Blekinge: Archipelago, nature trails and maritime cultural heritage

Blekinge is Sweden’s southernmost archipelago region. The archipelago comprises around 2,875 islands; coastal towns, archipelago islands, beech forests and nature experiences are all close to one another.

Archipelago and nature

More than ten kilometres of trails run close to the sea in the Almö Nature Reserve. The area provides a habitat for the stag beetle, considered Europe’s largest insect.

The Halen recreation area covers approximately 809 hectares around Blekinge’s largest lake and includes valuable deciduous forests as well as natural areas and recreational spaces. There are hiking and riding trails, picnic areas, campsites and service stations.

In the Mörrumsån Upper Valley Nature Reserve, visitors can experience the river, its low-lying banks and the forested, boulder-strewn slopes along an old railway embankment. The old railway embankment through the nature reserve is now a popular hiking and cycling trail.

Trails through Blekinge

The Blekingeleden is a 270-kilometre trail divided into 15 stages. It passes through forests, by lakes and nature reserves, as well as through villages and cultural landscapes.

The Eriksbergsleden is an approximately 12-kilometre coastal hiking trail between Eriksberg Outdoor and Björnahemmet. The 30-kilometre Laxaleden runs along the Mörrumsån as a nature and cultural heritage trail.

Banvallen is a completely car-free, paved 28-kilometre cycling route and is particularly suitable for families. ARK56 connects parts of Blekinge’s coast and archipelago through routes for hiking, cycling, kayaking and boating.

The ARK56 nodes often have parking, public transport, accommodation, restaurants and information; they also bring several activities together in one place.

Maritime cultural heritage

Karlskrona was founded in 1680 to meet the need for a naval base in southern Sweden. The naval port of Karlskrona is the best-preserved and most complete of the surviving European naval cities.

On 3 December 1998, Karlskrona was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Galjonshallen gallery at the Naval Museum displays thirteen large figureheads from ships of the Swedish Navy.

After being introduced to the Neptun submarine, visitors can board the submarine independently. The Nordic clinker boat traditions were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021 and remain a living cultural heritage in Karlskrona.

Saxemara båtvarv, Blekinge’s only still-active wooden boat yard, is located in the sheltered Saxemara Bay. Traditional boatbuilding has been part of the area’s history there since 1927; even today, wooden boats are built, restored and maintained using knowledge passed down through generations.

Tjärö has been a meeting place between people and the sea for around 3,000 years. The island offers hiking trails, rock pools and opportunities to explore the archipelago by kayak.

Långören is now a living cultural heritage site. Visitors can walk among the historic buildings and experience one of Blekinge’s best-preserved pilot environments.

Parks and visitor attractions

Ronneby Brunnspark is an award-winning historic park in Ronneby, Blekinge, which has repeatedly been named Sweden’s most beautiful park and includes 18th-century villas, tranquil ponds and flowering gardens.

Naturum Blekinge in the historic Ronneby Brunnspark is a visitor centre for nature experiences, recreational activities and environmental knowledge. The Blekinge Museum visitor site in Karlskrona includes the museum, a farmyard, a Baroque garden and the Grevagrundet playground.

Laxens Hus in Mörrum has an exhibition about the life of salmon and the history of fishing, including the history of recreational fishing on the Mörrumsån.

Region and places

The directly associated subregions of Blekinge include Karlshamn, Karlskrona, Trensum, Ronneby, Sölvesborg and Olofström.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Blekinge Småland.

Other destinations

Other places under the same destination:

Dundagas Novads.