Discover Kalmar: culture, history and nature

Kalmar offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: castle history, exhibitions, churches and the city’s past are just some of the options, alongside natural areas and a long hiking trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kalmar, you can start by thinking about which of these interests you’d like to shape your stay. The places and activities below offer some concrete ideas.

Castle history and exhibitions

The history of Kalmar Castle stretches back 800 years. Its permanent exhibitions tell the story of the Kalmar Union, the Kalmar War and the golden age of the Vasa kings. They explore a range of historical contexts, from the Union and the war to an era in Swedish royal history.

The Regalskeppet Kronan exhibition presents finds from 40 years of marine archaeological excavations. Two hoards of gold coins are also on display, one of which is the largest in Sweden. This gives the exhibition a distinct focus alongside the political and dynastic themes of Kalmar Castle. If you’re interested in marine archaeology, you’ll find a different perspective on the region’s history here.

The guided tour “Staden som flyttades” also explores the city’s history. It’s a guided walk on Kvarnholmen where you can learn more about the city. In connection with its exhibitions, Kalmar konstmuseum organizes artist talks, public lectures and seminars. If you’d like to attend an event, check the dates before your trip.

Churches, music and the city’s past

Kalmar domkyrka is one of the best-preserved Baroque churches in Northern Europe. Kalmar Slottskyrka offers a different historical point of interest: it was inaugurated in 1592. It also hosts concerts throughout the year. Sunday concerts are usually held in the nearby Gröna Salen. If you’d like to attend a concert during your trip, it’s worth checking the dates; Gröna Salen is the usual venue.

Gamla kyrkogården is Kalmar’s oldest preserved cemetery and was established in the 13th century. Its history reaches far back in time, adding another aspect of the city’s past to the themes of castles, churches and exhibitions. In other words, Kalmar offers not only exhibitions, but also a variety of historic sites and cultural events that you can plan for individually.

Nature and hiking trails

Skärgårdsparken lies by Västra sjön and is a recreation area with a rich variety of birdlife and diverse natural surroundings. Stensö is a peninsula in southern Kalmar. These places offer different kinds of natural attractions: Skärgårdsparken is known for its location by Västra sjön and its birdlife, while Stensö is defined by its shape and location in the south of the city. If nature is important to your trip, you can consider these places as separate points of interest.

Kalmarsundsleden is a hiking trail more than 120 kilometres long, stretching across the municipalities of Kalmar and Torsås. Its length and route through two municipalities make it a different kind of hiking option from a short walk in one place. When planning, take into account both its total length and the fact that it spans two municipalities.

Getting to Kalmar

There are several train departures to Kalmar every day from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö/Copenhagen. The train operators listed are Kust till Kustbanan and Öresundstågen. If you’re planning your trip for a specific date, check the timetable for that day. This will help you arrange your train journey to suit your travel dates.

Kalmar Öland Airport is about five kilometres from the centre of Kalmar. This is an approximate distance. Together with the train departures, it offers an initial guide to planning your journey; which details matter to you depends on how you plan to travel to Kalmar.

For the broader travel overview: Kalmar.