West Sweden, is a region comprising the three provinces of Bohuslän, Dalsland and Västergötland, is home to Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city. Here are the new features for 2025 and the must-sees of this region with its varied landscapes: forests, granite archipelagos, lakes and canals. From gastronomy to culture and accommodation, West Sweden offers unique experiences in harmony with nature.

In Brief:

The newsletter outlines the latest developments and attractions in West Sweden for 2025, focusing on new accommodations, nature-based activities, sustainable tourism, culinary experiences, cultural events, and outdoor adventures.

• New Accommodations: Several new hotels and lodgings will open in 2025, including the Hyatt Place Gothenburg Central, Hjortviken Country Club, and Strana Hotel, offering various amenities and nature-focused activities.
• Nature and Wellness: Activities like Kayoga, kayaking tours, silent retreats, and floating saunas are available for those seeking relaxation and a connection with nature.
• Sustainable Tourism: The region promotes eco-friendly travel through initiatives like Stepping up Sustainability and low-emission stays offered by five companies, focusing on responsible tourism practices.
• Culinary Experiences: West Sweden's culinary scene features new restaurants such as EXO, Nomi, and INTE, along with outdoor dining experiences like mushroom safaris and meals by the water.
• Cultural Highlights: Upcoming cultural events include exhibitions at Läckö Castle, Rörstrand Museum, and new art centres, as well as literary tourism based on Camilla Läckberg's works.
• Hiking Trails: The region offers diverse hiking trails, such as the Gotaleden and the Biosphere Trail, which combine scenic routes with historical sites and natural beauty.
• Cycling Routes: West Sweden features extensive cycling routes, including the Dalsland gravel roads and national bike trails like Vänerleden and Göta Canal Trail, suitable for various skill levels.
• Additional Resources: For more information about West Sweden, visit the official website or access free press images and contact details provided below.

New accommodation for nature lovers and relaxation

• Gothenburg, the gateway to the region, welcomes the Hyatt Place Gothenburg Central in spring 2025: a 300-room hotel with suites, a restaurant and a bar. Enough to familiarise yourself with the city before discovering the rest of the region.

• The Hjortviken Country Club  (in Hindås): 150 rooms, five bars, Swedish and Spanish cuisine and a range of activities - kayaking and cross-country skiing. Opening on January 20.
• The Hotel Strana (on the island of Orust) opens a 300 m² ocean spa with hot and cold springs, a sauna on the sea and a relaxation area . As for accommodation, the hotel offers beachfront cabins and raft camping. Opening on February 1st.
• In the spring of 2025, Hällesdalens Gård (north of Gothenburg) will add two tiny houses in the middle of the forest, the perfect place to indulge in activities such as yoga, kayaking or paddle boarding.
• At the end of summer 2025 Kusthotellet Styrsö (accessible by ferry from Gothenburg) will include a wellness area, an outdoor gym, sustainable local cuisine and outdoor activities.
• In autumn 2025, the Hällsnäs Hotel and Restaurant (on Lake Lången) will expand its accommodation offer and will host a floating sauna, infrared sauna and outdoor jacuzzis; in addition to being home to Signum, a Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Thomas Sjögren.

Slow down to the silent rhythm of Swedish nature

The concept of a silent trip inspired by Swedish nature is becoming more and more popular. West Sweden offers gentle outdoor activities and wellness experiences:

• Kayoga (mixing kayaking and yoga) with Skärgårdsidyllen, in the fishing village of Grebbestad
• Guided kayak tours to remote islands in Kosterhavet National Park
• Silent Retreats and Relaxation Sessions at Tofta Retreat
• Floating saunas and winter sea bathing in Kajkanten Vrångö
• Cruises on Lake Vänern (Sweden's largest!) aboard a sauna boat with Naven Outdoor Experience

To experience this art of living linked to nature, the Weather Islands (Väderöarna) have long welcomed visitors in search of tranquillity. On these small islands, located in the extreme west and surrounded on both sides by the North Sea, there is no choice but to take your time. The only accommodation, Väderöarnas Värdshus, offers charming, cosy rooms and a restaurant where local produce is crafted - between sea and land.

Eco-responsible tourism and low-emission stays

West Sweden is committed to responsible tourism, as evidenced by their successful Stepping up Sustainability initiative launched in 2023 which brings together public and private actors around a more sustainable society.

To encourage sustainable travel, five companies are offering low-emission stays.

• Erikson Cottage
• Inforest
• Swedish Country Living
• Lugnåsberget Ekohotell
• Dalslands Aktiviteter

They combine eco-responsible accommodation, train or electric vehicle journeys and meals prepared with local products. CO2 emissions are calculated for each stay.

Gastronomy: new restaurants and outdoor dining experiences

From seafood from Bohuslän to whitefish caviar from Vänern and cheeses from Västergötland, the region offers plenty of taste experiences.

Gothenburg and its bold food scene offer several new places to discover in 2025, including:

• EXO: for a meal with your head in the clouds. Located on the 69th floor of the tallest building in Scandinavia (246 meters, 74 floors), it will be accompanied by an observation platform perched at 220 meters. The restaurant will open its doors in the spring of 2025.
• Nomi: The "House of Nomi" has opened its doors on the banks of the Göta älv river. It offers two restaurants: Aji, dedicated to Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine based on local Swedish produce, and Révolte, a pop-up restaurant with guest chefs and a changing menu. Nomi is also home to a bar with DJs and events, as well as a gallery of local and international designers.
• INTE: Classic neighbourhood bistro serving European cuisine with a twist
• The iconic Feskekörka (reopened in 2024): After extensive renovation work and with a completely new concept, the famous Feskekörka fish market ("Fish Church"), built in 1874, now houses fish and seafood restaurants and bars.

