Svenska badvägen - FREEDOMtravel Temavägar

Svenska badvägen is a themed road that takes you through the west, south and east coasts. It starts in Kosterhavet on the Norwegian coast and goes around in a loop, ending up in Grisslehamn on the east coast and inland to Karlsborg on Lake Vättern to Djäknesundet. Travel on your own and at your own pace - by car, motorhome, caravan or motorbike.

Table of contents

Sweden's unique waterway

The Swedish Bathing Road is a FREEDOMtravel Theme Road that runs from the Koster Sea on the coast of Norway, down the west coast, and goes around in a loop in the south of Sweden, up to Grisslehamn on the east coast and inland to Karlsborg on Lake Vättern to Djäknesundet You can follow it from any direction you like, or pick your favourite part (your favourite spots) in the middle. This is an idea to make it easier for you to go on a little adventure. Happy travelling!

Brief facts about the Swedish waterway

Length: 2300 km long
Start: The Koster Sea on the coast of Norway
Stop: Djäknesundet outside Karlsborg

1. Kosterhavet National Park (North Koster)

Visiting the Koster Islands can be a really wonderful 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. You'll also find the Kosterhavet National Park - Sweden's first marine national park - and what bathing spots!

Here you will find our best tips about Kosterhavet National Park.

Camping site close by: Strömstad buoy car park
Camping near: Daftö camping Strömstad
Nearby accommodation: Guesthouse Ekenäs Koster
Distance between Kosterhavet National Park and Strömstad (boat 35 min)

2. Strömstad Kallbadhus

What to see and do in Strömstad? Sweden's westernmost city, this Bohuslän town offers everything from art to seaside excursions. Here you'll find our best tips for sights and experiences in Strömstad and the surrounding area, in addition to swimming in the lovely cold bath house.

Here are our top tips for Strömstad

Camping site close by: Bojan car park Strömstad
Camping near: First Camp Strömstad, also cottages (book here!)
Nearby accommodation: Lagunen camping & cottages
Distance between Strömstad and the marble pool at Hållö (Smögen) 1 hour 11 minutes

3. Hållö marble pool from Smögen, Sweden

One boat excursion you can do is to take the Hållö ferry to Hållö. The ferry journey from Smögen to Hollö takes about 10 minutes. On the island you can experience nature and swim, for example in the popular Marble Pool. In the summer there is also a waffle café.

Here you will find our best tips about Smögen.

Picture from lovely Liniz travel & lifestyle

Camping site close by: Park & Stay on Hasselösundsvägen
Camping near: First Camp Solvik
Nearby accommodation: Makrillen hostel
Distance between Smögen and Lysekil 45 min

4. Lysekil cold bath house on Svenska badvägen

In the mid-19th century, the bathing doctor Carl Curman was commissioned to build a new bathing facility. A society house, sea bathing park, outdoor stage, cold and hot baths were built in the area, and Lysekil became an extremely popular spa.

Here are our top tips for Lysekil

Camping site close by: Fiskhamnen car park (Bangårdsgatan 1)
Camping near: Gullmarsbadens camping, Dalskogen 144
Nearby accommodation: Strandflickornas havshotell, Turistgatan 13
Distance between Lysekil and Gustavsberg 54 min

5. Gustafsberg bathing hotel and hostel

The big boost for Gustafsberg as a bathing and health resort came in 1804, when Gustav IV Adolf and Queen Frederica's sickly son Crown Prince Gustav recovered after a stay here. Suddenly all to Gustafsberg! Two hot bath houses were built, as well as many other beautiful buildings for the rich guests.

Here are our top tips for Gustafsberg and Uddevalla.

Camping site close by: RV park Museigatan 2 in the centre of town
Camping near: Hafsten Resort & Camping
Nearby accommodation: Destination Bokenäset, Bjällansås 320
Distance between Gustafsberg and Saltholmen bathing centre 1 hour 4 minutes

6. Saltholmens cold bath house

Saltholmens cold bath house. has existed as a nude bath in Gothenburg for over 100 years. It offers salty baths in a relaxing environment. The baths have three sections that are divided into ladies, men and communal baths.

