14 Dreamy Things To Do in Hönö Sweden
We recently visited Hönö, Sweden as a family and, let me tell you… we were stunned by how beautiful and relaxing it was.
Visiting Hönö felt like we’d stepped into another world with its gorgeous rocky coastline dotted with red and white wooden fishing huts and blue and yellow flags waving in the wind.
We spent two days on Hönö experiencing the perfect mix of adventuring and relaxing.
Think things like crabbing from the shore, climbing a lighthouse for gorgeous views, scrambling on rocks, visiting the sauna, taking cold dips (our favorite part!), and a boat trip.
This Hono Sweden guide is to let you in on our favorite things we did on Hönö, plus a few things that look amazing that we wish we had had time for.
*There may be affiliate links in this post. Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.
🇸🇪 🦀 IN A RUSH? CHECK OUT OUR GOTHENBERG ARCHIPELAGO FAVORITES:
🛏️ WHERE WE STAYED (and loved):
😍 HÖNÖ HOME WITH PANORAMIC SEA VIEWS: This Airbnb was the highlight of our stay. The views are STUNNING and we were only a 1-minute walk away from the beautiful 'swimming area' Hästen where we crabbed from the pier and explored the coastline.
Even when we were inside relaxing/crafting, we could still enjoy the beauty of Hönö. It can comforably fit up to six people while still feeling cozy for just two.
✨ EXPERIENCES WE BOOKED (and loved):
🚤 3-HOUR BOAT TRIP/SEAL SAFARI TO VINGA ISLAND: dWe loved our boat trip our to Vinga Island with Hönö Båtturer. We sat atop the boat and heard stories about the area from the captain who is in his 70s and got to climb the lighthouse and visit the small museum on the island.
You can also book similar boat tours with Kastor Boat Trips in a traditional wooden boat.
👙2- HOUR, PRIVATE FOTÖ BASTU (SAUNA) SESSIONS WITH PRIVATE DOCK: Our sauna session with cold dips at Fotö Bastu was one of our favorite experiences of the trip. The sauna is located in the most gorgeous setting with views of the gorgeous rocky coastline from both inside and outside the sauna.
The sauna fits 6-8 people and costs a flat 400 SEK (or about $40) for a 2-hour session (which seems incredibly reasonable compared to some other sauna prices I found).
🦀 2-HOUR CRABBING, LOBSTERING, OR MACKEREL FISHING BOAT TRIP IN TRADITIONAL WOODEN BOAT: This is the one experience we didn't book because we didn't have time but I would LOVE to do this if we get to visit again.
Kastor Boat Trips offers trips where you can learn to throw and reel in crab and lobster pots or fish for mackerel from the boat with the option to eat your catches in different unique ways.
The boat is stunning and it looks like an amazing experience. You can also book similar trips through Hönö Båtturer that we took our lighthouse trip with.
✨ EXPERIENCES LEAVING FROM GOTHENBURG:
🛥️ GOTHENBURG ARCHIPELAGO CRUISE WITH SWEDISH FIKA: Discover the beauty of the Gothenburg Archipelago on a 2.5-hour cruise leaving directly from Gothenburg with coffee and snacks included.
🏎️ GOTHENBURG: HOT ROD ISLAND TOUR OF THE ARCHIPELAGO: Drive your own mini-hot rod from Gothenburg, on the ferry and throughout the islands on this guided tour that has amazing reviews. It looks like a great way to see the islands with a guide without having to spend the night on the islands. We haven't taken this tour but we saw the mini cars drive past and my husband thought it looked amazing.
HOW WE SAVE MONEY ON OUR RENTAL CARS:
🚘 Economy Bookings Car Rental: Any bit you can save on your car rental is worth it. Our go-to is Economy Bookings.
OUR OTHER TRAVEL FAVORITES:
📸 Tours/Excursions: Viator & Get Your Guide
🚕 Airport Transfers with Car Seats in Multiple Locations: Welcome Pickups
👉 Travel Strollers: Zoe Traveler & Zoe Double
🍼 Baby Carriers: Tula Carriers, Wildride Hip Carriers
📱 International Data Phone eSIM: Airalo
🚗 Cheap Rental Cars: Economy Bookings
🏠 Accomodations: Booking, Expedia, VRBO, Airbnb
🌎 Travel Insurance: World Nomads
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using the above link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
How To Get To Hönö Sweden
Hono Island, is located in the northern Gothenburg Archipelago and is easily accessible from Gothenburg by both public transit and car.
Whereas the islands in the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago are car-free and only accessible via ferry followed by cycling or walking.
