Travel guide

Öland

Sweden's sunniest island stretches long and narrow through the Baltic Sea, linked to the mainland by the six-kilometre Öland Bridge (Ölandsbron). Ruined Borgholm Castle, hundreds of old windmills and the bare limestone steppe of Stora Alvaret, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, define the south. In spring and autumn, thousands of migratory birds stop here to rest.

What brings you to Öland?

The island runs a good 130 kilometres from tip to tip, the castles sit centrally on the west coast, the widest sandy beaches lie in the north, and the alvar, the lighthouse and the bird migration are in the south.

First time on Öland

The major sights grouped by theme, from the castle ruin above the Kalmar Strait to the lighthouses at either tip of the island.

Plan attractions 02

Getting there & the bridge

Exactly three crossings link the mainland to the island, and almost every route funnels through Kalmar first.

Plan your journey 03

Beaches & swimming

The island's long, narrow shape means a wind-sheltered stretch of coast is almost always within reach.

Compare beaches 04

Discover the places

Öland has only one proper town, but plenty of characterful places and villages strung out along the narrow island.

Out and about

Flat, narrow and full of nature reserves, and thanks to the Swedish right to roam most of it is free.

Find activities 06

When is Öland worth it?

The island wears a different face in every season, from the orchid bloom in spring to the harvest festival in autumn.

Check the seasons 07

Where to stay

Two decisions to make, which type of accommodation suits the trip and which end of the long island to base yourself at.

Find accommodation 08

Plan your days

Almost every highlight sits close to the one main road, which makes day-by-day stages from north to south the obvious approach.

See trip planning

Highlights

All attractions →

The six places people come to the island for.

Polished limestone and fine sand on the east coast, a nature reserve with fine beach sand.

Böda Sand

Öland's longest beach, with a nature reserve and campsite village

Imposing 11th-century castle ruin with characteristic stone walls and towers, surrounded by meadows and visitor information.

Borgholm Castle

Scandinavia's most impressive castle ruin

Impressive limestone formations and raukar, the distinctive rock formations of the Öland coast near Byrum.

Byrums Raukar

Öland's Limestone Sea Stacks by the Shore

Medieval ring fort at Eketorp with its characteristic stone wall and traditional thatched clay huts.

Eketorp Fortress

Öland's reconstructed ring fort

The Långe Jan lighthouse with its black-and-white paintwork and red keeper's cottage on Öland's southern tip.

Långe Jan

Sweden's tallest lighthouse

A stand of birches on the Stora Alvaret plain, a UNESCO World Heritage site with characteristic alvar vegetation and open limestone woodland.

Stora Alvaret

Öland's limestone steppe, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Places on Öland

Four places, four roles: from the island's only town and the gateway at the bridge to the fishing village in the north.

Borgholm Castle, ruins of the 16th-century Renaissance castle with its distinctive ring wall in the heart of Öland.

Borgholm Island capital with castle and harbour

Wooden footbridge through the reeds to the fishing huts at Färjestaden

Färjestaden Gateway to the island and Öland's largest town

The coast at Mörbylånga with its stone pier and the marina beyond

Mörbylånga Main town at the gateway to the Stora Alvaret

Rowing boats and a jetty in the bay at Byxelkrok

Byxelkrok Fishing village and summer harbour in the north

Öland on the map

What lies where: places, beaches and attractions at a glance.