West Sweden is an exciting mix of lakes, forests, islands and pretty coastal villages. The coastal city of Gothenburg is the second biggest in Sweden.
Luxury Holidays in West Sweden
© Alex Vizeo Loris Monteux
West Sweden, Designed Around You
West Sweden is characterised by wild and dense forests, glittering lakes, and rivers. A perfect base for a Sweden luxury adventure holiday.
With 450 square km of open water, the region is recognised as a world-class destination for kayaking and a perfect getaway for those who enjoy freshwater swimming.
With an abundance of wildlife and stunning scenery, it is definitely not one to miss.
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Discover handpicked retreats along the Bohuslän coast and beyond, where sustainability, design, and warm hospitality meet sea breeze and scenic calm.
The Guidebook
Explore West Sweden
West Sweden is a real hidden gem that needs to be discovered – the fact that most Scandinavians head here for their holidays speaks volumes on why it is so popular and the ‘go to’ place in Sweden during the Summer and Autumn months.
Starting in the city of Gothenburg which is known as the ‘culinary and festival capital of Sweden’ you have a host of great hotels to choose from here and when it comes to places to eat; if you are meat eater, shellfish lover, or vegan you will be truly spoilt for choice!
From Gothenburg, you can then head out by either car or by train to explore the lakes, forest, islands, and pretty coastal villages of the three provinces of Bohuslän, Dalsland and Västergötland! These three main provinces offer contrasting landscapes and activities that include sea kayaking, cycling, and hiking.
There is so much nature to discover too from seals, dancing cranes (in the March/April months), to learning about endangered species at Nordens Ark.
Getting There
Gothenburg has many ways of accessing it. To start with you have Gothenburg Ladnvetter Airport where international flights fly – other options include flying into either Oslo (4hrs), Stockholm (3.5 hrs), or even Copenhagen (4hrs) and getting the train from those cities there. That way you can do a twin centre and, at the right time of year, get to see all the parts of the country on a scenic train ride.
Climate
Due to its latitude, West Sweden has a relatively mild climate. The winters are short and can be quite cold with an average temperature of around 0 but the summer offers long daylight hours and warm temperatures sometimes reaching the late twenties or above. In general, the climate is similar to that of Southern England.
My family and I traveled to Sweden to see The Northern Lights in March of 2023. From the planning process to every detail of the trip, I could not have been more pleased with our experience. Alex was exceptional to work with. His guidance on the time of year, where to stay, activities to do and how to get to and from everything was spot on. I have never used a tour company before but thought a trip of this kind would be easier with some help. I am so glad that I did. The entire week was seamless and completely stress-free, allowing us to truly enjoy Sweden and our time together as a family. I will be recommending Off The Map travel to friends and family and will certainly be using them myself again in the future.
Emily
We really enjoyed our Norwegian adventure despite the -22 days! Unfortunately no real experience of viewing the Lights but we did capture a couple of images on our last night – too much cloud otherwise so lots of snow. We really enjoyed the husky lodge – not at all what we had tentatively imagined. Thanks for your assistance, maybe next time we will see the Lights in all their glory.
Andrew
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
The ease of everything stood out to me. All we had to do was be there at the right time. The dog sledding was the highlight for my daughter and sister. We had the best time! For me, Manshausen was the highlight. We were very lucky and the only guests there for the majority of our stay. The staff was amazing and the food was so delicious. We had moose steak and it was the best meal I’ve ever had.
The cabins were comfortable and we were so lucky to have 2 clear nights where we just sat and watched the northern lights. We were able to get some awesome pictures too.
I appreciate all your time and care with planning our trip! I won’t hesitate to use Off the Map travel for our next adventure.
Kelly
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
What an amazing trip we are having. It is incredible. Many many thanks for arranging such an incredible trip.
Giles
We – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara
Well-organized trip to Norway and Svalbard with great accommodations and activities. Gwen was communicative and responsive to requests. Highly recommend!
Russell Snook
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen
Amy planned a fantastic trip! Everything was very well-thought out. All transfers went smoothly, accommodations were amazing, great restaurant recommendations and the tours were once-in-a-lifetime, can’t book it yourself off the internet experiences. The guides were all fantastic. Communications were prompt and everything worked exactly the way it was supposed to. What a pleasure! Already working on our next trip.
Anonymous
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
I would thoroughly recommend this company. Their planning and advice was spot on. Alex responded to my calls and emails very promptly. I will definitely use them again for future trips.
Rosie