Gothenburg’s islands are public transport, not an excursion. The tram ticket in your phone also covers the boat, the ferries run every day of the year, and the hard part is only choosing which island.
When you need this
- You want a day on the islands from central Gothenburg without a car
- You need to know which ferry goes to which island
- You want to bring a bike, a cargo bike, a pram or a dog
- You’re going in October or March and wonder what’s open
- You want to see Vinga lighthouse and need to know how to get there
- You’re choosing between the southern islands, Hönö/Öckerö and Marstrand
South or north: two different archipelagos
The Gothenburg skärgård (archipelago) is really two places. The southern archipelago (södra skärgården) is part of the City of Gothenburg. Its islands are bilfri (car-free), and Västtrafik’s passenger ferries, run by Styrsöbolaget, reach them all year from Saltholmen at the end of tram 11.
The northern archipelago is Öckerö municipality. Hönö, Öckerö, Hälsö and Fotö are joined by bridges and have roads, buses and parking. You reach them on Trafikverket’s free vägfärja (road ferry) from Lilla Varholmen on Hisingen.
Both halves are in Västtrafik zone A, which covers Gothenburg, Mölndal, Partille and Öckerö. One city ticket gets you to either.
| Southern islands | Northern islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | None; car-free | Roads, cars, parking |
| Ferry | Västtrafik passenger boats, zone A fare | Free road ferry |
| Departs from | Saltholmen (some sailings Stenpiren) | Lilla Varholmen |
| Getting to the berth | Tram 11, bus 114 | Bus X6 or 290 |
The southern islands by tram and ferry
Tram 11, plus line 9 in summer, runs to Saltholmen in about 35 minutes. Bus 114, Ö-snabben, takes about 25. Don’t drive: parking at Saltholmen is for disability permit holders only. If you must bring a car, park at Talattagatan or Vikebacken in Långedrag, or at Hinsholmskilen in summer.
Which boat goes where
The operator’s own line list settles a question many guides get wrong.
| Line | From | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| 281 | Saltholmen (some sailings Stenpiren) | Styrsö Bratten and Skäret, Donsö, Vrångö |
| 282 | Saltholmen (some sailings Stenpiren) | Köpstadsö, Styrsö, Brännö Husvik (Vargö not served in 2025; check) |
| 283 | Saltholmen (some sailings Stenpiren) | Asperö, Brännö Rödsten |
| 284 | Saltholmen | Knarrholmen, Stora Förö |
Timetables change with the season. In 2026 the 281–282 summer timetable ran from 1 June to 23 August, and the autumn timetable runs to 12 December. Check the last boat back before you leave.
Tickets
The boats charge ordinary Västtrafik zone A fares. Buy in the Västtrafik To Go app, on board, or at the ticket office at Saltholmen; most boats also let you blippa (tap) a bank card. Tapping works only in zone A, which covers the whole trip. You must be able to show a valid ticket on request. Ticket types and fines are covered in our Gothenburg public transport guide.
Bikes, prams and dogs
- Ordinary bikes and e-bikes ride free on most boats, on deck, up to 190 cm long and 70 cm wide. Crew decide; if the boat is full, you take the next one.
- Cargo bikes and tandems travel as goods on lines 281–284, for a fee per bike and trip.
- Bikes are not allowed on trams. Cycle to Saltholmen, or use the Styr & Ställ city bikes there from 1 June.
- E-bikes and e-scooters count as dangerous goods on Styrsöbolaget’s boats and go on the foredeck. Folded e-scooters can come as hand luggage, and nothing may be charged on board.
- Children’s bikes and kick scooters for pre-schoolers may always come aboard.
- Wheelchairs and mobility aids stand by the front doors; all boats have accessibility adaptations including ramps.
- Dogs ride free, leashed or in a cage or bag, on the starboard side. See dogs on public transport for the full rules.
On fine summer days the boats fill up. The operator’s advice is simple: be there in good time.
Choosing an island: swimming, walking, food
| Island | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asperö | A short hop and a swim | First stop; bays and a large jetty area |
| Brännö | Families, the summer dance | About 900 residents; Ramsdal is child-friendly, Gröna Vik has sand and jetties |
| Köpstadsö | Absolute quiet | Free of mopeds as well as cars; residents use hand carts |
| Styrsö | Walking, a year-round village | About 1,400 residents; sand, bathing jetties, smooth granite; shops |
| Donsö | Off-season visits | About 1,500 residents, 15 minutes from Saltholmen; a working shipping island with shops, a bakery and a smokehouse |
| Vrångö | The best swimming | Southernmost, 35–50 minutes by boat; several sandy beaches and nature reserves |
| Stora Förö | Untouched nature | Undeveloped island on line 284 |
Most archipelago swimming is off rock, not sand. Red lion’s mane jellyfish occur on the west coast, mostly in summer and autumn; rinse a sting with seawater, not tap water. Our Swedish beaches guide covers water temperatures.
Off-season food: Styrsö and Donsö, the largest year-round communities, have shops. The city tourism company lists cafés and food on most bigger islands but doesn’t publish their seasons. In October or March, pack lunch or check opening hours first.
Hönö, Öckerö and Björkö: the free road ferry
The northern islands feel different: roads, harbors and bus routes. Bus 290 (Burö–Göteborg) runs from Nils Ericson Terminalen and stays on board across the ferry to Hönö, Öckerö and Hälsö. Bus X6 (Landvetter–Göteborg–Lilla Varholmen) runs through the city to the berth.
