Marstrand & Carlsten Fortress
Marstrand / Carlstens fästning
A sailing holiday island on the West Coast, with a wooden-house town below the 17th-century Carlsten Fortress.
Marstrand island lies about 45 km northwest of Gothenburg. Cars are banned on the island, and the town consists of colourful wooden houses and piers. Yachts gather here in summer, and it hosts international sailing races. At the top of the island, Carlsten Fortress was built after 1658 and once held prisoners. Guided tours let you explore the dungeons and gun batteries, and climbing the tower offers views over the islands. From Gothenburg, take a bus for about an hour to the Marstrand ferry landing, then a ferry for about 3 minutes.
Opening hours
Fortress open daily about May–Sep; weekends only in other months
Nearby sights
- Vinga Lighthouse
- Nya Älvsborg Fortress
- Southern Gothenburg Archipelago
- Ramberget & Keillers Park
- Masthugget Church
- Slottsskogen
- Maritiman
- Skansen Kronan