Discover Strömstad

Strömstad developed into a seaside resort and remains a popular bathing and holiday town. The art gallery, open-air museum, walking trail near the town and archipelago destinations offer a variety of things to explore during your stay. If you’re looking for a hotel in Strömstad, you can plan your trip around whether you’d like to include culture in town, outdoor activities or a visit to an island.

Art and cultural heritage in Strömstad

Lokstallet is an art gallery in Strömstad that presents contemporary art exhibitions during the summer season. Its programme thus focuses on contemporary art during this time of year. Friluftsmuseet i Strömsdalen offers a different perspective on cultural history: it consists of historic buildings from the town and countryside. These include three old cottages, a gristmill and an old boathouse.

The open-air museum is at Karlsgatan 43 in the eastern part of Strömsdalen Park. It is within walking distance of the town centre, and there is also a car park. Strömstad’s cultural heritage also includes rock carvings, ship settings and burial rings. The Massleberg rock carvings are nearby: they are about 3,000 years old and comprise 160 figures.

Trails between the town and the archipelago

Kosterhavet National Park is in the vicinity of Strömstad, within the municipalities of Strömstad and Tanum. It is Sweden’s first marine national park. To the northwest of the town is the Nord-Långö and Hällsöarna Nature Reserve, with beaches and hiking opportunities.

For a trail close to town, try Hälsans Stig: this seven-kilometre, easy-to-walk circular route passes through natural areas and residential neighbourhoods, as well as several historic buildings and sites. On Nord-Långö, by contrast, a hiking trail loops around the northern half of the island. It crosses rocky slabs, passes through woodland and leads to swimming coves; it starts and ends at Alaska. The two trails differ both in their surroundings and in their route format.

Swimming, exercise and paddling

Strömstads badhus has a 25-metre swimming pool filled with chlorinated seawater. It also offers group exercise classes and a gym. The cold bathhouse is on the waterfront promenade, outside Laholmen in the town centre.

Paddling is another activity available in Strömstad. You can take an evening paddle along the town’s shoreline. Friluftsfrämjandet occasionally organises guided paddling tours led by instructors and introductory sessions; advance registration is required for these.

Boat connections and island visits

The Kosterbåten runs several times a day all year round from Ångbåtskajen in Norra Hamnen, in central Strömstad, to Sydkoster and Nordkoster. The crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the landing stage. If you’re planning an island visit for a specific day, check the timetable.

In summer, the seasonal archipelago boat runs on a set schedule from Strömstad’s North Harbour to Alaska on Nord-Långö; this makes the site accessible without your own boat. Check departure times before your trip. The Alaska site on Nord-Långö was created in the late 1920s by Hilma Svedahl (1870–1965).

Discover more destinations: Öfverby, Hällestrand, Lökholmen, Tjärnö, Båleröd, Rävö, Nordkoster, Hogdal

For the main travel overview: Strömstad.