Käringön in Bohuslän – attractions, swimming and our best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | What is there to do on Käringön in Bohuslän? We have visited the car-free archipelago island off Orust twice and have fallen for the narrow alleys, salty cliffs, swimming and lively harbour. Here are our best tips for Käringön – from the ferry in Tuvesvik to attractions, walks, restaurants and relaxing hours on the cliffs.

Things to do on Käringön – our best experiences

Käringön is located far out in the Bohuslän archipelago outside Orust. There are no cars, mopeds or bicycles to disturb the tranquility. Instead, you walk between closely spaced houses, over bare cliffs and along the sea, which almost always feels present.

We have been to Käringön twice. Once we did the trip ourselves and the second time we brought our friends Henri and Michelle from South Africa. They found the island incredibly charming and picturesque, although the Swedish way of dressing for a summer day by the sea raised some questions. For us, Käringön is above all a place to discover without rushing. Get off the ferry, start walking and see where the alleys and cliffs lead.

Take the ferry from Tuvesvik to Käringön

If you don't have your own boat, it's easy to take the ferry from Tuvesvik on Orust. Västtrafik's ferry goes via Gullholmen and on to Käringön, and the entire boat trip takes about 35–40 minutes.

We traveled here by camper and left FREEDOM in the parking lot in Tuvesvik before walking to the ferry terminal. Since Käringön is free of both cars and bicycles, all vehicles can stay on Orust.

Then all you have to do is get on board. And just like when we went to Dyrön, we think the boat trip is part of the excursion. The further out you go, the more the Bohuslän archipelago takes over.

Gullholmen – the first temptation on the way

Before the ferry reaches Käringön, it docks at Gullholmen, and even here it is easy to be tempted to jump off. The houses are close together on the small island and from the boat Gullholmen almost looks like a concentrate of Bohuslän. There are restaurants and cafes in the harbor, while the contiguous Härmanön offers nature reserves and hiking trails.

We considered getting off ourselves, but chose to continue towards Käringön. If you also want to hike and discover Härmanö, we think the area deserves its own excursion instead of trying to squeeze everything into the same day.

The harbor on Käringön – in the middle of archipelago life

When the ferry docks at Käringön, you end up right in the middle of a classic Bohuslän archipelago environment. Here, boats are moored at the piers, red boathouses line the water, and around the harbor are restaurants, cafés, and small shops.

This is also where you immediately notice that the pace is different. No cars are allowed and no traffic needs to pass. From the port you simply continue on foot. We did pretty much the same thing on both of our visits – started walking and let the island determine the direction.

Stroll through the narrow alleys of Käringön

There really is no need for any particular attraction to make Käringön worth the trip. A large part of the experience is the community itself. The red and white wooden houses are close together and small alleys wind between them. There are hollyhocks, boathouses and small passages where the sea suddenly appears between the houses.

On Käringön, distances are short and you can wander quite aimlessly between the harbor, the houses and the cliffs. That's exactly what we did. And perhaps it's the absence of cars and bicycles that makes the environment so special. Instead, you hear people, seagulls, boats and the sea.

Walk over the cliffs on Käringön

Once you leave the built-up area, the environment changes quickly. Houses and alleys are replaced by barren cliffs and open sea. We went on a spontaneous walk over the cliffs and continued around parts of the island. There are marked walking trails, but Käringön is so small that it is also fine to let curiosity take the lead.

This is one of our favorite parts of Käringön. The further out on the cliffs you get, the clearer it feels that the island really is far out in the ocean. You don't need to have a specific goal here either. Sometimes a cliff with a view of the sea is enough.

The little lighthouse

During our walk, we passed Käringön's small lighthouse, which is hardly a gigantic attraction in itself, but together with the cliffs and the sea, it becomes a nice part of the archipelago environment.

Then we continued back towards the settlement and the narrow alleys. The contrast between the windswept cliffs and the dense small community is a big part of the charm of Käringön.

Swim on Käringön – if you dare

With the sea all around the island, it is of course never far to go swimming. Near the harbor there is a swimming area with bathing ladders and floating jetties, and around Käringön there are also plenty of opportunities to swim from the rocks. Here you can find, among other things, the Trampoline Bath, the Open-Air Bath and the traditional cold bathhouses with separate nude baths for women and men. When we were here, the bathing area was full of summer life. Children were fishing for crabs from the jetties and people were sunbathing and swimming.

Our South African friends Henri and Michelle looked at it all with some wonder. They thought Käringön was incredibly beautiful, but had significantly more clothes on than many of the Scandinavians around them. Henri couldn't quite understand how the people in the background could walk around in bikinis when he himself thought Sweden was cold.

Bath boys – or bad boys?

Lie down on the rocks and do nothing.

This actually has to be a separate point because it was part of our day. After walking and lunch, we found a spot on the rocks, laid in the sun, and did absolutely nothing for about an hour.

It may sound banal, but on Käringön it is almost an attraction in itself. The sea is in front of you, boats pass by on the water and somewhere you can hear the seagulls. We often write that the journey is the destination. Here you hardly even need to travel further.

The old woman statue and the strange whale jaw

There are also some much stranger things to discover on Käringön. One of them is the Käring Statue, created by Franz Glatzl in 1996. The statue's skirt is shaped like a hake, a fixed sea mark. Another word used for hake is käring.

