For us it has become a habit to start our trip to the island in Arvika. We spent a restful night in the hotel Oscar Statt, www.oscarstatt.se, and enjoyed a bathroom, good chairs and beds for the last time for a few weeks.
Arvika
Arvika is a cosy, old town with lots of shops with swedish craft products and beautiful buildings like the church and the railway station.
A very nice park, the harbour of lake Vattern and lots of great places to eat and drink coffee.
But although we do enjoy all this, we can hardly wait for the morning to arrive and for us to start our trip to the island.
If you start in Arvika, or if you make it a day off the island, just take a walk and enjoy the town....
Every tourist wants a picture from this guy.