Resö: Harbour Life, Coast and History

Resö can be discovered from several perspectives: its fishing harbour, its coastline with swimming spots and hiking trails, and its local history. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay on Resö, these themes can help you tailor your trip to your own interests. Harbour life and fishing are just as much a part of the place as cultural and historical sites and experiences in nature.

Fishing and Guest Harbour

Active fishermen still work in Resö’s fishing harbour. Today, fishing is focused mainly on prawns and Norway lobster. Visitors can buy fresh seafood directly from fishing boats. Sales are seasonal; it is best to order by phone directly from the boats.

The history of fishing also gives the harbour a historical perspective: during the herring period from 1877 to 1904, Resö had as many as 14 herring salteries. Comparing this with today’s focus on prawns and Norway lobster illustrates how local fishing has changed, without conflating the former herring period with the present day.

Resö’s guest harbour has electrical hook-ups, fresh water or a water-filling point, a pump-out station, showers, toilets, a laundry room and a boat crane. As the facilities’ operating status may change, it is advisable to check before travelling. Entré Resö is also located at the harbour and has its own jetty, where excursion and recreational boats can moor; this infrastructure may also change.

Coast, Hiking Trails and Protected Areas

There are hiking trails on Resö. A special hiking map leads to sites of cultural and historical interest, marked with information boards. Check locally to see whether the map is available. Guided coastal walks are also offered, explaining the area’s biodiversity and life beneath the water’s surface. The programme may vary by season.

Resö’s bathing spots offer a variety of coastal scenery, including both sandy beaches and rocky shores. Hamneholmen has a bathing jetty and a diving tower. As the facilities may be subject to local maintenance, check their current condition before your visit.

Resö is the southern gateway to the Kosterhavet Marine National Park. The nearby Trossö-Kalvö-Lindö Nature Reserve can be reached from Resö harbour by water taxi. Check how the boat service is operating before travelling. For nature lovers, there are several options to consider: hiking trails on Resö, guided coastal walks and boat access to the nature reserve.

Church and Local History

Resö Church was inaugurated in 1916. It is built of wood and clad in tarred oak shingles. Visitors can once again see blue-grey colours and beautiful Art Nouveau ornaments in the church today. These features give the church its own architectural character and add another dimension to the history of the place alongside its fishing heritage.

“Johans gård” on Holmsbacken is now a local history museum. Together with the sites of cultural and historical interest on the special hiking map, the museum offers a link to local history; information boards mark the relevant sites. Those more interested in the development of the fishing harbour will find a specific historical comparison in the information about the herring period. Those who would rather focus their stay on nature and the coast can consider the hiking trails, bathing spots and guided tours as different themes.

This makes it possible to search for a hotel on Resö with a clear idea of the kind of stay you want: fishing and the harbour setting, the coast and nature, or local history each offer a different focus. Which of these aspects matters to you depends on your interests.

Discover more destinations: Fjällbacka, Tanumshede, Grebbestad, Hamburgsund, Lur, Rabbalshede, Tänum, Kleva Västra

For the main travel overview: Tanum.