Båstad, Sweden, and the surrounding area of the Bjäre Peninsula (Bjärehalvön) is one of the best places to visit in Skåne. Whether you are looking forward relaxing by the coast, walking some spectacular hiking trails, visiting small farm shops and cafes, or watching the tennis, you won’t find it difficult to find things to do!
In the summer, Båstad is known for its tennis tournaments, attracting around 5,000 spectators each year for the Nordea Open. Because of this, and the beautiful, rugged coastline and coastal villages dotted around the Bjäre peninsula, this is one of the more popular places in Sweden to visit during the summer. In this guide, you will find everything you need to plan your perfect Båstad itinerary for your upcoming trip!
Looking for more tips in the area and West/ Southern Sweden? Make sure to check out my interactive map with over 300 tips!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase through the link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I make sure to only ever promote products and brands I have used and like, and that all links are to trusted websites.
Where to Stay in Båstad, Sweden
Båstad
If you want to stay in Båstad itself, I recommend Hotel Skansen. It is a very centrally located beautiful hotel with great facilities (including use of the Kallbadhus). Find more information here!
Hovs Hallar
If you want somewhere a bit outside of town then Hotell och Restaurang Hovs Hallar is a great pick. By the edge of Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve, this is the perfect place to stay if you plan to do a bit of hiking and want to explore the more rural parts of Bjärehalvön. The hotel has a small spa with a sauna and three Jacuzzis – the perfect place for a relaxing vacation. Find out more and book here!
Grevie Åsar
My favourite pick on this list is the super cosy Airbnb in Grevie Åsar Nature Reserve. We stayed here for a few nights in the late spring, and it was a truly dreamy summer house experience. Located in the nature reserve, the garden is surrounded by the forest and meadows, while the picturesque greenhouse is the perfect place for a cosy dinner in. The house is big enough for 4 people, with two rooms and a big living room!
I would recommend booking early as this is a popular property that fills up quickly, especially during the summer! Find more information here.
Best Things to do in Båstad, Sweden
Visit Båstad Harbour
Båstad Harbour (Båstads Hamn) is a lively area, the “heart of the town” with regular events happening, summer visitors enjoying ice cream and the water filled with docked guest boats. Across from the harbour is where you will find the classic red boat houses that are so often seen in pictures of Båstad. Take a stroll around the harbour, enjoy an ice cream, or stop by one of the waterside restaurants for lunch.
Swim at Skansenbadet
You can’t visit Båstad without making a stop at Skansenbadet. This is the town’s main beach, located right by the harbour. In the summer, this is a popular spot for swimming and picnics. Out on the pier you will find Båstad’s iconic Kallbadhus, the traditional bathing house that’s open all year round. A visit here with a sauna and dip in the sea is a perfect way to experience Båstad. The Kallbadhus is owned by Hotel Skansen, however you can still enter if you are not a guest! You can find more details on this page.
Walk along the Strand Promenade
Behind the Skansenbadet beach you will find Strand Promenaden, the beachside walk that is a part of the longer Kattegattleden which runs from Gothenburg to Helsingborg. The second which passes Båstad begins 55km away in Ängelholm, however, to enjoy this stretch of the trail you can just walk from Larsbackavägen to the beach parking near Båstad Badplats (map). This part of the walk takes around an hour one way!
Visit Sweden’s Tennis Museum
If you are interested in tennis, then Sweden’s tennis museum in the centre of Båstad is the place to go! Here you will find a range of exhibitions and archives that cover the history of tennis in Sweden from its very beginning. Find more information on this page.
West Sweden Map
Get 300+ tips on West Sweden
In this map and guide to West Sweden you will find over 300 tips for places to visit in and around the region. These are places I have visited and personally recommend – some hidden gems and a few more well known spots!
Explore the houses on Agardhsgatan
Agardhsgatan is home to the oldest houses in Båstad, several of which were built in the 17th century! Here you will find very picturesque, colourful stone houses with roses climbing up the walls. This is a very classic to this region of Sweden and a very picturesque place. The street is quite long but worth walking down in its entirety. Pictured are some of the cosy little houses you will find!
