What to Do in Käringön with Kids: A Family Guide to Sweden's Car-Free Island
- minna
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Visiting Käringön is a bit like stepping back in time, there are about 260 houses on the island all built in 1920s, there are no cars here (funnily enough there are only 5 bikes on the whole island which all belong to the ferry crew so they can get to work on time!) and it's a place where Swedes come to reset over the summer holidays.
My aunt has a house here, so this is where I spent my childhood: barefoot, crabbing off the harbour wall, eating crayfish that still tasted of the sea. My daughter has been here twice at 6 months old and at 3.5 yrs old, and watching her do exactly what I used to do, was one of those trips that reminds you why you have kids in the first place.
Best Time to Visit
Käringön is a summer island. Late June through August is when it comes alive: the fishmongers are open, the boutiques have their shutters up, and the harbour is full of boats coming and going. Outside of that window, a lot of the island quietly closes for the season, so if you're coming with young kids for the swimming, the ice cream, and the general buzz of the place, stick to summer.
Be warned though, accommodation fills up fast. If you're planning a summer visit, sort your stay before you plan anything else, or you may end up turning an overnight trip into a day trip by accident.
Where to Stay
Our pick for families or anyone visiting is Hotell Käringön, right on the harbour with sea views, family rooms with balconies, and a proper breakfast included. We've written up the full accommodation breakdown, including the self-catering options if you'd rather have your own kitchen and a bit more space, in our Where to Stay in Käringön guide.
Things to Do in Käringön with Kids
1. Swim in the Sea and climb all over the Granite Rocks
There's no need to find a beach here, because the whole island is basically one. The rocks around the harbour slope gently into clear water, and there are ladders and jetties dotted around where you can wade or jump in depending on your child's confidence. Sometimes there are stinging jellyfish so make sure you check the area before anyone goes in.
Best place to stay for families on Käringön?
If you're planning a visit it's important to book accommodation early as there aren't many options, read this blog post for the best places to stay for families→
2. Go Crabbing Off the Harbour Wall
Crabbing off the harbour wall is what every child on this island does, and you don't need to bring anything special. Ask at the fishmongers for fish scraps rather than buying bait; they're used to being asked and will usually hand some over for free or next to nothing. Tie a scrap of fish to a line, drop it over the harbour wall, and wait with your net and bucket. Once we had a bucketful of crabs we released them back into the water with a crab race to entertain the kids!
3. Play Minigolf
You can hire the clubs and balls at the ice cream kiosk near the jetty and it's perfect because there's a great cafe called Boa right opposite the minigolf which sells tasty pizzas, drinks and pastries so you can let the kids play minigolf whilst you sit down and soak it all it!
4. Let Them Loose at the Playground
The local playground on the island has a play shop, big sand pit, boat to climb all over and fields to run around it. There are also plenty of benches so you can easily bring a picnic and have some food there too. As the only playground on the island it's a great place for kids to very naturally play with each other and make holiday friends!
5. Eat Fresh Seafood (p.s. Order the Crayfish the Day Before)
The seafood here is the best in Sweden, and as someone who grew up on an island without cars too I don't say that lightly! The crayfish are still caught traditionally by cage rather than trawled, so it's a sustainable way of fishing and they are cooked to perfection. My top tip would be to order from the fishmongers a day ahead, and go for the small ones over the big ones as they're the tastier of the two. If you're having a seafood feast remember to pick up shrimps (which you can get on the day) and look out for what the fishermen catch on the day (we tried the spiny dogfish once and it was absolutely delicious, we always look out for it whenever we visit but I've only ever had it once!)
6. Watch the Boats Leave
Traditionally, when you leave the island you will be given cut flowers. By leaving the roots in Käringön it represents that you will always have your roots here and be welcomed back. It's an old sailors tradition where the wives would stay on the island whilst the fishermen left (Käringön means women's island). Those leaving then throw the flowers into the sea as they depart on the ferry and when the boats leave people will jump off the jetty as a fond farewell to you. I loved doing this growing up and my 3 yr old daughter is now asking when she will be old enough to do this after watching my husband sprint off the jetty a twice to say farewell to family who have left!
A Few Practical Notes
The island has a small supermarket, which has the basics of nappies, formula and some baby food but I'd suggest bringing what you know you'll need rather than assuming you can pick it up there.
There's only really one path on the island and it's well paved so pushing a pram around it easy. Where I would recommend bringing a carrier is when you head to some of the beaches. We did manage to navigate to XX with our 3 month old son in a pram and 3 yr old daughter walking but there are other places which are easier to access.
Book Your Stay Before You Go
Käringön's accommodation is small and books out fast, especially across July and August. If you've read this far and you're sold on a visit, our top pick for families is Hotell Käringön: right on the harbour, breakfast included, and sea-view family rooms. See the full range of options, including self-catering, in our Where to Stay in Käringön guide.
Final Thoughts
Käringön isn't a destination you pack with activities. It's a place where you let your kids run barefoot, pull crabs out of the harbour, and eat ice cream twice a day, then you come away wondering why every family holiday doesn't look like this! The most important thing though is to reserve accommodation early. Read our Where to Stay in Käringön guide and once you have that confirmed everything else on the island will fall into place once you're there.
Read our other blog posts on Käringön:
If you're visiting Käringön from Gothenburg, continue reading here:
