Blekinge is Sweden’s southernmost archipelago region; the archipelago comprises around 2,875 islands. Coastal towns, islands, beech forests and nature experiences are all close to one another. This shapes a destination where maritime history, living craft traditions and trails through protected landscapes can be discovered from different perspectives. If you want to combine culture and nature, the region’s towns and routes offer distinctive ways to explore—from Karlskrona’s naval history to paths by the sea and along the Mörrumsån.
Naval history and living crafts
Karlskrona is considered the best-preserved and most complete of Europe’s surviving naval cities. The city was founded in 1680 to meet the need for a naval base in southern Sweden. On 3 December 1998, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This history comes to life through tangible objects at the Naval Museum: the Galjonshallen displays thirteen large figureheads from ships of the Swedish Navy. After an introduction, visitors can explore the submarine Neptun on their own.
Boatbuilding is also part of the region’s living cultural heritage. Nordic clinker boat traditions were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021 and remain living cultural heritage in Karlskrona. In the sheltered Saxemaraviken bay lies Saxemara båtvarv, Blekinge’s only still-active wooden boatyard. Traditional boatbuilding has been part of the place’s history since 1927; to this day, wooden boats are built, restored and maintained there using inherited craft knowledge.
Trails by river, lake and coast
In the Mörrumsåns övre dalgång nature reserve, an old railway embankment runs through a landscape of river, low-lying banks and wooded slopes strewn with boulders. The embankment is now a popular walking and cycling trail. The Blekingeleden offers a different scale: it is 270 kilometres long, divided into 15 stages, and passes through forests, by lakes and nature reserves, as well as through villages and cultural landscapes. Its length and number of stages may change, so check the latest route information before setting out. The 30-kilometre Laxaleden is a nature and cultural history trail along the Mörrumsån.
The other routes also vary in landscape and activity. More than ten kilometres of trails run close to the sea in Almö Nature Reserve. For a cycling route, Banvallen offers a completely car-free, paved 28-kilometre route that is particularly suitable for families. The Halen recreation area covers 809 hectares around Blekinge’s largest lake and includes valuable deciduous forests as well as nature and recreation areas. It has walking and horse-riding trails, picnic areas, campsites and service stations; facilities and trails may change.
Tjärö brings together several ways to experience the archipelago: the island offers walking trails, rocky swimming spots and opportunities to explore by kayak. It has been a historic meeting place between people and the sea for around 3,000 years. Långören offers a different perspective on cultural history: the island is living cultural heritage today, and visitors can stroll among historic buildings and experience one of Blekinge’s best-preserved pilot environments.
Island connections and regional discoveries
ARK56 connects parts of the coast and archipelago with routes for walking, cycling, kayaking and boating. Its hubs often bring together parking, public transport, accommodation, restaurants, information and several activities in one place. What is available varies by hub and season. The archipelago ferry service connects coastal towns with Tärnö, Tjärö, Hasslö, Sturkö and Trummenäs. One island crossing from Nogersund takes 25 minutes. Check the timetable before travelling, as routes and operating hours may change.
Parks and nature knowledge
The historic Ronneby Brunnspark features 18th-century villas, tranquil ponds and flowering gardens. The park is home to Naturum Blekinge, a visitor centre for nature experiences, recreational activities and environmental knowledge. The stag beetle, considered Europe’s largest insect, also lives in Almö Nature Reserve. The nature experience there ranges from trails near the coast to an encounter with a remarkable resident of the protected area.
Regional food culture can also be part of your discoveries: Frida på Staxgård offers cooking classes, which may be seasonal. Äggaboden in Gärestad near Ronneby combines a farm shop and a restaurant in the same rural farm setting. Check current visitor arrangements before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Karlshamn, Karlskrona, Trensum, Ronneby, Sölvesborg, Olofström, Örebro, Stockholm.
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