At Ottenby, you can experience Öland’s natural world in many different ways: at 995 hectares, the nature reserve is one of the largest in Kalmar County. It is a well-known destination for birdwatchers. Many species stop over or nest here, and rare birds are often spotted too. The Långe Jan lighthouse defines the view: at 42 metres, it is Sweden’s tallest lighthouse and was built in the 1780s.

Ottenby: Birdlife, trails and sea

Ottenby Nature Reserve has four marked hiking trails. Access restrictions for certain areas may vary by season. Naturum Ottenby is located at the southern tip of Öland and focuses on birds, the sea and the striking landscape. From Easter until the weekend of All Saints’ Day, it offers exhibitions and a wide range of activities. If you are planning a visit or a hike, take the relevant seasonal guidance into account.

Ottenby rev Nature Reserve offers a different perspective: it is entirely marine and accessible only by boat; safety and nature conservation rules may affect access. Its landscape includes dense kelp forests, mussel beds and lush seagrass meadows. In the south of Öland, birdwatching and marked trails thus sit alongside a marine natural area with its own access conditions.

Hikes through Mittlandet and the World Heritage Site

Mittlandet can be visited year-round. Many of its attractions, nature reserves, cultural settings and hiking trails are easy to reach, although individual places may have their own seasonal rules. The Mittlandsleden trail runs through Mittlandet and is 53.3 kilometres long. If you enjoy exploring on foot, you’ll also find the Mörbylångaleden here: it is one of the Swedish Tourist Association’s twelve signature trails and passes through the starkly beautiful World Heritage Site.

The Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The World Heritage area includes villages, farmland, coastal areas and alvar landscapes, as well as numerous prehistoric archaeological sites. The range of experiences is reflected in the activities on offer, including open churches, hikes, concerts, exhibitions, family activities and guided tours. Programmes and dates may vary, so check the details if a particular activity is important to your trip.

Raukar and open coastline at Stenkusten

At Stenkusten, a stark coastline, raukar, limestone formations and open sea come together. You can hike, cycle, take photographs or have a picnic there. Near Byrum, a raukar area stretches along a 600-metre section of beach. Around a hundred formations stand along this stretch; the largest, in the southern part, are just under four metres high. These figures illustrate the landscape’s varied scale: a long stretch of coast with many formations and individual rocks that stand particularly tall.

Practical stops are also part of finding your way around Stenkusten. Sandvik, Löttorp and Byxelkrok have restaurants, ice-cream parlours and cosy cafés. This makes it easy to combine time in nature with a break in the places mentioned, without reducing the coastline to a single viewpoint. Your trip can bring together a range of interests: birdwatching and trails in Ottenby, hikes through Mittlandet and the World Heritage Site, and the sculpted coastal landscape near Byrum.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Västernorrland, Västmanland, Jämtland, Värmland, Stockholm, Dalarna County, Kalmar, Jönköping

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