--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Kalmar, Sweden | Wimup" description: "The ten best things to do in Kalmar: the Renaissance castle, the Kronan wreck finds, the baroque cathedral, Kvarnholmen and the bridge to Öland, ranked and mapped." url: https://wimup.com/city/kalmar type: City guide updated: 2026-10-26 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Kalmar Kalmar, Sweden · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read Kalmar is the castle town of the Swedish south-east. The Kalmar Union was agreed here in 1397, the 17th-century grid of Kvarnholmen still sits inside its walls, and a 6 km bridge runs from the waterfront to Öland. ## Quick answer Two or three days. Give Kalmar Castle a morning and the Kronan galleries at Kalmar läns museum an afternoon. Walk Kvarnholmen from Västerport to the cathedral on Stortorget, then cross Stadsparken to the art museum and Krusenstiernska gården. Swim at Långviken in summer, and keep a full day for Öland: Borgholm's ruin, Solliden and the alvar. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Jun · Aug · Sep - **Ideal length:** 2 to 3 days - **Budget per day:** €100–200 - **Language:** Swedish, with English widely spoken - **Getting around:** On foot in the centre, by bus or car to Öland - **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://kalmar.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Kalmar ### 1. Kalmar Castle (Kalmar slott) Landmark · On Slottsfjärden, south of Kvarnholmen, Kalmar A 12th-century tower rebuilt by Gustav Vasa and his sons into the best-preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic countries. The Kalmar Union was agreed here in 1397; the royal apartments are the reason to go inside. - **Time:** 2 to 3 hours - **Cost:** Adults 130 to 190 SEK by season (2026); card only - **Best at:** A weekday morning - **Tip:** In high summer the royal apartments tour runs at 11:30, 13:00 and 15:30 Links: [Kalmar Castle](https://kalmarslott.se/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Kalmar läns museum and the Kronan Museum · Skeppsbrogatan 51, Kalmar The royal warship Kronan sank off Öland in 1676 with more than 800 aboard and was found in 1980. The galleries hold more than 40 of its bronze cannons, its gold and silver coin hoards and the crew's belongings. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Ticketed; check the museum site for prices - **Best at:** A wet afternoon - **Tip:** Lunch at Ångkvarnen, the museum's top-floor restaurant over the strait Links: [Kalmar läns museum](https://kalmarlansmuseum.se/the-royal-ship-kronan/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Kalmar Cathedral (Domkyrkan) Church · Stortorget, Kalmar Nicodemus Tessin the Elder's classical baroque church, begun in 1660 and finished in 1703 after wars stalled the work. The baroque altar of 1704 is the piece to see. - **Time:** 30 to 45 minutes - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Wednesday at 12:00 for lunchtime music - **Tip:** Most Saturdays from September to June there is an organ concert at 12:00 Links: [Kalmar Cathedral](https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/kalmar/turistinformation?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. Kvarnholmen and Stortorget Neighbourhood · Kvarnholmen, Kalmar The island the town moved to in the 1640s for defence, laid out on a grid around Stortorget and still ringed by its wall. Enter through Västerport, the gate of 1658, and walk the top of the wall where it survives. - **Time:** 2 hours on foot - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Early evening - **Tip:** Stortorget has been a protected historic monument since 2002 ### 5. Kalmar Konstmuseum and Stadsparken Museum · Stadsparken, Kalmar A black timber cube by Tham & Videgård, opened in 2008 and awarded the Kasper Salin Prize, holding the city's modern art collection. It sits in the city park between the castle and Kvarnholmen. - **Time:** 1 to 2 hours - **Cost:** Park free; museum ticketed - **Best at:** An afternoon walk from the castle - **Tip:** Byttan, beside the museum, does coffee and a bistro menu on the water ### 6. Krusenstiernska gården Garden · Beside Gamla stan, near Kalmar Castle A preserved 19th-century town garden, left to the city as a cultural reserve in 1940, with kitchen beds, a pleasure garden and a café. Cakes use the garden's own fruit. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Garden and café free - **Best at:** A summer afternoon - **Tip:** The season runs from April to mid-September; house tours run May to September ### 7. Gamla stan, the old town Neighbourhood · West of Kalmar Castle, Kalmar The mainland site of the medieval town, now narrow lanes of 17th-century red and white cottages. Quiet, residential and a short walk from the castle. