Tennis rules the day here. Jutting out on a peninsula surrounded by hills and a beautiful landscape, Båstad is the most fashionable international seaside resort in Sweden, 179km (111 miles) south of Gothenburg and 105km (65 miles) north of Malmö.
All the famous international tennis stars have played on the courts at Båstad. Contemporary Swedish players -- inspired by the feats of Björn Borg -- receive much of their training here. There are more than 50 courts in the district, in addition to the renowned Drivan Sports Centre. Tennis was played here as early as the 1880s and became firmly established in the 1920s. King Gustaf V took part in these championships for 15 years from 1930 onward under the pseudonym of "Mr. G," and Ludvig Nobel guaranteed financial backing for international tournaments.
Golf has established itself almost as much as tennis, and the Bjäre Peninsula offers a choice of five courses. Båstad's first golf course was built in 1929 in Boarp on land purchased by Nobel. The bay also provides opportunities for regattas and different kinds of boating. Windsurfing is popular, as is skin diving. In summer, sea bathing is popular along the coast.
The Bjäre Peninsula, a traditional farming area, is known for its early potatoes, which are served with pickled herring all over Sweden.
By car, head west on Route 115 from Båstad. If you're not driving, you'll find trains running frequently throughout the day between Gothenburg and Malmö. Six buses a day also arrive from Helsingborg; the trip takes 1 hour. For tourist information, Båstad Turism, Kyrkgatan 1 at Stortorget (tel. 0431/750-45; www.bastad.com), is open from June 20 to August 7 Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm; off season Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. You can book hostel rooms here from 135SEK to 200SEK ($27-$40/£14-£20) per person or rent bikes for 70SEK to 95SEK ($14-$19/£7-£9.50) per day. They also will provide information about booking tennis courts, renting sports equipment, or reserving a tee time for a round of golf.
