Things to do in Varberg – 10 attractions and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | What is there to see and do in Varberg? This charming coastal town in Halland offers everything from a mighty medieval fortress and a beautiful cold bathhouse to long beaches, strange rocks and a World Heritage Site. We have visited Varberg several times and share here our best sights, experiences and personal tips.

Attractions in Varberg - our best tips

I spent a lot of time in Halland growing up, and in recent years we have returned to Varberg by camper. Here we have walked along the sea, discovered the city's history, visited museums and made excursions in the surrounding area. Here are our favorites among Varberg's historical sights, beautiful coastal environments and exciting excursion destinations.

1. Visit Varberg Fortress – 800 years of dramatic history

Varberg Fortress rises majestically above the sea and is one of the city's most impressive sights. Here, Danes and Swedes have fought for power, royalty have resided behind the walls, and prisoners have later had to spend their days in considerably less pleasant conditions. We have visited the fortress several times, both to walk around the area and to join a guided tour.

The story begins at the end of the 13th century, after the murder of the Danish king Erik Klipping. Jacob Nielsen, who was accused of the murder, had a castle built on the cliff to defend himself. During the centuries that followed, power changed hands between different rulers, and during the Nordic Seven Years' War, the fortress became the scene of fierce battles between the Swedes and the Danes.

One of the most dramatic stories concerns the Danish general Daniel Rantzau, who was killed when the Danes shelled the fortress. The cliff where he was located is still called Rantzau Cliff. Under Christian IV, the complex was later rebuilt into one of Europe's most modern fortresses, with strong defensive walls and bastions.

In the 19th century, the fortress's function changed and it was used as a prison. The prisoners were forced to work in a nearby quarry, among other things. We went on a guided tour where we got to walk about 15 meters down through winding corridors and visit parts of the old prison premises. Imagining life as a prisoner down here was not very pleasant. Huh, let's just say!

Today you can walk around large parts of the fortress area without an entrance fee, enjoy the view and discover the old buildings. We have also strolled here together with our South African friends Henri and Michelle, after walking into the city from Apelviken.

Read more: Varberg Fortress - museum visit and guided tour

2. Discover the Bockstensmannen at Halland's Museum of Cultural History

Inside Varberg Fortress is Halland's Museum of Cultural History, where you can delve into the history of the region. The most fascinating exhibition is about the Bockstens Man, a medieval moss corpse that was found in the Bockstens bog in 1936. His clothes are unusually well preserved, and the find has given researchers valuable knowledge about how people might have dressed during the Middle Ages.

But it is above all the circumstances surrounding his death that make the story so strange. The man had been subjected to violence and his body had been piled up in the bog. Who was he really? Why was he killed, and why did someone want to prevent him from leaving his grave? There are different theories, but no one knows for sure what happened.

We thought the exhibition was both beautiful and exciting. Here we got to see the skeleton, the stake and the well-preserved costume, while we could listen to the researchers' reasoning. The museum also has other exhibitions about the history of Halland, as well as temporary exhibitions with varying themes.

After all this dramatic history, it might be a good idea to try something much more pleasant. During our visit, we tried an apple cake baked according to a recipe from 1597. And we can reveal that apple cakes were very good already in the 16th century. Yum!

3. Admire Varberg's cold bathhouse – the city's beautiful landmark

Varberg's cold bathhouse is one of the buildings that really gives the city its character. With its towers, oriental-inspired architecture and location on stilts out in the sea, the building almost looks like a small fairy-tale palace. The current cold bathhouse was built in 1903 and is the third in the series on the site.

Varberg has a long tradition as a bathing and health resort, and the cold bathhouse is an important part of this history. Here, visitors can swim in the sea and warm up in the sauna with a view of the Kattegat. The bathing areas are separate for women and men, and traditionally, nude bathing is the norm.

We have mainly admired the building from the outside and photographed it from different angles. When we visited Varberg with Henri and Michelle, Michelle also took a nice drone photo that really shows how special the cold bathhouse is, with the sea all around.

Even if you don't plan on swimming, we think the cold bathhouse is worth a visit. It's one of Varberg's most photographed buildings and a natural part of a walk through the city.

4. Enjoy swimming and surfing in Apelviken

Apelviken is one of Varberg's most popular beaches and attracts both swimmers and surfers. The long sandy beach, the open sea and the relaxed holiday atmosphere make the area a great destination for excursions during the summer. There are also restaurants and other opportunities to sit down for a meal or a coffee.

The bay is particularly known for its good conditions for wind and wave sports. When the wind is up, you can see surfers out on the water, while calmer days are better suited for swimming and beach life. It is a place where there is a lot going on, but where you can also be content to sit and look out over the sea.

We have stayed with our camper at Destination Apelviken, a large five-star campsite near the beach. There is a pool and activities here, but for us who mainly use the campsite as a base for excursions, it was the location that attracted us.

On one of our visits, we were given a very windy campsite far from the water, so we didn't experience any particular luxury that time. However, it was practical to be able to walk all the way into Varberg's city center.

5. Stroll along the beach promenade in Varberg

One of the nicest things to do in Varberg is to walk along the sea. The promenade runs from the area by the fortress and the cold bathhouse south towards Apelviken, past cliffs, bathing areas and beautiful coastal environments. For much of the walk you have an unobstructed view of the Kattegat.

Along the way you pass Rantzauklippan, Varbergs kusthotell and Subbe lighthouse. There are also several places where you can stop for a swim or just sit down and enjoy the sea air. We think the walk is a great way to experience how close to the sea you are in Varberg.

Along the promenade is also the Love Park, and of course we couldn't help but stop here. We sat down on a bench under the trees and took the opportunity to kiss a little. Even though we offered a romantic performance in front of the entire Swedish press corps, the attention was strangely non-existent. Not a single photographer showed up! But at least we got a nice picture and a loving memory from Varberg.

