Oskarshamn – Culture, Trails and Sea

In Oskarshamn, the forests of Småland meet the sea. The surrounding area has more than 6,000 islands and 533 lakes, and the municipality offers more than 20 bathing spots. Museums, art and outdoor trails provide a range of reasons to visit.

Art, Seafaring and History

The Döderhultarmuseet displays a collection of nearly 200 wooden sculptures by Döderhultarn. The artist lived and worked in Oskarshamn and later became internationally known. The Sjöfartsmuseet explores the development of seafaring in the Oskarshamn region. Exhibits include objects from specialist crafts, ship models and navigation equipment. A children’s area explores the theme of ships through the galley and wheelhouse of the Thyra.

Exhibitions at Oskarshamn Konsthall rotate between Swedish contemporary art, photography, crafts and cultural history. Fredriksbergs herrgård was built in 1783 and showcases the architecture, art and furniture-making of the Gustavian era, along with an 18th-century mineral collection. The photography exhibition Ögonblick från Oscarshamn depicts the history and development of Oskarshamn from 1890 to 1970. Its themes include the harbour, Fredriksbergs herrgård, small businesses, culture and entertainment.

The Oskarshamn Street Art project has transformed building façades across the town with colourful murals. Individual murals may change over time. In Vånevik, the museum includes a walking trail past around 30 large and small quarries. Fifteen stops with QR codes explain the history of the heyday of the stone industry; route information and QR content may be updated. Nearby, Stensjö by is also a destination for history enthusiasts: it is the first cultural reserve in Kalmar County and was established in 2020.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

A nature trail around 2.2 kilometres long runs across Uvö. There are benches and a designated barbecue area along the trail. In the Havslätt recreation area, you can choose from three fitness and activity trails measuring 7.3, 5.0 and 2.4 kilometres. This lets you compare the available trails by length. The area also has an outdoor gym, a motor skills course and a barbecue shelter.

The trails also differ in their conditions. Döderhultarns stig is partly hilly and unsuitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and people with reduced mobility. The Strandpromenade Camping till camping can be used on foot, for running or by bicycle; it is also suitable for pushchairs and mobility aids. The Ostkustleden is divided into eight stages and offers the option of staying overnight in cabins.

There are more opportunities for activities in Oskarshamn: the disc golf course is in the town park near the outdoor stage. Allmänhetens Arena offers free public sessions for ice skating, inline skating, football and running. The indoor swimming pool at Arena Oskarshamn has a 25-metre pool with eight lanes. During opening hours, lanes are always reserved for swim training; a children’s lagoon features water-spraying figures and playful water activities.

Harbour and Ferry Connections

Oskarshamn’s guest harbour near Brädholmen has 80 to 100 guest berths. Facilities and services available there include toilets, showers, fuel and bicycle hire. In summer, from Midsummer to mid-August, an excursion boat sails daily from the harbour to the national park island of Blå Jungfrun; the crossing takes about 1.5 hours.

Ferry connections vary by destination and season. Destination Gotland operates a year-round service between Oskarshamn and Visby. In summer, the M/S Solsund car and passenger ferry sails daily between Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok on Öland. Since timetables and departures are important when planning your trip, it is worth checking the latest times before you travel, especially for seasonal services.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Figeholm, Kristdala, Vånevik, Misterhult, Fårbo, Påskallavik, Kråkemåla, Oskarshamn.

Back to the main travel overview: Kalmar.