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Grönhögen

Harbour, beach and golf at Öland's southern tip

Quiet seaside village on Öland's south-west coast, swimming in an old limestone quarry, a guest harbour with around 20 berths and a links golf course, a few kilometres from Ottenby and Långe Jan.

By oeland.de editorial team · Travel editors · Last updated: June 2026

The stone pier at Grönhögen reaching into the Baltic Sea
Contents

Grönhögen sits on Öland's south-west coast, near the island's southern tip. The small village combines a swimming spot, a compact guest harbour and a links-style golf course, a quieter counterpart to the busier beaches in the north, and a good stop on the way to Ottenby and Långe Jan.

Swimming in the old limestone quarry

Rather than a broad sandy beach, a flooded limestone quarry (kalkbrott) defines the scene here: a popular swimming spot with clear water right on the coast. The Baltic stays cool off Öland, in June, water temperatures are usually 8 to 17°C, rising to around 12 to 20°C at the height of summer. The beach and harbour promenade are freely accessible; facilities such as lifeguard cover or step-free access are not officially documented.

The guest harbour

The guest harbour (gästhamn) on Fiskaregränd 3 offers around 20 visitor berths alongside the quay (position 56°16'N, 16°24'E). A daily fee gives access to toilet, shower and washing machine; the exact amount is not officially stated. On site there's diesel, gas (gasol), a slipway, a sewage pump-out station and bike hire. The harbourmaster (tel. +46 70-276 96 64) also handles minor engine servicing. The harbour area also has a gallery and a café.

Industrial history and the mill

Grönhögen was once a shipping port for lime and sugar, traces of that past still shape the village today. A visible landmark is the Kvarnen i Grönhögen: a Dutch-style windmill built in 1884, moved to Öland in 1916 and run as a restaurant since 1978 (Eketorpsvägen 1, tel. +46 485 66 11 40). It has no own website, updates run via Instagram, and opening is seasonal.

Right by Grönhögen lies LinksGolf Öland (formerly Grönhögen Golf, Golfvägen 1), a course designed by Pierre Fulke in the classic links style along the coast. The green fee is 800 SEK for 18 holes; juniors up to 18 pay 400 SEK, including buggy guide and cart. For more on active holidays on the island, see the overview of Öland's beaches.

Visiting: the practicalities

  • Getting there: Grönhögen lies in the south of the island, near Degerhamn. Easily reached by car via the west coast road; more in the village profile for Degerhamn.
  • Duration: A half day is enough for a swim, a stroll round the harbour and a bite to eat.
  • Best time: June to August, that's when the restaurants and cafés are open and the water is at its warmest. Outside the season it's quiet, with much of it closed.
  • Combine with: The Ottenby bird reserve (about 5 km) and the Långe Jan lighthouse (about 8 km) are both nearby and combine well with Grönhögen for a day out.

Frequently asked questions

Does the beach at Grönhögen charge admission?+
No. The beach and harbour promenade are free and open year-round. A daily fee applies only in the guest harbour and covers toilet, shower and washing machine.
What does a round of golf at LinksGolf Öland cost?+
The green fee is 800 SEK for 18 holes; juniors up to 18 pay 400 SEK, both include a buggy guide and cart. In 2026, a "2 for the price of 1" green fee offer runs until 17 August.
When is the best time to visit?+
June to August. That's when the restaurants and cafés are open and the Baltic Sea usually reaches 12 to 20°C. Outside summer the village is quiet, but much of it is closed.
How far is it to Ottenby bird reserve and Långe Jan?+
Ottenby is about 5 kilometres away, and the Långe Jan lighthouse around 8 kilometres. Both combine well with a stop in Grönhögen.

Nearby

Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) in the Öland heath, a characteristic resident of the alvar landscape.

Ottenby

Nature reserve and bird observatory at Öland's southern tip, one of Sweden's best birdwatching sites, with a Naturum visitor centre, viewing towers and the King's Wall.

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

Långe Jan

At 42 metres, Sweden's tallest lighthouse stands on Öland's southern tip. 197 steps lead to a platform overlooking the Baltic and the Ottenby bird reserve.

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

Eketorp Fortress

Eketorp Fortress in southern Öland is a partially reconstructed Iron Age and medieval ring fort, now an open-air museum with heritage farm animals, crafts and guided tours.

Viking-age burial ground at Gettlinge with a stone ship setting on an Öland meadow - UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gettlinge Burial Ground

One of Öland's largest burial grounds, over 300 graves, a 30-metre stone ship setting and a post mill on the escarpment above the Kalmar Sound.