Gothenburg Beaches - The Best Places to Swim in Göteborg

The west coast of Sweden is not known for its sandy beaches, but rather the opposite, with beautiful rocky cliffs. However, there are still some great sandy Gothenburg beaches to enjoy on a summer day.

vrångö sandy beach gothenburg archipelago

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Näset

Näsetbadet is a very popular beach for young families. Here, there is a sandy beach and cliffs leading down into the shallow water. The water here is a beautiful colour on a sunny day, perfect for a dip. In the summer months, it can get incredibly busy, especially over the summer holidays. If you plan on visiting at this time make sure to arrive early to get a spot! A small kiosk sells ice cream, snacks, and other facilities, including a toilet and a bridge. The toilets at Näset beach are only open in the summer months.

The best way to get to Näset is to take tram 1, 7 or 8 to Frölunda Torg and then bus 92 to Näsbovägen. This takes around 50 minutes from Gothenburg central station. Alternatively, there is a big car park at Näset/Källviksvägen, only a short walk from the beach.

Askimsbadet

Askimsbadet is one of the best sandy beaches near Gothenburg. It is well known to all locals for being a great spot to meet friends or take a swim in the shallow water. On one side there is a dock that leads out into the water and on the other a long sandy beach. Behind the beach is a big grass area with barbecues available if you bring your own coal. There are toilet and shower facilities open in the summer months.

The best way to get to Askimsbadet is to take the X3 from Gothenburg which drops you directly at the beach. This trip takes 30 minutes from the central station. Otherwise, you can take the X2 from järntorget, this takes 21 minutes.

Härlanda Tjärn

Härlanda Tjärn is a big lake located just outside of the city centre. At one end, there is a sandy beach, while the rest of the lake is surrounded by a big grass park. This is a very popular beach for people living in Gothenburg, the perfect place for a swim and a barbecue on a summer evening.

The best way to get to Härlanda Tjärn is to take the number 17 to Stabbetorget and then walk for 10 minutes to the “Badplats”. It is also possible to take the Svart bus to Backvägen but the walk here is around 20 minutes.

If you are driving, you can park just beside the sandy beach at Härlanda Tjärn Parkering.

Sillviksbadet

Sillviksbadet is a beautiful beach to the north of Gothenburg. It is by far one of the best places to swim, with a small sandy beach, a dock out into the water, and rocky cliffs on either side. There is a small grass area behind the beach with a playground and toilets!

The best way to get to Sillviksbadet by public transport is to take the Svart bus to Lillebyvägen and then bus 23 to Sillvik. In total, this trip takes around 50 minutes!

Otherwise, you can drive to Sillviksbadet and park either in the car park down by the beach or along the cliff road Lillebyvägen.

Hovåsbadet

Hovåsbadet is another of the more popular beaches in Gothenburg. This is due to its size and shallow water with cliffs protecting the beach from too much wind. This, and Askimsbadet, are the best beaches for taking the family! Here the water is shallow and there is also a ramp that leads down into the deeper water, perfect for those with disabilities.

Fiskebäcksbadet

This is quite a small sandy beach with rocks to one side and a dock to the other. It’s quite a famous Gothenburg beach all year round, with families in the summer and cold water bathers in the winter.

The best way to get to Fiskebäcksbadet is to take the 50 to Beryllgatan and then the bus to Fiskebäcks Småbåtshamn. This trip takes around 50 minutes from the central station.

Beaches in the Gothenburg Archipelago

There are so many incredible beaches out in the Gothenburg archipelago! Obviously being out on the islands they can be a little difficult to reach and best combined with a day trip!

Strysö

The south coast of Styrsö, one of the most popular islands in the Gothenburg archipelago, is basically a long beach, with shallow water and sand lining the edge of the island. You will find the best beaches between Lilla Ravholmen and Brännholmsviken.

This is around a 45-minute walk from Styrsö Tången and 23 minutes from Styrsö Bratten. It takes 25 minutes to travel to Strysö from Saltholmen by ferry and 1 hour 10 minutes from Gothenburg central station.

Make sure to read this post if you want to plan a day trip to Styrsö!

styrsö sandy beaches gothenburg archipelago

Vrångö

There are several great beaches in Vrångö but the best is definitely Vrångö Sandstrand. This beach is located on the east of the island, only a short walk from the harbour. It is long, with shallow water. As Vrångö is the furthest island from the mainland, this beach doesn’t get too busy!

It takes around 30 minutes to reach Vrångö from Saltholmen by ferry, and 1 hour 30 minutes from Gothenburg central station.

Make sure to read this post if you want to know more about a day trip to Vrångö island from Gothenburg!