The Swedish Öland Road is a themed road that takes you around Öland, to experience the best that the island of sun and wind has to offer. Travel on your own and at your own pace - by car, motorhome, caravan or motorbike.
Table of contents
Swedish Ölandsvägen
Svenska Ölandsvägen is a FREEDOMtravel Theme Road that runs from Capellagården just south of Färjestaden and around the entire island until it ends at the Öland Bridge. You can follow it from any direction you like, or pick your favourite part (your favourite spots) in the middle. This is an idea to make it easier for you to go on a little adventure. Happy travelling!
Swedish Ölandsvägen
Brief facts about the Swedish Ölandsvägen
- Length: 344 kilometres
- Start: Capella farm
- Stop: Öland Bridge
1. the Capella farm
Capellagården, located in Vickleby, is a school offering training in arts and crafts and gardening. In the summer, you can browse a garden shop and an arts and crafts shop. You can also stop for a coffee in the cosy garden café.
TIPS: Carlevistenen on the road
Karlevistenen is a rune stone that is considered one of Sweden's most remarkable rune stones. The stone dates back to the late Viking Age and contains a poem in 'Queen's Quiet', dedicated to the powerful chieftain Sigge.
2. Bårby castle on Svenska Ölandsvägen
Bårby Castle was built around 400 - 700 AD. Today you can see the remains of the castle in the form of a circular rampart. There is also a sign here, where you can read about the farmer who found a gold coin from Eastern Europe here in the early 1900s.
Tip: Gettlinge cemetery on the way
Gettlinge burial ground is one of the larger burial grounds on Öland, where you will find a ship's settlement. There are also rock chests, and spearheads and swords have been found in the graves.
TIP: Karl X Gustav's wall on the road
Karl X Gustav's Wall is a 4.5 kilometre long stone wall built across Öland in the 17th century. Its purpose was to separate the king's land from the public's land.
3. Långe Jan and Ottenby Nature Centre
The Långe Jan lighthouse and Naturum Ottenby are located on the southern tip of Öland. The landscape offers an almost exotic environment with open spaces and freely roaming grazing animals, and it is possible to see harbour seals and watch birds. At Naturum Ottenby you can see various exhibitions about animals and nature.
4. Ottenby Lund Nature Reserve
Ottenby nature reserve is home to Ottenby grove, a deciduous forest full of birds. Here you will find, among other things, the country's densest population of warblers. There is also a bird tower.
5. Eketorp Castle
Eketorp's castle is the only ancient castle on Öland that has been recreated to show what the castle may once have looked like. The castle was inhabited between the 300s and 1200s, and today it serves as an open-air museum. During the summer, many try-out activities are also organised, which can be fun for both children and adults.
6. Sandby village
Sandby borg is currently not much of an attraction (when we were here there was no car park or decent path), but the history is very interesting. Excavations have found several jewellery caches and human remains, suggesting that a massacre occurred here. If you want to know more, you can visit Kalmar County Museum in Kalmar.
TIP: St Knut's Chapel at Gråborg
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.
7. grey castle on Svenska Ölandsvägen
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 during excavations here, which tells of an ancient era of wealth and long-distance travelling.
8. clay cake mills
If you want to see, and perhaps photograph, many windmills on the island at the same time, Kvarnraden in Lerkaka is a hot tip.
9. Öland Museum Himmelsberga
Öland's museum Himmelsberga is a fine open-air museum that showcases an old-fashioned row village on Öland. Here you can learn about what life was like in the past. There is also a cosy little café, a shop and an art gallery.
10. Ismanstorp fortress
Ismantorp Castle is a remarkable island ring fortress whose design is thought to be inspired by both Roman camps and Norse mythology. Inside the circular outer wall are 95 house foundations, showing where people once lived.
11. Störlinge Agricultural & Motor Museum
Störlinge Lantbruks- och Motormuseum is a private museum with around 2500 artefacts. Here you can see things like tractors, agricultural tools and motorcycles.
12. Störlinge mill
Störlinge kvarnar offers a row of seven mills on Öland. Öland has about 350 mills and this is the perfect place to make a stop and photograph the mills!
TIP: St Brita's Chapel on the road
St Brita's Chapel was probably built in the 13th century and was located at the medieval trading post of Sikavarp. Today you can see the ruins including a high stone cross. The site also offers a peaceful setting by the water.
TIP: Source old church on the way
Källa Old Church is located along the road to Källa Harbour, which was once an important harbour on northeastern Öland. The old stone church was built in the 13th century and has been restored several times since then.