A slightly different detail is the two old water towers Albert and Frida, which were built to supply the former coastal sanatorium with water. The towers were named after the chief physician couple Albert and Frida, and are a nice little feature for anyone curious about Varberg's history as a health resort.

When we visited the city with Henri and Michelle, we walked from the campsite in Apelviken into the city center. After looking at the fortress and the cold bathhouse, we took the little tourist train back. A nice way to end the trip, especially when our legs are already tired!

6. Explore Getterön with swimming coves and birdlife

Getterön is located just north of Varberg city center and offers both swimming, nature and bird watching. Here there are rocky coastal environments and several small bathing coves that are suitable for those who want to enjoy the sea. The different coves have a slightly different character, so it is possible to find both livelier bathing spots and quieter environments.

Getterön is also known for its rich birdlife. The nature reserve has wetlands where many different bird species rest or nest, and the area attracts birdwatchers for much of the year. Here is Naturum Getterön, where you can learn more about the birds and nature.

We think Getterön provides a nice contrast to Varberg's urban environment. One moment you can stroll among the shops and restaurants in the center, and a short while later you can be standing out on the coast watching for birds or looking for a nice place to swim.

7. Stroll around Varberg's square and the city center

Varbergs torg is one of Sweden's largest city squares and a natural focal point in the city centre. From here it is close to shops, restaurants, cafés and several of the city's older buildings. On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is usually market trading, and during the summer it can be really lively.

The square is home to Varberg Church and the stately Varbergs Stadshotell & Asia Spa. It's nice to just stroll around the neighborhood, look at the houses and sit down at a café. We think the city center has a pleasant atmosphere, especially when the holiday season is in full swing.

If you want to buy something good to eat, you can also head down towards the harbor area. We have previously recommended Kustbageriet on Skeppsgatan, where you can buy bread and pastries. A nice stop for those who want to take something with them for a coffee by the sea.

8. Experience Societetsparken and Varberg's old spa environment

During the 19th century, Varberg became a popular health resort, where people traveled to bathe, walk and improve their health. Several beautiful buildings and environments have been preserved from this time, and one of the most striking examples is the Society House at Society Park.

The stately house was built during the time when seaside life flourished, and summer guests of the time gathered here for socializing and entertainment. The Society Park is located right next door and still contributes to the special environment between the city center and the sea.

Today, the Society House is used for, among other things, restaurant operations and events. During the summer, there may also be music and other activities in the area. Together with the cold bathhouse and the promenade, the place gives a picture of the time when Varberg grew up as one of the west coast's classic seaside resorts.

We think it's the mix of history, sea and holiday life that makes Varberg so nice. Here you can experience the city's old spa environment without having to visit a museum.

9. Look for Bexell's talking stones in Åkulla beech forests

In the Åkulla beech forests, east of Varberg, one of the region's most unusual sights awaits. Here are Bexell's talking stones, large blocks of stone with names and thoughts carved into them in the late 19th century. The stones don't really talk, of course, but it's almost as if you start to wonder what they want to say.

The inscriptions were created by the landowner and member of parliament Alfred Bexell, who had stonemasons work on the stones in the forest surrounding his estate. Hundreds of inscriptions have been found, with everything from names to short life advice and thought-provoking phrases.

We have walked around among the stones ourselves and photographed several of the inscriptions. It is a special experience to walk through the beautiful beech forest and suddenly discover a message carved into a stone block. Who was the person whose name was immortalized here? And what was Bexell thinking when he chose these particular words?

Åkulla beech forests are also a nice natural area with hiking trails and beautiful forest. This makes the excursion a good option for those who want to combine nature with an attraction that is different from the usual.

10. Visit the World Heritage Site of Grimeton Radio Station

A little outside Varberg lies Grimeton radio station, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The facility was built in the 1920s to enable wireless communication across the Atlantic, and today is an unusually well-preserved example of the development of early radio technology.

The most striking feature is the six tall antenna towers that rise above the Halland landscape. Here, a special long-wave transmitter, developed by the Swedish-American inventor Ernst Alexanderson, was used to send messages over great distances.

Today, Grimeton is a destination where you can learn more about the history of technology through exhibitions and guided tours. There are also activities that make it easier to understand how people communicated before today's digital technology existed.

We think Grimeton is an exciting excursion destination because it is so different from Varberg's other attractions. After fortresses, beaches and spa environments, you suddenly discover a completely different part of history.

More excursions from Varberg

If you want to discover even more in the surrounding area, there are several other excursion destinations. At Gödestad, for example, you can see the remains of a medieval church, whose strong walls were partly left when the church was to be demolished at the end of the 19th century.

For a completely different experience, you can go to Gekås Ullared, about 33 kilometers from Varberg. We visited the huge discount department store with the camper and were almost more fascinated by the parking, the shopping carts and the size than by the shopping itself. After a rather exhausting round, we came out with some disposable items and finished with ice cream.

Read more: Gekås Ullared - Sweden's largest tourist destination

Where to stay in Varberg?

Central Varberg is best if you want to be close to restaurants, shopping, the fortress and the cold bathhouse. By the sea, you can find Varbergs kusthotell for those who want to combine their stay with a spa and walks along the coast. Apelviken is particularly good if you want to live close to the beach, surfing and summer holiday life.

Varberg with a campervan

We have visited Varberg with a camper van several times and have stayed at the campsite at the guest harbour and at Destination Apelviken. The guest harbour is in a very good location for those who want to walk into the centre, although we thought the price was high in relation to the service. Destination Apelviken offers a large campsite near the sea, but on our visit we were given a windy spot far from the water. There are also campsites and campsites in the area around Getterön.

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