Things to do in Kungshamn - 11 tips for the resort town of Smögen

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Looking for things to do in Kungshamn? This cozy west coast gem may not be as well-known as its neighbor Smögen, but we found it to be an excellent starting point for a few nice days on the west coast. Here are the best sights, tips and a complete itinerary for 2 days.

Kungshamn in Bohuslän

A quiet, fantastic and idyllic place where there is 100% peace and quiet without having to go to Smögen.

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.

READ MORE: Things to do in Smögen - 17 tips for the seafood mecca

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.

Planning more trips? Don't miss our guides to Lysekil and Tjörn

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.

Want to extend your trip? Combine with a weekend in Smögen or Hunnebostrand

Best places to stay and explore

• Kungshamn city centre - Ideal if you want to be close to restaurants and harbour life.
• Smögen - Lively area with lots of summer vibrancy.
• West Sotenäs - Perfect for nature and quieter environments.

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 city guides nearby

Planning to travel around the West Coast? Here you will find several guides.

• Things to do in Tjörn
• Things to do in Smögen
• Things to do in Grebbestad
• Things to do in Hunnebostrand
• Things to do in Lysekil
• Things to do on Orust

FaQ - frequently asked questions about Kungshamn

What is the difference between Kungshamn and Smögen?

Kungshamn is considerably quieter than Smögen and works well as a base for discovering the whole area. Here you can find harbour life, swimming areas, cliffs and Fisketången's nice boathouses, while you can easily get over to Smögen. We really enjoyed the combination – living more quietly in Kungshamn and visiting Smögen when we wanted more people.

How to get from Kungshamn to Smögen?

In the summer you can take the Zita boats between Kungshamn and Smögen, a boat trip that takes about 15 minutes. It is both a nice way to get out on the water and a convenient alternative to the car. We took the boat over to Smögen ourselves when we were staying with the camper in Kungshamn. 

Can you walk from Kungshamn to Smögen?

Yes, it is possible to get between Kungshamn and Smögen on foot via the Smögen Bridge, but expect a fair amount of walking depending on where you start and where on Smögen you are going. We think a nicer alternative during the summer is the Zita boats – then the transport itself also becomes part of the experience.

Where can you swim in Kungshamn?

Tångens badplats is Kungshamn's largest bathing area and has both sandy beach and cliffs. There are also jetties here and the possibility of walking across a small footbridge to the island outside. Another alternative is the area at Hopptornet, where you can swim from the cliffs and at the same time get a nice view of the sea. 

Where can you park your campervan in Kungshamn?

We have stayed at the campsite at Fisketången shipyard and really liked it. We got a spot right on the water with a fantastic view and were within walking distance of Kungshamn. From there we could also take the Zita boat over to Smögen and didn't have to move the camper.

READ MORE: Things to do in Bohuslän - sights and experiences