Borgholm – Castle History and Seaside Paths

In Borgholm, a long castle history, a townscape shaped by the past, and walking paths through the forest and along the sea come together. When planning your stay, you can choose between cultural discoveries and routes through the landscape to suit your interests.

Castle History and Experiences

The history of Borgholms Slott dates back 900 years. The oldest structure began in the 12th century with a central tower or keep surrounded by a ring wall. In the mid-17th century, Karl X Gustav had a Baroque palace built on this site; today, Borgholms Slott is the ruin of that palace. The building reveals different phases of its history, from its medieval fortified core to the later palace.

Guided tours of Borgholms Slott are included in the admission price. If you are planning a guided tour, check the latest visitor information before your visit. For children, “Barnens slottsäventyr” is listed for 2026: they complete ten different castle challenges and are then made protectors of Borgholms Slott. The challenges include a knight’s obstacle course, archery and board games with a knight, as well as puzzles, pulling a sword from a magical stone and searching for the unicorn’s gold. Seasonal programme details may change.

Townscape, Museum and Culture

The historic townscape follows a town plan from 1817. A central axis with squares and public buildings, along with trading courtyards in the so-called Borgholm style, defines the layout. At Borgholms stadsmuseum, you’ll find period interiors and collections of Öland art and crafts. The exhibits cover Borgholm as a seaside resort, as well as Öland’s industrial, maritime and railway history. Since 1985, the museum has been a protected historic building under Sweden’s Cultural Environment Act.

Borgholm Bio is also part of the town’s cultural history: it was inaugurated on 23 April 1920 and is considered the oldest cinema built in the countryside that was designed as a cinema from the outset. Film screenings and other events take place there throughout the year; specific programme details may change. Borgholm Church was built from 1872, inaugurated in 1879 and designed in the Neo-Romanesque style. Along Strandvägen, you’ll pass imposing villas from Borgholm’s days as a seaside resort, with views of the Kalmarsund.

Another historic address is Borgholm Kallbadhus on Badhusgatan, first inaugurated in 1882. You can stop there for fika, a coffee break; the offering may vary. Together, the cinema, museum, church and Kallbadhus show different sides of the town’s history, from public cultural venues to buildings with a long seaside-resort tradition.

Green Spaces, Walking Paths and Coastline

In the Borga Hage nature reserve, also known as Slottsskogen, walking paths wind through lush deciduous forest, past flowering meadows and along the sea. More than 100 rare species have been recorded there. The protected area borders Solliden and the castle ruins of Borgholm. There are different distance options for planning your walks: the municipal hiking trail “Borge hage och slottsområde” is 4.2 kilometres long. There is also an approximately 1-kilometre walking route from Borgholm through Slottsskogen to the castle. An approximately 1-kilometre footpath leads from Viktoriagatan or road 136 via Näktergalsstigen to Borgholms Slott. If you’re planning a specific hike, it’s worth checking the latest trail conditions.

Solliden adds its own garden history to the historic sights: it was built as a summer residence for the future Queen Victoria of Sweden and completed in 1906. The park’s winding paths invite you to stroll and explore. For a different perspective on Borgholm’s history, Strandvägen takes you past villas from the seaside-resort era; in the nature reserve, the focus is instead on forest, meadows and the coastline.

The programme listed for 2026 also includes the guided walk “I Borgholms stad och slott.” It starts and ends in Borgholm, leading from the harbour through parks, past squares and historic sites, to Borgholms Slott and then back through Slottsskogen in the Borga Hage nature reserve. Check dates and availability in advance.

Planning Your Stay

Kalmar länstrafik (KLT) provides public transport within Borgholm Municipality, across the municipal boundary and over the Öland Bridge. For a specific journey, check the latest routes and timetables. If you’re looking for a hotel in Borgholm, your planned activities can help you decide: the castle, museum and cinema offer cultural and historical experiences, while Borga Hage, Solliden Park and Strandvägen each provide different walking and landscape experiences.

Discover more destinations: Borgholm, Djupvik, Källa, Köpingsvik, Löttorp, Rälla, Byxelkrok, Räpplinge

For the broader travel overview: Kalmar.