Nyköping Among Archipelago Islands, Nature and History

Nyköping is known for its relatively undeveloped, island-rich archipelago landscape with significant natural and recreational values. The municipality offers varied natural environments with high biodiversity and good opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation.

Nature

In the Stendörren area, visitors can swim, hike, go for walks and travel by their own boat in a natural archipelago landscape. In Stendörren Nature Reserve, several suspension bridges lead from the mainland to the nearest archipelago islands. At Naturum Stendörren, visitors can learn more about the Baltic Sea.

Bus route 554 from Nyköping or Trosa stops at Stendörren; from there, it is approximately 4 kilometres on foot along a gravel road to the nature reserve.

Active Outdoors

Stage 45:1 of the Sörmlandsleden trail runs for 12 kilometres from Nyköpingshus to Strandstugeviken through Nyköping Municipality. In the Nyköping area, the Sörmlandsleden offers suitable routes for day hikes as well as circular trails of around 10 kilometres. In some sections, the long-distance trail runs along the sea, through forests and over steep climbing rocks.

In the Nynäs area, the Sörmlandsleden offers shorter and longer hikes; along the trails there are shelters and barbecue areas. Stage 36 runs for 11 kilometres from Nävsjön to Nävekvarn. The different trail lengths make it easy to compare shorter outings, circular trails and longer stages.

The 37-kilometre Horsvik canoe route can be completed over several days and passes several nature reserves with significant natural values between Horsvik and Stendörren.

Nynäs and Horsvik

Nynäs Nature Reserve extends across the municipalities of Trosa and Nyköping and includes bathing spots, boat moorings and numerous coastal walking trails. The area comprises ancient natural forests, lakes, coastal areas and pastureland. Nynäs is also a well-preserved manor estate with a 700-year history.

Nynäs offers exhibitions and guided tours of the castle. Guided tours can be booked for Konstvandring i Nyköping. Activities associated with Nynäs include swimming, fishing, paddling and cycling.

Horsvik can be reached by bus route 554 from Nyköping to Studsvik; from there, an approximately 800-metre footpath leads to the area. Horsvik Nature Reserve is a well-preserved coastal farmstead in the archipelago; visitors can hike, swim and fish there. The area features a diversity of plant and animal species typical of older cultural landscapes.

History and Culture

The Släbro rock carving complex is the largest in the county and unique in a Nordic context. The archaeological area near Släbro includes rock carvings, burial grounds, rune stones, hollow ways and a bridge structure.

Nyköpingshus was originally built as a medieval castle and was converted into a Renaissance palace in the 16th century. Today, the most prominent features of Nyköpingshus are the white Kungstornet and the medieval walls. Museihuset of Sörmlands museum is located in Nyköping’s western harbour, opposite Nyköpingshus.

Nyköpings Teater offers a historic atmosphere for theatre, lectures, stand-up, dance and film screenings. In summer, Nyköpings Gästabud is performed as an open-air theatre in the courtyard of Nyköpingshus. Kungstornet in Nyköping houses three permanent exhibitions, guided tours and family activities throughout the year.

Other places at the direct local level are Vrena, Nyköping, Västerljung, Jönåker, Tystberga and Nävekvarn.

To the higher-level travel overview: Södermanland.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Nyköping.

More Destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Katrineholm.