Outdoor Dining Experiences:

• Sweden West Coast Experiences: Hike & Chef-Prepared Meal or Fresh Mushroom Safari
• Outdoor Support: a lakeside meal with local ingredients, such as elk and wild boar
• Dalslands Aktiviteter: guided tours on local plants and wildlife, followed by a meal made with local products
• Vristulven Adventure Center: glamping, wood-fired meals and hiking in the Vristulven Nature Reserve

The region is also characterised by its seafood, including sustainably farmed mussels. In Ljungskile, visitors can even catch them themselves. Edible seaweed, also very popular and a superfood, is used to enhance dishes thanks to players such as Catxalot - a local company specialising in the harvesting and uses of these marine treasures.

It's impossible to talk about Swedish cuisine without mentioning the famous Fika: more than a coffee break, it's a real institution! Alingsås, nicknamed the " capital of Fika ", is distinguished by its historic wooden cafes, just a stone's throw from Gothenburg.

New cultural developments - 2025 promises rich cultural discoveries:

• In the summer of 2025, Läckö Castle will celebrate Swedish arts with an exhibition by designer Stig Lindberg and visual artist Cecilia Jansson.
• The Rörstrand Museum (Lidköping) will house a collection of porcelain donated by the collector Ulf Sandberg. Inauguration on January 25.
• The Skara Stadshotell is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the addition of 31 watercolours by the painter Lars Lerin to its permanent collection. Sweden's oldest city, Skara, will soon be crossed by a new pilgrimage trail.
• A new art centre will open in May 2025 at Svenstorps Gård in Götene with a first exhibition on the surrealist photography of Erik Johansson. The inauguration will coincide with Vårrundan, Kinnekulle's annual art tour, on 3 and 4 May 2025.
• A leading city in design and street art, Borås has three must-see museums: the Textile Museum with the exhibition The Dress Makes the Man, the Borås Konstmuseum of Contemporary Art; and Abecita Popkonst & Foto, the Museum of Photography and Graphic Art.
• The island of Tjörn is a cultural hub known for the Nordic Watercolour Museum (which is celebrating its 25th anniversary), the Pilane open-air sculpture park,  which will host an exhibition by Ugo Rondinone in May 2025, and the island of Hamneskär, with the Pater Noster lighthouse converted into a hotel.

Must-see hikes in western Sweden

From the coastal paths of Bohuslän to the Västergötland pilgrimage route and the steep trails of the Dalsland forests, West Sweden is particularly popular with hikers of all levels.

These two trails, very well served, allow you to combine hiking and rail travel:

• The Gotaleden Trail: a 99 km route between Gothenburg and Vårgårda, via Alingsås
• The Biosphere Trail: 140 km from Mariestad to Läckö Castle, via Kinnekulle in the first UNESCO Global Geopark and on the shores of Lake Vänern, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

As for coastal hikes:

• The Kuststigen Trail (which stretches from Gothenburg to Oslo) leads through rocky landscapes and picturesque fishing villages. The opportunity to visit the islands of Dyrön and its wild mouflons, Ramsvik and Bohus Malmön with their granite formations and quarries; as well as Skaftö and its typical villages.
• The Gothenburg Archipelago Trail (27 km) and its crossing of the islands of Hönö, Fotö, Öckerö, and Hälsö. Accessible by bus or ferry from the city centre.

 Historic pilgrimage routes punctuate the landscape of western Sweden:

• The Göta Älv Trail: 143 km from Gothenburg to the Vättlefjäll Nature Reserve, the trail is full of historical sites through river valley landscapes
• The Hjo-Kungslena Trail: 55 km through the Swedish countryside, from the wood-built town of Hjo to the medieval village of Kungslena.

To discover all the trails in the region, click here.

West Sweden by bike

Dalsland has 500 km of car-free gravel roads, punctuated by numerous cafes and restaurants, and marked by 11 complete routes.

For mountain bike enthusiasts, the region has new playgrounds, suitable for the whole family:

• Högaliden: a new bike park with flowing trails, downhill trails with jumps and technical trails
• Billingen (Skövde): the unmissable mountain plateau combines guided mountain bike tours, a bike park and a charming hotel
• Ski Bike Hike (Ulricehamn): the multisport centre offers downhill trails, an obstacle course and downhill skiing in winter

West Sweden has more than half of the country's national bike trails, including 4 particularly popular ones:

• Vänerleden: 640 km around Lake Vänern, with the mountainous landscapes of Dalsland and cultural stops such as Lidköping
• Göta Canal Trail: 200 km from Sjötorp to Mem, a flat route, which can be combined with boat rides (nominated for the European Cycle Route of the Year award 2025)
• Ätradal Trail: 200 km from Falköping to Falkenberg, offers a mix of culture, gastronomy and history in a picturesque setting
• Unionsleden: 350 km between Moss (Norway) and Karlstad, a hilly route along gravel roads

Learn more about Western Sweden: https://www.vastsverige.com/en/

Royalty-free press images: https://imagebank.sweden.se/my-selections/39hti06cbm

About Visit Sweden

Visit Sweden is a marketing company owned by the Swedish government. It is a national tourism organisation to promote the destination Sweden to increase the country's attractiveness and contributes to tourism consumption, export earnings and employment. Visit Sweden works together with the Swedish tourism industry to effectively reach the most desired target groups for long-term sustainable tourism. Visit Sweden is based in Stockholm with local representation in several foreign markets.

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