Göteborg

Göteborg has an archipelago very similar to Stockholm's. Granite outcroppings big enough to house whole (albeit small) towns. I was lucky enough to visit one of these islands off the coast of Göteborg (Gothenburg) a few years ago. Brännö is one of the bigger islands and is accessible by ferry. The ferry is part of the metro system in Göteborg, so a single trip ticket will take you to the ferry terminal by bus or tram, and over the water to the island too.

As an aside, one day I should write something about all the great places I've been to and the one thing they all have a stark absence of: cars.

Brännö is completely car free, with the exception of a delivery truck that has to slowly and carefully wend its way through the narrow paths that link the houses. You see people on bikes everywhere, gently cruising from house to house to visit friends, or house to beach for a dip. Lots of pedestrians, too, of course. And then the most exciting form of transport on the island: the "Flakmoped". A three-wheeled moped with a tray on the front.

A lot of these have been converted to electric, or are being sold new with electric motors rather than the noisy and smoky two-stroke engines.

The swimming is superb and no matter where the wind is coming from, you can find a leeward spot.