Gotaland - Fishing Villages, Deep Forests & Picturesque Beaches

Travel to the lovely region of Gotaland (or Götaland as it's pronounced in Swedish), and enjoy its historic sites and gorgeous shores. TravelSweden.com brings you free information regarding Gotaland top tourist attractions and allows you to make all your travelling arrangements in one place.

From the forests and lakes of Dalsland to the slippery rocks and sandy coasts of the Bohuslan and the magnificent city of Gothenburg, Gotaland is definitely a 'must see' place. Gotaland is made up of five different regions: Vastergotland, Bohuslan and Dalsland in the west, Halland in the south and Ostergotland in the east. The landscapes and attractions of each vary distinctively.

Gothenburg in Vastergotland is the finest location from which to start exploring the area of western Sweden. Walk around the regal Kungsportsavenyn which some people refer to as the Swedish Champs Elysees, and stop by for tasting some of the region's seafood specialties in one of the various dining places. Art lovers will truly enjoy Gothenburg's many museums which cover many topics -from nature to history and art. The Rohsska Museum of Arts and Crafts has many exhibitions of Swedish design throughout the ages and will give you an extraordinary glimpse of the country's evolving style. The Konstmuseet (Art Museum) offers fascinating collections of artworks, which include pieces from the modern Pop Art, classical impressionist paintings, and Nordic artworks.

Tour Grand Castles and Explore Baroque Architecture

Visit the Liseberg fun park and make sure not to miss the fantastic Gothenburg party, which is pne of the city's greates events and takes place every year around August. If you're not the type to get seasick, take a boat to some of the small islands located nearby and tour the beautiful grounds. Branno and Kopstadso are two islands that are definitely worth a visit, but an experienced travel can find many other options which may be less "known to all". You can also head to Vanersborg, a tiny urban area with alittle over 21,000 inhabitants which is located right on Lake Vannern. If you enjoy wildlife, take an elk safari in the well-known Nature Reserve. Take a walk on the Bohuslan coast, which is known for its gorgeous seashore which is full of big granite rocks. Many tiny fishermen villages like Astol and Kladesholmen can be found in the area and they certainly add to the place's atmosphere and make nice stops on their own. The shore being full of rocks is hardlythe right place to swimming, but if you drive a little bit up north, you'll reach Stromstad fishing harbor, where you can sunbath on golden sandy beaches.

Even if you feel you've had enough of old castles, don't miss the stunning castle of Lacklo Slott, which is located near Lidkoping. You don't need to be an expert of architecture to appreciate its magnitude and beauty and it is an exquisite example of Swedish baroque period (17th century).

Tanumshede and nearby Vitlycke, are small urban areas which offer some fun activities and interesting sites. There, you can see the renowned rock carvings from the Nordic Bronze Age. Due to the huge number of petroglyphs, the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Go canoeing in the impressive aqueduct at Haverud, while visiting Dalsland, a region with prouds on having more lakes than any other part of Sweden - quite an accomplishment in a country that has no shortrage of lakes. South of Gouthenburg you will find Halland, where you can visit the vivacious town of Halmstad and lay on one of its many sandy beaches. Another fine water-trip is a pleasure sail on the Gota Canal in Ostergotland. Families with children and animal lovers are encouraged to make a stop at Kolmarden, Scandinavia's biggest zoo.