Tanum between Rock Carvings and Coastal Landscapes

Discover Tanum through two distinctive features: its Bronze Age rock carvings and a landscape that stretches from the archipelago to forests and wetlands. Cultural heritage explorations and time outdoors can both shape your stay here. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tanum, it helps to decide on the focus of your trip in advance: rock carvings, hiking and coastal experiences call for different excursion plans.

Rock Carvings and Bronze Age Traces

The rock carvings of Tanum depict Bronze Age animals, people, ships, weapons and symbols in artistic, detailed scenes. They are considered a unique artistic achievement. According to UNESCO, the Tanum World Heritage Site includes more than 600 known sites with rock carvings and has the highest density of such carvings in Northern Europe. Together with the landscape and archaeological traces, the carvings illustrate a continuity of settlement and agriculture over 8,000 years.

Vitlycke Museum serves as a visitor centre for the World Heritage Site. At the museum and rock carving sites, you can explore the depictions independently or join guided tours in Swedish and English. Vitlyckehällen is 300 metres from the museum. It features around 500 carved images dating from 1700 BC to 300 BC. A path about 500 metres long connects Vitlyckehällen with four smaller rock surfaces.

The museum’s reconstructed Bronze Age farm includes two longhouses and craft buildings. During the summer season, visitors can try various craft activities. Fossum offers a different view of rock art: its carvings form a cohesive composition featuring people, ships, footprints, animals and cup marks. A path leads from the main carving to the unpainted carving at Balken; a sun horse is carved into the rock face on the right.

Archipelago, Forests and Marine Nature

Tanum Municipality brings together deep marine waters, sparse coastal stretches, forests and small-scale agricultural landscapes. The western archipelago features both bare outer skerries and larger islands in the inner archipelago, whose open vegetation and limestone-influenced flora give them a distinctive character. In the eastern part of the municipality, coniferous forests stretch between wetlands, lakes and waterways.

Kosterhavet National Park lies in the municipalities of Strömstad and Tanum and covers almost 400 square kilometres. Its exposed outer archipelago is home to extensive seaweed beds, including some of Sweden’s best-developed kelp forests. The national park is also home to one of Sweden’s two known living coral reefs; in Sweden, this type of reef is found only in the Koster-Väderö Fjord.

Hiking and Outdoor Activities

“Vandring i Världsarv” is a six-kilometre hiking trail in the Tanum World Heritage Site. You can walk the whole trail or just sections of it. In the Tjurpanneområdet, you can choose from several hikes of different lengths. The area is accessible by bus from Grebbestad to Saltviks camping, which is adjacent to the nature reserve. Check the current bus service before travelling.

Near Grebbestad is Falkeröds lindskog, a nature reserve of just over one hectare with large lime trees and a rich variety of flora. A signposted walking trail passes through the reserve and connects to other circular routes, including routes to Greby burial ground and the exercise trails at Siljevi. Information about hiking, swimming and cycling experiences, as well as cycling maps, is available for natural areas in Tanum; hiking, paddling and cycling are among the leisure activities in the municipality.

Väderöarna and Coastal Experiences

At Väderöarna Nature Reserve, you can hike, swim and observe seals and seabirds; some wildlife sightings depend on the season. The Lotsutkik recalls the islands’ pilotage and seafaring era. Thanks to the association’s care, visitors can learn about this history free of charge and enjoy the view from the observation tower. Väderöarna can be reached in your own boat or by boat service from Hamburgsund, Fjällbacka and Grebbestad. As boat timetables may change, it’s a good idea to check departures in advance.

Oysters are another regional experience: oyster harvesting, oyster courses and tastings are offered in Tanum. These offers may depend on the season or provider, so check what suits your travel dates. Catxalot runs seaweed safaris, paddling trips and cooking classes from Grebbestad and Grundsund, teaching sustainable seaweed gathering and cooking. These activities may also be seasonal; check availability before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Grebbestad, Kleva Västra, Hamburgsund, Lur, Tänum, Tanumshede, Havstenssund, Resö, Flötenmarksen, Rabbalshede, Fjällbacka.

Return to the main travel overview: Västra Götaland.