A vast limestone plateau defines the World Heritage landscape in southern Ă–land. People have lived there for around 5,000 years, with evidence stretching from prehistory to the present day. The cultural landscape is protected. Protected areas include archaeological sites and monuments, historic buildings, the landscape and wildlife. This long-standing relationship between nature and human activity shapes the cultural and historical context of the World Heritage landscape in southern Ă–land.
Trails through the landscape
The routes vary in length and course. The Mittlandsleden runs for 53.3 kilometres through Mittlandet. Orange bands mark the trail, and several story benches connect the route with local stories. The Rönnerum-Abbantorp Nature Reserve has a 9.7-kilometre circular route and shorter sections. The six-kilometre Långlötleden starts and ends at the Ölands Museum Himmelsberga and follows old farm tracks, livestock trails and paths. For a shorter route, the three-kilometre Gula slingan starts at Station Linné and leads into the southern parts of Mittlandet.
The Mörbylångaleden is known as Öland’s Signature Trail and is divided into five stages. The Kalmarsundsleden follows a different route: at more than 120 kilometres long, it offers opportunities for hiking and cycling through coastal landscapes, natural areas, cultural and historical sites, and small settlements. It follows old country roads, railway embankments, village streets and coastal bridle paths. Along the trail, there are places to swim, rest and stay overnight; you’ll also find wind shelters and places to light a fire at several points.
Nature reserves and special wildlife sightings
At 2,300 hectares, Allgunnen Nature Reserve is one of the largest in Kalmar County. It includes most of Lake Allgunnen and numerous large and small islands. More than 100 rare beetle species have been found there to date. The lake is one of the few large unregulated lakes in southern Sweden and, together with the AlsterĂĄn River, forms species-rich aquatic habitats.
At Beijershamn, 650 of Sweden’s approximately 1,000 species of larger moths have been observed. It is also the only known site in the Nordic countries for the critically endangered Fönstervingespinnare moth. An approximately 2.5-kilometre circular trail starts and ends at the southern car park, following the shore, crossing the pier and passing through the wetlands. The nature reserve is accessible by car, bus and bicycle. The waters south of the pier are excellent for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Ottenby also brings landscape and wildlife observation together: the nature reserve lies at the southern tip of Öland, which the county administration describes as one of Sweden’s best places for birdwatching. There are four marked hiking trails, as well as other unmarked paths and farm tracks. A prominent landmark is the Långe Jan lighthouse. Built in the 1780s, it is 42 metres tall and Sweden’s tallest lighthouse.
Cultural history and culinary experiences
Beyond the trails, buildings and historic traces also tell the story of the region. Kalmar Castle is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles in the Nordic countries. At the Kalmar County Museum, you can see, among other things, a major exhibition about the warship Kronan. Skärgårdsparken has two Iron Age burial mounds, one round and one square; the square one measures 18 × 7 metres. An embankment of the former railway between Kalmar and Torsås also runs through the park. Construction of the line began in December 1897, and it opened to traffic on 8 August 1899.
Every autumn, at the end of September—usually in week 39—Ölands Skördefest brings together more than 900 activities across the island. These include farm shops and food markets. Shops, farm shops, restaurants, inns and cafés sell and serve freshly harvested and prepared delicacies during the festival. Check the dates in the relevant programme before your trip.
On Öland, culinary experiences combine walks and tastings with stories about the natural and cultural history. A culinary walk in Mittlandet ends at Mittlandsgården with coffee brewed over an open fire and a tasting of the farm’s honey; dates and booking options vary by season. A short culinary stroll takes you through the World Heritage Site of southern Öland and includes tastings of island delicacies, along with views across the vast Alvar.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Kalmar, you can plan your stay around the things that interest you most: trails and nature reserves, cultural history or culinary discoveries.
Discover more destinations: Mörbylånga, Borgholm, Högsby, Emmaboda, Nybro, Västervik, Torsås, Mönsterås, Kalmar, Oskarshamn, Hultsfred, Vimmerby, Vissefjärda, Rugstorp, Runnö, Gullabo.
For the broader travel overview: Sweden.