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Morning, before the castle opens - **Tip:** Combine it with Krusenstiernska gården next door ### 8. Öland Bridge (Ölandsbron) Landmark · Kalmar to Färjestaden, Öland Opened in 1972 at 6,072 metres, it was Europe's longest bridge until 1998. The hump at the Kalmar end clears 36 metres for shipping; the best view of it is from the Kalmar shore at dusk. - **Time:** 10 minutes to cross - **Cost:** Free, no toll - **Best at:** Sunset from the Kalmar shore - **Tip:** KLT bus 102 runs from Kalmar across to Öland, no car needed ### 9. Långviken bathing place Nature · About 1.5 km south of the centre, Kalmar The town's swimming spot on the strait, with a diving tower at the edge of the bath and platforms at 5, 7.5 and 10 metres. Winter swimming with a sauna is offered here too. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** A warm July afternoon - **Tip:** The nearest bus stop is Kalmar County Hospital, about 800 metres away ### 10. Borgholm Castle and Solliden Day trip · Borgholm, Öland Borgholm Castle burned in 1806 and the shell is open almost end to end. Solliden, the royal family's summer residence, sits next door and opens its gardens to visitors. - **Time:** Half a day - **Cost:** Castle adults 140 to 150 SEK (2026); card only - **Best at:** Late spring or early autumn - **Tip:** Walk the Borga Hage nature reserve below the ruin Links: [Borgholm Castle](https://borgholmsslott.se/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best sights in Kalmar Four stops on the island the town moved to in the 17th century, all on foot and all free. 1. **Västerport** (City gate · Kvarnholmen): The west gate, finished in 1658 and the main way onto Kvarnholmen until 1870. 2. **Stortorget** (Square · Kvarnholmen): The 17th-century main square, with the cathedral and the town hall facing each other. 3. **Klapphuset** (Landmark · Kvarnholmen): A red wooden house on poles in the water, thought to be the last of its kind in Scandinavia. 4. **Kvarnholmen wall walk** (Walk · Kvarnholmen): Parts of the old wall survive around the island; some hold shops, and you can walk the top. ## Best restaurants in Kalmar Six kitchens, from the White Guide names to a museum lunch with a view of the strait. 1. **Postgatan** (Modern Swedish · Kvarnholmen): Opened in 2015 around regional produce: a full menu, a tasting menu or a drink at the bar. 2. **Slipkajen** (Waterfront · Varvsholmen): A modern room on Varvsholmen looking over the Kalmar Strait; in the White Guide within a year of opening. [Slipkajen](https://slipkajen.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Hattmakarn** (Small plates · Kvarnholmen): Small plates to share; opened in autumn 2024 and in the White Guide before the year was out. [Hattmakarn](https://hattmakarn.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Byttan** (Bistro · Stadsparken): Café, bistro and bar beside Slottsfjärden and the art museum, a meeting place for over a century. 5. **Kallskänken** (Pizza and deli · Kalmar): A local favourite for pizza and lunch, with a deli shop and the whole menu to take away. 6. **Ångkvarnen** (Museum lunch · Skeppsbrogatan): The county museum's top-floor restaurant: lunch and home baking from local produce over the strait. [Ångkvarnen](https://kalmarlansmuseum.se/angkvarnen-restaurant-cafe/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best cafes & bars in Kalmar Three cafés for the afternoon, two bars for the evening, most of them on or near Larmtorget. 1. **Kullzénska Caféet** (Café · Kvarnholmen): Period rooms in a 1770s house with its own bakery; the pies are the order. Steep stairs inside. 2. **Hamnkaféet** (Café · Harbour): One of the oldest cafés in town, from the 1930s, with open sandwiches and seats facing the strait. 3. **Café Lotsutkiken** (Café · Tjärhovet): A former pilots' lookout by the harbour mouth, with a sheltered terrace and a view of the castle. 4. **Lilla Puben** (Pub · Kvarnholmen): Perhaps the widest range of beer, rum and whisky in town, with rotating international taps. 5. **Krögers** (Pub and club · Larmtorget): The first pub on Larmtorget, opened in 1993: pub, restaurant, piano bar and nightclub in one. ## Best beaches in Kalmar The strait is the town's pool. Four places to get in, all free and all reachable without a car. 1. **Långviken** (Bath and tower · 1.5 km south): Diving tower with platforms at 5, 7.5 and 10 metres, plus winter swimming and a sauna. 2. **Stensö Flundran** (Beach · Stensö): Sandy beach and jetties beside the campsite, with a snorkelling trail offshore. 