Attractions on Öland - guide around Öland

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There are plenty of attractions on Öland. Above all, there is a lot of exciting history to discover, but also beautiful nature and all kinds of lovely places to visit. Here you will find a guide for travelling around Öland.

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Attractions on Öland - a guide for those planning a road trip

Last summer we travelled around Öland by motorhome. We have written several reports on the main sights, but we still have a lot to tell you about. Öland is a perfect road trip destination, with lots of interesting little stops along the way. Now we have put together a road trip guide for those travelling by motorhome, car, motorcycle ... or any other way of getting around on the roads.

Sights on Öland - divided into eight stages

We start the guide by driving over the Öland Bridge, and then immediately turn south. We have chosen to divide the guide into eight stages, and each stage ends with a place where you can stay overnight with a motorhome.

If you are not travelling by motorhome, you can in some cases stay in the same place in a tent or cabin - or sleep somewhere nearby. And of course, the journey can be both slower and faster, depending on your pace and how many attractions on Öland you plan to visit... Let's go!

Stage 1: From Kvarnkungen to Långe Jan

Stage 1 starts as soon as we cross the Öland Bridge. We start by checking out a large mill, and then turn south along the west coast.

The mill king

Why not start by checking out the "Kvarnkungen" to get a real Öland feeling? This is Scandinavia's largest preserved stump mill, located in Björnhovda, just east of the centre of Färjestaden.

Stora Alvaret and southern Öland's agricultural landscape

One of the most famous things on Öland is Stora Alvaret and the Southern Öland Agricultural Landscape World Heritage Site. Stora Alvaret is a 37 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide area of alvar land in the southern part of the island. If you want to discover this properly, for example by hiking, you will of course have to spend some more time here.

Färjestaden

Färjestaden is the largest town on Öland, and here you can take the opportunity to shop or run errands before continuing your tour.

Karlevistenen

Karlevistenen is a rune stone that stands in the middle of a field and is considered one of Sweden's most remarkable rune stones. The stone dates from the end of the Viking Age and contains a poem in 'Queen's Quiet'. The poem is dedicated to a powerful chieftain named Sigge, who may have been an island chieftain who did great deeds.

Capella farm

Capellagården is located in Vickleby and is a school with training in arts and crafts and gardening. In the summer, you can visit the garden shop or craft shop, or have a coffee in the garden café.

Bårby castle

Bårby Castle was built between 400 and 700 AD. Today you can see remains of the castle in the form of the surrounding embankment. The sign says that a farmer in the early 1900s found a gold coin from Eastern Europe here.

Gettlinge burial ground

The Gettlinge burial ground is one of the larger burial grounds on Öland, and here you will find, among other things, a set of ships. There are also rock chests, and spearheads and swords have been found in the graves.

Vat X Gustav's wall

Karl X Gustav's wall is 4.5 kilometres long and was built across Öland in the 17th century to separate the king's land from the public land. One of the many unusual sights on Öland!

Långe Jan and the southern tip of Öland

On the southern tip of Öland is the Ottenby nature reserve, home to harbour seals and one of Sweden's best bird sanctuaries. The landscape is exotic and fascinatingly un-Swedish, with open spaces and animals roaming freely across the roads. There is also the Långe Jan lighthouse, which is Sweden's tallest and one of the country's oldest. In addition, you will find Naturum Ottenby, with fine exhibitions.

Camping/caravanning site: Real estate site Drottning Öda

If you want to be ready for the next day's adventure, you can spend the night at Drottning Öda pitch. Here you will find most of the services you need as well as electricity at some of the sites. Hotel rooms are also available.

Stage 2: From Eketorp Castle to Gråborg Castle

We continue the tour from the southernmost part of Öland and northwards, along the east coast.

Eketorp Castle

Eketorp's castle is the only one of Öland's ancient castles that has been recreated so that you can experience what life might once have been like. Inside the castle there have been buildings between the 300s and the 1200s, and today the rebuilt castle is a major attraction on Öland. Don't miss it!

Seby cemetery

The Seby burial ground is one of Öland's best-known archaeological sites from the Iron Age. There are 280 graves, a shipwreck, a Viking rune stone, rock chests and bowl pits.