One of the reasons we chose to visit Hönö is because we could access the island via car (especially since we were visiting with young kids).
I was a little worried that Hönö would feel less charming than the car-free islands, but we were blown away by its charm and beauty and were completely happy with our decision.
Plus, from Hönö you can also easily visit the nearby islands of Fotö, Öckerö, and Hälsö via a bridge, making it very easy to see additional beautiful areas.
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT:
From Gothenburg Central Station, take bus X6 to Lilla Varholmen, where you will then walk onto the Öckerö/Hönö ferry to take the short 13-minute ferry ride over to Hönö. The ferry is free and departs every 15 minutes, 24 hours per day.
The entire journey only takes about one hour.
BY CAR (what we did):
By car, you will head to the same Lilla Varholmen ferry terminal following the signs for Öckerö/Hönö.
You will drive onto the ferry and wait in your car during the short 13-minute crossing. The ferry is free of charge and departs every 15 minutes, 24 hours per day.
Keep in mind that during peak summer commuting hours, there can occasionally be a 30-minute queue for the ferry (in case you have a flight or other ferry to catch).
We left Hönö on a weekday morning around 8:00 am and had to wait about 15 minutes to board the ferry, whereas when we arrived, we drove right on and waited only a couple of minutes on the ferry for it to depart.
Where To Stay on Hönö Island
By far, the best decision of the trip was booking this Airbnb that overlooks the sea.
It’s a stylish, perfectly maintained, 3-bedroom upstairs apartment with a kitchen that fits up to six people while still feeling cozy and lovely if you are just two people.
Not only did our Airbnb have a lovely deck with stunning views, but the views from inside are just as good thanks to the large sliding glass doors. It seriously was amazing.
The best part is that just a one-minute walk from the Airbnb is Håsten, a gorgeous swimming area that is also perfect for crabbing from the pier in the summer months (which our kids LOVED and honestly, so did we).
The Airbnb even comes with a crabbing bucket and small crabbing poles and bikes you can use for free!
We saw locals out there at all times of day taking a cold dip and heading off on foot or bike. It was so charming.
We loved staying here because even when we weren’t out exploring the islands, we still felt immersed in nature thanks to where we were staying.
We could be building LEGO or crafting as a family while soaking up the amazing views.
I recommend staying here 100%.
OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN HÖNÖ SWEDEN:
- Hönö Sjöbodar: Stay in your own row of red boat houses right on the water. Staying at Hönö Sjöbodar, you get full apartment-style accommodations with your own private terrace with scenic views. Click here to read the glowing reviews and see photos.
- Skärgårdshotellet Hönö: Perfect if you’re looking for a cozy stay and a beautiful hotel with lovely views and an attached restaurant for ultimate relaxation. Click here to read the glowing reviews and see photos!
Map of Things To Do In Hönö Sweden
*Use this interactive map to find the best things to do in Hönö Sweden (the Northern Gothenburg Archipelago). Click on the full-screen icon in the top right corner to have this map open in your own Google Maps app or click on the arrow in the top left corner to see a pullout list of all points on the map*
14 Dreamy Things To Do on Hönö Island (+ Fotö Island)
1. Go Crabbing From The Shore At Hästen
Crabbing from the rocky shoreline or pier is a super popular summer activity for kids in the Gothenburg Archipelago. And let me tell you, we loved it.
We visited Hönö in early September and caught one crab from the pier in Håsten.
It was so much fun, and I think we adults enjoyed it just as much as the kids. Our host seemed surprised we were able to catch anything so late in the season, so we’re happy we did!
Your best chances for catching crabs are from piers and rocky coastlines from late April to early September, with peak catching in June/July/August.
All you need is a line, a clothespin, some raw meat as bait, and a bucket with some water to put the crab in before you release it!
Our Airbnb supplied us with a bucket and poles, but in the summer you can find them at the local market.
2. Experience a Traditional Sauna + Cold Dip at Fotö Bastu
Something I was nervous about booking as a family but am so glad I did was a private sauna session at Fotö Bastu.
This is very American of me, but I was unsure if it’d be frowned upon to book as a young family.
However, after talking with my Finnish friends, they assured us 100% that it’s a very normal and great thing to do as a family 🤪, so I went ahead and booked it!
And after everything we experienced, our kids said the sauna was their favorite activity of the trip!
Fotö Bastu (sauna) is a lovely sauna located on the island of Fotö, just a 9-minute drive from Hönö Klåva Hamn.