3. **Kattrumpan** (Town beach · Kvarnholmen): The central beach on Kvarnholmen, with a jetty, a ramp and a park beside it. 4. **Norrlidsbadet** (Beach · Norrliden): An 80-metre jetty and a sandy beach about 6 km north of the centre. ## Best neighbourhoods in Kalmar Kalmar is small enough to walk end to end. These four decide whether you wake up to the grid, the castle or the water. 1. **Kvarnholmen** (Old centre · Centre): The 17th-century island centre: the square, the shops, the bars and most hotels. 2. **Gamla stan** (Residential · West): Quiet lanes west of the castle on the site of the medieval town. 3. **Varvsholmen** (Waterfront · Harbour): A waterfront district facing the strait, home to Slipkajen. 4. **Stensö** (Outdoors · South): A green headland 2.5 km south with a campsite, a beach and a snorkelling trail. ## Best day trips in Kalmar Five on Öland, over the bridge, and one inland to the glassworks. A car makes the island far easier. 1. **Borgholm Castle** (Castle ruin · Öland): A ruin since the fire of 1806, open almost end to end, with Borga Hage below. [Borgholm Castle](https://borgholmsslott.se/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Solliden** (Royal gardens · Öland): The royal summer residence. The house is closed; the gardens are open. 3. **Stora Alvaret** (World Heritage · Southern Öland): The limestone plain at the heart of southern Öland's UNESCO landscape, listed in 2000. 4. **Eketorp** (Ringfort · Southern Öland): A fully excavated and rebuilt ringfort, with a wall five metres high around stone houses. 5. **Långe Jan and Ottenby** (Lighthouse · Southern Öland): Sweden's tallest lighthouse, about 42 metres, first lit in 1785 at the island's southern tip. 6. **Kosta glassworks** (Glass · Glasriket): The heart of the Kingdom of Crystal. Watch the blowers, or book 15 minutes to blow your own. ## Best shopping in Kalmar Independent shops on the island, a mall by the harbour and the big-box centre on the edge of town. 1. **Kvarnholmen** (High street · Kvarnholmen): The old-town streets, with shops set into the surviving stretches of the wall. 2. **Baronen** (Mall · Skeppsbrogatan): The largest selection of shops in town, by the strait between the castle and the guest harbour. [Baronen](https://baronen.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Hansa City** (Retail park · Edge of town): Outdoor retail park with fashion chains, IKEA and the large supermarkets. ## Festivals & annual events in Kalmar (2026) - **Valborg (Walpurgis Night)** (April): Bonfires and choirs welcome spring on the evening of 30 April. - **National Day** (June): Flags and ceremonies across Sweden on 6 June. - **Midsummer** (June): Maypoles, dancing and pickled herring on the Friday nearest the longest day. - **Victoriadagen** (July): On 14 July the Crown Princess greets crowds at Solliden, then a televised concert in Borgholm. - **Kalmar Stadsfest** (August): The town festival, with free concerts on Stortorget and Larmtorget (6 to 8 August 2026). - **IRONMAN Kalmar** (August): A 3.8 km swim in the strait and a 180 km ride over the Öland Bridge (15 August 2026). - **Ölands Skördefest** (September): Öland's harvest festival: farm shops and markets across the island on the last weekend of September. - **Christmas fair at Kalmar Castle** (November): Craft stalls fill the castle over a long weekend around the start of Advent. ## Must-try dishes in Kalmar, Sweden - **Öländska kroppkakor**: Grey potato dumplings filled with meat and onion, with butter, cream and lingonberries. - **Småländsk ostkaka**: Småland's cheesecake, served lukewarm with jam and whipped cream. - **Isterband**: A smoked Småland sausage with potato and barley in the mix. - **Fried flounder**: Flounder is caught along the Kalmar coast and served simply with potatoes. - **Pickled herring**: The centre of every Midsummer table, with new potatoes and soured cream. - **Kanelbulle**: The cinnamon bun of every fika break. - **Räksmörgås**: An open prawn sandwich piled with egg, mayonnaise and dill. - **Kräftor**: Boiled crayfish with dill, eaten at August crayfish parties. ## Kalmar transport & airports - **Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR)** (Air): About 5 km from the centre, with flights from Stockholm Arlanda. Bus 402 runs to the railway station in about 15 minutes. [Getting to Kalmar](https://kalmar.com/en/kalmar/good-to-know/travel-to-kalmar?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Trains** (Rail): Kalmar C is a short walk from Kvarnholmen. Öresundståg trains run to Copenhagen in under 4 hours; Stockholm takes about 5 hours with a change at Alvesta. [SJ](https://www.sj.se/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **KLT buses** (Bus): Kalmar Länstrafik runs the town buses and the routes across the bridge to Öland. Buy and activate tickets in the KLT app before boarding. [KLT](https://www.klt.