Färjestaden
Gateway to the island and Öland's largest town
Öland's largest town, right at the Öland Bridge (Ölandsbron), the gateway to the island, with a zoo, a shopping centre and good connections in every direction.
By oeland.de editorial team · Travel editors · Last updated: June 2026
The gateway to the island
Färjestaden ("ferry town") sits right at the eastern end of the Öland Bridge (Ölandsbron), and with around 5,000 residents is the largest town on the island. The name recalls the era before 1972, when ferries from the mainland used to dock here.
Your first stop on the island
Anyone crossing the bridge reaches Färjestaden first. The town has a large shopping centre, supermarkets and the tourist office, a practical place to stock up at the start of your trip. Right next door is Ölands Djurpark, the island's biggest family day-out destination.
Starting point for the south
From Färjestaden, the main roads run north towards Borgholm and south into the Stora Alvaret World Heritage area. The central location makes the town a practical base for exploring the island.
Around Färjestaden
Ölands Djurpark
Ölands Djur- och Nöjespark near Färjestaden is the island's biggest family destination, a zoo with safari, rides and one of Sweden's largest water parks.
Stora Alvaret
The treeless limestone steppe in southern Öland, around 260 km² and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over 35 orchid species, rare endemics and one of the island's best birding areas.