Discover Kalmar: culture, history and nature

Kalmar offers a range of options for planning your trip: historic buildings and archaeology, art, and routes through natural areas and wetlands. This lets you plan excursions to suit your interests in culture or nature.

Castles, art and history

At Kalmar Slott, visitors can take part in guided tours. The castle is open year-round; opening hours vary throughout the year, and the tour programme may differ by season. Check the latest opening times and programme before your visit. The Kalmar Union was signed at the castle in 1397—a specific point of interest for anyone curious about the history of the place.

The cityscape also features historic landmarks from different centuries. Kalmar Cathedral was completed in 1703 and is a very well-preserved monument from Sweden’s time as a great power. Large sections of the city wall built around Kvarnholmen in the 17th century have survived. In the old town, winding cobbled lanes and well-preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries shape its historic character. Gamla kyrkogården is Kalmar’s oldest surviving cemetery; it was established in the first half of the 13th century.

The Iron Age burial grounds can be explored on foot, by bicycle or while jogging. They are connected with Kalmar’s importance as a significant place 1,000 to 1,500 years ago. Information boards can be found at Tjuvbackarna, Brukshagen and the eastern burial ground in Djurängshagen. At Kalmar konstmuseum, meanwhile, exhibitions feature Swedish and international artists, including contemporary art alongside works from the museum’s own collection. The exhibition about the warship Regalskeppet Kronan presents finds from 40 years of marine archaeological excavations, as well as two hoards of gold coins.

For children aged four to twelve who are interested in art, Konstlabbet offers drop-in creative activities. As dates and prices may change, it is worth checking the current museum programme before making plans.

Walks and longer routes

Kalmarsundsleden is a hiking and cycling route with a total length of more than 120 kilometres. It passes through the city of Kalmar and runs from the municipal boundary north of Slakmöre in Kalmar Municipality to Bröms in the south of Torsås Municipality. There are wind shelters and places to make a fire at several points along the route. Choosing this route lets you combine a longer outing with the rest stops described here.

For a walk through the city, the Park Promenade route offers a different sense of timing: it takes about an hour and a half and passes through Stadsparken, among other places, as well as Krusenstiernska gården and Lycksalighetens ö. Linnéslingan is a nature and culture loop between Linnaeus University and Stensö udde, passing through varied landscapes. If you are looking for routes of different lengths, Hälsoslingan offers walking loops through nature, coastal surroundings and green spaces near Kalmar Hospital. Historic walking tours of the city are also offered in summer, starting at Kalmar Turistcenter.

Wetlands and natural areas

At the Kalmar Dämme wetland, visitors can go for a walk, watch birds and experience a wetland landscape. The area provides habitats for numerous plant and animal species. The Hagbynäs wetland is part of Skärgårdsparken and supports water quality, birdlife and biodiversity. These places offer a different focus for nature-based plans than historic walks and museum visits.

Stensö is a peninsula in the south of Kalmar, where there is a snorkelling trail. North of Kalmar, the island of Horsö and the Värsnäs peninsula together form a nature reserve. When planning your visit, you can compare these natural attractions with the city routes: Kalmarsundsleden is a long hiking and cycling route, while the Park Promenade route gives an approximate duration and Hälsoslingan comprises walking loops of different lengths.

Plan your journey

Kalmar can be reached by bus, train or plane. Kalmar Öland Airport is about five kilometres from the city centre; local bus route 402 passes the airport every 20 minutes. As timetables may change, check the connection for your travel date. Together with the routes and attractions described above, this information can help you plan your journey and the excursions you want to take in Kalmar.

Discover more destinations: Ekenäs, Ljungbyholm, Påryd, Vassmolösa, Alby, Åstad, Karlevi, Runsbäck, Kalmar, Hagby, Broakulla, Rockneby, Trekanten, Halltorp, Föra, Storafro.

Back to the main travel overview: Kalmar.