Daftö Resort: with pirates, train, and amusement park

TEXT: Ann Mellblom
ARTICLE: Min Husbil, 2024 #6, page. 82-83
Translated from Swedish to english by Daftö.

It’s easy to see why Daftö Resort is so popular, especially in the summer. Located right by the water, it offers panoramic views of the Koster Sea. Guests can enjoy salt-sprayed, sun-warmed cliffs, swim-friendly piers, and even a small sandy beach.

Much to Attract

But it’s more than the sea that draws visitors to the five-star Daftö Resort. How about the resort’s own amusement park, Daftöland, four different restaurants and eateries to choose from, a grocery store, the popular Daftö train, a beautiful waterfront promenade, a dog swimming area, a pétanque court, adventure golf, and a pool area (three pools featuring a pirate ship, water cannons, a slide, and a lookout tower), open daily during the summer season. There’s also a pier sauna, yoga and group fitness during high season, and entertainment five nights a week. Add to this rentals for canoes, pedal boats, SUPs, and bikes, and of course, Daftö’s very own pirates!

Activities from morning to evening

For kids, Daftö is all about adventure, activities, crafts, and fun every single day during the high season. The pirate theme runs throughout, with a full schedule of activities from morning till evening: crab fishing, crafts, treasure hunts, and plenty of exciting events with and without pirates.

Guests of all ages visit, but there’s no denying that, especially in summer, the focus is heavily on children and families. During the early and late seasons, more older visitors come to enjoy the beautiful nature and the resort’s facilities that make their stay especially comfortable.

The Norwegians' Favorite

Most guests at Daftö Resort come from our neighbour country to the west — nearly 55 percent are Norwegians. Around 35 percent of the guests are Swedish, while the rest typically come from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Many visitors return year after year, often with three generations of the same family. Others are first-time visitors, drawn by friends and family who have praised the resort.

- We see returning guests as a sign that we’re doing things right. Being recommended as a destination is also very honoring, and it’s important to us to meet and hopefully exceed our guests' expectations,

says Lena Kempe.

Thrilling Pirate Tales Come to Life at Daftö Resort

Long ago, Bohuslän was closely associated with privateers and pirates, with their heyday in the 18th century. There were both criminal and legal privateers — the latter being pirates in the king’s service, seizing ships for the crown. Even today, Bohuslän’s pirate stories are countless; some are surely exaggerated, while others are entirely true.

These captivating tales are brought to life, and children eagerly jump aboard — not just in spirit, but onto the privateer ship itself. Of course, it’s all in good fun, with a playful spirit, as life as a pirate in the 1700s was likely not as lighthearted as today’s pirate adventures at Daftö Resort.

Spöktober

Extra excitement - and a little spookiness - arrives during the fall break in October, or Spöktober, as it’s called at Daftö Resort. From Wednesday to Saturday over three weeks (when Norwegian and Swedish schoolchildren are on break during weeks 40, 41, and 44), the summer’s pirates become Ghost Pirates. The Daftö train transforms into the Ghost Train, and inside the amusement park Daftöland, visitors can ride attractions in the autumn darkness, carve pumpkins, and brave the eerie Ghost Cellar. In the restaurant, there’s a Ghostparty, in combination with food and entertainment!

Excursion Destinations Near Daftö

If you’d like to experience something beyond Daftö Resort for a day, Lena Kempe and her team have many great suggestions:

Kosterhavet National Park is located right outside Daftö Resort. In the summer, you can board a boat from Daftö’s excursion pier and head to the Koster Islands for the day. You can also join a shrimp trawler, see how shrimp fishing works, and taste freshly caught and cooked shrimp—a memorable culinary experience! In fall and spring, boats depart instead from Strömstad, just five kilometers from Daftö.

Visit the stone setting at Blomsholm, a miniature Stonehenge. It’s about seven to eight kilometers from Daftö Resort—why not make it a day trip by bike?

Daftö is just 30 kilometers from the Norwegian border. Take a day trip or half-day excursion into the neighbour country and soak in the dramatic and beautiful landscape around the fjord.