Karlshamn: Coast, Nature and Maritime History

In Karlshamn, the Karlshamn Museum is spread across several historic buildings. Its exhibitions cover the city’s economy, shipping and everyday life; it also has a memorial room dedicated to the composer Alice Tegnér, who was born in Karlshamn.

The local overview also includes Asarum, Mörrum, Svängsta, Åryd, Karlshamn and Svarvaremåla; Olofström is linked as another destination at the same higher level.

Culture

A special address in the city’s history is the J. N. von Bergen Punschfabrik, Sweden’s only punch museum. The Punschfabrik also offers an opportunity to experience Swedish industrial history. Skottsbergska gården is one of the best-preserved Swedish merchant estates from the 18th century, has the status of a cultural heritage site and conveys an impression of Karlshamn’s historic commercial life.

Sjöfartsmuseet Karlshamn is located in the historic Dahla warehouse dating from 1878. It displays an authentic crew accommodation area from a 19th-century sailing ship. Konstmuseet Martinssonska Gården is a living museum in an artist’s home on Lotsgatan. Its collection fills eleven rooms, while larger sculptures are displayed in the landscaped courtyard.

Carl Gustafs kyrka also preserves dated evidence: the baptismal font was donated in 1717, while the bronze baptismal bowl dates from shortly after 1519.

Experiences

Kreativum is Karlshamn’s science center and has one of Sweden’s three MegaDome cinemas. Östersjöfestivalen, Karlshamn’s traditional four-day city festival, has a permanent place on the events calendar.

Nature and Trails

Stärnö-Boön is one of Karlshamn’s important recreational and hiking areas. The trails lead through deciduous and pine forests as well as across rocky areas with sea views. Stärnö-Boön is protected as a nature reserve; the larger part belongs to the Natura 2000 site.

In the vicinity of Karlshamn, Laxaleden is an approximately 30-kilometre-long cultural-historical hiking trail centered on the Mörrumsån River. The Stärnö recreation area has marked trails of various types, including routes with limited accessibility barriers and stroller-friendly paths.

Coast and Water

Karlshamn Kallbadhus is located in Väggaparken between the city center and Vägga Fiskehamn. It offers separate areas for women and men with a sauna and sea bathing, as well as a shared lounge.

Vägga Havsbad is a bathing area close to the city with a sandy beach and green spaces. Stärnö badplats has a gently sloping sandy beach, bathing jetties and rocky sections of shoreline. Strandbad Stärnö also has a barbecue area and toilets.

History by the Water

Construction of the fortification at Kastellet began in 1675. Kastellet remained in use until 1865. The Utvandrarmonumentet depicts Karl Oskar and Kristina from Vilhelm Moberg’s novel “The Emigrants” and commemorates the fact that Karlshamn was once a port of emigration. Archipelago boats from Karlshamn call at Kastellet.

When choosing accommodation in Karlshamn, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can define the personal framework. A hotel is one possible form of accommodation; in Karlshamn, the thematic focus ranges from culture and coast to nature and maritime history, with different emphases in the city and its immediate surroundings.

For the higher-level travel overview: Blekinge.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Karlshamn.