Att besöka Kosteröarna i Bohuslän - en härlig utflykt

Visiting the Koster Islands can be a really lovely excursion! The scenic Koster Islands are located just outside Strömstad, close to the border with Norway. Here you can cycle, hike, swim or enjoy good food in nice restaurants. Here you will also find the Kosterhavet National Park - Sweden's first marine national park.

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Koster Islands

The Koster Islands, or simply Koster, consist of the two islands of Nordkoster and Sydkoster, separated by a narrow strait. The islands are the westernmost inhabited place in Sweden, with around 300 permanent residents.

The Koster Islands are located in the Skagerrak, off Strömstad in northern Bohuslän, close to the Norwegian border. Around the Koster Islands archipelago is the Kosterhavet National Park, full of unique marine environments and species.

Boat to the Koster Islands

To visit the Koster Islands, you can take the Koster boat from Strömstad. How often the boat goes varies during the year, but even now in the autumn there were a few departures per day to choose from. We took our bikes with us and boarded a boat that left at 9 o'clock in the morning.

After a nice 35-minute boat ride, the boat docked at the western pier of Nordkoster, where we chose to get off. Then we were ready to discover the first of the two islands.

Visiting Nordkoster

If you compare the two Koster islands, you can say that Nordkoster is the island with fewer inhabitants, and where it is perhaps above all the beautiful nature that attracts. Already at the jetty you are welcomed by beautiful views. We had been advised that it may be better to hike than cycle on Nordkoster, so we left our bikes at the jetty and set off on foot.

Restaurant Strandkanten

The Strandkanten restaurant and gift shop is located right next to the West Pier on Nordkoster. Which unbelievable charming place! When we were here, the restaurant had not yet opened for the day, but we couldn't resist having a look around.

The restaurant is packed with charming trinkets and creative decor. The setting is truly amazing!

Beaches and campsite at Nordkoster

Nordkoster has a number of fine sandy beaches. We checked out Familjeviken, which offers clear water and a shallow beach.

There is also a small campsite, which is open in the summer for tent campers. There is also a nice sandy beach here.

Pilots' lookout and lighthouses

On Nordkoster, you can check out Lotsutkiken on a hill, as well as the island's two lighthouses at the top of the mountain Högen. After a slightly strenuous walk to the top, we were treated to a fantastic view - towards Norway in the northwest, Ursholmen in the south and Strömstad in the northeast.

Hiking on Nordkoster

At Nordkoster there are two different hiking trails. You can either follow the orange trail which is 3.5 kilometres or the white trail which is 4 kilometres. We mainly followed the white trail, but with some detours here and there.

The landscape is incredibly beautiful, with rugged cliffs, windswept green trees and lovely sandy beaches. We really enjoyed walking in this beautiful environment.

Ferry between Nordkoster and Sydkoster

The distance between Nordkoster and Sydkoster is very short, and in summer you can often get across with the islanders' cute little cable ferry. Now, during the low season, it only went sometimes on weekends, so we had to aim for the Koster boat instead.

At 12 o'clock the next boat arrived, and we boarded with our bikes. A few minutes later we got off in Långegärde on Sydkoster.

Visiting the South Coast

Sydkoster is a larger island compared to Nordkoster, and it is also where most of the permanent residents are located.

To get around on the South Coast, it is ideal to have a bicycle, as the distances here are greater.

The traffic on the small roads is lively and intense. However, you won't see regular cars here, but all sorts of smaller and slower vehicles: electric bikes, scooters, flatbed mopeds, golf carts, quad bikes and small electric buses. This specialised fleet of vehicles gives the island a unique character.

Restaurant on Sydkoster

There are a few different eateries on Sydkoster, and we chose to have lunch at Kosters Trädgårdar. There is an organic garden and a farm shop, and the food served is based on locally grown ingredients. For us it was falafel in bread and a beer. A lovely break in the sun!

The church on Sydkoster

On Sydkoster there is a small church, located between Långegärde and the shop, at the foot of Valfjäll. In summer, the church is used for concerts.

Kyrkösund on Sydkoster

We then continued the bike ride all the way down to Kyrkösund, which turned out to be an extremely nice and charming place.

Kosterhavet Nature Centre

Finally we went to Ekenäs, where we would take the ferry back, and where you can also visit Naturum Kosterhavet. This turned out to be really nice and interesting, with lots of information about the flora and fauna of the Koster Sea. A digital and interactive map also shows the deep Kosterrännan, which is 247 metres deep (!) at its deepest point.

Return journey to Strömstad

After a long lovely day, we felt satisfied with our excursion to the Koster Islands, and it was time to take the boat back to Strömstad. For our part, we appreciated visiting the beautiful Nordkoster most, but both islands are well worth a visit, and we can highly recommend visiting the Koster Islands.

Where can you stay or park your caravan?

Those who want to stay on the Koster Islands overnight have a number of different options to choose from. These include Pensionat Ekenäs Koster and Pensionat Bergdalen, as well as several different holiday villages and cottage agencies.

If you are travelling with a motorhome, you can stay at First Camp in Strömstad, or choose the Bojarparkeringen car park or free parking on Trädgårdsgatan in Strömstad.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

When you have finished visiting the Koster Islands, you can of course take the opportunity to check out... Strömstad. If you head a little south, you can visit the charming neighbourhood of Grebbestad and the Unesco-protected the rock carvings in Tanum.

