Sweden is lakes and forests and Stockholm and polite people, and more lakes and forests, and a moose if you’re lucky. Hidden among all that water and greenery, however, are cultural gems. And you don't have to go to Stockholm for it. Looking for magic?

Between Gothenburg and Varberg in the province of Halland lies a magical area with a beautiful castle and menhirs. Location: Kungsbacka.

It is the combination of the Tudor-style castle, the prestigious castle garden, the sea, the beach, the cliffs and the panoramic landscape that makes Tjolöholm a fairytale picture.
The castle is situated by the sea in a hollow and protected by cliffs on the Tjolöholm peninsula. The area is known for its wildlife and breathtaking sea views. Countless paths and hiking trails run through ancient oak forests, coastal meadows and woodland.

The best part is: you can just put on your bathing suit under your clothes to hang out on the beach and swim. You‘d think this place would be crowded with noisy sunbathers and young people splashing around, but no. We‘ve been here 6 times, and it’s always quiet - Swedes are not a noisy bunch, and they have more than enough lakes and beaches to not gather around one particular hotspot of water. We often laugh that in the rest of Europe, at the smallest puddle of water, there are lifeguards, youngsters with boom boxes, and an ice cream truck.

That’s why we love Sweden: not everything has to be organized or marketed here. You can camp out everywhere for free, there are barbecue spots in the forest to grill a sausage, and you never have to lay down your towel to reserve a spot on the beach.

You can bring your own picnic at Tjolöholms Slott, order a light lunch at Café Managen, or eat something more substantial and warm at the Storstugan restaurant.
If you ever decide to visit this place, please bring headphones if you want to listen to music. We don’t want this gem to turn into the Blue Lagoon.

Giant stones and Vikings

You can spend a whole day in Tjolöholm visiting the castle, hiking and swimming, but we recommend visiting the Li Gravesite in Fjärås Bräcka before leaving Halland. It is only 6 miles (10 km) away.

The Li gravefield is Halland’s largest from the Iron Age and (probably) the Viking era, with 160 ancient remains: burial mounds, round stone circles and raised stones. The tallest stone, called King Frode’s stone, is 4,7 meters tall.

Visit the websites of Tjolöholm and the Li gravefield for more information.