Holidays to Gothenburg & West Sweden

During the winter months, when Sweden is famous for being cold & dark, there is this immense warm and light feeling. Candles welcome you into cosy cafes and festive shops, Christmas lights decorate houses, shops, city centre squares and tall Christmas trees. Indulge yourself in the Swedish Christmas spirit. Restaurants serve a traditional Julbord (Christmas table) with a range of cold meats, fish and cheese. Cafes serve warming hot chocolates with traditional Christmas Pepparkakor biscuits.

Shopping highlights include the combined cosmopolitan region of Malmö and Copenhagen, Liseberg Christmas market and the large shopping centres in Gothenburg, department stores, Skansen Christmas Market and Gamla Stan Christmas market are just some of the attractions in Stockholm.

10 Sep 2009
The Koster Islands were officially inaugurated as a Marine Nature Reserve yesterday in a shower of publicity by King Carl Gustav, the monarch of Sweden. 450sqkm are now protected in the area that contains the most diverse and intense amount of marine life in Sweden's coastal waters. The location is close to the Norwegian border and is easily accessible by train from Gothenburg, the gateway to West Sweden. The Koster area is home to many fisher men who initially felt threatened by the creation of the national park, fearing their livelihoods were under threat. Through excellent communication with the Swedish authorities a sustainable fishing program along with a preserve, protect and develop attitude has enabled the professionals to continue in the same careful way as they had been fishing previously.

Here at Simply Sweden we have been keeping a careful eye on the developments surrounding tourism. The creation of this national park has led to an increase in tourism opportunism. We believe that the Koster Islands are now more accessible than ever and the tourism industry is being carefully monitored to ensure maximum exposure whilst protected this incredible natural environment from unnecessary damage. Following our visit to the Koster Islands in June the local tourism board, hotels and operators are much more aware of the English speaking market and are opening their doors to you.

If you are looking for a short break to the Koster Islands we recommend the Syd Koster Hotel. Located on the southern island and just 45mins from Strömstad by ferry, the hotel offers unrivalled views across the Koster Fjord and easy access to the entire national park. Cycling is the easiest way to see the islands and local activities include seal safaris, boat tours, diving and guided walks. The peak summer season is from mid-June to mid August and we also recommend a holiday here from the beginning of May to late September. It may be off-season but this only means your stay will be a much more genuine Swedish experience.

Speak to one of our expert travel consultants for further information.

Our tour started at the gateway to the Koster Islands in the picturesque town of Strömstad, which is easily accessible by car or train. The tourism office is perfectly located at the waters edge close to the Koster ferry terminal. This is the perfect location to obtain information about beaches, bathing locations, activities, excursions, cycle rental, canoe rental, diving, high speed RIB tours, cafes and attractions.

After catching a high speed water taxi from Strömstad to the Koster Islands we enjoyed a guided cycle tour of the southern island, featuring spectacular views across the Koster Islands, ancient oyster beds and fika (sandwich and coffee) by the sea. Our guide was a local biologist, Stefan von Bothmer who has an awesome amount of local knowledge and a passion for sustainable tourism. He is also the owner of Kosters Trädgårdar (Koster Gardens), ecological home grown produce that is then used to create a delicious array of sandwiches and classic dishes served in his cafe and restaurant.

The Sydkoster Hotel is perfectly located on the shores of the South Koster Island and just 100m from the Koster ferry terminal, where you will also find cycle rental. Many of the rooms have balconies with views across the Koster fjord towards the main land and all the suits and flats have unrivalled coastal views. The outside bar and restaurant are the perfect place to relax and enjoy a drink, snack or meal as you absorb the beautiful surroundings. Reception are able to assist with booking activities, excursions and offer advice on the best swimming locations. Your Simply Sweden travel advisor will also be able to help!

The following morning was filled with a Norwegian Lobster (or cray fishing) trip. With the help of a local fisherman, Nicklas, we hauled up lobster pots in scenes similar to those commonly seen on the TV series Deadliest Catch, only on a much smaller scale and in calmer conditions! After emptying our catch and re-baiting the pots they were cast back into the ocean for another day. Back in harbour the catch was cooked in a boiling vat of water and taken to the nearby restaurant, owned by Nicklas' sister, where it was prepared by the chef for lunch. A thoroughly enjoyable hands on experience with the satisfaction of enjoying the result at the end.

An alternative hotel for those looking to stay in Strömstad is the Laholmen Hotel, 400m from the train station, 50m from the Koster ferry terminal and 50m from the very centre of Strömstad and the tourist office. Some of the rooms offer a sea view and the restaurant bar has an open terrace overlooking the Southern Harbour.

Book your holiday to West Sweden and the Koster Islands with Simply Sweden here.

9 June 2009 ** SPECIAL OFFER **
The British Pound (GBP) hits a 3 month high against the Swedish Krona (SEK), exceeding 12.5 SEK to each GBP. Simply Sweden is offering a 5% discount on all summer holiday packages booked with Simply Sweden until the end of June. Bookings must be made by 30 June 2009 for departure dates up to 30 September 2009.

Book your holiday to Sweden with Simply Sweden here.