Fotö Bastu is located at the end of Fotö Hamn (harbor), atop the rocks in the most picturesque spot, with stunning views of the fishing-hut-dotted rocky coastline from both inside and outside the sauna.
Below the sauna is a private dock with a ladder into the water to make cold dips and swimming easy and enjoyable. Only those with a sauna booking can access the dock.
The kids loved running from the sauna down to the water and back up (although our youngest could’ve just stayed in the sauna all day if we let him).
The sauna can fit 6-8 people and can be booked in 2-hour increments for a flat rate of 400 SEK (or about $40, which I feel is a very reasonable price). You can book it directly on their website here.
You’re sent the access code and all of the instructions you need before your assigned time plus there are instructions posted inside the sauna as well.
The lower bench inside the sauna is MUCH cooler than the higher benches, so it’s recommended to have your kids sit on the lower benches, and if you’re new to the sauna, you’ll probably prefer that as well 😅.
And remember to hydrate beforehand and bring along plenty of water and towels to sit on (towels are required).
3. Visit The Original Home of Hönö’s Delicious Traditional Flat Bread: Hönökakor
Something that I was just totally charmed by was the story of the traditional Swedish flat bread called Hönökakor (Hönö cakes).
Hönökakor was a traditional bread baked by local fishing and farming families on the island of Hönö and surrounding islands.
It was often taken out on fishing trips and stored by being hung on lines across the boats. It was often eaten long after it had gone stale and crisp.
In 1934, a local Hönö boy named Ake started a bakery in a home on Hönö that you can still visit today, and the bakery is called Åkes Äkta Hönökakor (after him).
The company is still family-owned even multiple generations later and the bread is now sold all over, however, you can still visit the original home on Hönö and buy fresh bread each Saturday!
I highly recommend tasting this local piece of history- the bread is SO good. Our kids loved it and demanded we buy more- we even took a bag with us on our journey home!
The bread looks a lot like a pita, but it’s much softer and fluffier and almost tastes like a potato roll (if you’re from the US).
If you’re visiting Hönö but the house bakery isn’t open while you’re there, don’t worry! You can also find the bread in the local ICA Supermarket on Hönö. But I still recommend swinging past the home bakery to see the outside.
4. Take a Boat Trip To The Top of The Lighthouse on Vinga Island
When on Hönö, I highly recommend taking a boat trip out to Vinga Island. We booked a 3-hour boat trip to Vinga Island with Hönö Båtturer (with a seal safari but we didn’t see any seals because of poor weather the day prior). The trip was lovely!
The captain, a kind and warm pensioner in his 70s, runs this boat touring company as a passion project, and you can see how much he loves it as he tells stories of his life and the area.
Vinga Island is a sparse but important island, home to the Vinga Lighthouse, which was built in 1841 and has been guiding ships to Gothenburg through the rocky archipelago ever since.
The island is home to about 6 homes in total that the lighthouse keepers and their families lived in, along with a few homes that the boat pilots and their families lived in.
The boat pilots who lived on the island boarded inbound ships passing Vinga Island to help guide them through the archipelago.
There was even a small school on the island that you can see photos and antiques from in the small museum located on the island, along with other historical photos of the island (it’s small, but I recommend a stop there).
You can also climb the tower to the top of Vinga lighthouse for sweeping views of Vinga and neighboring islands. It’s beautiful!
Plus, from up there, you can see a beautiful turquoise cove on the island that’s perfect for swimming in the summer months.
Another claim to fame for Vinga Island is that the famous Swedish musician and poet, Evert Taube (who is on the 50-kroner banknote) grew up on this island as a lighthouse keeper’s son.
We booked our tour through Hönö Båtturer, but you can also book a Vinga Island/ Seal Safari tour with Kastor Boat Trips.
With Kastor, you get to ride in a beautiful, traditional wooden boat that I’d love to experience but one nice thing about Hönö Båtturer (that we chose) is that there’s a small indoor area that our kids liked to sit in to get out of the wind.
5. Picnic With Lovely Views in Fotö Hamn (Harbor)
You’ll find perfectly situated picnic tables all over Hönö and Fotö, but one that we really loved was on the hill just above Fotö Hamn with rocky sea views on one side and picturesque harbor views on the other 😍.
There are wooden stairs leading up the rocks to a platform with a nice picnic table just waiting for you.
It was the perfect lunch outing to picnic with beautiful views on each side, followed by scrambling on the rocks by the sea- our kids loved it, and so did we.
You can find the picnic table on Google Maps here but you’ll need to park in the parking lot here.
