Ferries to the Gothenburg islands

Which tram and ferry go to the southern islands?

Tram 11 runs all year from the city centre to Saltholmen in about 35 minutes, and tram 9 also goes there in summer. Bus 114 from Nils Ericson Terminal is the alternative. At Saltholmen, Västtrafik boats 281 to 284 leave for the islands.

Saltholmen is the end of the line on the southwest edge of the city, a small ferry terminal with a ticket office. Check which pier your boat leaves from before it comes in, because four lines leave from here. If you drive, you can park at Saltholmen, Långedrag or Hinsholmen, but your car stays on the mainland: none of the southern islands allow private cars.

Plan on about an hour from the city centre to a central island such as Styrsö, and about an hour door to door to Vrångö in the far south. The tram ride is part of the trip: line 11 runs out past Majorna and along the water through Långedrag, and the last stretch already smells of the sea.

Does the tram ticket cover the ferry?

Yes. The boats to the southern islands are part of Gothenburg's public transport, and one Västtrafik Zone A ticket covers the tram to Saltholmen and the ferry on to the islands.

• Where to buy: in the Västtrafik To Go app, where a single ticket starts as soon as you buy it, or at the ticket office at Saltholmen.
• Contactless: you can tap a bank card on the reader on board trams, buses and boats in Zone A. Most Styrsöbolaget boats have a card reader. If you use a card, tap again when you change from tram to boat.
• Ticket checks: deckhands check tickets on board, so have yours ready before you step on.
• Children: under seven ride with a ticket-holding adult. Youth fares apply from 7 to 19, adult fares from your 20th birthday.
• Day tickets: if you plan to hop between islands, a day ticket in the app saves buying a new ticket on every boat.
• Separate tickets: summer sightseeing boats such as M/S Kungsö, and RIB or seal-safari trips, are booked separately from the Västtrafik ticket.

Heading north instead? The yellow Trafikverket road ferries from Lilla Varholmen to Hönö and to Björkö are part of the public road, so there is nothing to buy for the crossing itself. You only need a Västtrafik ticket for the bus that takes you to the ferry and on across the islands.

Which ferry line goes to which island?

Line 281 serves Köpstadsö, Styrsö, Donsö and Vrångö; line 282 Köpstadsö, Styrsö and Brännö Husvik; line 283 Asperö and Brännö Rödsten; line 284 Knarrholmen and Stora Förö. All four leave from Saltholmen.

The boats are run by Styrsöbolaget on behalf of Västtrafik. Some trips run express and skip smaller stops, others call at every pier, which is why the same journey can take 20 minutes on one boat and close to an hour on the next. The Västtrafik planner shows each trip with its stops. The table also includes the city river ferry and the northern crossings, so you can see the whole network at a glance.

Brännö has two piers on two different lines, which surprises many first-time visitors: Rödsten on line 283 is about 20 minutes from Saltholmen via Asperö, while Husvik on line 282 takes about 50 minutes with several island stops. Styrsö also has two main stops, Bratten and Tången. For what to do once you land, see the best southern islands.

Are there boats straight from the city centre?

Yes, a few. Some boats on lines 281 and 282 leave directly from Stenpiren in the city centre, a few per day, with more in summer. The trip to Vrångö takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, so the tram to Saltholmen is usually faster.

Stenpiren, the pier beside the old city centre, is the hub for boats on the river. The direct island boats from there are relaxed and scenic, because you sail the whole way out through the harbour, but there are only a handful of them, so check the Västtrafik planner first. Line 285, the river ferry, also leaves from Stenpiren and crosses to Lindholmspiren, Eriksberg and Klippan on a normal ticket. On weekdays the short Stenpiren to Lindholmspiren shuttle, line 286, needs no ticket. In summer, Styrsöbolaget's M/S Kungsö runs sightseeing trips from Stenpiren to places such as Hönö Klåva, Vinga and the Brännö pier dances; they are booked separately.

The other way to leave from the centre is a sightseeing cruise. The archipelago cruise with a live guide (4.4 from 1,510 reviews) sails 2.5 hours from Lilla Bommen on the classic M/S S:t Erik, out past the old shipyards and Nya Älvsborg fortress and among the southern islands. It does not stop at any island: you see them from the deck. The same cruise with lunch (4.4 from 48 reviews) adds a reserved seat in the dining room. A reviewer of the sailing tour put it plainly: if you want to set foot on the islands, take the ferry.

Two and a half hours on the M/S S:t Erik from Lilla Bommen: the harbour, the old shipyards, Nya Älvsborg fortress and the southern islands, with a live guide in English and Swedish and a café and bar on board. The ship does not land. Rated 4.4 from 1,510 reviews.