Nearby is also a huge whale jawbone that stands like a gate. It came to the island as a gift from a summer guest in 1990 and comes from a bowhead whale. Two rather odd landmarks on a very small island.

Why is it called Käringön?

There are different stories about the origin of the name. One explanation links the name to sea marks and the word "käring", while another theory has associated the name with the word "cairn". Exactly how the name came about is therefore not entirely obvious. And that almost makes the story more fun. In any case, the käring statue remains as a reminder of the connection between the name and seafaring.

Käringön church and the priest who decided most things

Käringön was first settled in the late 16th century when fishing families moved out to be closer to the fishing grounds. But it was not until 1796 that the island got its own church. Just over fifty years later, a man arrived who would leave an unusually strong mark on the community: the priest August Simson.

He was both a priest and a teacher – and had strong opinions about how the people on Käringön should live. Among other things, Simson introduced new holidays. His birthday, ordination and the day he landed on Käringön were to be commemorated with a church service and the ringing of bells.

He also put himself in the parishioners' names. People with common son names could be given new surnames depending on where they lived, and even when children were to be baptized, the priest was happy to have his say on the name.

But Samson didn't stop there. He also considered himself able to determine which people were compatible and could advise against marriages that he thought were unsuitable. It's safe to say that he must have been hard to avoid on such a small island.

Samson's rectory

Simson later had a new rectory built with his own money where he lived with his wife Fredrika. The rectory still stands and has much later been given a much more secular use through restaurant operations. That is one of the things we like about Käringön. History is not hidden far from today's society, but is found in the middle of the houses where people still move.

Pilot's Lookout – view at the far end of the island

We also walked to Lotsutkiken on the southwest part of the island. The small old pilot house is only about ten square meters in size, but the place is all the more of an experience. From here you have a view of the sea, the seals and the skerries off Käringön. It is another good destination for the walk, but the way there is at least as much a part of the experience. Out here, Käringön really feels like an island farthest out to sea.

Lunch at Peterson's Tavern

After all the walking we started to get hungry and headed back towards the harbor. We chose Peterson's Krog, where Helena ordered a sea Wallenbergare while Peter had fish soup. It tasted really good and the environment by the harbor of course did its part. Fish and shellfish somehow belong together with a day on an old Bohuslän fishing island. And when you have also walked around the rocks for a few hours, lunch tastes even better.

Karingo – oysters and champagne in a fish stall

There is a restaurant on Käringön that we haven't tried ourselves but is so special that it still deserves to be mentioned. Karingo is located in a small red fish stall and is famous for its oysters. Here you can book experiences with oysters, champagne and spa.

It's quite a lovely contrast: a simple old fishing hut on the outside and a much more luxurious experience inside the doors. It will simply remain on our own list for our next visit.

Restaurants and cafes on Käringön

Despite its small size, Käringön has a surprisingly good selection of food and drink, especially during the summer. Around the harbor and in other parts of the island there are restaurants and cafés with everything from simple coffee and pizza to fish, seafood and longer dinners. Peterson's Krog is the restaurant we have tried ourselves, while Simsons and Karingo, among others, offer completely different dining experiences.

Selection and opening hours vary with the season, so always check current opening hours before your visit if a particular restaurant is important for your outing.

Stay overnight on Käringön

We have visited Käringön ourselves as a day trip, but it is also possible to stay overnight. The island has hotels, smaller accommodations and cottages. An overnight stay of course gives a different experience than our plan, since you get to stay after many of the day visitors have taken the ferry back to Orust.

It actually attracts us a bit. We have been to Käringön twice, but have not yet experienced the evening and morning when the island is significantly quieter.

Back to Tuvesvik on Orust

After lunch and a few lazy hours on the rocks, it was time to start thinking about the ferry back. We walked down to the harbor and left Käringön after another truly wonderful day.

The great thing about the island is that we hadn't really done anything spectacular. We had walked, looked at houses, walked over cliffs, eaten well and lay in the sun. Yet it was exactly the kind of day we wanted. And when our South African friends described Käringön as incredibly charming and picturesque, we could only agree.

How to get to Käringön – ferry and parking

Käringön is located outside Orust and has no road connection. For most visitors, the journey therefore begins in Tuvesvik.

Ferry from Tuvesvik

Västtrafik's passenger ferry runs from Tuvesvik via Gullholmen to Käringön. The journey takes approximately 35–40 minutes. Always check the current timetable with Västtrafik before your trip, as departures vary depending on the day and season. It is also possible to get to Käringön by your own boat or water taxi.

Parking in Tuvesvik

If you come by car or camper, you need to leave the vehicle in Tuvesvik. Käringön is free of cars, mopeds and bicycles. We parked our camper in Tuvesvik and walked from there to the ferry terminal. During popular summer days, it is wise to arrive well in advance and check the current parking regulations before leaving the vehicle.

Film from Käringön

Here you will also find a short film from Käringön.

See more in the neighbourhood

When you feel satisfied with Käringön and Gullholmen, there is of course more to experience on Orust. For example, it is beautiful in Mollösund, as well as on Malö and Flatö. Here you will find more tips:

• Things to do on Orust
• Things to do in Tjörn
• Visiting Dyrön

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