Ulricehamn, Gällstad and Tvärred (Lake Åsunden)
Ulricehamn sits at the northern end of Åsunden, a long lake with bathing spots along its shores and has a compact centre of shops and cafes on a slope above the water. Gällstad and Tvärred are villages to the south and west, among farmland and smaller lakes. A cycle path on an old railway line runs towards Borås. Gothenburg Landvetter is about an hour away.
Best for: Lake swimming, cycling and a small town within reach
Not for you if: You want the sea: the coast is around an hour and a half west.
Sexdrega, Svenljunga, Östra Frölunda and Kalv (south)
This corner of Västra Götaland runs down to the Halland border, with spruce forest, small lakes and red farmhouses. Sexdrega has the most cottages, and Svenljunga is the nearest small town for shopping. Östra Frölunda and Kalv are further south and quieter still. The Halland beaches around Falkenberg are roughly an hour away, Borås about 40 minutes. Landvetter airport is around an hour by car.
Best for: Quiet forest cottages and lake fishing on a budget
Not for you if: You want restaurants nearby: these villages have a shop and not much more.
Landvetter and Hindås (near Gothenburg)
Landvetter is the village next to Gothenburg's airport, set among lakes and wooded hills. Hindås, a few minutes east, grew as a summer retreat in the railway era and still has old wooden villas by the lake. Gothenburg's centre, with Liseberg amusement park and the boats to the southern archipelago, is around 25 minutes by car or a short train ride from Hindås.
Best for: Lake cottages close to the airport and day trips into Gothenburg
Not for you if: You want somewhere remote: the airport and main road are close.
Tibro, Fagersanna and Mölltorp (Lake Vättern side)
Tibro is a small furniture-making town in the Skaraborg countryside, with Fagersanna close by. Mölltorp is near Karlsborg on Lake Vättern, where the Göta Canal passes a huge 19th-century fortress. Hjo, a wooden town on the lakeshore, is around half an hour away, and Skövde has trains to Gothenburg and Stockholm. Landvetter is about two hours by car.
Best for: The Göta Canal, Karlsborg's fortress and lake cycling
Not for you if: You want warm swimming water: Vättern is deep and stays cold.
Alingsås, Vårgårda and Alvhem
Alingsås has a small wooden old town, many cafes and the lake Mjörn on its edge, with trains to Gothenburg in around half an hour. Vårgårda is a smaller town further east along the same railway. Alvhem is a village by the Göta älv river north of Gothenburg, among farmland and wooded ridges. Landvetter is around 30 to 45 minutes from all three.
Best for: A cafe town base with lakes and easy trains to Gothenburg
Not for you if: You want deep forest: this is more open farmland and small towns.
Sjömarken and Torestorp (around Borås)
Sjömarken lies beside Lake Viaredssjön on the western edge of Borås, a textile town with a textile museum and a zoo, Borås Djurpark. Torestorp is a village in the Viskan valley to the south-west, near Kinna. Both are about half an hour from Landvetter airport, and Gothenburg is under an hour away.
Best for: A lake base close to Borås and its zoo
Not for you if: You want a wide choice: there are only a couple of cottages here.
