Varberg is one of my favorite seaside towns on Sweden’s west coast, and it makes an easy summer trip from Gothenburg. In less than an hour by car, you can reach a town with a medieval fortress, sandy beaches, a historic bathhouse, cafés, and some of the best surfing conditions on this part of the coast.
I visited Varberg on a summer road trip from Gothenburg, and in this guide I’ll share the places I enjoyed most, along with a few practical tips for planning your own visit.
Exploring Varberg Town Centre
After the road trip, we stopped by a cozy café-bar called Kasset in the central square, and we made the right choice. They serve such great, proper coffee there!
Varberg has been a popular seaside destination in Sweden for more than 200 years. Its fresh sea air, beaches, and relaxed atmosphere have long attracted visitors looking for a peaceful break on the west coast.
The town has a mild oceanic climate by Swedish standards. Summers are generally cooler than inland, with the sea breeze making even warmer days feel pleasant.
Visit Varberg Fortress
Varberg Fortress is one of the town’s main landmarks and one of the first places I recommend visiting. Its history dates back to the late 13th century, when the original castle was built here. Over the centuries, it developed into the impressive fortified complex overlooking the sea that you see today.
Varberg Fortress has a long and turbulent history. The first stone castle was built here at the end of the 13th century by the Danish count Jakob Nielsen and was completed around 1300. During the 14th century, Varberg changed rulers — and sometimes even kingdoms — several times before coming under Danish rule for almost 300 years.
During the Northern Seven Years’ War between Denmark and Sweden, the castle was heavily damaged by Swedish troops in 1565 and recaptured by the Danes four years later. It was then transformed into a much stronger fortress, with construction continuing into the early 17th century. In 1645, following the Treaty of Brömsebro, Halland and Varberg became Swedish.
Interestingly, after the fortress was completed in 1618, it was never actually involved in another war. In later centuries, parts of the fortress were used as a prison, and today the site is home to the Halland Museum of Cultural History.
It’s a real historical gem.
See Kallbadhuset, Varberg’s Historic Bathhouse
Right across from the fortress, you can see the fairytale-like Kallbadhuset, proudly standing on its pillars in the sea. Dating back to 1903, Kallbadhuset is one of the most beautiful bathhouses in Sweden, built in a Moorish style, and it’s the only one left like this on the west coast.
The bathhouse you see today is actually the third one built on this spot. Varberg’s first cold bathhouse opened in 1866 but was destroyed by a severe storm in 1884. A second bathhouse was completed two years later, only to be destroyed by another storm in 1902. The present Kallbadhuset opened in 1903 and has since become one of Varberg’s most recognizable landmarks.
Kallbadhuset is open both in summer and winter. Through the big sauna windows, you can enjoy a view of the sea. The bathhouse is split into two sides, one for men and one for women. Each side has two saunas, one small and one large, along with changing rooms and showers.
Enjoy Varberg’s Beaches and Seaside
The sea is a huge part of Varberg’s character, especially in summer. You don’t have to travel far from the town centre to find places to swim, walk along the coast, or sit by the water and enjoy the view.
One of the nicest ways to experience the coast is the Strandpromenaden, a seaside walking route that runs for about 5 km from Varberg Fortress towards Apelviken.
Varberg is often called a paradise for sailors and surfers. The safe waters, steady breeze, great instructors, and modern equipment make it a perfect place for beginners to try windsurfing for the first time.
Visit Apelviken Beach
A few kilometers south of central Varberg lies Apelviken, a long sandy beach and one of the town’s most popular summer spots. It has a completely different atmosphere from the historic center, more relaxed and focused on the sea. On a sunny day, it’s a great place to swim and walk along the beach.
You can stay in a cottage, hotel, apartment, or bring your own camper, caravan, or tent. It’s open year-round.
Apelviken is also one of Sweden’s best-known surfing spots. Depending on the conditions, you can see windsurfers, kitesurfers, and wave surfers out on the water, and there are opportunities to rent equipment or learn to surf. The beach is about 1.5 km long, and there are restaurants and other summer facilities nearby.
How to Get to Varberg
Varberg is an easy day trip or weekend destination from Gothenburg. We drove there by car, and the journey took us less than an hour via the E6 motorway. Having a car is convenient if you also want to visit Apelviken or explore more of the coast around Varberg.
You can also reach Varberg easily by train from Gothenburg. The train arrives at Varberg Station, within walking distance of the town centre, Varberg Fortress, Kallbadhuset, and the waterfront. This makes it perfectly possible to visit Varberg without a car.
Is Varberg Worth Visiting?
Like many small towns on the west coast near Gothenburg, Varberg is a cozy and charming place to visit for a summer weekend. But there’s something a bit special about this town.
Maybe it’s the combination of history, the sea, and the laid-back atmosphere, but Varberg stayed in my heart. I’ll definitely be back!
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Planning more trips around Gothenburg and Sweden’s west coast? You might also enjoy:
Haga Gothenburg: Best Things to See and Do
Things to Do on Tjörn Island in Summer
What to See and Do in Alingsås
About the author:
Hello and welcome! I’m Victoria, a travel writer and the creator of Best Kyiv Guide. I spent years working as a private tour guide in Kyiv, sharing the city’s history and everyday life with visitors. I now live in Sweden and write about the places I explore firsthand, sharing personal travel experiences, practical tips, and stories from Sweden, the Baltics, and across Europe.