Camping site close by: Parking Gothenburg Saltholmen
Camping near: Liseberg camping Askim beach
Nearby accommodation: Athome Göta Älvsgatan 13
Distance between Saltholmen's cold bath house and Ulricehamn 1 hour 16 minutes

7. Ulricehamn swimming pool centre

Ulricehamn Kallbadhus offers relaxation for body and soul. You can take a refreshing dip in the beautiful lake Åsunden - every day, all year round - 06.00-22.00. Afterwards, you can warm up in the sauna if you need to. Take a break from your busy schedule and relax with a soothing massage or a delicious dinner with friends.

Camping site close by: Bangårdsgatan/Sturebadet
Camping near: Prångens camping & holiday village
Nearby accommodation: Hotel bogesund, Sturegatan 7
Distance between Ulricehamn and Varberg 1 hour 34 minutes

8. Varberg kallbadhus

Varberg's cold bath house was built in 1903 in an oriental style and stands on stilts in the sea at Strandpromenaden in Varberg. Here you can swim naked in separate men's and women's sections, both equipped with a sauna. Since breakwaters were built from the north-west corner of the fortress and Klöven, Getterön, the cold bath house is located within the harbour area.

Here are our top tips for Varberg

Camping site close by: The harbour
Camping near: Getteröns camping AB
Nearby accommodation: The fortress room by the sea
Distance between Varberg and Båstad 1 hour 8 minutes

9. Båstad kallbadhus

At Hotel Skansen you have Båstad's iconic cold bath house right outside the door. 60 metres out into the sea, warm sauna baths and refreshing sea dips await you. Warm outdoor pool and relaxation area with panoramic windows facing the sea, separate areas for men and women.

Here are our top tips for Båstad

Camping site close by: Caravan club Norrvikens camping/standby site
Camping near: Caravan club Norrvikens camping
Nearby accommodation: Hotel Skansen, Kyrkogatan 2
Distance between Båstad and Pålsjöbaden in Helsingborg 41 min

10. Pålsjöbaden cold bath house

Pålsjöbaden is a cold bath house located at the end of Strandvägen in northern Helsingborg, the current cold bath house was opened in 1909 by the Hälsan well establishment. From 1922-55 there was a tramway connection to Pålsjöbaden.

Here are our top tips about Helsingborg

Camping site close by: Helsingborgs bryggeri & Oxhallen (book via Acamp here)
Camping near: First camp Råå also hosts cottages
Nearby accommodation: Pålsjö mölla, Dag hammarsjkölds väg
Distance between Pålsjöbaden and Kallis 10 min

11. Kallis bathhouse

Dating back to 1865, Kallis is one of the city's oldest cold baths, and is located at Gröningen in Helsingborg. There are separate nude baths with a dry sauna. You sauna and bathe with a view of Öresund in a familiar and cosy atmosphere.

Here are our top tips for Kallis and Helsingborg.

Camping site close by: The harbour
Camping near: First camp Råå also hosts cottages
Nearby accommodation: Clarion hotel see u
Distance between Kallis and Råå 16 min

12. Råå cold storage centre

Rååbadarna is a non-profit organisation with around 1600 members who swim, sauna and enjoy Rååbadet. You are always welcome to try a few times, but to swim regularly you must be a member of the Rååbadarna organisation. As a guest here for a week or two, you are of course welcome to swim and sauna without being a member.

Here are our top tips for Råå

Camping site close by: Berth on the quayside
Camping near: First camp Råå also hosts cottages
Nearby accommodation: Råå vallar, kustgatan
Distance between Råå and Bjereds Saltsjöbad 32 min

13. Bjereds saltsjöbad cold bath house & restaurant

Bjerreds Saltsjöbad was built in 2004 as one of the first new cold baths in modern times. The bath is located 600 metres out in Öresund and is open all year round with delicious dishes in the restaurant.

Camping site close by: Lomma harbour
Camping near: Lomma camping
Nearby accommodation: Brohuspark bed & breakfast, Brohusvägen 7
Distance between Bjereds saltsjöbad and Dalby Stenbrott 28 min

14. Dalby quarry on the Swedish waterway

A popular swimming and picnic spot with a cosy environment around the entire quarry. There are also rocky ledges that you can jump from straight down into very clear water.

Here are our top tips for Dalby Quarry and National Park.