St Knut's Chapel

In the village of Borg, you can visit the ruins of St Knut's chapel. The chapel was built in the late 12th century and abandoned in the early 16th century. The sign next to it tells of a time when Öland was in a borderland and Sweden did not exist, a time when kings fought around the Baltic Sea and everyone had to be Christianised.

Gråborg

Right next to St Knut's Chapel is the ancient castle Gråborg, which is the largest of all the ancient castles on Öland. Roman gold coins have been found here, indicating wealth and a time of travelling and contacts across the world.

Camping/caravanning site: Bläsinge harbour

In Bläsinge harbour there are both pitches in the harbour, with a view of the sea, and higher up on grass. The sites in the harbour have electricity.

Stage 3: From Lerkaka to Sankta Brita's chapel

We continue northwards along the coast, but not so far this time. There is plenty to see along the way.

Kvarnraden in Lerkaka

If you want to see (or photograph) many windmills in one go, Lerkaka Mill Row is a hot tip.

Öland Museum Himmelsberga

Öland Museum Himmelsberga is a nice open-air museum that shows an old-fashioned Öland row village and what life was like in the past. There is also a cosy little café, a shop and an art gallery.

Ismanstorp fortress

Ismantorp Castle is a ring fortress within which there are 95 house foundations. The castle was built and used between 300 and 600 AD, and its construction is inspired by both Roman camps and Norse mythology. A fascinating attraction on Öland for those who love history.

Gärdslösa church

Gärdslösa Church is one of the best preserved medieval churches on Öland. The foundation is from the 12th century and inside there is, among other things, a nave from the 17th century.

Störlinge Agricultural and Motor Museum

Störlinge Agricultural and Motor Museum is a private museum with around 2500 artefacts.

Störlinge mill

If you haven't had enough of Öland mills in Lerkaka, you can see even more in Störlinge. There are no less than seven here.

Skedemosse museum

Around the time of Christ's birth, Skedemosse was one of southern Sweden's most important sacrificial sites, and gold rings weighing 1.3 kg have been found here. Today there is a museum here that explains archaeology, culture and history.

St Brita's Chapel

Sankra Brita's chapel was probably built in the 13th century at the medieval trading centre of Sikavarp. Today you can see the ruins and a tall stone cross, and enjoy the peaceful setting by the water.

Camping/caravanning site: RV park Kårehamn

In Kårehamn there is a caravan park with a view of the sea. Service is available.

Stage 4: From Källa Old Church to Böda Sand Camping.

The journey continues north along the east coast and we approach the northernmost part of Öland.

Source old church

Källa Old Church is located along the road to Källa Harbour, which was once one of the most important harbours in northeastern Öland. The old stone church was built in the 13th century and has been rebuilt and renovated several times since then.

Högby church and church stables

The tower of Högby Church is a 13th century defence tower with many stairs and a trapdoor. The church dates from 1871 and contains, among other things, a Madonna cabinet from the 15th century.

2D café Kex on Mellböda farm

Mellböda Farm has something as unique and different as a 2D café. On the farm you will also find an art stable, a play barn, a fantastic toy shop, kite flying and a very different holiday apartment. The café offers both an attraction on Öland and a special experience!

Böda Sand Camping

Böda Sand Camping is Sweden's largest campsite, and also known from the TV reality series Böda Camping. Situated along a two mile long white sandy beach, the campsite is like its own little village with pools, bars, restaurants, shops, entertainment and activities.

Camping/caravanning site: Böda harbour car park in Löttorp

If you don't want to stay at Böda Sand Camping overnight, an alternative is to stay at Böda Harbour's campsite in Löttorp. There are service buildings and electricity on some of the pitches.

Stage 5: From Trollskogen to Byxelkrok

Let's check out the northernmost part of Öland, with its beautiful nature and the famous Långe Erik lighthouse.

The Magic Forest

Just north of Böda Sand is the lovely Trollskogen forest. Here there are gnarled trees and nice hiking trails. You can also visit Naturum to learn more about nature.

Böda forest railway

At Trollskogen there is also the Böda Forest Railway. During the summer you can usually catch the train from time to time.

Långe Erik and the northern tip of Öland

Långe Erik Lighthouse is a 32 metre high lighthouse tower built in 1844-1845. The building is now a listed building and next door is a former lighthouse keeper's house. If you want, you can go up the tower for a fantastic view.

