A five-kilometre circular hike, a Romanesque church, and a boat trip on the Nättrabyån give Nättraby its distinct appeal. You can consider nature, architectural history, and an experience on the water as separate travel interests. The Skärvaleden landscapes, the surviving features of Nättraby kyrka, and the M/S Axel’s route are especially useful for planning.

Hiking between landscape and river

The Skärvaleden is a five-kilometre circular hike through beaches, meadows, pastures, groves, marshes, and historic sites. The route thus links different landscape types with historical associations. If you focus mainly on trail length and surroundings when choosing a walk, you get both here: a circular route with a specified distance and a varied succession of natural and cultural sites.

If you are looking for the church and river as landmarks for a hike, you will find them on the Skärvaleden & Nättrabyleden circular walk: it passes Nättraby kyrka and runs along the Nättrabyån. You can travel to Nättraby by bicycle or bus and from there reach the Skärvaleden through the Skärva Nature Reserve. Trail conditions may vary depending on the season, so check them before setting out and plan for the conditions during your travel period.

Medieval architecture and studio glass

Nättraby kyrka was built in the 12th century and is one of the few surviving medieval churches in Blekinge. It is a Romanesque apse church made of rendered granite and grey stone; the nave, chancel, and apse have been preserved. An apse forms the rounded end of the church interior. This makes it possible to understand the church not only by its age, but also by its architectural form and materials. Visitors interested in medieval architecture will find a striking example here, with its components clearly identified.

Another cultural experience is Malin Mena’s studio glass workshop. She has operated it since 2006 in a converted 1950s water tower in Nättraby, just outside Karlskrona in Blekinge. Unlike the medieval church, the studio combines glassmaking with a more recent building that has been converted for use as a studio. If you plan to visit, check in advance for current visitor arrangements, as these may change.

The Nättrabyån from the water

The M/S Axel travels upstream along the Nättrabyån to Nättraby. The trip passes over idyllic waters and beneath lush green foliage. This offers an independent river-boat experience alongside hiking. While the Skärvaleden focuses on distance and changing landscapes, here the river route itself shapes the outing. Check the timetable in advance if you would like to include the trip in your plans.

The choice comes down to a clear contrast: the Skärvaleden is a circular route through varied landscapes with a specified distance, the church and glass studio represent different architectural and cultural histories, and the M/S Axel adds a river trip to these options. Choose the focus that best suits your trip.

Discover more destinations: Tving, Nävragöl, Hasslö, Karlskrona, Torhamn, Ramdala, Kristianopel, Jämjö.

Go to the main travel overview: Karlskrona.