Visitors to Sweden and native Swedes have a 'Right of Public Access' and this is deeply entrenched within the Swedish culture and is the basis for outdoor recreation from Lapland in the north and the mountains in the west to the archipelagoes of eastern & southern Sweden. Here is our take on the 'Right of Public Access':
"You may walk, cycle, horse ride, ski, and stay temporarily in country areas providing you do not damage crops, forestation areas or other sensitive areas of land. You must respect the privacy of the home by not passing through or staying on private plots of land. Do not disturb and do not destroy, is the main principle of the Swedish Right of Public Access. You are allowed to camp for one night on land not used for agriculture that is located away from the dwelling-house. Ask the landowner for permission if you want to camp as a group. You may light a fire providing it is safe to do so, however, never on bare rocks as this might cause permanent damage due to cracking. When the lighting of fires is prohibited, this applies to all open fires, and is often the case in National parks and conservation areas. You may pick flowers, berries and mushrooms in the countryside, but certain plants, such as all orchids, are protected species and special regulations prescribed by law may apply to what you are allowed to pick in the countryside. Be sure not to leave any litter. Leave no trace."

You can visit National Parks in Sweden during your holiday in Sweden. The holiday log cabins at Fulufjällsbyn are located in the Fulufjället National Park (recognised in 2002 with Sweden's largest waterfall, bare mountains covered with 'reindeer moss', ancient forests and steep rocky canyons), in the Swedish mountains close to the Norwegian border. The Marine Reserve surrounding the Syd Koster Islands in West Sweden will be inaugurated in September 2009 (noted for their bio-diversity on land and in the sea), and there are also a huge variety of nature reserves across West Sweden. Stay in Stockholm with easy access to Tyresta National Park (from 1993 famed for 300 year old giant pine tress and deep ravines with rocky outcrops abraded by ice) and Ängsö National Park in the Stockholm Archipelago (one of the original 9 national parks from 1909 with fragile fauna and abundance of bird life).

8 May 2009
The World's Fastest Floating Sauna! The Salt & Sill Hotel in West Sweden is launching a floating sauna capable of 15 knots, to match the success of the Salt & Sill floating hotel and will be ready to launch on 1 June 2009. The sauna will be built over 2 floors on a catamaran. The top floor will be used as a relaxation area, wedding suite or exhibition hall. The lower floor will be the sauna. Simply Sweden can now offer you memorable experiences on board the floating sauna with overnight stays in a secluded bay where guests can relax in the Jacuzzi in peaceful isolation.

Book you holiday or wedding in West Sweden here.

2 April 2009
Update to entry on 31 March 2009. The number of cranes at Lake Hornborga in West Sweden has now exceeded 18,500. The third year in a row that the number has increased.

31 March 2009
Every year between mid-March and mid-April an astonishing 10,000 cranes descend on the nature reserve around Lake Hornborga (Hornborgasjön) near Skara in West Sweden at this time of year to perform their annual mating ritual of exuberate bowing, hopping & flapping. Last year saw a new record of 15,300 cranes arrive at Lake Hornborga, reaching its peak on 3 April 2008. On the evening of Sunday 29 March 2009 there were already 12,900 cranes with many more on the way after migrating from the continent. For Sweden this is one of the first signs of spring as the snow melts, the flowers begin to bloom and the long sunny days of the summer become reality. This annual event is a must see for many bird watchers and nature lovers. Here at Simply Sweden we can arrange all your travel to Sweden from the UK if you wish to witness one of natures greatest spectacles.

9 March 2009
Simply Sweden features in the Waitrose Food & Drink magasine. You can stay on the West Coast of Sweden this year and enjoy some of the most exquisit sea food in Scandinavia and Europe. West Sweden is renowned for the quality of the local restaurants and is often over looked for the more famous destinations of Italy & France. Almost of the hotels we feature in West Sweden are in the 'Taste of West Sweden' guide. Oysters and Lobsters are local specialities. Although summer offers the warmest weather, you will find that Lobster season starts in the Autumn as the local fisher men go in search of the 'black gold'.

Book your holiday to West Sweden here.

13 February 2009
West Sweden is lucky to promote the opening of 2 new amazing hotels along the stunning Bohuslän Coastline. The Salt & Sil Hotel opened to guests in September 2008. The aclaimed restaurant, accreditted by Taste of West Sweden, unsurprisingly specialises in seafood delicacies. At Salt & Sil you can indulge in various activities, including boat trips, kayaking, fishing & cooking courses. The Vann SPA Hotel will open in March 2009 and has received a complete makeover and is located within a nature reserve over looking Gullmar Fjord on the West Coast. Located just 1hr from Gothenburg with 6 SPA pools ranging from a toastie 42C to a rather chilly 10C!

During 2008 Gothenburg saw an increase in visitors of a massive 6% from the UK, making this an extremely popular city break destination. Simply Sweden works closely with the Elite Park Avenue Hotel, in the heart of Gothenburg and the Elite Park Avenue Hotel now has recently opened the Elite Wellness centre. The wellness centre includes a large gym, a relaxation department with two saunas and a relax pool and treatment rooms for a wide range of massage and skin therapies. Book your break to Gothenburg with Simply Sweden.

Dates for the 2009 diary across West Sweden:

• 6-8 March
  Passion for Food exhibition - held in Gothenburg and gives visitors the chance to taste West Sweden without having to extensively explore the whole area! Buy and taste food from the leading chefs and food producers of West Sweden. If you are a food lover - this is for you!
• March & April
  The annual migration of over 10,000 cranes. They arrive in their thousands at Lake Hornborga (West Sweden), their natural breeding grounds, after flying thousands of miles from Spain. The famous crane dance is best observed from the bird tower in the heart of the nature reserve, as the cranes bow, hop and flap during their mating rituals. There are several hotels within 45 mins of Lake Hornborga.
• 2 May
  West Sweden produces some of the finest Oysters in the world and produces 95% of Sweden's oysters. During this annual event (just 2 hours north of Gothenburg) the annual Oyster Opening Nordic Championships are held and everyone can get involved with a host of activities and boat trips.