Tjörn: Island Trails, Art and History

The Tjörn archipelago comprises 1,546 islands and skerries, some of which are inhabited. On Tjörn, you’ll encounter the sea, extensive deciduous forests, lakes, moors, marshes, mountains and cultural landscapes. These varied landscapes provide the setting for hikes, cycling trips and visits to cultural sites.

Landscape and trails

In Toftenäs, rocky ridges and rift valleys shape the terrain. The shore zone is home to a rich variety of plant and bird life, and small-scale farming is also part of the landscape. Toftenäs is part of the Natura 2000 network and lies right next to Skärhamn. Here, natural surroundings and the town are side by side.

The park, garden and hiking trails around Sundsby Manor are open year-round, 24 hours a day. Before your trip, check whether any special events affect visiting conditions. The trails offer views over the Stigfjord and pass through a beech grove; narrow passages and caves are also among the features along the way. The route combines open vistas with stretches where the trail narrows.

The Skärhamnsvandringen is an easy, approximately five-kilometre route through the oldest part of Skärhamn to Hamneberget. Along the way are the maritime museum, the town’s first post office, Brunnsparken and a Bronze Age burial mound. The route brings together local history and landscape.

On Dyrön, you can choose between two hikes with different routes: the yellow trail, about five kilometres long, goes around the island; the blue trail crosses the mountains from north to south and is 1.6 kilometres long. Wild mouflons can be spotted along the hiking trails. Härön has several alternative routes, some of which pass through a nature reserve. The relatively easy-to-walk trail up Vetteberget leads to a summit 116 metres above sea level; from there, the view stretches across the sea to the western horizon.

Art, history and local traditions

The Nordic Watercolour Museum in Skärhamn opened in the summer of 2000 and has developed into an institution for watercolour art in the Nordic countries and Europe. The museum has guest studios for professional artists as well as an open studio where beginners can try watercolour techniques. The combination of professional workspaces and opportunities to try the techniques yourself makes it an interesting place for people with different levels of experience in watercolour art.

The Pilane burial ground comprises around 90 Iron Age stone circles, standing stones and stone arrangements. Pilane also brings together traces of Stone Age settlements and Iron Age graves with world-class art in a vibrant agricultural landscape. Guided tours for groups are available by advance booking; check current booking options before your trip.

Pater Noster lighthouse is 32 metres high and was designed by Nils Gustav von Heidenstam. In 2015, it was designated a listed building of high cultural and historical value. Säbygården, meanwhile, is a large farm dating from the early 19th century and is one of the best-preserved buildings of its kind in Bohuslän. Since the early 1980s, it has been a venue for cultural activities and welcomes visitors.

Another glimpse into local history can be found in Klädesholmen: a museum is dedicated to the history and development of the town, focusing on fish and herring processing from around 1860 to 1960. Samhällets dag is also rooted there. The festival has been celebrated since 1972 with a range of activities and a communal herring meal; check the current events calendar before planning your trip.

Outdoor activities and local shopping

Tjörn can also be explored on two wheels: cycling routes offer views of the sea and islands, while gravel roads pass through historic cultural landscapes. For swimming, there are sandy beaches as well as rocky bathing spots with diving towers. Paddling is possible on the Stigfjord and Hakefjord, where you’ll find both open water and sheltered bays. These differences offer a range of outdoor landscapes, so not every activity has the same character.

Several farm shops and stalls on Tjörn sell local produce and homemade delicacies directly from the producers. Which individual businesses are open to visitors may vary by season. If local products are one of your travel interests, you can make a visit to these outlets a focus of your itinerary.

Discover places on Tjörn

Discover more destinations: Skärhamn, Åstol, Bleket, Kållekärr, Fagerfjäll, Hjälteby, Höviksnäs, Klädesholmen, Klövedal, Kyrkesund, Myggenäs, Rönnäng, Tjörn, Stora Dyrön, Rörvik, Viks Ödegärde, Långekärr, Hakenäset.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Västra Götaland.