This coastal Swedish town is home to Sweden's largest nuclear power plant and has a busy ferry terminal connecting to Gotland. The local shipyard dates back to 1863.
Oskarshamn sits on Sweden’s southeastern coast, known for its working port, boat connections to nearby islands, and maritime traditions. Visit Långa Soffan, a 72-meter wooden bench facing the harbor, explore the Döderhultarn Museum’s collection of 19th-century wooden sculptures, or take a ferry to Blå Jungfrun island’s rocky trails. The town’s shipyards, active since 1863, sit near neighborhoods with wooden houses from the same era, such as Besväret. Summer brings music events like Latitud 57, and ferries leave regularly for Gotland and Öland. Oskarshamn combines industrial history with calm coastal surroundings, serving both as a departure point and a place to experience Sweden’s southeastern shoreline.
Harbor and LĂĄnga Soffan
Begin at Oskarshamn’s port, where ferries leave for Gotland, Öland, and Blå Jungfrun. Restaurants along the water serve seafood dishes with views of cargo ships and sailboats. Långa Soffan, constructed in 1867, lines the port’s southern side—grab a seat here to watch cranes unload goods or fishermen mend nets. In July, the Latitud 57 festival fills the area with live music, from rock to folk, with stages set near the docks. Each August, speedboats race just offshore during the Oskarshamn Offshore Race, drawing crowds to the breakwater.
Museums and Local History
The Döderhultarn Museum displays over 200 wooden carvings by Axel Petersson Döderhultarn, capturing scenes of rural 19th-century Sweden like village dances and shipbuilders at work. Next door, the maritime museum details Oskarshamn’s shipbuilding past through model boats, navigation tools, and maps of Baltic trade networks. For a quieter historical stop, head to Fredriksbergs Herrgård, an 18th-century manor house 2 kilometers west of the center. The building now houses a restaurant serving Swedish classics, and its small museum displays items from Småland’s aristocratic past, including porcelain and furniture.
BlĂĄ Jungfrun Island
Ferries from Oskarshamn reach Blå Jungfrun in 90 minutes. This granite island, a national park since 1926, has trails winding through stunted pines and past boulders left by glaciers. Look for stone circles and labyrinths thought to be over 1,000 years old, possibly used in ancient rituals. Bring your own food and water, as there are no shops or shelters. Boats run daily from June to August, and guides sometimes join trips to share stories about the island’s rare plants and Viking-era legends.
Parks and Sports
Oskarshamn Golf Club, 5 kilometers north in Skorpetorp, has an 18-hole course surrounded by pine trees and small lakes. A 9-hole course is available for quicker games. Hike parts of Ostkustleden, a 160-kilometer trail that crosses forests and rocky beaches near town. Families can try Strike and Kartcenter, which has go-kart tracks and bowling lanes. From June to August, Lilla torget square holds Sommartorget, a weekly market with local crafts, fresh berries, and occasional puppet shows.
Getting There and Staying Over
Reach Oskarshamn by bus from Kalmar (1 hour) or Växjö (1.5 hours). Seasonal ferries go to Visby on Gotland (4 hours) and Byxelkrok on Öland (2 hours). Kalmar and Växjö airports, both about an hour away by car, connect to Stockholm. Choose between harbor-side hotels, cottages near the coast, or campgrounds with beach access. For a quieter stay, book a room in Stensjö by, a 19th-century farming village 15 kilometers west, where some houses offer bed-and-breakfast lodging. The OKG nuclear power plant, visible from parts of town, highlights the area’s role in Sweden’s energy production but isn’t open for visits.
