Orust Island

Orust is an island and municipality off the Bohuslän coast in Västra Götaland County, western Sweden, and is one of Sweden’s largest islands. It is characterised by a rocky coastline, sheltered bays, and a long maritime tradition.

Coastal villages and small towns such as Henån and Ellös provide marinas, boatbuilding yards, seafood restaurants, and services for visitors. The shoreline and nearby skerries attract sailors, sea kayakers, and summer holidaymakers who use the island as a base for exploring the Bohuslän archipelago.

Fishing and boatbuilding have shaped the island’s economy for centuries, and many small yards and maritime businesses remain active. The island’s built heritage includes wooden coastal settlements and 19th- to 20th-century harbour infrastructure.

Orust lies off Sweden’s west coast in the Bohuslän archipelago, roughly northwest of Gothenburg. The main settlements are along the sheltered eastern and western coasts, with road bridges connecting the island to the mainland.

• Access: Connected to the mainland by road bridges, making the island accessible year-round by car rather than only by ferry.
• Activities: Strong marine and boatbuilding heritage means many marinas and repair yards; summer boating and coastal walking are the main visitor activities.

What to See#

• Henån: Henån serves as the municipal seat and principal town, with a marina and local services that act as a hub for island visitors.
• Ellös: Ellös is a coastal town on the island known historically for boatbuilding yards and ongoing marine industry activity.
• Hälleviksstrand: Hälleviksstrand is a small coastal village noted for its traditional seaside houses and sheltered harbour popular with pleasure craft.

Orust (island) is reachable by car from Gothenburg via the E6 northbound and local county roads onto the island - the drive is commonly about 1-1.5 hours depending on route and traffic. Regional Västtrafik buses run from Gothenburg and nearby towns to main Orust settlements such as Henån; from the island bus stops it is typically a short walk into villages, harbors and trailheads.

• Visit Orust outside the high‑season July weekends-late spring (May-June) or early autumn (September) offer quieter coastal villages and easier access to ferries and local services.
• Use the island's road connections and coastal route to hop between fishing villages such as Mollösund and Hälleviksstrand; these small harbors show Orust's maritime character that many passing drivers miss.
• If you want quieter harbors and local craft scenes, schedule weekday mornings for village exploration-weekend and midsummer afternoons draw boaters from Gothenburg and raise parking competition.