Halland: the diverse coastal province
The historic province of Halland, also known as the “Swedish Riviera”, is located on the west coast of Sweden and stretches from Helsingborg to Gothenburg. Its nickname is entirely justified, as Halland guarantees the best beach holidays: Kilometres of sandy beaches offer fantastic conditions for swimming or surfing. But there are also fascinating nature reserves and forests to explore away from the beaches – or how about a trip to one of the cosy coastal towns?
Halland is located on the Swedish west coast on the Kattegat. The province is characterized by varied, impressive nature and long sandy beaches. There are several coastal towns, the largest of which is Halmstad.
| Part of the country | Götaland (Southern Sweden) |
|---|---|
| Area | 4,954 km² |
| Inhabitants | 300,000 |
Travelling in Halland – Between beaches and forests
Halland is known for its varied, fascinating landscapes – although the province is rather small, it still has a lot to offer, especially for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and water lovers. Halland is particularly well known for its beautiful sandy beaches – they stretch for kilometres along the coast and offer the very best conditions for swimming or surfing, especially in the towns of Halmstad, Tylösand and Varberg. Tylösand beach is even considered Sweden’s most beautiful sandy beach on the mainland – no big surprise, as it stretches for over ten kilometres along shallow waters and a fantastic dune backdrop.
If you want to take a break from swimming, you can head to one of the nature reserves inland. Here you will find dense beech forests and mystical moors with many varied and signposted hiking trails that invite you to go on tours, whether on your own, guided or themed hikes. But of course you can also hike for hours along the coast – for example in the Haverdal nature reserve, which is home to Sweden’s highest sand dune. With its abundance of nature, the province is ideal for tourists who want to try out wild camping, which is permitted in Sweden.
There are also fantastic conditions for cyclists. Halland offers a number of well-developed cycle paths. The Kattegattleden, Sweden’s first national cycle path, runs along the coast through the entire province. If you want to get active on the water, you can not only try your hand at surfing, but also canoeing or kayaking on one of the many lakes or rivers – and these lakes and rivers are also ideal for anglers.
Halland’s coastal towns
There are a number of cosy towns and villages along Sweden’s west coast. The towns of Laholm, Halmstad, Falkenberg, Kungsbacka and Varberg are particularly popular with travellers. Laholm in the south of the province is not only the oldest town in the region, but also one of the oldest towns in the whole of Sweden. Even today, you can still find a cosy medieval townscape here, which is very much influenced by its Danish past and invites you to take a relaxed stroll.
The city of Halmstad is not only known as the “golf capital of Sweden” and attracts visitors with its beautiful sandy beaches, but also offers plenty of cultural attractions, such as two art museums and impressive churches. Near Kungsbacka in the north of Halland is the impressive Tjolöholm Castle, which was completed in 1904 in the Tudor style and boasts extensive castle gardens that stretch all the way to the sea.
Varberg is a great place to go surfing – the largest surf centre in the country is located here – and experience a cosy coastal atmosphere on the pier, for example, but you can also learn a lot about the region, especially in Halland’s cultural history museum at Varberg Fortress – among other things, a bog body from the 14th century is on display here.
Culinary Halland
Similar to the rest of Sweden, local and down-to-earth ingredients and dishes are also on the menu in Halland. This is mainly characterised by the sea and the many forests and lakes, as fish and game are particularly popular – especially in the summer months when they land freshly caught on the plate. The most popular fish species in the province are salmon and trout.
But the province’s many farms also ensure freshness and flavour on the table with typical regional fruit and vegetables. If you want to try this for yourself, you should pay a visit to one of the farms – many farms now have their own farm shops and farm cafés, where food is prepared traditionally and with a lot of care from their own ingredients. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, you should pay a visit to Falkenberg, as the town has been labelled “worth a visit” by the Nordic gourmet guide White Guide for good reason.
