Östhammar: Coast, Culture and Trails

Östhammar combines a landscape of forests, rocks, sea, lakes and rivers with activities centred on water, cultural history and nature. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to consider in advance which of these aspects of the destination you’d like to shape your stay.

Water, trails and nature

Krutudden is a nature-focused recreation area near the centre of Östhammar. You can swim, take a walk, barbecue or play beach volleyball there. Kayaks and SUP boards are also available to rent; it’s best to check availability in advance. Krutudden brings together various activities by the water without requiring you to plan a specific itinerary.

The Hälsans Stig circular trail in Östhammar is 4 km long, with each kilometre marked. This helps you keep track of the distance as you plan your walk. The route differs from the longer circular trails that lead to historic sites or landscapes with marshes and ponds.

Further afield, Florarna is part of the region’s natural landscape. It is Uppland’s largest continuous marshland, surrounded by extensive forests. Open shelters provide space to eat food you’ve brought along or warm up; several are also suitable for overnight stays. The protected area’s rules apply. Florarna thus complements the town’s attractions with a natural setting where the shelters may also be useful for a longer stay.

Circular trails with industrial history

Kulturstigen is a 6 km circular trail right next to Österbybruk. Along the trail are dams dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as traces of early ironworking. The route combines a clearly defined distance with visible landmarks from the area’s industrial history.

Karmdammen Runt is 2 km long and passes further traces of ironworking. These include the so-called konstgången, a revolutionary form of power transmission, and the Brunnshuset of the Dannemora health spring. Harvikadammen runt is also a circular trail, but 6 km long: the historic inspection path for the dam offers views of the dam and the surrounding marshes and ponds. The trails differ not only in length but also in subject matter, from technical landmarks to a marshland landscape.

Cultural sites and guided tours

The Mineralmuseet displays gemstones, fluorescent minerals and fossils, as well as solid lead. The collection also includes unusual stones from Greenland, the Kola Peninsula and Värmland. It ranges from minerals and fossils to rocks from different regions.

In Österbybruk, a guided tour of Österbybruksherrgård introduces the centuries-old history of the ironworks and ends in the historic kitchen. A visit to Vallonsmedjan is included in the guided tours. As tours are offered seasonally, check the dates before your visit. The Orangeriträdgården in Österbybruk includes an orangery and an 18th-century kitchen garden. It is open to visitors year-round, though temporary changes to access may occur.

In Östhammar, city walks take you through the historic districts and introduce you to the town’s history. For a different cultural experience, Kulturhuset Storbrunn has a library, cinema and a space for contemporary art. It also hosts cultural events and conferences. The walks focus on the town’s history and districts, while Storbrunn brings several cultural offerings together under one roof.

Forsmarks bruk is one of Sweden’s best-preserved listed buildings. The Visit Forsmark visitor experience includes a hands-on workshop for children, a Bruksmuseum, a café and guided bus tours around the power plant site. Availability of these seasonal activities may vary; check dates when planning your visit.

Getting there and finding your way

You can reach Österbybruk on direct bus 823 from Uppsala, or by taking the Upptåget and changing to bus 823 in Skyttorp. As public transport connections and timetables may change, check the connection in the UL timetable before you travel.

There are several strategically located InfoPoints in Östhammars kommun. A tourist office is also open in Öregrund during the summer. This seasonal resource complements the InfoPoints if you’d like help finding your way around during the summer.

Discover more destinations: Norrskedika, Östhammar, Öregrund, Gimo, Gräsö, Österbybruk, Alunda, Forsmark

Return to the main travel overview: Uppsala.