Saltiest and cleanest baths in Sweden!
Käringön is almost as far out west as you can get in Sweden! In the late 19th century the island was named health resort since it is one of the sunniest places in the country and since the water is so clean and salty...
The real connoisseur will find a private and secret little bay to lay on the warm rocks and look out over the water towards the horizon. Sometimes the head of a seal will pop up from the surface, otherwise the horizon is uniterrupted all the way to the Shetland islands and Scotland.
But there is also a whole range of more or less sophisticated places to take a bath on the island - see the map at the bottom of the page!
Öviken children's bathing place
At Öviken - close to the hotel - there are pontoons and sandy bottom and a water depth of 50-80 centimeters.
Children's spot - Barnbadet
The childrens' spot is on the south side of the island. If you walk south over the large meadow, Ängevik, you will reach a shallow and sandy bay, which is excellent for children.
The bay of the ladies - "Tanternas vik" or "Hornuddarna"
This is one of the baths for ladies. Nice and smooth rocks directly by the water. Follow the signs from the football field (Myra). Gentlemen are recommended to discretely turn their eyes away when passing by...
The diving board bath - Trampolinenbadet
A deep rock lagoon with crystal clear water. A ladder if you are careful and a diving board if you are bolder. Rocks that have been ground soft my thousands of years of wind and water. Enjoy the marvellous view towards Måsekskär lighthouse and Carlstens Fästning (the fortress in Marstrand) in the distance. This bathing place is as far out southwest as you can get on the island.
Knoden
Smooth rocks to jump into the water from. Follow the path that starts between the church and the football field. Guess where this beer advertisement was filmed: Pripps Blå...
The open air bath - Friluftsbadet
The open-air bath stems from the late 19th century when the island turned into a seaside resort. It's located on the smooth rocks on the south tip of the island and by tradition this is a nude bath. THis is a simple bath for calm days and the water is so fresh and clear. The only help you get to get in and out of the water is a rope attached to the rock by the "natural staircase".
The coldbaths - "Herr och dambadet"
The Herr- och dambaden (gentlemen's and ladies' baths) in the southwest part of the island are gems from a bygone era when cold, salty baths and barefoot walks on soft rocks were exclusive pleasures for society. This is the way it was in the beginning of the 20th century and the two houses have survived since then. Ladies separated from gentlemen and of course no swim suits!
