A most relaxing weekend at TanumStrand Spa Hotel and Cottages

There is nothing like spending a long weekend on the West Coast of Sweden in the summer time. With the long warm summer evenings, it is the perfect time for strolling through seaside villages, snacking on fresh seafood and sunset saunas and ocean swims. At TanumStrand Spa hotel and cottages, this is exactly what you can expect. We spent the first summer weekend of the season exploring TanumStrand. Three days of exploring the surrounding villages of Grebbestad and Fjällbacka, relaxing in the spa and taking it easy.

Disclaimer: I was a hosted guest of Smögens Hafvsbad but all thoughts and opinions in this post are genuine.

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How to get to TanumStrand spa and cottages

TanumStrand spa hotel is located in the Northern part of Sweden’s West Coast, in between the more known fishing villages of Grebbestad and Fjällbacka. If you are driving from Gothenburg, the trip takes around 1 hour 45 minutes. The majority of driving is done on the E6 highway. If you want to take the scenic route, this is the perfect stop on a west coast road trip. There are so many little villages you can stop off at on the way, including Smögen, Malmön and Lysekil.

If you are arriving by public transport, it can take around 4 hours from Gothenburg. The best route is via the town of Uddevalla, with a few transfers on the way. You can find the best way to find your route is on the Västtrafik website.

The best things to do at TanumStrand spa hotel

The outdoor sauna

The outdoor sauna is what initially attracted us to visiting TanumStrand. There is something so special about being able to jump straight from the warmth of the sauna into the cold sea water. It is exhilarating in a way you can’t get by purely visiting a spa or the beach. This sauna is included inf TanumStrand spa and available to use throughout the day if you are booked into the spa.

Watch the sunset from the dock

Watching the sunset here is hard to miss. All hotel rooms and cottages face out towards the harbour side where the sun sets. In the summer when the nights are warmer you can sit on the terrace of Latitude 58 with a glass of wine, stroll around the bay to a small sun facing beach, or set up a picnic on the dock.

Take a sunset swim from the dock

This is one of the best ways to experience the sunset at TanumStrand spa hotel. In the winter, when the nights are shorter, it is the perfect time to use the outdoor sauna and embrace the cold water. In the summer, the sauna closes earlier, however, the weather is enough to warm up post-swim.

Spend the afternoon in the hot tub with a gin and tonic

Included in the spa there is an outdoor terrace and bar with a jacuzzi and sun beds that look over the ocean. This is one of the most relaxing things to do. At around 5 – 6pm when the spa becomes a little quieter. The bar is open on most summer days, and if not you can get drinks from the spa staff.

Take the kuststigen to Grebbestad

If you fancy a little walk, you can take the 20 minute coastal path to the beautiful fishing village of Grebbestad. This is one of my favourite towns on the coast. There is a big fishing harbour and beautiful alleys lined with small, colourful houses. Here you can really experience the energy that these small villages possess.

Enjoy saunas, pools and therapy at the spa

The spa is what makes TanumStrand. Open every day, this space is the perfect spot for romantic weekends away, relaxing in big groups, and just enjoying the summer Swedish style. The spa at TanumStrand has quite a big variety of different attractions. In the spa there are multiple dry saunas, a steam sauna, a light room, the jacuzzi, a lagoon, and then you have the outdoor pool, and the sauna on the bridge. After a morning out in the sun, it was perfect to be sat in the infinity pool looking out at the harbour with a cup of tea.

Rounding up TanumStrand spa hotel

We had a magical weekend at TanumStrand and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to explore this area of the coast. We made so many early summer memories that I will treasure forever. The Swedish style spas are something I love most about travelling here. There is something so special in Swedish culture about going somewhere specifically to relax, sauna and have fun with friends and family. TanumStrand completely encompasses this and more.