Things to do in Varberg

Here are Raniz’s favourite things to do in Varberg:

Strandpromenaden

Varberg’s “Strandpromenaden” is a promenade that starts at Varberg Fortress and follows the coast for 5 kilometers down to Apelviken. If you follow it to the end, you’ll see rocky shores, the sandy beach of Apelviken, and the forest near Kurorten.

If you’re not up for the full 5 kilometers, the part between Varberg Fortress and Kurorten is only 2 kilometers and offers a pleasant walk among the rocks with a fantastic view of the sea.

Apelviken

Apelviken is Varberg’s largest (and one of Sweden’s finest) beach. The crescent beach stretches for one and a half kilometres. Along the promenade, you can find several cosy restaurants—one of which serves alcoholic drinks at the beach, which is extremely rare here in Sweden.

Apelviken is a popular destination for surfers, and even if the waves aren’t surfable, you’ll almost always see someone kite- or windsurfing there. The local company Surfers offers both equipment rental and courses. If you ever wanted to try an E-foil, they have a (fairly pricy) 90-minute course.

Varberg Fortress

The fortress is the icon of Varberg. It was originally built as a castle in the late 13th century but has been expanded several times since, most notably in the 16th century when the state-of-the-art ramparts were added, transforming it into a bastion (or star) fort.

These days, it houses a museum where (among other things) you can find Bockstensmannen (a well-preserved corpse from the 14th century) and the brass button that supposedly killed Karl XII, Sweden’s famous warrior king.

On the ramparts facing the sea lies Fästningsterrassen, where we will have dinner at the end of day 1 of myConf.

Spa

Varberg is probably Sweden’s most spa-dense city. There are five spas within the city: Clarion Hotell Fregatten, The Lenin Spa at Hotel Gästis, Havanna Bath & Spa at Hotell Havanna, Varbergs Kusthotell, and Asia Spa at Varbergs Stadshotell (the hotel where myConf takes place).

If you feel like venturing outside Varberg, there is Sinnenas Spa at Ästad Vingård—my favourite among all of Varberg’s spas. Ästad Vingård is also the home of the Michelin star restaurant Äng—beware though, the dinner takes four and a half hours, which leaves less time for enjoying the spa.

Kallbadhuset

Kallbadhuset’s roots date back to the 1820s, but the current building was built in 1903 after storms destroyed the previous two incarnations in 1884 and 1902.

Here you can enjoy the sauna and a refreshing dip in the sea (which in May should be around 10-15 degrees Celcius). The sauna is enjoyed in the nude but you can put on swimwear when bathing. Since we’re still somewhat prude in Sweden, men and women enjoy the sauna and the sea separately.

Bike rental

If you’re venturing a bit outside of town, Varberg offers great views and is a terrific area for a bike ride. You can rent bikes at either Cykelverkstaden No. 1, Erlan, Rentbike, or via Donkey Republic. Both leg-powered and electric bikes are available.

We have had electric scooters from Tier (now Dott) in Varberg before. The permit for the summer of 2025 is currently under negotiation. Be aware that the city centre is heavy on cobblestones and that you haven’t been allowed to park the scooters in the city centre in previous years.

Naturum Getterön

If you like birds, Naturum Getterön is the place for you. The wetlands of Getteröns Nature Reserve are usually filled with birds. It’s a popular stop for many migratory birds. Many birds also come here to brood.

There are several hideouts where you can observe the birds without disturbing them. If you forgot your binoculars, there is a shop in the main building where you can borrow a pair as well as two mounted monoculars that you can use.

World Heritage Grimeton radio station

Grimeton radio station was completed in 1924 and has a long history of transmitting messages across the globe. Here, you can learn a lot about the history of radio communication and see the old transmission equipment and how it evolved throughout the years. In addition to the museum, there is a cafè and a playground. They are currently celebrating 100 years of radio communication and are undergoing renovations. They should be about finished by the time of myConf.

They offer several guided tours. In Exercise Hawk Eye, you climb one of the 127-meter tall antenna towers. There is a partnership between myConf and Grimeton with a time slot after the conference for Exercise Hawk Eye reserved for myConf attendees (you’ll still pay full price, though). There are only eight spots—first come, first served! Read about the "Exercise Hawk Eye" offering in this article.

Åkulla Bokskogar

Åkulla bokskogar (Åkulla beech forest) covers fifty square kilometers, about 20 kilometers east of Varberg. There are 16 trails in the area, with lengths spanning from 1.6 to 6 kilometers.

A good starting point is Åkulla Outdoor Resort, which has accommodation, a restaurant and a cafè, and from where you can find several trails. There is a bike trail (24 kilometers long) and a hiking trail (21 kilometers long) from Varberg to here, and close by, you’ll find Bockstens mosse, where Bockstensmannen was found.

Åkulla bokskogar is not just home to Ästad Vingård but also Öströö fårfarm, a quaint sheep farm with a cafè where you can look at sheep, pet lambs, ride on a lamb safari and buy local produce or artisanal goods—including meat and wool/lambskin products from the farm. It’s a popular destination for cyclists and a perfect pit stop to refill your energy with a cinnamon bun (or their excellent blueberry pie!)

Strömma/Johnssons gård

Strömma farmlodge, about 15 kilometers by bike from Varberg, is an old farm that now serves as a meeting place with a bed and breakfast, a restaurant, a cafè (in the old mill), an ice cream bar and a few farm shops. During the summer they organize several events and have concerts in the barn with famous artists. Unfortunately, the event season hasn’t started when myConf takes place, but Strömma is well worth a visit for the restaurant, cafè, and general atmosphere.

A similar place is Johnssons gård, a farm converted to a kind of rural shopping center where you can find a restaurant, a bakery, a pottery, restored furniture, farm shops, and a beer brewery. They even have accommodation available through Airbnb. It’s an 8-kilometer bike ride from Varberg’s city centre.

More, more, more

Not satisfied? Visit Varberg has even more inspiration for things to do in and around Varberg.