What to see and do in Kungshamn? This cosy west coast gem may not be as well known as its neighbour Smögen, but we thought it was a great starting point for some nice days on the west coast. Here you will find tips on sights, experiences and activities.
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Kungshamn in Bohuslän
Kungshamn arose from the merger of the fishing villages Gravarne, Bäckevik and Fisketången. Today, the town offers west coast charm, bathing places and boat trips.
Kungshamn is located just southwest of Smögen, on the west coast of Bohuslän, on the so-called Sotenäset. The town is the centre of Sotenäs municipality, which also includes Smögen, Malmön, Hovenäset, Hunnebostrand, Bovallstrand and Väjern.
What to see and do in Kungshamn?
What can you see and do in Kungshamn? In addition to being able to relax and enjoy the wonderful environment, there is a lot to do. We have collected our best tips here in a list.
1. Walk along the seafront promenade
One thing you won't want to miss doing in King's Harbour is walking along the promenade. The promenade runs along a nice pier, all the way from Abba's factory to the city centre, past restaurants, boats and bathing places.
2. See the view from the Smögen Bridge
As you walk along the promenade, you pass under the 25-metre-high Smögen Bridge, and there is a staircase up to see the view. Note that you can also take your car or motorhome to this viewpoint if you wish. Parking spaces are available.
3. Eat ice cream at Glassboden Kungshamn.
On one wall it says that they have 70 types of marble ice cream and on the other wall it says 60. When we google it, it says anything from 27 to "over 50". Never mind! Glassboden Kungshamn is located in the harbour and there are many kinds of ice cream. It is also delicious!
4. Jump from the Jump Tower at Kungshamn
No, we didn't jump ... But the environment around Hopptornet at Kungshamn is really nice. Here you can swim from the rocks, and anyone who wants to can jump from the tower. From the rocks you also have a fantastic view of the sea.
5. Swimming at Tangen's bathing area
Tangen's bathing area is Kungshamn's largest, with both rocky and sandy beaches. There is also a kiosk, and here we hear a wonderful conversation between a mother and her two children, while grandfather walks alongside.
"Have you thanked Grandpa for the ice cream?" asks the mother.
"Thank you Grandpa", both children say obediently.
"But," says the youngest, a little worried. "Why should I thank grandpa? He didn't make the ice cream, did he?"
From Tangen's bathing area you can also walk, via a small footbridge, to the nearest island. Idyllic is just the first name!
6. See the charming boathouses at Fisketången.
Not far from Tangen's bathing area, near the car park in Kungshamn, there is a long line of charming boathouses. These belong to Fisketången, which is one of the most genuine and idyllic places in Kungshamn. It's really cosy to walk around here! We also found a boat with the name "Helena", like one of us. We had to immortalise it!
7. Experience art at Mollbrinks
Do you like art? Then you should definitely check out 'Mollbrink Art'. During the summer, various exhibitions are held here, and we liked the mix and the exciting selection of paintings and sculptures. We also had a nice chat with the owner, who also runs a gallery in Uppsala.
8. Take a trip with the Zita boats to Smögen.
One of the most popular things to do in Kungshamn is to take a trip on the Zita boats - to Smögen. The even more popular tourist destination of Smögen is only 15 minutes away by boat, and during the summer the cute wooden boats regularly chug back and forth. As well as enjoying a pleasant boat ride, you can take the opportunity to experience Smögen during the day.
On Smögen you can stroll along the charming Smögenbryggan, and you'll find plenty of restaurants and clothes shops. There are also plenty of shops selling fish and seafood.
9. Savouring fish and seafood
When you're on the west coast, you naturally want to enjoy seafood. In Kungshamn, shrimp is sold at the Zita boats, but the best selection is undoubtedly if you take the boat over to Smögen and shop. We then enjoyed our seafood at the campsite in Kungshamn. Not wrong!
Would you rather eat seafood in a restaurant? Even then it's a good idea to take the boat over to Smögen. Restaurants that sound interesting in Kungshamn - but may not specifically focus on seafood - are Hamnplats 6 and Tant Anton.
10. Take an excursion to Hollö
If you want to make an excursion from Kungshamn, you can travel with the HållöExpressen to the island of Hållö, located far out in the coastal belt. Here you will find the Hållö lighthouse and the lighthouse house, where exhibitions about the island's geology, nature and history are shown in the summer.