Camping site close by: Dalby quarry
Camping near: Källbybadet bath & camping
Nearby accommodation: The lodge resort & honulele spa, Genarp
Distance between Dalby stone quarry and Ribersborg in Malmö 31 min

15. Ribersborg cold bath house

Ribersborg cold bath house is a bathing facility on Ribersborgsstranden in Malmö, about 1 km southwest of Turning Torso. The younger ones call the bathhouse Kallis by younger and older ones as Ribban which is also the entire beach known since the 1920s. A café and restaurant with full rights can be found in the nude baths. There are separate sections for men and women and each section has a wood-fired and a regular sauna. As of summer 2009, men and women can also steam together.

Here are our top tips for Ribersborg and Malmö

Camping site close by: Lagoon marina, vaktgatan 9
Camping near: First camp Sibbarp
Nearby accommodation: The Ohboy cycling hotel on the west bank
Distance between Ribersborg and Sibbarp in Malmö 10 min

16. Sibbarp cold bath house

We are the small bath by the big sea with a wood-fired sauna and cold baths all year round. The café is open with the same opening hours as the baths.

Camping site close by: Limhamn guest harbour, Vågbrytarvägen
Camping near: First camp Sibbarp also cottages
Nearby accommodation: Best western arena hotel Malmö
Distance between Sibbarp and Skanör Falsterbo 32 min

17. Skanör/Falsterbo cold storage centre

In July 2020, Skanör Falsterbo Kallbadhus was inaugurated! Here you can enjoy bathing and swimming with a view of Öresund and the bridge. There are separate women's and men's areas with changing rooms, showers and a sauna. From a large wooden deck there are two separate piers and entrances to the water.

Camping site close by: Skanörs harbour
Camping near: Falsterbo camping resort
Nearby accommodation: Skanörs gästgifvaregård, Mellangatan 13
Distance between Skanör Falsterbo and Ystad 59 min

18. Ystad saltsjöbad on the Swedish bathing route

On Skåne's most beautiful coast at Österlen is Ystad and right on the beach is Ystad Saltsjöbad, dating back to the 19th century. Beach, activities, fantastic views, pools, long breakfasts, unforgettable dinners, all in wonderful surroundings.

Here are our top tips for Ystad

Camping site close by: Kåsebergs Hideout (book via Acamp here)
Camping near: Ystad camping, Österleden 97
Nearby accommodation: Ystad saltsjöbad
Distance between Ystad and Karlshamn 1 hour 41 minutes

19. Karlshamn's cold bath house

The Vägga swimming pool has a swimming hall, outdoor pool, sea baths and now also a cold bath house. The facility is located in the beautiful Vägga Park between the city centre and Vägga Fishing Harbour. The cold bath house offers showers, toilets, sauna and sea bathing in separate sections for women and men.

Camping site close by: Svanevik marina
Camping near: Kolleviks camping & holiday village
Nearby accommodation: Vägga bed & breakfast, Borgmästargatan 4
Distance between Karlshamn and Borgholm 2 hours 11 minutes

20. Borgholm cold bath house

Borgholm's cold bath house was originally built in 1882, at a time when the city was a renowned spa. The bathhouse has since been repeatedly destroyed in storms, but has always been rebuilt, albeit on a slightly smaller scale over time. The latest bathhouse was built in 2003 and is in a beautiful location, right next to Borgholm's harbour.

Here are our top tips for Borgholm

Camping site close by: Parking at Solliden
Camping near: Kapelluddens camping, Sandgatan 27
Nearby accommodation: Gamla televerket bed & breakfast, Västra kyrkogatan.
Distance between Borgholm and Visby (also ferry) 4 hours 45 minutes

21. Visby Kallbadhus

Visby Havsbad has become Kallbadhuset which has become Kallis, a gem for festivities during the summer in Visby for the younger generation. During the summer, the area is full of life with many people walking, socialising, having a drink or food at an outdoor restaurant, sunbathing, perhaps taking a dip in the sea at Kallis or partying at Kallis.

Camping site close by: Park & stay AB, Gutevägen 10
Camping near: Kneippbyn camping
Nearby accommodation: Visby prison, Skeppsbron 1
Distance between Visby and the Blue Lagoon 54 min

22. Blue lagoon on the Swedish waterway

The Blue Lagoon is one of the larger limestone quarries and the water in some quarries has a special colour, a beautiful turquoise colour. The quarry is located right next to Bästeträsk (lake) and there are a lot of people in the summer because it is incredibly popular.

