The small city of Strömstad in southwest Sweden is only about three miles from the border with Norway. In fact, Sweden's most westerly city was in Norway until the 17th century when it was transferred by treaty. Today Norwegian shoppers flood across the border to buy cheaper goods, especially alcohol. Renting a car in Strömstad allows you to travel around the immediate area of rugged rocky and wooded islands, lakes and inlets along the coast or reach the main E6 Gothenburg/Norway road just a mile inland. This road to Norway crosses the renowned Svinesund bridges. Just off the coast are the Koster Islands, a beautiful unspoiled nature reserve that can be reached by boat trips from Strömstad harbour.
Strömstad's harbour is busy with leisure yachts and ferries while behind it the town has a pretty collection of whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs around the old city church and quirky granite town hall. In the Bukten old quarter there are charming single-storey terraced cottages along cobbled streets that are great for a wander. Don't miss the city's old museum too. Hire a car in Strömstad to visit further afield, including Ursholmen lighthouse, the most westerly in Sweden, and the prehistoric stone circles at Blomsholm. The cross-border shoppers have helped create a busy array of shops in Strömstad. Look out for the Norrby shopping mall, which boasts more than 100 different stores.
