Smogen (Sweden)

Smogen is an island (Smogenon) and a port town in Sweden's Bohuslan Province (Vastra Gotaland County's Sotenas municipality) with population around 1,300. Smogenbryggan (a wooden pier/jetty in the old fishing harbor) annually attracts thousands of domestic tourists. Another popular attraction is the Hallo Lighthouse (Bohuslan's oldest/1842-built) on Hallo Island (between Smogen and Kungshamn/mainland Sweden).

Port Smogen (locode SESMO) serves mainly smaller-sized vessels - ferries and leisure boats/yachts. Seasonally (during summer months only) a regularly scheduled daily ferry service connects Smogenbryggan to Kungshamn (provided by the family company Zitabatarna) and to Hallo Island (by the company Hallofarjan).

As cruise port, Smogen is often included in the summer schedule of Hurtigruten. Tourists traveling on larger ships may visit Smogen on shore excursions organized from Lysekil (road travel distance approx 50 km / 30 mi) via routes 162 and 171.

Smogenbryggan has length ~600 m (~1970 ft). The wooden pier is a traditional fish market housing several seafood shops (in old-style fishing huts) and is the province's most visited attraction during the summer. The town is also popular for its nightlife (numerous bars and music clubs) during the summer.

Smogen groups several neighboring islands which are so close to each other that are considered a single island. Smogen (in the center) is the largest and interlinked (land-connected) to two large neighboring islands - Kleven (to the south) and Hasselon (to the northeast).

The settlement was founded in the 16th century. Smogenbron Bridge (1970-opened) directly connects Smogen Island with Kungshamn (mainland Sweden). This is a concrete bridge with length ~400 m (1312 ft) and height 35 m (115 ft). The bridge was completed in 2 years (1968-70) and it replaced the car ferry service provided between 1958 and 1970.