★ 4.4 (1,510) · 2.5 hours · Full refund up to 24 h ahead

Explore the archipelago cruise with a live guide →

How do you reach the northern islands without a car?

Take bus X6 to the ferry terminal at Lilla Varholmen on Hisingen, cross on the Hönö road ferry, about 12 to 13 minutes, then continue on island bus 1 to Öckerö and Hälsö or bus 2 to Fotö and Hönö Klåva.

The northern archipelago belongs to Öckerö municipality and has no bridge to the mainland: everything comes and goes by ferry. You can walk onto the Hönö road ferry with the cars, and it is part of the public road, so there is nothing to buy for the crossing itself. On weekdays in rush hours, bus 290 from Järntorget rides the ferry with you and continues to Hönö, Öckerö and Hälsö. Island bus 1 runs from the Hönö terminal to Öckerö and on to Burö on Hälsö, and bus 2 goes to Fotö and the fishing harbour at Hönö Klåva.

• Further north: from Burö on Hälsö, the Nordöleden road ferry continues to Knippla, Hyppeln and Rörö.
• Björkö: its own road ferry leaves from Lilla Varholmen, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Kalvsund and Grötö: passenger boat 296 from Öckerö, on a Västtrafik ticket.
• Timetables: the road ferry times are in Trafikverket's Trafikinfo Färjerederiet app, and the buses in the Västtrafik planner.

If you would rather be driven by yourself, the hot rod tour of the northern islands (5.0 from 7 reviews) puts you behind the wheel of a mini hot rod from north-east Gothenburg, over the bridges and onto the road ferry to Hönö, Öckerö, Fotö and Hälsö, with photo stops. You need a valid driving licence and must be 18 or older. More on the north is in northern or southern archipelago.

Can you take a bike on the ferry?

Yes, on the southern boats when there is space, for an extra fare on top of your own ticket. Bikes stay outside, never in the saloon. On the northern road ferries, bikes ride along with everyone else.

A bike is the best way to cover a bigger island such as Styrsö, Donsö or Vrångö, where the lanes are narrow and there are no cars. On a sunny summer weekend, though, the boats from Saltholmen can fill up, and the crew may ask you to wait for the next departure if the deck is full. Travel early in the day, or leave the bike at home and walk: the islands are small, and many beaches are within half an hour on foot from a pier.

• E-bikes and e-scooters: because of their batteries they travel on the foredeck, not inside.
• Prams and wheelchairs: all Styrsöbolaget boats have boarding ramps, and electric wheelchairs can stand at the front of the saloon.
• Luggage: small items go with you on the passenger boats. Larger loads go by freight ferry from Fiskebäck.
• Dogs: Västtrafik lists dogs among things you can travel with; check its animal rules before you go, and keep dogs leashed in the Vrångö nature reserve.

What are the best ways to get around Gothenburg?

Trams, buses and boats, all on the same Västtrafik ticket. Buy it in the To Go app or tap a contactless card on board. You do need a ticket for the trams, just as you do for the ferries.

The trams reach almost everything a visitor wants to see: Haga, Avenyn, Liseberg, Majorna and the ferry terminal at Saltholmen. Children under seven ride with a ticket-holding adult, and an adult with a day or period ticket in the app can bring up to three young people aged 7 to 19; check the current rules in the app. The river ferries from Stenpiren are part of the same network, and Styr & Ställ, the city bike-share, is handy for short hops in the centre.

For a first look at the city, a sightseeing trip can be easier than working out the trams. The amphibious bus and the canal boats are covered in Gothenburg in one day. Keep in mind that the Paddan canal boat is a city tour under the low bridges, not a trip to the archipelago. For the islands, the tram and the ferry are the way, and the homepage section on planning your visit lists the basics.

When do the ferries run, and how busy are they?

All year. The southern boats run in every season, with the most departures in summer and fewer from late August to spring. On sunny summer days the boats can fill up, so arrive at Saltholmen in good time.

The 2026 summer timetable for the southern islands ran until 23 August. The current one started on 24 August and runs until 12 December 2026, with fewer trips than in summer, so check the planner before you set out, especially for the last boat home. Outside summer the islands are quiet: many cafés close or open only at weekends, but the walks, the views and the boats are all still there. For a day with company and fika at the end, the guided hike on Brännö and Galterö is the one tour on the homepage that actually walks on an island; it is a new listing with no reviews yet, runs 12 to 18 km over uneven ground, and getting to the ferry terminal is not included.

Whatever the season, it is windy on the water, even on sunny days. Bring a layer for the deck, whether you ride the ferry or sail on a tour. Every tour on this site gives a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours ahead. For the best months and the swimming season, see the best southern islands.

Frequently asked questions