Simrishamn: Old Town, Harbor and Coastal Trails

Cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses and intricately carved doors define Simrishamn’s medieval Old Town. The town also has a long history as a fishing village and trading post, along with museums and an active harbor. This gives you a blend of local history, maritime experiences and trails through the coastal landscape to help plan your trip.

History between the Old Town, church and harbor

For centuries, Simrishamn was a fishing village and trading post. Today, it is a commercial and fishing harbor with a long tradition of shipping and trade. Stortorget is also part of this history: a market has been held there for more than 100 years. Magasinet in kvarter Ålen illustrates the importance of trade and shipping to this coastal town in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The church of S:t Nicolai was first mentioned in writing in 1161. Its nave was completed in the 13th century, and the vaults were added in the 15th century. The limestone baptismal font dates from the 12th century. Near Simrislund is one of the richest and best-known rock carving sites in Skåne, with well over 200 figures.

Museums and digital tours

Österlens Museum tells the story of Simrishamn and the surrounding villages through exhibitions, programs and the museum shop, Garvaren. It is open year-round, and admission to the exhibitions and garden is free. When the museum is open, you can also visit the garden. The digital town tour is available in Swedish, English and German. The museum’s free apps also offer a town tour, as well as a climate walk through Simrishamn and a guide to the “Simrishamn 900 år” exhibition. This exhibition covers the town’s history from the 12th to the 20th century.

Other sites add a variety of themes to the museum offerings. Hafreborg at Storgatan 24 was originally built as a grain store; exhibitions are on floors 1, 2 and 3. Björkegrenska rederikontoret is a mini-museum in Björkegrenska gården, Storgatan 22. Visits can be arranged on request through the museum shop. Autoseum has a motorcycle museum focusing on motorcycles from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as L.A. TOYs, a toy museum featuring toys from earlier times.

Harbor life and regional traditions

The heritage-protected T/S Sarpen has been based in Simrishamn for more than fifty years. Visitors can take long sailing trips, weekend trips, or half-day and full-day excursions aboard the ship. They can learn to hoist sails, steer and navigate, tie knots and cook on board. If you’re planning a trip, check the dates and options before you travel.

Sillens dag is a family festival and a long-standing tradition linked to the importance of herring and herring fishing to Simrishamn. Seasonal offerings also shape the flea market at Suckarnas gång: it takes place on Saturdays during the summer half of the year and on five Sundays during the autumn season. Check the event dates if a specific market day is important to your trip.

Coastal trails, cycling routes and nature

Hiking and cycling routes offer a variety of landscapes. The Skåneleden route from Vik to Simrishamn passes beaches, small trails and a cycle path. The fifth stage of Skåneleden SL4 starts in Simrishamn and takes in sandy beaches, stony coastal meadows and wooded slopes. SL4 also reaches Simrishamn from Stenshuvud National Park, after passing through the park and then following the beach. Sydostleden is a 270-kilometer national cycling trail with stages between Växjö and Simrishamn.

Nearby, the approximately 1.5-kilometer Hällristningsleden connects the Yxornas häll and Stenkilsristningen rock carvings. It is marked as a circular route with red-painted posts and red arrows. Also nearby, the signposted Jätteleden passes through a historic landscape south of Gröstorp and is about 1.7 kilometers long. At about 1.5 kilometers, Hällristningsleden is slightly shorter than Jätteleden, which is about 1.7 kilometers long.

The municipal Skansen Nature Reserve lies in Simrishamn’s densely built-up area, between buildings and the sea. Its habitats include rocky terrain, dry meadows and wetter areas, where several endangered plant species grow. Nearby, Tobisvik also has a sandy beach about two kilometers long. Buses 574 and SkåneExpressen 3 serve Tobisvik; from there, it is a 750-meter walk. Check the timetables before setting out.

Planning your stay

The tourist center is right by the harbor in Marint centrum. For travel within the city, there is Snurringen, Simrishamn’s dedicated city bus line, which is free of charge. When looking for a hotel in Simrishamn, consider whether you want to focus your trip on the Old Town and museums, maritime experiences, or trails and nature. This can help you plan your stay around the things that interest you most, while keeping seasonal dates in mind.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gärsnäs, Borrby, Gladsax, Kivik, Rörum, Sankt Olof, Simrishamn, Skillinge, Vik, Brantevik, Tommarp, Vitaby, Hammenhög, Simrishamn V

Go to the main travel overview: Skåne.