Visit Mariakyrkan
In the centre of Båstad is the beautiful Mariakyrkan (St Mary’s Church). The church has stood here since it was first built in the 14th century. Built in the Romanesque style, you shouldn’t miss the inside where you will find medieval frescoes covering the walls.
Best Things to on Bjärehalvön, Sweden
Visit the beautiful Norrviken Gardens
Norrvikens Trägårdar (Norrviken Gardens) is a beautiful garden just outside of Båstad, on the northern coastline of Bjärehalvön. If you are interested in flowers then you can’t miss this place – throughout the spring, summer and autumn the gardens are in full bloom. Not only do they have beautiful gardens, but there’s also a lovely café and shop to look around! Here you can find the guide to the season’s flowers. My personal favourite time to visit is in late summer when the Dahlias are in full bloom.
Hike in Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve
Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve is home to a unique landscape, with dramatic cliffs overlooking the coastline, hidden caves and coastal meadows. Like a location out of Jurassic Park, here you will find part of the Skåneleden hiking trail, running from Knösen to Torekov. You can either walk this route or drive to the parking (map) and walk a smaller loop around here.
Hike in Grevie Backar
Grevie Backar, or Grevie Åsar, is a beautiful nature reserve towards the south of Bjärehalvön. The landscape here is special; rolling hills and health land formed over 14,000 years ago. Today the meadows are grazed by cattle making a very picturesque area. Here there’s a 3km loop hiking trail (map) that passes through the hilly landscape and small forest. It’s a perfect small walk, especially in the spring when the hills are covered in the purple pasqueflower.
Visit the town of Torekov
Torekov is a very popular village with the feeling of an 18th century fishing town. The picturesque harbour and village are worth a stop for a walk, some fika, and perhaps a swim at Torekov strand. By the harbour you will find Torekovs Lotshus, the small yellow lighthouse built in 1878.
From the centre of Torekov, head down to Ydrehall badplats where you will find a rocky seaside area perfect for a short walk. There are two different trails that begin here – a 2km and a 5km. You can find route guides on this page.
Mellbystrand Beach
Mellbystrand is a beautiful, big sandy beach just north of Bjärehalvön. It’s the perfect place to head for a stroll or beach day in the summer. With the sand dunes looking out over the calm waters it is a really special spot.
Kaj’s Fisk & Rökeri
If you like smoked fish, then don’t miss a stop at Kaj’s Fisk & Rökeri, on the north of Bjärehalvön, near Hovs Hallar Nature reserve. They are well known for their fresh smoked salmon, and I can say it is some of the best I have had. You can either stop by for a snack or pick up takeaway for the perfect addition to your summer picnic.
Take the ferry out to Halland’s Weather Island (Hallands Väderö)
Halland’s Weather Island is a small island just off the coast of Bjärehalvön. A nature reserve, it is a popular day trip and weekend destination from spring to autumn. The ferry takes around 20 minutes from Torekov and 40 minutes from Båstad with Väderötrafiken. On the island you will find beautiful nature, with several hiking trails and swimming spots to escape to. Find a map of the island here!
Hembygdsparkens and Kafé Sockerärtan
Hembygdsparken i Boarp is home to several culturally significant buildings, run by Sverige’s Hembygdsföreningen. If not for the buildings, Kafé Sockerärtan is alone worth a visit. A cosy café located in one of the old buildings with tea served in copper teapots, and a great selection of fika, this picturesque little café is perfect day trip stop.
Wander around Vistorps Hamn
Vistorps Hamn is a small harbour with a short beach walk along Segelstorpsstrand badplats. On a cloudy day, you can find you have this area to yourself – a luxury on Bjärehalvön during the summer! The harbour is quite a sleepy place, but very picturesque as you see the coastline of Kullaberg Nature Reserve in the distance.
Tours and Activities
Best Things to Do in Båstad and The Bjäre Peninsula (Skåne)
Båstad and Bjärehalvön is a beautiful area of Skåne in Southern Sweden. Spending a few days or one week here is the perfect way to experience the Swedish countryside, explore some fishing villages, and get to know the town of Båstad. With this guide to the peninsula, you will be able to find all the best places to visit and things to do! Heading further? Make sure to check out my map with over 300 more places to visit in Southern Sweden
