Sweden's South Coast: Skåne, Öland and the Kingdom of Crystal

Malmö is Sweden's third-largest city, where Santiago Calatrava's 190-meter-high Turning Torso marks the skyline. Since 2000, the Öresundsbron has connected the city with Copenhagen. In Lilla Torg square, you can stroll past sixteenth-century half-timbered houses and visit the coffee bars in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Smygehuk is the southernmost point of mainland Sweden and is located in the Skåne region on the Baltic Sea. The limestone coastline is characterized by the nineteenth-century lighthouse Smygehuk fyr and historic fishing huts around the harbor. In the former warehouse Köpmansmagasinet, you can view local art and crafts. Paths follow the rocky shore where the horizon over the water always seems close.

Ystad is known for the Wallander stories and the more than three hundred historic half-timbered houses that adorn its centre. Here you can stroll through medieval streets and past the thirteenth-century Sankta Maria kyrka. Outside the city, on the hills near Kåseberga, lies Ales Stenar, a megalithic monument in the shape of a ship. This charming port city combines a literary atmosphere with a rich history, visible in its old facades and the tranquil harbour on the Baltic Sea.

Above the Baltic Sea lies Ales Stenar, a megalithic monument of 59 sandstones in the shape of a ship. The 67-meter-long formation from the Viking Age stands on a 32-meter-high cliff and offers a wide coastal panorama. At the foot of the cliff, you'll find the charming fishing village of Kåseberga with its harbor, Kåseberga Hamn. Here you can taste fresh fish from the local smokehouses and experience the lively activity on the Baltic Sea.

Kivik is a fishing village known for apple cultivation and the historic cider press Kiviks Musteri from 1888. In Stenshuvud National Park, a 97-meter high wooded hill towers above the sandy beaches of Hanöbukten. You can walk through deciduous forests to bays with white sand and granite rocks. Along the coast of Skåne, there are vast orchards you can visit. The atmosphere in this part of Österlen is relaxed, with the scent of apples everywhere and expansive views over Hanöbukten.

Kristianstad, Sweden's lowest-lying city, is located in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Kristianstads Vattenriket. Here, you can walk on wooden boardwalks through the marshes to the Naturum visitor centre, which floats above the water. The Heliga Trefaldighets kyrka, with its Renaissance architecture, marks the city centre. Around the lively Stora Torg, you'll find shops and outdoor cafes. The city offers a charming mix of nature and urban vibrancy, from the marshes to Stora Torg.

Karlskrona is Sweden's only baroque city and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998 due to its naval port from 1680. You can visit the Marinmuseum on the island of Stumholmen, where you can admire figureheads and a Cold War submarine. The city is spread across 33 islands in the Blekinge archipelago. From the water, you can discover the serene beauty of this archipelago, with its many small islands and connecting bridges.

Kalmar is a coastal city dominated by Kalmar Slott, a twelfth-century fortress that was converted into a Renaissance palace in the sixteenth century. The Ölandsbron from 1972 connects the city with the island of Öland. On the city island of Kvarnholmen, you will find seventeenth-century architecture and the baroque Kalmar domkyrka.

Ottenby is a nature reserve on the southern tip of the island of Öland, where the 41.6-meter-high lighthouse Långe Jan dominates the landscape. The limestone plateau is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Stora Alvaret and serves as a resting place for tens of thousands of migratory birds and groups of fallow deer. You can visit the bird ringing station or the exhibitions in the Naturum visitor centre and spot resting seals on the rocks off the coast.

The fishing village of Byxelkrok is located on the northern tip of the Swedish island of Öland and features a harbor with red boathouses. The 32-meter-high white lighthouse Långe Erik, built in 1845, marks the outermost cape and offers views over the Baltic Sea and the Kalmar Strait. Along the coastline lie the limestone fields of Neptuni åkrar, and in the Trollskogen nature reserve, you can walk among gnarled, wind-deformed trees.

The glass industry is central to Glasriket, where you discover the age-old tradition of glassblowing. Visit Kosta Glasbruk, Sweden's oldest glass factory dating from 1742, or Orrefors, another core of this craft. In the glassworks, you can observe the manual process or try glassblowing yourself. Local shops sell crystal and modern Swedish glass design from brands like Kosta Boda. The region buzzes with creativity, visible in every crystal object and modern design from Kosta Boda.

Åsnen National Park was opened in 2018 as Sweden's thirtieth national park and consists of three-quarters water. You can paddle by kayak or canoe along the archipelago of a thousand islands and rock formations in the lake. At Ekenäs Udde, you can walk through deciduous forests where ospreys and red-throated loons breed.

Söderåsen National Park is one of Northern Europe's largest continuous deciduous forest areas, famous for its ninety-meter deep ravine valleys. From the highest point Kopparhatten, you overlook the vast valley of Skäralid. Down in the gorge lies the round lake Odensjön, a serene place to pause. Here you walk on wooden boardwalks and parts of the Skåneleden through ancient beech forests. The tranquility of nature is palpable here, especially along the winding paths that disappear deep into the forest.

Kullabergs naturreservat in Skåne consists of steep cliffs that rise up to 188 meters above the Kattegat. On the cape stands the Kullen fyr lighthouse, with a height of 78.5 meters above sea level. In the nearby forests is Nimis, a labyrinth of driftwood that artist Lars Vilks built from 1980 onwards. You can explore the granite rock faces by sea kayaking or rock climbing from the fishing village of Mölle.

Malmö is Sweden's third-largest city, where Santiago Calatrava's 190-meter-high Turning Torso marks the skyline. Since 2000, the Öresundsbron has connected the city with Copenhagen. In Lilla Torg square, you can stroll past sixteenth-century half-timbered houses and visit the coffee bars in the surrounding neighborhoods.