Neptune fields

Neptuni Fields is a shingle field and nature reserve located on the coast north of Byxelkrok. The field was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1741 after the Roman god of the sea, Neptune. The area is cold, but in summer there are lots of bluebells in bloom.

Byxelkrok and the Blue Maiden

Byxelkrok is a small town on the coast. Here you will find a guest harbour with a fish shop and restaurants. If you want to make a special trip, you can take the boat M/S Solvind to the island and the Blå Jungfrun National Park.

Camping/caravanning site: Tokenäs camping in Byxelkrok

If you wish, you can stay at Tokenäs camping in Byxelkrok. This is a simple, friendly and personalised campsite, just a short walk from the sea.

Stage 6: From Byrum's raukar to Borgholm

Then it was time to start moving south again, but this time driving along the beautiful west coast.

Kustvägen Byrum - Äleklinta

The coastal road between Byrum and Äleklinta on the west coast is very beautiful. Here you can drive along the water while experiencing both beautiful nature and historical sites.

The beach in Byrum-Sandvik

Byrum-Sandvik has a fantastic sandy beach, which can be a little quieter than the beaches on the east coast.

Byrum's raukar

It is not only Gotland that can boast of rauks. In Byrum you can see Öland's most famous rauk area, with impressive stone stumps created over millions of years.

Earth's harbour

The stone industry on Öland has medieval origins, and when travelling along the west coast you can see many traces of this. At Jordhamn is the island's only surviving wind-powered scouring mill, and nearby is a 'scouring walk', where horses or oxen helped to grind limestone.

Snake eyes camel ranch

A bit north of Borgholm you can experience something as exotic as camels. In the summer you can book a visit to the ranch. A different attraction on Öland!

Blue tubes

Blå rör is Öland's most famous Bronze Age cairn. It is also the largest cairn on the island with a diameter of 40 metres and a height of about three metres.

Borgholm

Borgholm is a cosy and charming tourist town, full of cafés and restaurants. Here you can shop in small stores, watch boats in the harbour or buy an Öland ice cream.

Camping/caravanning site: Kapelluddens camping

Kapelluddens camping is a large and nice campsite that is nicely located by the water. From the campsite you are within walking distance to the centre of Borgholm.

Stage 7: Borgholm Castle and Solliden.

There is a lot to see in Borgholm, so now we take a short break to visit both Borgholm Castle and Solliden.

Borgholm Castle

Borgholm Castle was built in the 13th century, and in the 17th century Charles X Gustav rebuilt the castle into a grand baroque palace. The castle is a magnificent place, and there is also a museum where you can learn more about its history.

Solliden Castle

Solliden Palace is the royal family's private summer paradise, but most of the beautiful gardens are open to the public. Here you can stroll through beautifully landscaped parks, and perhaps have a coffee at Kaffetorpet.

Camping/caravanning site: Solliden's car park

Right next to Solliden Castle there is a car park where you can stay overnight with a motorhome. Please note that there are no services.

Stage 8: From VIDA Museum to Kalmar

Then it was time to end the trip, and on the last leg we finish in Kalmar on the mainland. Many thanks to lovely Öland!

VIDA Museum & Art Centre

VIDA Museum & Konsthall is a privately owned art museum located just south of Borgholm.

Halltorp's garden

Halltorps hage is a nature reserve filled with valuable deciduous forest. Because of the large oak trees, this is a habitat for large beetles, among other things.

Church of Algutsrum

The church in Algutsrum was built at the end of the 12th century. It contains a medieval altarpiece, believed to have come from the chapel of St Knut.

Öland Zoo and Amusement Park

If you want to experience a different type of attraction on Öland, you can visit the Öland Zoo and Amusement Park.

squid

Shortly after leaving Öland via the Öland Bridge, you will find yourself in Kalmar, which is also a nice destination. Here you can, for example, visit Kalmar Castle or stroll around Kvarnholmen.

Camping/caravanning site: Ölandskajen in Kalmar

At Ölandskajen in Kalmar, there are tarmac parking spaces in a good location for exploring the city. The tourist office is right next door.

Even more attractions on Öland?

In this guide we have collected lots of attractions on Öland, but of course there are even more things to see and do. Do you have more tips? Don't hesitate to share!

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