Camping site close by: Blue Lagoon
Camping near: Kappelhamn campsite
Nearby accommodation: STF Fårösund hostel
Distance between Blue Lagoon and Nynäshamn (also ferry) 4 hours 47 minutes

23. Nynäs sea baths

Nynäs Havsbad offers lovely accommodation, culinary experiences and an inviting spa and relaxation area on the cliffs by the sea. This early 20th century hotel is located in Nynäshamn, on the island of Trehörningen. It offers spa treatments, delicious food and panoramic sea views.

Camping site close by: Nynäshamn guest harbour
Camping near: First Camp, Nickstabadet
Nearby accommodation: Nynäs sea baths
Distance between Nynäshamn and Saltsjöbaden 53 min

24. Saltsjöbaden open-air swimming pool

Saltsjöbadens outdoor swimming pool is a bathing facility that is divided into a women's and a men's section, with a common beach in between. It is located in Baggensfjärden in the Baltic Sea with two cold bathing houses located on Restaurangholmen in Saltsjöbaden. The women's pool was built in 1895 and the men's pool in 1925.

Camping site close by: Ställplats Stockholm, Flatens skogsväg 30
Camping near: First camp Stockholm, Flatens skogsväg 30
Nearby accommodation: Vår gård, Saltsjöbaden AB, Ringvägen 6
Distance between Saltsjöbaden and Centralbadet in Stockholm 25 min

25. central bath

Centralbadet is a bathing establishment on Holländargatan in the Islandet neighbourhood, on Norrmalm in central Stockholm. The facility was designed in 1904 in the Art Nouveau style by architect Wilhelm Klemming. The baths have their main entrance from Centralbadsparken next to Drottninggatan.

Camping site close by: Långholmen motorhome campsite/standby site
Camping near: Bredäng camping, Stora sällskapets väg 60
Nearby accommodation: Hotel Diplomat, Strandvägen 7c
Distance between Centralbadet and Sturebadet in Stockholm 10 min

26. Sturebadet on Svenska badvägen

Sturebadet has been the most famous spa club in Stockholm for more than 100 years. It is known for many celebrities who visited there such as Oscar II and Greta Garbo. This wonderful spa club was founded in 1885 by Carl Curman who was a doctor. He started Sturebadet to offer people living in Stockholm the opportunity to exercise or swim to improve their health.

Here are our top tips for the spa at Sturebadet.

Camping site close by: Långholmen motorhome campsite/standby site
Camping near: Bredäng camping, Stora sällskapets väg 60
Nearby accommodation: Hotel Diplomat, Strandvägen 7c
Distance between Sturebadet and Grisslehamn 1 hour 29 minutes

27. Hotel Havsbaden Grisslehamn

A fantastically beautiful spa and incredibly popular in the archipelago. There are lots of different small rooms with pools, sauna, jacuzzi and sauna. Here you can stay and eat at their own restaurant.

Here are our top tips for Grisslehamn.

Camping site close by: At the harbour
Camping near: Grisslehamn marina & campsite
Nearby accommodation: Hotel Havsbaden Grisslehamn
Distance between Grisslehamn and Uskavi Limestone Quarry 3 hours 30 minutes

28. Uskavi limestone quarry

A limestone quarry with green-turquoise water outside Nora or Lindesberg and it is popular to swim here.

Camping site close by: Ställplats Nora, Tivoligatan 6
Camping near: First Camp Nora, Kungsgatan 56
Nearby accommodation: Nora train shelter, Järnvägsgatan 1
Distance between Uskavi limestone quarry and Djäknesundet 1 hour 47 minutes

Tip: Kvinnersta limestone quarry on the road

With the possibility of hiking nearby, you will find fantastic swimming opportunities in Kvinnersta Kalkbrott. A popular swimming spot with magical blue water outside Örebro.

29. Djäknesundet on the Swedish waterway

There is a small sandy beach with rocks on the sides. Djäknesundet is a very popular bathing spot both for local residents and for more distant guests. On fine summer days, it can therefore be very crowded and difficult with parking facilities.