Above all, people travel to Hållö for a wonderful nature experience, perhaps also for sun and swimming, for example at the famous "Marble Pool". In the summer, the "Utpost Hållö" hostel also runs a café with prawn sandwiches, waffles and ice cream.
11. Visit the Nordic Ark
Another excursion you can make is a visit to the Nordens Ark zoo, which is about 16 kilometres northwest of Kungshamn. Around 60 species from all over the world are kept here, and the park works to help preserve endangered species. The zoo is open all year round, and there is also a hotel and restaurant.
More to do in Kungshamn
There is of course more to see and do in Kungshamn, in addition to what we have described above. Here are a few more tips:
- Bathing places there are more, including Ramnerer, Stenbogen and Sandbogen.
- Boat trips, in the form of archipelago tours, fishing trips or lobster safaris, are organised from Smögen.
- First Camp Solvik - Kungshamn is for those who want to go on a camping holiday.
- Fishing for crabs is every child's favourite along the west coast.
- Hampholmen Magazine on the island of Hampholmen offers the opportunity to book your own island, or party on your own island.
- Island of Light is a light festival organised annually in Smögen.
Where can you stay in Kungshamn, or park your campervan?
In Kungshamn there are various accommodations to choose from. We are travelling with a motorhome and we stayed at RV park at Fisketångens yard. We liked this place very! The guy who runs the place is very service-minded and greeted us immediately when we arrived. He also showed us to a super nice place directly on the water, with fantastic outlook.
We really enjoyed the view and our beautiful location.
The site has all the services you need and is within walking distance of the centre of King's Harbour.
Things to do in Kungshamn - on film
Here you will also find a film from Kungshamn that Peter has put together.
More things to see and do in Kungshamn - nearby
When you visit Kungshamn, you probably also want to experience the popular Smögen. In addition, we can recommend nice Ramsvik country and cosy Hunnebostrand. If you head south instead, you can visit the island of Malmön with the beach Pärlane, lovely Lysekil or fine Skaftö.
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More suggestions for things to do in Kungshamn?
Have you been to King's Harbour? How was your experience? Do you have any other good tips on what to see and do in Kungshamn?
Facts about Kungshamn
- Landscape: Bohuslän
- County: Västra Götaland County
- Municipality: Sotenäs municipality
- District: Kungshamn district and Askum district
- Population: Just over 9000 (2022)
- Read more: You can find more information at the town's website.
History of Kungshamn
- 16th century: During the first herring period, fishermen settled in the Danish-Norwegian areas of Gravarne, Bekkevik and Fisketången.
- 17th century: The name Kungshamn is mentioned for the first time on a chart.
- 18th century: Fishing villages with more permanent settlements grew up during the great herring season.
- 20th century: Fishing continued to be an important source of income, but since the second half of the century, fishing declined.
- 1933: The monk's canning factory on Rösholmen sold its production to 'Aktiebolaget Bröderne Ameln' (Abba), but ten years later Abba moved its production to the island.
- 1970s: A major redevelopment of the centre of Kugnshamn took place.
- 2005: Abba bought the company AB Hållöfisk. Another company in the fishing industry, Domstein Enghav, has bought the local companies Festab and Bröderna Samuelsson.
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Then you have been in our summer paradise! 1994-2011 I spent many weeks every summer in a caravan and then a villa caravan at Johannesviks Camping. Nowadays we also end up at the caravan site at Tången if we have the motorhome with us as our friends have houses almost right next to Tången's bathing area. Many times we have taken prawns and bubbles out over the small bridge to Klåvholmen and enjoyed the sun-warmed rocks... Wow, how hungry we were for the west coast but now we are packing the motorhome for a trip north!
17 August 2022 - 10:03
Helena says:
Oh, summer paradise sounds wonderful! But agree, we enjoyed Kungshamn very much! 🙂 Hope you have a nice trip north!!!
17 August 2022 - 19:08
BP says:
Kungshamn is also a gem. Wonderful pictures! Oh all these seafood - MUMS:-)
Then Peter follows the trend - adding a beard, that is;-)
17 August 2022 - 19:54
Lena - good for the soul says:
So many cosy and nice things to experience on the west coast!
I jumped when I saw Mollbrink's art, then I saw that you mentioned Uppsala. They have been in Uppsala for as long as I can remember. I didn't realise they were in other places.
Hug Lena
31 October 2022 - 20:26