6. Have a Dinner of Traditional Swedish Meatballs, Potatoes and Lingonberries
If you’re a fan of IKEA’s Swedish meatballs, it doesn’t get much better than having Swedish meatballs and potatoes IN SWEDEN.
You can find meatballs and potatoes on Hönö’s local grill’s menu, Malmgrens Kiosk och Grill, (which has great reviews btw), but we opted to pick them up at the local ICA Supermarket’s deli and eat at our Airbnb with a view… best decision ever.
They were so good and lived up to all of our Swedish meatball dreams (with a side of Hönökakor of course).
7. Take a Dip at Bådevi
Another beautiful swimming spot on Hönö with a pier and picturesque boat houses is Bådevi. It’s a gorgeous area to explore the rocks and walking trails, and right nearby is where kite surfers take off.
There is limited parking nearby, but if needed, you can park at this parking lot and walk in.
8. Taste A Traditional Cinnamon Roll at Cederleüfs & Svenheimers
We always stop by local bakeries in our travels, with Sweden as no exception. Hönö has a lovely, large bakery/cafe located in Hönö Klåva Hamn called Cederleüffs & Svenheimers.
Be sure to try a Swedish cinnamon roll (kanelbulle) or any of their other tasty goodies!
If you like cardamom, you’re in luck because Swedish baked goodies tend to have multiple options that include cardamom.
We got multiple goodies and warm drinks to enjoy after our boat tour out to Vinga Island.
If you’re traveling with kids, this bakery even had a basket of wooden train tracks and trains that our kids loved playing with while waiting.
9. Take a Crabbing or Lobstering Boat Trip in A Traditional Wooden Boat
Along with the boat trip to Vinga Island that we took, you can also book crabbing, lobstering and mackerel fishing trips!
I would have loved to go out on a crab or lobster trip, but unfortunately, we just didn’t have time.
Kastor Boat Trips offer 2-hour boat trips in a gorgeous, traditional wooden boat where you get to throw out crab/lobster pots (depending on the season) and reel them back in to see your catch.
Plus, you can even book extra ‘eat your catch’ experiences like a seafood picnic with swimming on a secluded rock (it looks so dreamy😍) or a fancier dinner in a local restaurant with your catch- how cool of an idea is that?!
10. Watch The Sunset From Håsten (Or Anywhere On The West Coast)
When visiting Hönö and the weather is clear, be sure to find somewhere on the west coast to watch the sunset.
The whole coast turns a glorious shade of orange and yellow, and it’s simply stunning.
We took in our sunsets from Håsten swimming spot since it’s perfect for crabbing, has lots of walking paths, and fun rocks to climb on (plus our Airbnb is the white house on the right in the photo below… like come on, could it be any more perfect?).
11. Visit The Fiskemuseet And Learn The History of Fishing in Hönö
Hönö is home to a small fishing museum featuring the history of fishing on Hönö with antiques and photos throughout.
Unfortunately, the opening time for the Fiskemuseet didn’t work with our schedule, but we would have loved to make a short visit!
The museum is usually open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and costs 45 SEK per adult (about $5) and10 SEK (about $1) for children. Check opening hours and prices here.
12. Step Back in Time at Hönö Hembygdsgård (local history museum)
We found Hönö Hembygdsgård (local history museum) just by driving on the island, and it looks amazing. It’s basically a living history museum in an old farmhouse filled with artifacts from the area, staffed by volunteers.
Unfortunately, it has very limited hours, which, when we were there, I think were posted as Wednesday from 10:00-12:00, but I’m sure that changes.
If you’re interested in visiting, messaging them for information through their website is probably your best bet!
13. Shop Local at Hönö Klåva Hamn
Hönö Klåva Hamn is the most ‘bustling’ area of Hönö with restaurants and shops while still being an active fishing port.
There are multiple local shops selling boutique clothes and goods along with seafood restaurants, pizza, and more.
Plus, it’s still an active fishing port, so you may luck out and see fishers coming in with their catch of the day!
Click here to see what shops are in Hönö Klåva.
14. Pick Up Fresh Baked Goods From Lilla Bageriet Gårda Hönö
If you’re lucky enough to be on Hönö Island on a Friday, be sure to swing by Lilla Bageriet Gårda Hönö for some delicious, warm baked goodies and breads.
Unfortunately, we missed their opening hours, but this little bakery located in the downstairs of a Hönö home looks like a picture-perfect local experience.
They have no website or socials, just the Google Maps pin with stellar reviews and photos. I’ve heard great things and would love to visit.
And those are our top favorite things about our trip to Hönö, Sweden! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions; I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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