Gothenburg City Guide - Excursions

Gothenburg's archipelago can be reached by tram from the city centre. Passenger boats go from Saltholmen to islands like Vrångö, Styrsö and Brännö, all of which offer great swimming and sunbathing opportunities. During the summer, excursion boats go to places like Vinga nature reserve, which has a a small museum devoted to thecomposer and singer Evert Taube, and to the pier at Brännö where there is dancing on Thursday nights.

Marstrand (website: www.marstrand.se) is a summer paradise on an island further north, 45km (28 miles) from Gothenburg. It offers great opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, sailing and dining, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. The mighty Carlsten fortress is one of the island's historical attractions. Lasse-Maja, Western Sweden's own Robin Hood, was incarcerated here in 1813, but was released after 25 years, allegedly because the king, Karl XIV Johan, was impressed with his cooking skills.
 
Älfsborg Fortress (website: www.elfsborgsfastning.se), situated on an island in Gothenburg's harbour entrance, is also worth a visit. It was built in the 17th century as part of the defence against the Danes and Norwegians. Later it served as a prison. Today it has a café and restaurant, and there are boat trips out to the island during the summer.