More tips for visiting the Koster Islands?

Have you visited the Koster Islands? How was your experience? Do you have even more tips to share? Feel free to write a comment!

Facts about the Koster Islands

Municipality: Strömstad
County: Västra Götaland County
Landscape: Bohuslän
Sea: Skagerrak
Residents: Approximately 300 permanent residents, most of whom live on the South Coast.
Read more: You can find more information about visiting the Koster Islands at the islands' website.

Visiting the Koster Islands with the Koster boats

Timetable: Timetable available at Västtrafik and at the Tourist Office in Strömstad.
Stops: Strömstad Norra hamnen, Öddö, Styrsö, Västra bryggan Nordkoster, Långegärde Sydkoster, Ekenäs Sydkoster and Kilesand Sydkoster (see current timetable for stops).
Tickets: Tickets for the Koster boats can be bought either from a vending machine on the quay in Strömstad, or on board (card payment only). Tickets for bicycles can only be purchased on board.

What to see and do on the Koster Islands - nature experiences

Swimming spots on Nordkoster: Norrvikarna, Familjeviken, Korsholmen, Basteviken, Björnsängen and others.
Swimming spots on the South Coast: Kilesand, Ottolsvik, Rörvik, Blåsopp, Strand, Sommarhamnen and others.
Activities: Hiking, cycling, Naturum, guided hiking tours, guided cycling tours, bike rental, kayak rental, fishing, snorkelling trail, seal safari with Selin Charter, Valfjäll viewpoint and more.
Activities for children: Swimming, snorkelling, crabbing, beach guiding with staff from Naturum, adventure golf at Kostergården and more.

What to see and do on the Koster Islands - food and culture

Restaurants in Nordkoster: Bastes Kafé, Kosterhavets Ekobod and Strandkanten
Restaurants on the South Coast: Pensionat Ekenäs Koster, Pacos, Bokhandlarens pub and Kosters Trädgårdar.
Activities: Summer music in the church, garden guiding in Koster's gardens, smuggling tours in Skårgården with Kust Event, art and music festival on Koster during the autumn and more.
Attractions: Sydkoster Church, Koster Lighthouses, Koster Local History Museum and more.
Shopping: Strandkanten gift shop, Strömstad slöjd och hantverksförening (Strömstad handicraft association)

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

READ MORE: What to do in Bohuslän - tips for sights and experiences

10 Comments

Add yours →

4000mil says:

Great! We will definitely go there sometime, as we are collecting Sweden's national parks. 👍

08 October 2022 - 9:36

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Exciting collecting! 🙂 This one is a bit different, and definitely worth a visit!
  
  08 October 2022 - 17:43
  
Ditte says:

We have visited the Koster Islands a lot and also spent the night out there. An environment we really like. Have also come out here by sailboat both from Strömstad and Norway and stayed in different harbours.
As a child and teenager, we rented a house in Strömstad and made almost daily trips out here.
Thank you for great pictures and a nice post that brought back great memories for me.

08 October 2022 - 10:16

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you've been here so much and glad you liked our pictures! Fantastically nice here!
  
  08 October 2022 - 17:44
  
Goatfish says:

It has been a long time since I was on the Koster Islands. But I have been there quite often when I lived in Ed in Dalsland. Strömstad itself was also a good place to visit. We have cycled a lot on the islands and the weather, it has always been brilliant.
Grebbestad was also visited occasionally at that time.
Happy Saturday! 😀

08 October 2022 - 10:29

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I understand that you went here when you lived nearby! Fantastically nice! 🙂
  
  08 October 2022 - 17:44
  
BP says:

What a nice environment1 Completely different from the Stockholm archipelago. Really cosy. Oh how lucky you were with the weather!

08 October 2022 - 18:59

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, fantastic! We have become very fond of Bohuslän! And yes we were incredibly lucky with the weather (or a little skill actually, we chose the day for the island tour based on the weather forecast;))
  
  09 October 2022 - 18:42
  
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Have only been to Sydkoster, long ago before it became a national park and now became very keen to also go to Nordkoster. Very nice pictures!

09 October 2022 - 19:54

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked the pictures! It was a fantastic day and wonderful excursion! 🙂
  
  09 October 2022 - 20:03

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What to do in Strömstad - 17 tips for Sweden's westernmost city | FREEDOMtravel

Visiting the Koster Islands in Bohuslän - a lovely trip!

Koster Islands

Boat to the Koster Islands

Visiting Nordkoster

Restaurant Strandkanten

Beaches and campsite at Nordkoster

Pilots' lookout and lighthouses

Hiking on Nordkoster

Ferry between Nordkoster and Sydkoster

Visiting the South Coast

Restaurant on Sydkoster

The church on Sydkoster

Kyrkösund on Sydkoster

Kosterhavet Nature Centre

Return journey to Strömstad

Where can you stay or park your caravan?

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

More tips for visiting the Koster Islands?

Facts about the Koster Islands

Visiting the Koster Islands with the Koster boats

What to see and do on the Koster Islands - nature experiences

What to see and do on the Koster Islands - food and culture

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10 Comments

4000mil says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Goatfish says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Helena says:

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