and muffin moulds....
Grimeton was a really interesting tour a few years ago.
01 September 2021 - 9:37
Helena says:
It gets bigger and bigger what I understand! Grimeton seems interesting! Unfortunately, only open on weekends right now, and we didn't manage to tick that off ...
02 September 2021 - 8:39
Veiken says:
Oh yes, you have found it! 😂😂
It's a place I avoid like the plague. I have been there three times. Once I turned around in the door and went back to a place just outside Varberg. Haha
Two years ago I was persuaded to go there. I sat in the sports bar most of the time waiting for people to finish shopping!
I know that lots of people love it, which is completely incomprehensible to me!
At least you got out of there in one piece!
😂😂
01 September 2021 - 10:17
Helena says:
Haha, I can understand your attitude! I also think that it is easily exhausting to walk around in such large places actually, although you can of course make good bargains. Now it was still quite calm when we were here, so it went well! 🙂
02 September 2021 - 8:40
Aila says:
A friend and I have been travelling there by bus for many years. When they were about to start filming we were offered by the bus company to participate in the series but declined. Fortunately. Now I go there by camper van once a year.
But isn't it special?
01 September 2021 - 11:40
Helena says:
Haha, is that true? It would have been fun if you were involved! 😉 But maybe it's safest to say no, haha 😉
02 September 2021 - 8:42
Ann says:
I was there the first time with my
Parents
Then it was just a barn
then a few years passed
now my family there every year
01 September 2021 - 17:15
Helena says:
It has really evolved over the years!!! Incredible transformation!
02 September 2021 - 8:43
Lisa says:
I was at GK's very many years ago . Went on a bus trip from Skövde with a work colleague. At that time it was far from as big as today. The queue was enormously long and to the cash registers as well. We stood and stopped and looked at the clock all of a sudden because the bus had a departure time. We did not manage to keep the time but agreed that if the bus left us we would take a taxi to Älvsered where the bus would stop. There were at that time clothes and fabric of high quality, however, is not left today. At least in the queue I was getting both a heart attack and brain haemorrhage while the clock ticked on and the queue moved infinitely slowly forward. In the end, we finally finished the cash payment and could start looking for the bus. The joy was great when the bus driver stood outside his bus and waited. The goods were loaded into the bus in garbage bags with names and we could step on board and calm down while we had to wait for the others who came even later than we did. This was a hard journey but children's clothes and Christmas presents were bought for a good price. However, it was a long time before I dared to go there again.
When we got a motorhome four years ago, we made our first trip to Ullared and bought various things for the Wheelhouse. There were plenty of things to choose from so it was a good trip ...
02 September 2021 - 15:34
Monica says:
Haha, so you ended up here too, well why not when you were close. An experience perhaps: 😏thought possibly the T-shirt but no doubt if you can even sleep in it😂 One of the few places you write about on tours in Sweden I have not visited even though I think it is purely relaxing to stroll around something big but not here I think.
Varberg is nice with its baths and Getterön, friends of my parents went almost every year so we also had to try and then I returned as an adult.
Keep up the good work, it's a bit of a Swedish summer now, sun, clouds and a few showers but reasonably warm.
01 September 2021 - 18:29
Helena says:
Yes, an experience! It felt like we heard about this place for all years, so now it was time! 🙂 Getterön is nice, agree! We took a little trip out and peeked 🙂.
02 September 2021 - 8:44
BP says:
Hahaha! Have many friends who dream of visiting Ullared. Have seen pictures from there where people were crowded in the department store during the pandemic. But the giant "store" seems to have survived very well.
Understand that you only came "home" with consumables. It is often the case that if too much is offered, then you are lost and buy nothing. I recognise that.
Yes, IKEA's car park in Barkarby is a miniature compared to Ullared. The same goes for Carrefour in Spain...
01 September 2021 - 20:00
Evy Knoph says:
Yes, so you found it too, good choice with a Monday... the daughter and I usually go there a few times a year (about 12 miles one way)... toys have always been worth buying there... when the children were small and now the grandchildren... phone chargers etc... clothes, good quality both for children and adults, plastic bags, Ola-Conny-limpa... bike accessories, air mattresses, phone cases, microwave oven and household appliances, suitcases you name it...
A nice excursion, complemented by a visit to Skoboo opposite, good prices on good shoes.
Finish off with half a special in the sausage mojo :-).
Is probably not as often queue as before... a little more when there were more restrictions and divided into 2....
Ullared has received a lot of unwarranted shit during the pandemic ...
01 September 2021 - 20:55
Helena says:
We are glad that there was no crowding now. Lucky it was a Monday morning I think!!! And yes, that's how it felt, too big for us to know where to look or for what... haha 😉.
02 September 2021 - 8:45
Monica says:
I think you should have bought that dressy hat! Thanks for the report. Now we know. I have watched a quarter of an hour of the TV programme and that has been enough. I also find this kind of place completely incomprehensible - too big, too much, would never manage the queues. But I would certainly come out with a whole shopping trolley of things I didn't know I needed!
02 September 2021 - 7:12
Helena says:
I also hate queues, so it was nice that we were here on a quiet day. No queues in and no queues inside the department store. A little queue at the checkouts, but no worse than a normal supermarket.
02 September 2021 - 8:46
4000mil says:
Of all the places on earth.... This is probably the last one I would go to. 😂😂😂
02 September 2021 - 8:05
Maria / former MagnoliaMagis says:
Phu that you managed in!!! No Ullared we skip! Gadgets gadgets gadgets are nothing for us. Nature is so much better!
02 September 2021 - 13:45
Lena - good for the soul says:
Hehe, yes that place. I have been there a couple of times many years ago. It was good to buy children's clothes there (while they were so small that they had no opinion of their own 😉 ) But no, there is nothing that attracts more.
Hug Lena
10 November 2021 - 21:24