Soldatens Bed & Breakfast

The staff were very friendly, and when the fortress is closed to the public you can wander around it on your own. The sunsets are stunning. It sits high above Marstrand, with incredible views even from the room. The private bathrooms are separate from the rooms across the corridor, but that wasn’t a problem at all.

There’s a shared kitchen, and the fortress tour is included. The staff were kind and very helpful with parking, carrying our bags, and bringing extra towels after the first night. Everything was clean, with lots of nice common areas, and having the fortress to yourself outside opening hours is a big plus. The location at the top of the island is fantastic, though getting there from the ferry means a long climb up a very steep hill. Some rooms don’t have their own toilet or shower, and we had to make our own beds.

Hear ye, hear ye! Staying at Carlsten fästning is a genuinely unusual experience, and it doesn’t cost much. Families should visit. When you arrive, they collect your bags from the docks and take them up to the fortress, then bring them back down when you leave. Great service. Friendly staff greet you at the front entrance and show you to your quarters. The fortress closes to the public at 19:00, but you get a key to the front gate and can come and go as you please. Breakfast is served in the morning, too. The rooms have a fresh, military-style feel, and the bathrooms are separate from the bedrooms. There’s a kitchen and two lounge rooms with an X-Box, ping-pong, air hockey, pool, and foosball. A visit to remember. Highly recommended, and I’ll be back next summer!

A warm welcome, roomy rooms, and comfortable beds made this a great stay. Getting access to the castle after closing time was a special part of a very unique experience.