Smögen–Hunnebostrand

Over the past decades, the small fishing village of Smögen on Sweden’s west coast has become a symbol of the unique way nature and settlements blend together. A row of wooden houses, with a pier in front, stretches for almost a kilometre along the rocky cliffs of the island of the same name. The upper floors of the houses are generally holiday apartments, while the ground floors, with their shops and small restaurants, are a special attraction for the many tourists. A fish and shrimp auction right in the harbour is an experience not to be missed. Smögen is one of the main hubs of Sweden’s fishing industry, with shrimp making up almost half of the catch. Shrimp from Smögen, known as “Smögenrökor”, are a speciality of Sweden’s west coast. The long pier in the harbour, “Smögenbrygga”, is not only a destination for numerous boating tourists, but also the starting point for boat trips to the nearby island of Hållö. This treeless, uninhabited island is a protected nature reserve. It is home to 130 plant species, and its lighthouse, built in 1842, is the oldest in all of Bohuslän.

The coastal town of Hunnebostrand can be reached via Kungshamn, which lies between it and Smögen. The town is considered the centre of the Sotenäs peninsula and has been connected to Smögen by a bridge since 1970.
With roots dating back to the 12th century, Hunnebostrand is Sweden’s lobster capital. Every autumn, Hunnebostrand draws lovers of this marine delicacy, who go on lobster safaris and visit the Lobster Academy. Granite quarrying, once widespread, has also survived here to this day. The Soten Canal is a 7.5-kilometre waterway between Smögen and Hunnebostrand, blasted through the granite in the 1930s. Today, it is used not only by the countless recreational boats that make Hunnebostrand a popular stopover, but also by excursion boats during the summer months. Guest harbours, swimming beaches and holiday accommodation of every kind characterise the area around Hunnebostrand.