As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to West Sweden we've picked out a selection of places to stay.
On top of a rich and varied natural landscape, West Sweden has a great number of eco-friendly accommodations to choose from, suiting all tastes and budgets.
With dense woodland, rugged coastline and deserted islands in equal measure, it is no wonder West Sweden is home to such a wide variety of eco-accommodations. At one end you'll find the most luxurious of hotels, one of which even offers its own floating sauna. At the other, a collection of homely B&Bs rustle up organic breakfasts to enjoy while looking out over lakes and archipelagos.
Finally, our selection of fantastic treehouses offer all the luxuries of a hotel combined with lots of natural light and a bird’s-eye-view of the world. Read on to find out which of our accommodations best suits you.
Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to West Sweden:
Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities
Places to stay in West Sweden
Slussens Pensionat
Music venue, charming hotel, award-winning organic restaurant. Slussens Pensionat wears many hats. Between the months of May and August, performers big and small descend upon the venue, creating a, vibrant midsummer festival feel to this lively place. There are various packages to chose from, ranging from spa weekends to ‘slow stay’ weekends which includes kayaking and cycling, to coast to coast cycling holidays. Whichever package you opt for you’ll be treated to wonderful overnight accommodation and fabulous organic food throughout your stay. An exciting, alternative venue to soak up the magic of some of Sweden's best musicians. slussenspensionat.se
Salt and Sill Hotel
Sweden's first floating hotel. That's right - bobbing gently beside the harbour of a small fishing community on the herring island of Klädesholmen, this ingenious hotel offers 22 and one suite (complete with private roof-top jacuzzi), all of which boast their own outdoor seating areas that offer fantastic views out over the archipelago. Each room has been given a simple, stylish interior using locally sourced materials, while the award-winning restaurant is renowned for serving some of the freshest fish dishes around. The hotel also offers complementary bikes for guests looking to explore the surrounding area, but you must also make sure to take a trip on the hotel's floating sauna and spend the day alternating between the sauna itself and swimming in the cool sea water. saltosill.se
Storåns Pensionat
Schoolhouse, orphanage, home to the famous English Composer Howard Blake, this building has certainly had a colourful past. These days, the pretty cream-painted house offers delicious seasonal food in its restaurant and café and six homely B&B rooms upstairs. The house is surrounded by an old-fashioned garden dotted with tables and chairs and, beyond, open fields and forests which beg exploration by foot, bike or horse. While away an afternoon with a rod down by the lake, hunt for mushrooms or berries in the woods in season, go canoeing or hiking: you’re spoilt for choice for things to do and the friendly owners will point you in the right direction if you’re stuck for ideas. storanspensionat.se
Lekanders Bär och Boende
On a rocky outcrop and surrounded by strawberry fields, this farm has been in Mats’ family since the 17th century. The old stables now house seven double rooms (two with bunks for families), each leading onto a patio with views over the fields and out towards the wooded hills; there are also two 2-bed flats if you prefer to self-cater. Come here to get involved in the intriguing range of activities: set off at first light on a nature safari, where you’ll eat breakfast in a hut in the woods! Or give willow plaiting or candle making a go. The sea’s only 3km away, too. lekander.nu
Resö Gamla Skola
The little rocky outcrop of Resö, which is just 61 hectares in size, is a thriving fishing community and is part of Sweden’s only marine national park, Kosterhavet. Built in the 1920’s, the pale yellow schoolhouse has been recently refurbished and offers charming accommodation, either as B&B, self-catering or for hire for corporate events. Alternatively, you can hire the whole house for your own family gathering or event. Breakfast is a feast of local goodies, and there’s a lovely restaurant at the other end of the harbour for evenings out. Come here to do as much or as little as you like: swim, cycle (there are bikes to borrow), take the small boat out on the water. Or kick back with a book in the beautiful gardens. resogamlaskola.se
Hajstorp Slusscafé & Vandrarhem
Passionate potter Marianna has transformed this old smithy on the Gota Canal into a charming little B&B. The low slung building comprises four surprisingly light and airy double rooms, each with pretty floral wallpaper and good beds; alternatively you can opt for bunk accommodation in the cottages. Breakfast is enjoyed in the lock keeper’s cottage, where freshly-baked pastries arrive each morning from the bakery down the road. There’s plenty to do in the area: take a dip in the canal (it’s clean!), try your hand at throwing a pot at Marianne’s workshop, ply the canal in a boat or explore the towpaths on foot or by bike. hajstorp.com
Pensionat Prästgården Töreboda
Brother and sister team Urban and Yvonne have breathed new life into the old vicarage, built in 1910, in the heart of Töreboda. Ten beautifully furnished bedrooms are serene and calm: white-painted bedsteads, original polished floorboards, floaty floor to ceiling curtains frame large windows where views roll down over the lovely gardens; bathrooms sparkle. You’ll eat well in the cosy restaurant – the owners have extensive catering experience between them – and you’re spoilt for choice for things to do: hire bikes and potter along the canal, pootle up the canal in a boat, trek into the Tiveden Forests. Time your visit with the town’s lively festival in July for midsummer music and entertainment. prastgarden.nu
Herrtorps Qvarn
