Lysekil on the Bohuslän Coast

Lysekil is located on the coast of Bohuslän, where the Gullmarsfjord opens out to the sea. As additional local references, links lead to Grundsund, Brodalen, Fiskebäckskil, Lysekil, Skalhamn, Torpet and Brastad.

Nature

The Stångehuvud nature reserve is characterised by the meeting of the sea and granite cliffs. Several marked trails run through the area; in the northern part, an accessible trail leads from a car park to a viewpoint.

Havets Hus offers a maritime perspective with smaller and larger display and tunnel aquariums, as well as information about the animal species on display. The tour at the Havets Hus aquarium leads from the shoreline through various habitats of the West Sea to the deep seabed.

Activities

In summer, Havets Hus offers, among other things, seal safaris and night walks. Local providers in the Lysekil area offer seal safaris, fishing trips, kayaking, snorkelling and diving.

When travelling by kayak or canoe, you can paddle along the green coast of the Gullmarsfjord, past the granite cliffs at Islandsberg and Stångehuvud, and out towards the outer archipelago in the Väster Sea.

During shellfish experiences, visitors can fish for themselves, take crabs and lobster out of the pots, and harvest oysters and mussels.

Trails

Lysekil has four signposted town walks ranging from 2 to 5.5 kilometres in length. The red town walk leads from Rosvikstorg through the marina, past the Havets Hus aquarium, towards Vikarvets Museum.

The Västerhavspromenaden leads from Lysekil’s South and North Harbours via Ålevik, Lilla Långevik, Stora Långevik and Valbodalen back to the centre. The entire Västerhavspromenaden is accessible.

Anyone weighing up the different types of walks in Lysekil will find marked trails between the sea and granite cliffs in the nature reserve, four signposted routes in the town ranging from 2 to 5.5 kilometres, and a fully accessible route along the Västerhavspromenaden. These details make differences in landscape, route length, trail character and route layout visible for your own selection, without generalising the trails into a uniform offering.

History and Culture

Lysekil began to grow as early as the 16th century in the Gamlestan area. On a historical walk through Gamlestan, you can stroll along paved streets and narrow lanes.

Vikarvets Museum provides insights into earlier life on the Bohuslän coast. It presents the history of fishing and the canning industry and documents Lysekil’s heyday of stone masonry with tools, pictures and stories.

Gullmarsvallen is surrounded by a unique granite wall built by unemployed stonemasons in the 1930s. In 2003, Gullmarsvallen was classified by the Swedish Sports Confederation, Riksidrottsförbundet, as one of Sweden’s 100 most important sites of sporting history.

Connections

The Gullmarsleden ferry service is operated by Trafikverket; information about departures and possible traffic disruptions is available from Trafikverket. The year-round ferry line 847 connects Lysekil’s South Harbour with Fiskebäckskil’s brygga and Östersidan on Skaftö.

For the higher-level travel overview: Västra Götaland.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Lysekil.