Halmstad is a city in Halland county on Sweden's west coast, set at the mouth of the Nissan river where it meets the Kattegat. It is Halland's largest city and has a modest but functional port that handles both commercial traffic and some passenger ferry services along the Swedish coast.
The city is known for its castle, sandy beaches and as a summer destination for Swedes from the interior. Halmstad's position on the E6 motorway between Gothenburg and Malmö makes it easy to reach by road, and the city has a train station on the main west coast rail line. For ferry travellers, Halmstad is a reasonable base for exploring the Halland coast before connecting to larger ports at Gothenburg or Helsingborg.