There’s little here to disturb the peace except the rhythmic trickle of running water and the gentle hum of wildlife. The neat rooms, each with a well-equipped kitchen, have views over the stream. You’ll be treated to fabulous regional seasonal food, and the gardens are a joy to explore, with little bridges crisscrossing the water, wooded areas, herb gardens and colourful floral displays at every turn. Make the most of the location and take out a canoe for the day; Lake Hornborgo is 6km upstream. Or take a rod to the water and fish for trout. A captivating oasis in one of West Sweden’s oldest cultural spots. herrtorpsqvarn.se
Nästegårdens B&B
This cosy little B&B has only recently been renovated using traditional craftsmanship and materials. The owners have created an 18th Century aesthetic complete with handmade wallpapers, antique linen, natural paints and hand-blown window panes. The two guest bedrooms are comfortable and airy, while the kitchen boasts an old Husqvarna wood burning stove. The surrounding area is particularly stunning, and has been described as one of the most beautiful and well-preserved cultural landscapes in Sweden. Just north of the house is Hornborga lake, where, each year, thousands of 'dancing' cranes come to perform a courtship dance. nastegarden.se
Pensionat Styrsö Skäret
You'll find Styrsö Skäret Guest House on the beautiful Styrsö Island, only half an hour's boat ride from Salthomen in Gothenburg. Each of the thirteen guestrooms is individually decorated, while guests can choose to have either a sea view or a room that overlooks the garden.The guesthouse offers a sumptuous buffet breakfast, as well as a number of dishes prepared using veg from their garden and a whole variety of local, organic produce. As you might expect from an accommodation with such a fantastic location, there's a whole range of walking routes right on your doorstep. There's also the chance to fish, sail and kayak nearby. pensionatskaret.se
Tingvall B&B
Tingvall's simple Scandinavian design acts to complement the hotel's natural environment, and the building itself is impressively eco-minded - they source most of their electricity from solar panels and wood turbines, while water is treated using a greywater purification system. Breakfast is prepared using local ingredients and fresh produce from the garden and greenhouse, and there's also a cafe that serves up delicious homemade cakes. Three circular walking routes start right outside the house, plus you can canoe, hike, bike, fish and swim nearby. There's also the opportunity to visit the beautiful coastal fishing villages of Grebbestad and Fjällbacka. minto-tingvall.com
Läckö Strand B&B
With the beauty of Lake Vänern in front, and the dense forest behind, Läckö Strand B&B offers both B&B and hostel rooms within the ultimate natural setting. The B&B sections has double, single and twin rooms, all of which are comfortable and modern. The price of the B&B room includes a delicious organic buffet breakfast that includes homemade bread, local eggs and organic coffee. In high season, the breakfast is set up in the main building, in low season the owners will pop your breakfast into your fridge. Hostel rooms are either two-bed or four-bed and are found in separate houses, as well as a communal living room and terrace boasting fantastic views over Lake Vänern. There's a wealth of activities in the area, and guests can rent bikes, kayaks and canoes from the owners. lackostrand.se
STF Lugnåsbergets Vandrarhem
This hostel makes a great base for exploring the lakes, quarries and mills of the region. But if you’d rather stay put, the large garden and onsite activities will be enough to keep you happy for days. The 6-room hostel is run as sustainably as possible, particularly when it comes to food: their dinner baskets are packed with local, seasonal produce, such as traditional sausage, local honey and locally-smoked salmon. The large wooden veranda has views over the grazing cows in the nearby fields – a lovely spot to soak up the morning sun with a cup of coffee. If you’re looking for wildlife-watching, wander down to the lake to spot beavers. lugnasberget.se
Utpost Hållö
Just off Smögen on Sweden’s west coast lies the rocky little island (and nature reserve) of Hållö, with its pink granite rocks and crystal clear waters – perfect for swimming and watersports. Within touching distance of the water’s edge, this small but lively hostel, formed of a cluster of red wooden buildings, houses ten chalet-style rooms for two and four people; the café serves up plenty of homemade treats. Arrive in winter for deep snow, or watch the waves break on the shore in stormy weather. The reserve is teeming with wildlife throughout the year making this spot a nature lovers’ paradise. utposthallo.se
Hafsten Swecamp Resort
Once the holiday spot of Swedish kings, the area of Uddevalla, on Sweden’s west coast, is a beautiful place to wind up. If you’re looking for a family-friendly place where the kids can safely roam free and you can catch up on some much needed R&R, then the Hafsten Swecamp Resort, a stone’s throw from the beach, is hard to beat. The vast resort is packed with family-friendly accommodation, from tents and campers to caravans and cabins, and bursting with activities to keep the whole family entertained, from canoeing and horse riding to fishing and hiking. There’s also a wellness centre with spa and hot tubs. hafsten.se
Backa Loge
Those looking to escape modern day life on holiday will find comfort at this no-frills hostel on the banks of Lake Fegen. The old 17th-century house has recently been renovated but the creaking floorboards and old fireplaces are reminders of its heritage. The rooms (6 doubles, 1 single) are simple yet charming, and the kitchens look out over the lake which is brimming with wildlife year-round; sit back and watch the ospreys play over the water. At breakfast you’ll be treated to homemade bread, cakes and waffles served in the cosy café onsite. The hostel hosts events throughout the year. backaloge.se
Stora Hotellet Bryggan, Fjällbacka, Sweden
A fabulous collection of places to stay and places to eat on the picturesque jetty at Fjällbacka. A lovely hotel or self-catering apartment, plus café-bar, restaurant and bistros. Lots to do in the area, from boat trips to hiking and fishing. brygganfjallbacka.se
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