Prins Bertils stig

Prins Bertils stig takes its name from Prince Bertil of Sweden, a long-time patron of Halmstad, and runs roughly 18 km from the town centre out along the Nissan and the coast, past Tylösand, and on toward the dunes and pine forest at Ringenäs. It's a single well-marked route rather than a network, which makes it easy to plan: walk the whole thing as a day out, or pick a shorter section and turn back, using the Nissan riverside, the harbour, and the beach itself as landmarks along the way.

The path mixes town, river and coast in a way few Halland walks manage in one route — Halmstad's streets and Norre Katts park at the start, then riverside and harbour, then open beach and pine forest for the long final stretch. It's flat throughout, which keeps it accessible to a wide range of walkers and runners.

The path starts near Halmstad town centre and the coral-pink Halmstad Castle, follows the Nissan river out toward the harbour, then picks up the coast proper. The middle section runs along Tylösand's sand — the busiest stretch in summer, and the obvious place to stop for a swim partway round. Beyond Tylösand the path continues into quieter pine and dune country toward Ringenäs, where the crowds thin out fast and the walking turns properly coastal, with views out over the Kattegatt and, on a clear day, back along the county coastline.

Because the route runs point to point rather than as a loop, most walkers either arrange to be picked up at the far end, use the local bus back into Halmstad, or simply walk out and back along the same path, treating the turnaround point as a personal choice rather than a fixed rule.

The path is walkable all year, which sets it apart from most of Halland's outdoor activities. Summer gives the fullest experience — swimming stops at Tylösand, a busy path, long evening light — but also the most people on the beach sections. Spring and autumn are quieter and often better for walking pace, with the pine forest stretch toward Ringenäs holding its own appeal in low autumn light. Winter walking is entirely possible on the firm sections, though the open beach stretch can be exposed to wind coming straight off the Kattegatt, so windproof layers matter more than the season implies.

No specialist gear is needed — this is a walk for ordinary shoes or trainers in summer and proper waterproof footwear the rest of the year, given the sandy and occasionally soft ground near the dunes. There's no rental or guiding operation built specifically around the route; it's a free, self-guided path with waymarking along its length. A refillable water bottle is worth carrying on the longer stretch beyond Tylösand, where cafés and kiosks thin out.

This is one of the easiest routes in the activities section: flat, well marked, close to a town for most of its length, and shortenable at will. Families manage the Halmstad-to-Tylösand section comfortably, including with a pushchair on the paved and packed-sand stretches. The only real planning point is distance — 18 km is a full day's walk for most people, so anyone not doing the whole route should decide a turnaround point in advance rather than running short of daylight or transport back.

A good half-day version runs from Halmstad centre out to Tylösand, with lunch or a swim at the beach before heading back by bus. The full route to Ringenäs suits a fit day-walker or a base camp arrangement with transport at both ends, and pairs naturally with a stay built around the 48 hours in Halmstad itinerary, which already treats the Nissan and Tylösand as anchor points.