Located in Sweden's Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, this car-free island has traditional red wooden houses, two harbors, and a famous midsummer dance near its school square.
Brännö is a car-free island in Sweden's Southern Göteborg Archipelago, home to 900 year-round residents. You'll walk past red wooden houses from the 1700s, swim from the diving tower at Ramsdal beach, or hike through oak forests to rocky shores. The island is known for Lasse Dahlqvist's famous ballad "De' ä' dans på Brännö brygga" about dancing at the Brännö pier.
Getting to Brännö
Two ferry lines connect Brännö to mainland Gothenburg throughout the year. Line 282 arrives at Brännö Husvik in the south, while line 283 docks at Brännö Rödsten in the northeast. You can board these ferries either from central Gothenburg's Stenpiren or from Saltholmen, which is a 35-minute tram ride from the city center.
Moving Around the Car-Free Island
With no cars allowed, you'll hear only footsteps and bicycle wheels on Brännö's streets. Residents and visitors walk, cycle, or use flatbed mopeds - the only motorized vehicles on the island. These mopeds have become part of daily life, carrying everything from groceries to furniture along the narrow roads.
Brännö Village
Walking from Rödsten to Husvik takes about 30 minutes, passing timber houses from the 1700s and 1800s with rose bushes and leafy hedges. Stop at the Brännö Lagård museum, set in an old barn, to learn about the island's Viking past and its history of farming and seafaring.
Natural Areas and Swimming
The coastline has several swimming spots. At Ramsdal, near Husvik, you can jump from granite cliffs or climb the diving tower. Gröna Vik, a 15-minute walk from Rödsten, has a sandy beach with wooden piers for swimming. Walking paths crisscross the island's interior through oak and ash woods, leading to rocky shores where you can watch boats pass by.
Exploring Galterö
Cross the footbridge to reach Galterö, an uninhabited nature reserve. The 5-kilometer circular trail takes about two hours to walk. Sheep graze among the rocks, and you might spot oystercatchers and arctic terns. Former military bunkers dot the landscape, and the calm waters around the island are popular with kayakers.
Daily Life and Services
You'll find a grocery store, post office, and church open year-round. In summer, you can eat at Brännö Värdshus restaurant, located in the former harbor pilot's house from the 1900s, with its crystal chandeliers and sea-view veranda. Local artisans at Brännö Lammskinn & Ull create clothing and accessories from lambskin, fur, and wool.