13. Högby church
Högby church was built in 1871 and houses, among other things, a Madonna's cabinet from the 15th century. The tower of Högby Church is a 13th century defence tower with many stairs and a trapdoor.
14. Mellböda farm
Mellböda Farm is a charming place with an art gallery, a play barn, a fantastic toy shop, kite flying and a very special holiday apartment. You'll also find a 2D café, where you seem to be in a two-dimensional world.
15. Skäftekärr Archaeological Open Air Museum
The archaeological open-air museum in Skäftekärr is open for a limited period in the summer. Sometimes "Iron Age days" are also organised when the farm is populated by people in period clothing.
16. Böda Sand on the Swedish Öland Road
Böda Sand Camping is located along a two mile long and beautiful sandy beach. This campsite, the largest in Sweden, offers swimming pools, bars, restaurants, shops, entertainment and a very wide range of activities.
17. Böda forest railway
On northern Öland, at Trollskogen, you can find the Böda Skogsjärnväg. In the summer, tours with the train are usually organised from time to time.
18. Trollskogen Nature Centre
Trollskogen is a lovely forest, full of gnarled trees and great hiking trails. Here you can also visit Naturum to learn more about animals and nature in the area.
19. Long Erik
The Långe Erik lighthouse is a 32 metre high lighthouse tower that was built in 1844-1845 and is now a listed building. If you want to, you can climb to the top for a wonderful view of the northern tip of Öland.
20. Neptune fields
Neptuni Åkrar is a nature reserve and shingle field, located on the coast north of Byxelkrok. It was Carl Linnaeus who named the site in 1741, after the Roman sea god Neptune.
21. Byxel hook on the Swedish Öland road
Byxelkrok is a small town on the coast, where you will find a guest harbour with a fish shop and restaurants. Nearby is Tokenäs camping, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet.
TIP: Boat to Blue Maiden National Park
Starting from Byxelkrok, you can make an excursion to the national park and the island Blå Jungfrun, with the boat M/S Solvind.
TIPS: Kustvägen Byrum - Äleklinta
The coastal road Byrum - Äleklinta is known to be beautiful to drive along. Here you can experience both fantastic nature and historical sights. The road is marked as a purple line on the top map.
22nd Byrum Sandvik
In Byrum Sandvik there is a fantastic sandy beach. This place may be for those who are looking for a quieter sandy beach, compared to the popular beaches on the east coast.
23. Byrum's raukar
Yes, there are rauks on Öland too! In Byrum, you can see Öland's most famous rauk area, with impressive rock formations created over millions of years.
TIPS: Restaurant Lammet & Grisen along the way
Lammet & Grisen is a popular restaurant on Öland, which is particularly suitable for anyone who loves to feast on meat.
TIP: Earth harbour along the road
At Jordhamn you will find traces of the former stone industry on the island, which dates back to the Middle Ages. It is home to the island's only surviving wind-powered scouring mill, and nearby is a 'scouring walk' where horses or oxen helped to grind limestone.
24. wormwood camel ranch
Just north of Borgholm, something as unexpected as live camels awaits you. In the summer you can book a visit to the ranch.
25. Borgholm on the Swedish Ölandsvägen
Borgholm is a cosy summer town, filled with tourists during the high season. Here you will find cafés and restaurants, small shops and Ölandsglass.
26. Borgholm Castle Ruin
Borgholm Castle is an exciting and interesting place to visit. The castle was built in the 13th century, and in the 17th century Charles X Gustav rebuilt it into a grand baroque palace. There is also a museum on site.
27: Solliden Castle
Although Solliden Palace is the royal family's private summer paradise, most of the beautiful gardens are open to the public. Here you can stroll through beautiful parks and enjoy a coffee at the Kaffetorpet café.
28th VIDA Museum & Art Centre
VIDA Museum & Konsthall is a privately owned art museum located just south of Borgholm. For those who like art!
29. 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.
TIP: Algutsrum church along the way
The church in Algutsrum was built at the end of the 12th century. In the church you can see a medieval altar cabinet, which is believed to have come from St Knut's chapel.
TIPS: The Mill King along the way
Kvarnkungen, located in Björnhovda just east of central Färjestaden, is Scandinavia's largest preserved stump mill.
30. Öland's Animal & Amusement Park
Öland Zoo and Amusement Park is perfect for those travelling with children. Here you can see lots of wild animals together and have fun in the amusement park.
31. Ölandsbron on Svenska Ölandsvägen
The Ölandsbron is a 6072 metre long bridge that crosses the Kalmar Sound, connecting Förjestaden on Öland with Kalmar on the mainland. Once you have crossed the bridge and left Öland behind, you can take the opportunity to experience the beautiful city of Kalmar.
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