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Walking and cycling** (On foot): Kvarnholmen, the castle, Stadsparken and Gamla stan sit within a 15-minute walk of each other. Långviken and Stensö are an easy ride south. ## Kalmar at a glance - **Country:** Sweden - **Region:** Seat of Kalmar County, on the Kalmar Strait opposite Öland - **Population:** About 41,900 in the town (2020), about 72,000 in the municipality - **Founded:** A medieval castle town; moved to Kvarnholmen island from the 1640s - **History:** The Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden was agreed here in 1397 - **Language:** Swedish, with English spoken almost universally - **Currency:** Swedish krona (SEK). Cards are taken almost everywhere; the castle is cash-free - **Time zone:** CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) from late March to late October - **Calling code:** +46 480 - **Airports:** Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), about 5 km from the centre - **Power:** 230V · Type C and F, the two-pin European plug - **Emergency:** 112 ## Interesting facts - The Kalmar Union, which joined Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one crown, was agreed at the castle in 1397. - The Öland Bridge was Europe's longest when it opened in 1972, at 6,072 metres. - The Kronan wreck has yielded the largest gold coin hoard ever found in Sweden. - Klapphuset, a wooden house on poles in the water, is thought to be the only one left in Scandinavia. - Kalmar Cathedral took 43 years to build, from 1660 to 1703, as wars kept stopping the work. ## Kalmar travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Kalmar? Two days covers the town: the castle, the Kronan galleries, the cathedral, Kvarnholmen and Stadsparken. Add a third for Öland, with Borgholm, Solliden and the southern alvar. ### When is the best time to visit Kalmar? June to September. The castle keeps its longest hours in high summer, the strait is warm enough to swim, and Kalmar Stadsfest and IRONMAN Kalmar fall in August. Many Öland sights close or shorten hours outside the season. ### Can you visit Öland without a car? Yes. KLT buses cross the bridge from Kalmar to Öland, including bus 102. A car is far easier for the southern sights, Eketorp and Långe Jan, which are spread across the island. ### How do you get to Kalmar? Fly to Kalmar Öland Airport from Stockholm Arlanda, or take the train: Öresundståg runs from Copenhagen in under four hours, and Stockholm takes about five with a change at Alvesta. ### Is Kalmar Castle worth visiting? Yes. It is the best-preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic countries, and the Renaissance interiors commissioned by Erik XIV and Johan III are the highlight. Allow two to three hours and pay by card. ## Nearby guides - [Visby](https://wimup.com/city/visby.md): Sweden · 10 picks - [Sopot](https://wimup.com/city/sopot.md): Poland · 10 picks - [Liepāja](https://wimup.com/city/liepaja.md): Latvia · 10 picks - [All of Europe →](https://wimup.com/europe): 148 cities Part of the [Sweden guide](https://wimup.com/country/sweden.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md) ## Sources - [Kalmar tourism board](https://kalmar.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Kalmar Castle (Kalmar slott): Kalmar Castle](https://kalmarslott.se/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Kalmar läns museum and the Kronan: Kalmar läns museum](https://kalmarlansmuseum.se/the-royal-ship-kronan/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Kalmar Cathedral (Domkyrkan): Kalmar Cathedral](https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/kalmar/turistinformation?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Borgholm Castle and Solliden: Borgholm Castle](https://borgholmsslott.se/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Slipkajen: Slipkajen](https://slipkajen.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Hattmakarn: Hattmakarn](https://hattmakarn.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Ångkvarnen: Ångkvarnen](https://kalmarlansmuseum.se/angkvarnen-restaurant-cafe/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Baronen: Baronen](https://baronen.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR): Getting to Kalmar](https://kalmar.com/en/kalmar/good-to-know/travel-to-kalmar?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Trains: SJ](https://www.sj.se/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [KLT buses: KLT](https://www.klt.se/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.