With the camper through southern Sweden
The best stops on a round trip
In the Stenshuvud National Park there are wide views over the sea.
© 2020 Sebw/Shutterstock.com
Travel to Northern Europe and holidays on four wheels are becoming increasingly popular. A round trip through southern Sweden combines both.
Southern Sweden is the ideal destination for camping enthusiasts. Whether with a campervan or mobile home, the region is suitable for a varied Round trip through beautiful landscapes and with stops in picturesque towns. Travelers will also come across some interesting places that are associated with superlatives.
Malmo, Lomma Beach and Lund
Southern Sweden can be reached by ferry (e.g. various connections to Trelleborg) or via Denmark. With the latter option, after crossing the Storebælt Bridge, a first stop in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is recommended, before the journey takes place over the impressive Öresund Bridge to Malmö. Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden and is located in the region of Scania (Skåne). The Turning Torso is striking in the cityscape. At 190 meters and with 54 winding floors, it is considered the tallest skyscraper in Scandinavia. There is a good view of the building from Ribersborg Strand, which is ideal for a stroll.
You can also stroll in the old town with its half-timbered houses and the market square Lilla Torg or the parks Slottsparken (Castle Park) and Kungsparken (Royal Park), where a garden café invites you to linger. From Malmö there are also other stops or excursions to the beautiful sandy beach of Lomma Beach or the university town of Lund, which has the oldest cathedral in Scandinavia (Domkyrka von Lund).
Ystad, Ales Stenar and Sandhammaren
Further south and along the coast road with sweeping views over the Baltic Sea, you will reach picturesque Ystad. The port city is best known for the Wallander crime novels. Henning Mankell’s character is investigating in the small town in southern Sweden, so fans can follow in his footsteps. But a long walk through the streets with its half-timbered buildings and the one-storey houses with magnificent hollyhock plantings is also worthwhile for those who do not know the novels. Many galleries, small shops and cafés are located in the backyards of the houses, so it is worth keeping a watchful eye on a stroll.
Not far from Ystadt further east is Ales Stenar, the largest preserved ship setting in Scandinavia. The 59 stones arranged in the shape of a ship on a hill near the town of Kåseberga are considered the Swedish Stonehenge and are interpreted as a burial site or as a Bronze Age solar calendar. A perfect end to the day can be spent at Sandhammaren beach on the southernmost tip of Sweden. The long and wide beach with its white sand and dunes is an ideal place to relax.
Kivik and Stenshuvud National Park
The laid-back coastal town of Kivik is the ideal starting point for a hike through Stenshuvud National Park, Sweden’s southernmost national park. Various routes can be taken through the park around the mountain of the same name, which opens up fantastic views of the sea through three different peaks. Along the coast there is a viewpoint at a white lighthouse or a stretch of beach with flat water. The visitor center Naturum also provides information about the diverse flora and fauna of the park.
The area around Kivik is known for its apple growing. Appropriately, not far from the national park is the Äpplets Hus (House of the Apple). In addition to guided tours, the fruit press Kiviks Musteri offers a restaurant and a café as well as a shop where you can buy a wide variety of products related to the popular fruit.
Sölvesborg, Karlshamn and the Blekinge archipelago
Sölvesborg in the province of Blekinge has had a special landmark since 2013: Sölvesborgsbron is the longest pedestrian and cyclist bridge in Europe (756 meters) and crosses the bay of Sölvesborgsviken to the district of Ljungaviken on the Listerland peninsula, also known as Listerlandet. There are numerous beaches and interesting fishing villages such as Hällevik, which has a fishing museum and fish restaurants and stalls.
Karlshamn is not only another charming coastal town, it is also the ideal starting point for a boat trip in the Blekinge archipelago. From the port, various excursion boats take you out onto the water and past the numerous small rocky islands with their idyllically situated holiday homes. A popular tour stop in Sweden’s southernmost archipelago is the island of Tjärö. A small circular hike can be undertaken on it, which lures with numerous beautiful views of the island landscapes, before the ship sails back to the starting point.
From Karlshamn, the most direct route is via the E22 back to Malmö.