Travel to Koster
You can travel to the Koster Islands with your own boat or take the passenger boat that departs daily from Strömstad Northern Harbour, in the middle of the city all year around. It can be difficult to find parking in the city centre during the summer, we recommend that you park your car at one of our long-term parking spaces and use the parking-buses that take you back to the harbour, cost-free.
How do I get to the Koster islands?
You can travel to the Koster Islands with your own boat or take the passenger boat. The passenger botas departs daily from Strömstad Northern Harbour, in the middle of the city all year around.
The timetable for the Koster ferries you find here.
*If the time you want to departure is marked with "(xx:xx)", no worries. It just means that the boats stop at the harbours in the reverse direction.
Tickets
Outward and Return:
136 SEK/adult
104 SEK/children 7-19 years.
Children under the age of 7 travel free with adult.
Tickets can be bought on board with card or in the ticket machines in the harbour. They will be valid for couple of days so keep it safe until your return.
Västtrafik To Go - buy a ticket in your phone.
Download the app Västtrafik ToGo to your mobile device! The ticket price corresponds to the Return ticket price, but you can only buy a single ticket in the app (68 SEK). Valid for 180 minutes.
Västtrafik's period tickets, 30-day or more (not 24 or 72 hours), valid in zone C, can be used onboard.
When changing from trains or buses, a new fare must be paid.
Group discount: (minimum of 20 people) call Koster Marin for booking at: +46 (0)526-201 10
Please note that there is no extra cost for strollers, wheelchairs or luggage on board.
If you get to the Koster islands by your own boat guest harbours can be found at Northern and Southern Koster.
Since the Koster islands are part of the Koster Ocean National park it is extra important to take its unique environment into account. You can download The Nature Guide for Boating with good information about how to experience the Koster archipelago by boat.
Dogs on board
Dogs are very welcome on the Koster ferries, but out of respect for other passengers with allergies, they are referred to the outdoors seating areas.
Bring your own bike or kayak:
If you would like to bring your own bike, please note that there are many people traveling with the Koster ferries during the high season of summer and space for bikes or kayaks may be limited. This could possibly mean that you may have to wait for a later departure.
The fee for bringing a bike on board is 90 SEK for a return ticket.
The fee for a kayak is 180 SEK kr, one way.
Payment for a bike or a kayak can only be made on board and not through the ticket machines or in the Västtrafik ToGo-app.
What is open on the islands?
The magnificant nature is open all year around.
In high season there is a big variety of restaurants and galleries that are open. You will also find bike rentals, open garden, minigolf and more. From mid of August to Easter the service is limited. An advise is to bring your own picnic. Though, there is an all year arond open foodstore and the visitor centre for the national park Kosterhavet.
To see what's open when you arrive, please visit this website (in Swedish).
Waiting room
In connection to the Koster ferries, in the same building as Strömstad Infocenter, you will find the waiting room.
Luggage storage
At the service store Valvets syservice och skomakeri right next to the harbour you can storage your luggage for several hours. Please contact them for more information and opening hours; +46 (0)72-211 11 24.
Parking and free parking-bus to the city centre
Strömstad gets a lot of visitors during the summer and vacant parking spaces can be difficult to come by. Our recommendation is to park your car or vehicle at one of the long-term parking places.
Parking fee; 40 SEK per day between 6-31 of August.
Free buses are running during summertime (June-August) that go to all the long-term parking places and back to Strömstad square where the ferries depart from.
Link to a city map with parking information
Parking in the city centre:
Max 24 hrs: The parking lot in front of the hospital: adress Västra Hamngatan, as well as at Torskholmen. Circa 5 minutes from the Koster ferries.
7 days: at the parking lot Canning, which can be found at the very end of the street Västra Hamngatan, beyond the hospital.
Where do I find the visitor centre for the national park Kosterhavet?
naturum Kosterhavet you will find next to the harhour Ekenäs, South Koster. It's open all year around.
