Vacations Blog

This weeks ”local perspective” is about the charming coastal town of Halmstad in southern Sweden.  Erica Johansson is a freelance writer and photographer from Sweden who shares these passions on her popular blog, Blissfull Travel. I enjoyed reading Erica’s answers about Halmstad….a city that is totally foreign to me (and probably most Americans) and which sounds quite delightful! I love the idea of spending a day by the coast during the summer, eating fresh seafood and experiencing the laid-back friendly culture.

1. Give 5 adjectives that you would use to describe the “feel” of your town and its residents.

Fun, friendly, sporty, laid back, and down-to-earth.

2. What is your favorite neighborhood in your town?

I love Frösakull, located about 10km from the center of Halmstad, because that’s where I grew up. The neighborhood has a mix of modern design houses and cozy small summer cottages. During the summers, we lived only 200m from Frösakull Beach. A great beach for families, snorkelers, windsurfers, and those who like beach volleyball. It’s not as crowded as Tylösand Beach to the west and not as quiet as Ringenäs Beach to the east. 

3. Which cuisine do you think your town does best? What is the runner-up?

I think the gourmet cuisine is terrific. Taste the sea food at Restaurant SALT  on Tylösand Beach (only a couple of meters from the sea!), book a table at Restaurant Akvarell in Tylösand, where you have sea view as well, or drive to Heagårds Skafferi located near Steninge 2km after Halmstad Airport. They didn’t have any vegetarian dishes on the menu, but were happy to prepare something special when I asked.

Runner-up is a tough choice between sushi (at Takenaka Sushi Bar ) or pizza (in particular Stanton’s Pizza ).

4. What is the best free thing to do?

Spending time at the beach and in the water (especially when the waves are high). Although if you’re visiting at the end of July, or in August, watch out for jellyfish!

I would also recommend cycling along the river Nissan, a picnic in Norre Katts park or, during rainy days, go to Halmstad Library to catch up on some reading. And I’m sure hikers will love “Prins Bertils stig”, an 18km long
hiking path along the coast.  

5. What is your favorite type of entertainment?

I enjoy Hotel Tylösand’s Solgården, where they have concerts with famous artists and free After Beach each day in July. Since I’m a real film buff, I’ll have to say the cinema as well.

Outdoor activities are never wrong either. If I could do anything I would love to learn kitesurfing with Kiteskolan.

6. List the best family friendly activity.

Tropikcenter, where you can see more than 140 species of tropical animals in natural environments. It almost feels like you’re in the Amazon. 

I’m also sure most kids would enjoy go-carting at Gokarthallen Halmstad. They have go-carts for everyone above 7 years of age.

7. What spot would you send a couple, looking for a romantic weekend?

I would send them to a luxurious suite with sea view at Hotel Tylösand. Then, they can choose if they want to relax with couple treatments in the Spa, eat gourmet dinners in one of the hotel’s restaurants, spend the days on the beach, make fun excursions in the area, or - if the weather is bad - just stay inside and order room service.

8. Describe a perfect day.one that captures what your area/city is all about.In 3 sentences or less. 

Wake up early and take a jog along the beach, make a fun excursion somewhere (depending on your interests), and spend the evening with your closest friends at one of the open-air restaurants on Little Square.

9. Tell us about a place that you love to go, whether it is in the guidebooks or not.

There’s this quiet spot on a cliff overlooking the sea, along the cycle path towards Grötvik, where we used to go and eat take-away pizza when I was a kid. I haven’t actually been there in years now, but that’s a place I will always love and never forget.

10. What should we have asked, but didn’t?

You could have asked “When is the best time to visit Halmstad?” and I would have said “The summer, without a doubt”. Halmstad truly is a summer city and attracts people from all over Sweden, as well as other European countries.

Have a city that you would like to share with everyone? Then e-mail us or comment on this post…maybe you can be our next local expert!

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