Varberg is a locality and the administrative seat of Varberg Municipality in Halland County, Sweden. Situated on the Swedish west coast, it serves as a significant hub for the region. The area is renowned for its typical west coast sandy beaches, which transition into rocky terrain extending north toward the Bohuslän archipelago. This coastal setting defines its geographic identity and contributes to its status as one of Sweden's most beautiful cities.

The town's origins trace back to a fortress erected in the 1280s within Danish territory. The settlement near the fortress adopted the name Varberg in the mid-14th century, moving northward around 1400 before being destroyed and rebuilt during the Kalmar War. Halland passed to Sweden in 1645 and permanently in 1658 via the Treaty of Roskilde. A major fire in 1863 led to reconstruction with stone houses, while industrialization drove population growth through the early twentieth century.

Varberg features architecture primarily from the turn of the century and several green parks, including Societetsparken and the English Park. Its most notable landmark is the large Fortress of Varberg, originally built in 1280, which now houses the Halland Museum of Cultural History. Other key sites include the VLF transmitter Grimeton, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Komedianten, a cultural center constructed between 2010 and 2012. The landscape inland consists of rolling hills with lakes and forests.

The locality is a popular beach and surfing destination for visitors from Sweden and Europe. It offers excellent conditions for watersports, with facilities at Apelviken for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Cultural attractions include the historic Varbergs Kurort spa hotel and various sports clubs like Varbergs BoIS FC. The area also hosts notable people such as golfer Sophie Gustafson and footballer Niclas Eliasson, reflecting its active community life and historical significance in commerce and defense.

Varberg has a population of 38,575 as of 2023. It experiences an oceanic climate with moderate summers and severe winter frosts, with recorded highs of 33.6 °C and lows of -25.5 °C. Access is provided by the E6/E20 highway, Öresundståg trains from Gothenburg and Copenhagen, and Varberg Airport for recreational flying. The municipality has a population close to 56,000, with the city center remaining largely intact despite historical changes.