Hönöleden, Trafikverket’s road ferry from Lilla Varholmen to Hönö, takes 12 to 13 minutes and is free for cars, cyclists and foot passengers. Björköleden takes about six minutes to Björkö and is also free; in summer it runs every 30 minutes on weekdays, doubled when needed. On Hönö, local bus 1 continues to Öckerö and bus 2 to Hönö Klåva and Fotö. Hönö has well-equipped bathing jetties and Jungfruviken. More on why most road ferries are free: road ferries in Sweden.
Vinga lighthouse
There is no public transport to Vinga, Gothenburg’s westernmost island. In summer 2026, M/S Kungsö, the summer tour boat of the Västtrafik contractor, sailed from Stenpiren via Eriksberg, Hönö Klåva and Älvsborgs fästning to Vinga and the dance on Brännö brygga, from 25 June to 16 August. Västtrafik tickets aren’t valid on these tours. Private tour boats leave Hönö Klåva and Fotö in summer.
From 22 June to 23 August 2026 the lighthouse, the beacon and the museum opened daily 10:00–12:00 and 13:15–16:00, with a guided tour at 11:00. In spring and autumn, guided tours ran on weekends only.
Mistakes to avoid
- Expecting a separate archipelago fare. The boat takes the same zone A ticket as the tram.
- Assuming one line serves every island. Köpstadsö is on 282, Vrångö and Donsö on 281, Asperö on 283.
- Calling Hönö and Öckerö car-free. Only the southern islands are.
- Trusting “bus 290 from Järntorget”. Västtrafik’s autumn 2026 timetable runs it to Nils Ericson Terminalen.
- Bringing a cargo bike without expecting a fee. It travels as paid goods.
Practical information
| Item | Detail (checked 1 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Tram to Saltholmen | Line 11 (plus 9 in summer), about 35 min; timetable valid to 12 Dec 2026 |
| Bus to Saltholmen | 114 Ö-snabben, about 25 min |
| Southern ferry fare | Västtrafik zone A fare, as on the tram |
| Ordinary bike on 281–284 | Free, on deck, if there’s room |
| Cargo bike or tandem on 281–284 | 30 kr per bike and trip |
| Dogs | Free, starboard side |
| Saltholmen parking | Disability permit holders only |
| Hönöleden / Björköleden | Free; 12–13 min / about 6 min |
| Buses to Lilla Varholmen | 290 (from Nils Ericson Terminalen), X6 |
| Southern ferries, autumn timetable | 24 Aug – 12 Dec 2026 |
| Vinga boat (M/S Kungsö) | 25 Jun – 16 Aug 2026; own ticket |
| Vinga lighthouse, summer 2026 | 22 Jun – 23 Aug, daily 10:00–12:00, 13:15–16:00 |
FAQ
How do I get to the Gothenburg archipelago without a car?
For the southern islands, take tram 11 to Saltholmen, about 35 minutes from the center, or line 9 in summer, then a Västtrafik ferry. Line 281 serves Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö; 282 Köpstadsö, Styrsö and Brännö; 283 Asperö and Brännö. For Hönö and Öckerö, take bus 290 or X6 to the free road ferry at Lilla Varholmen.
Is my Västtrafik ticket valid on the archipelago ferries?
Yes. The southern archipelago boats from Saltholmen charge ordinary zone A fares, the same as the tram. Buy in the Västtrafik To Go app, on board, or at the Saltholmen ticket office; most boats also take a tapped bank card. Hönö and Öckerö are in zone A too, and their road ferries are free. Vinga tour boats need their own ticket.
Can I take a bike on the archipelago ferry?
Yes, if there is room. Ordinary bikes and e-bikes ride free on deck, up to 190 cm long and 70 cm wide, and crew decide when the boat is full. Cargo bikes and tandems travel as goods for a fee. Bikes are not allowed on trams, so cycle to Saltholmen or use the city bikes there from 1 June.
Which island in the Gothenburg archipelago is best for swimming?
Vrångö, the southernmost island, has several bathing places with fine sandy beaches. Brännö has Ramsdal, good for children, and Gröna Vik with sand and jetties. Styrsö mixes sand, jetties and smooth granite, and Asperö, the first stop, has bays and a large jetty area. Most swimming is off rock. Watch for red lion’s mane jellyfish in summer and autumn.
Are the islands open in winter?
The southern ferries run all year, and Styrsö and Donsö are year-round communities with shops. The timetable changes after summer: the autumn timetable runs from 24 August to 12 December 2026, so check the last boat back. The tourism company does not publish café seasons, so bring food off-season or check opening hours before you go.
How do I get to Vinga lighthouse?
Not by public transport. In summer 2026 the Västtrafik contractor’s tour boat M/S Kungsö sailed to Vinga from Stenpiren between 25 June and 16 August, on its own ticket, and private tour boats leave Hönö Klåva and Fotö. The lighthouse, beacon and museum opened daily from 22 June to 23 August 2026, with a guided tour at 11:00.
Are Hönö and Öckerö car-free like the southern islands?
No. Hönö, Öckerö, Hälsö and Fotö are joined by bridges and have roads, buses and parking. They are reached by Hönöleden, Trafikverket’s free road ferry from Lilla Varholmen, a crossing of 12 to 13 minutes; Björköleden takes about six minutes to Björkö. Only the southern archipelago islands are car-free.
Related guides
- Gothenburg public transport — ticket types, tapping and the fine if you ride without one
- A weekend in Gothenburg — the islands as day two, with the city museums on day one
- Marstrand — the car-free island town to the north, on its own paid ferry
- Gothenburg city guide — the city around the archipelago
- Road ferries in Sweden — why Hönöleden and most others are free
Facts verified 1 October 2026. Sources: Västtrafik, Styrsöbolaget, Trafikverket, Göteborg & Co, Visit Öckerö, Vinga’s lighthouse association, 1177 — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.