Bovallstrand is one of those places that doesn’t need a big pitch. You show up, take one slow lap around the harbour, and suddenly the day has a shape: salt in the air, granite underfoot, boats rocking gently like they’ve got nowhere better to be.
This is one of those Bohuslän villages where you can arrive with a towel, swimwear, and zero plans and still end up with a perfect day. It’s a quaint fishing village that’s easy to get to know in an hour, and impossible to leave without ending up at the main event: Badholmarna. Perhaps the best place for a dip on the entire Swedish West Coast.
Where is Bovallstrand?
Bovallstrand sits by Bottnafjorden in Sotenäs municipality, right where the fjord starts opening out toward the archipelago and the sea beyond. It’s small and relaxed, with the classic Bohuslän ingredients: colourful boathouses, the smell of the sea. boats gliding in and out of the harbour, and that sense that you don’t need a long checklist to enjoy yourself.
Parking in Bovallstrand
One of the downsides of small coastal towns is the fact that the parking lots are small as well, and during the busy season, they will be in high demand.
- If you want to go straight to the main attraction and get as close to Badholmarna as possible, there’s a parking at the end Badholmsvägen. It’s not marked on Google maps so you might get lucky, but it’s best to be early. There’s only room for a handful of cars.
- For the most straightforward central parking, I recommend Dinglevägen Parkering (right in the middle of the village). It’s great because you can walk down to the harbour and Badholmarna in a couple of minutes. In high season, the parking is paid, so make sure you read the signs properly to avoid fines.
- The safest bet if you arrive around noon or later in the day will most likely be the long-term parking across the road from the school. It’s also free (at least the last time I checked), which makes it a great option if you want to save some money.
One more useful detail: in Sotenäs, several municipal parking areas use a summer system where you can park the first hour free with a parking disc (p-skiva), and then continue via SMS/app payment if you stay longer (instructions are posted on-site).
Badholmarna
If you only do one thing in Bovallstrand, do this.
Badholmarna is a bathing area spread across several small islets connected by bridges. In my opinions one of the best spots for a swim on the entire Swedish West Coast. The structure is the magic. It means you can move around easily and find your perfect spot. Calmer water, a sandy patch for kids, or a place to jump in, you can move around and choose your spot depending on wind, sun, and mood.
This setup is why it works so well for mixed groups. While most swim spots on the west coast fall into one category: either family beach or pure granite cliffs. Badholmarna is both. Someone wants sandy shallows? You’ve got it. Someone wants to sunbathe on warm rocks and jump into deep water? Also there. Someone wants ladders, jetties, and a proper swim? Easy.
What you’ll find here is exactly what makes a Bohuslän swim day great:
- Small sandy beaches that feel genuinely family-friendly
- Cliffs and smooth rock slabs for sun and quick dips
- Trampolines and a diving tower for the jumpers
- Jetties, ladders, and a marked swim lane
- Plus the practical things that matter: toilets, bathing cabins and a seasonal kiosk
The best thing? It’s all free, a part from the kiosk, of course.
The best way to experience Badholmarna is to use it like it’s meant to be used: not as one fixed “spot”, but as a little swim world you can wander through. I usually start by walking a quick loop around the area. Even tho I’ve been here many times, I tend to end up in different spots.
A bit of Bovallstrand History
Bovallstrand is often described today as a bathing and harbour village, but its deeper story is much more layered. The community is documented in written sources as early as 1585, when it was already associated with the salting and export of herring. For a long time it remained a small settlement, and as late as the mid-1800s only around 20 families were living there.
Like many places along this coast, Bovallstrand grew in phases. Fishing and local seaborne trade formed the early backbone of the village, but the real transformation came in the late 19th century when the stone industry expanded across Bohuslän. Bovallstrand had access to highly valued granite, and quarrying and stone cutting brought both jobs and new residents.
Badholmarna itself has a particularly clear historical identity. Aktiebolaget Bovallstrands badinrättning was founded in 1909 with the purpose of running bathing and hotel operations. In its early years, the idea was closely tied to the classic Scandinavian seaside health-resort tradition, where sea air and cold bathing were seen as part of a healthy lifestyle. Over time, as bathing culture changed, the emphasis shifted from formal “badinrättning” culture toward the more democratic and recreational outdoor sea bathing that people now associate with the west coast in summer.
Where to eat in Bovallstrand
You don’t come to Bovallstrand for a big-city food scene. You come for places that fit a swim day; easy, good, and close to the water. These are my three “grab-and-go into a perfect day” recommendations:
- Torgboden – A strong lunch stop right in the village. It’s a good choice when you want something proper without making the day feel structured and the local reviews tend to agree with me.
- Bryggcafét – This is the one I point people to for a classic harbour evening. It’s the kind of place that matches the setting: boats nearby, salty air, and a menu that fits the coast.
- Bageriet Bovallstrand – When you want Swedish fika done the simple way, coffee and something baked, this is the easiest recommendation in town.
More things to do around Bovallstrand
Bovallstrand is perfect for a swim-first day, but it also sits in a really good spot if you want to add one more experience without turning it into a stressful car day.
Ramsvikslandet
If you’re in the mood for exploring nature, Ramsvikslandet is a great place to explore. This large coastal reserve is often called the “Bohuslän in miniature” because it captures so many of the landscape features that define the region. Here you’ll find wide stretches of smooth pink granite shaped by the last Ice Age, narrow coves and natural harbours, heathlands dotted with hardy vegetation, and sweeping views out over the archipelago. The area is criss-crossed by well-marked walking trails that lead through fishing coves, over sun-warmed rock plateaus, and past quiet beaches where you can stop for a swim on a warm day. Ramsvikslandet is also known for its rich wildlife, with seabirds and grazing animals all playing a role in maintaining the open landscape.
Add a second harbour village: Hunnebostrand
If you’re driving in this part of Sotenäs anyway and want one more cute coastal stop, heading south to Hunnebostrand makes a lot of sense. It’s on the way to Ramsvikslandet, has a working-harbour vibe, and pairs well with Bovallstrand because the feel is similar, but the scenery and shoreline spots are different enough that it doesn’t feel repetitive.
Anneröd–Hogsäm
If you want a completely different feel from the coast, greener, softer, and noticeably quieter, Anneröd–Hogsäm makes a wonderful contrast to Bovallstrand. Located just a few kilometres inland, this nature reserve is one of the larger woodland areas in northern Sotenäs, with oak on the hillsides and beech in the valleys.
A quick local culture stop: Bovallstrands Hembygdsmuseum
If you like small local museums that are genuinely local (objects, photos, and real community history rather than polished “tourist museum”), Bovallstrands Hembygdsmuseum is worth a short visit in summer. It covers both the stone and fishing eras and is run by the local heritage association. It is especially known for its beautiful beech forest, which is described as Sweden’s northernmost naturally established beech woodland, giving the area a character that feels quite unusual so close to the rugged Bohuslän coast.
Put Bovallstrand on your travel itinerary
Bovallstrand doesn’t need a big pitch. It just needs a summer day, a little time, and a willingness to follow the rhythm of the place. Start in the harbour, wander without rushing, and sooner or later you’ll end up exactly where you should: on warm granite at Badholmarna, looking out over the water and wondering why more swim spots aren’t built like this. That’s really Bovallstrand’s charm. It feels easy. Unforced. Like one of those West Coast places that quietly overdelivers. And if you ask me, that’s exactly why it’s one of Bohuslän’s very best summer stops.
