Öland winter excursions

Excursion 1. 

Mörbylånga & Mörbylångaleden

Before you sit down and have a good coffee at Öland's Söderbönor Café & Butik or enjoy a meal at Linda's Restaurant & Pizzeria at the square in Mörbylånga, there is a lot to discover in the more than 200-year-old market town. Mörbylånga has several beautiful streets with character of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The buildings between the sea and the square consist of period wooden houses with idyllic gardens. The hiking trail Mörbylångaleden, which has been designated as one of Sweden's twelve signature trails, passes right through the community. Take the opportunity to take a hiking trip either south towards Risinge or north towards Sandbergen.

Barbecue area!
For those looking for a barbecue area to enjoy a picnic or your take away, there is one right next to the harbor in Mörbylånga and just north of the market you will also find a barbecue area in Nunnedalen and one at Kleva bathing area.

Excursion 2.

Byrums raukar & Löttorp

Start your tour at Öland's finest sea stacks area in Byrum. Take the opportunity to walk around or climb around among the hundreds of sea stacks along the 600-metre-long beach strip. The rauks are right next to the road and there is also a parking lot. Byrum's rauks are the start of Horn's coastal road, which winds south along Kalmarsund. Continue your tour along the coastal road south down to Alvedsjöbodar. Here you can enjoy the view at the beautiful little harbour with wooden boathouses. The tour then goes east for about half a mile with a stop at Kalk kitchen & bar. Enjoy a well-cooked burger in a fantastic setting. You can enjoy a classic pastry at Löttorp's patisserie by the square, but  if you are in the mood for dumplings, you continue 7 km south to Ninni's kroppkaksbod.

Barbecue area! In Löttorp you will find a newly built playground, Kotteparken, here is also a barbecue area for those who want to enjoy the food outdoors. Just north of Byrum's rauks you will also find Ramsnäs barbecue area with a view of Blå Jungfrun.

Excursion 3.

Dröstorp Ödeby & Gårdby

On the alvar just south of Gårdby lies a deserted village from bygone times. Here you can experience the ruins of the village of Dröstorp, which was abandoned at the end of the 1800s. When the last Dröstorpar left at the end of the 1800s, the wooden residential buildings were moved to Skarpa, Alby and Smedsgärde, while the stone farm buildings were left behind. Today, there are house foundations, sheep pastures, stone walls and a continuous field fence with parcel boundaries remain. Dröstorp's deserted village is an exciting excursion destination in all seasons. Park your car at Skarpa Alby and walk the 2.8 km on the barren alvar to the deserted village.

After your trip out on the alvar, you need a really good coffee. You will find it at Gårdby Kafé & Lanthandel, about 6.5 km from the deserted village. Also take the opportunity to pay a visit to the chocolate manufacturer Miss Frankenstein on the same village street.

Barbecue area!
For those who want to gather family and friends outdoors with plenty of space, we can recommend Hjulbo rest area, which is located just south of Gårdby.

Excursion 4.

Slottsskogen & Borgholm

An excursion in Borgholm offers both city, forest, alvar, castle and sea. Start your tour along Strandvägen at the cold bath house next to the harbour. Here you pass the magnificent villas of the seaside resort era before the road continues into the forest along the coast. Next to Strandvägen is Borgholm's lighthouse and the bomb crater from World War II. Follow the signs up towards Kaffetorpet and Solliden. There is a good play stop here for those who want to ride the cable car or slide. The tour then continues via the alvar past Borgholm Castle. Take the opportunity to walk around the stately ruin and look out over Kalmarsund. Then return to Borgholm via the Wardrobe Stairs down to Slottsskogen. If there is more play in the body, the playship Barbara is down in the harbor waiting for little pirates.

Borgholm has many eateries to offer all year round. If you want to have a coffee, you can choose from the classic New Conditoriet, or Stenugnsbageriet Olof. Sören's Restaurant & Bar, Himla Gott, Birk, Norrings and Borgholm Kök & Bar serves lunch and dinners, Brasseriet and is responsible for the evening and night hangout Wednesday to Saturday. If you want dumplings, it is Eva's Kroppkakor, which is located 8 km north of Borgholm, that applies.

Barbecue area!
There are also barbecue areas in Borgholm for those who wish. You will find one at Sjöstugan in the outer harbor and the other at the mountain bike track in Borgholm.

Excursion 5.

Gråborg & Färjestaden

Welcome to step straight into history! Gråborg is Öland's largest ancient castle and also one of Sweden's largest facilities of its kind. The castle was built during the Iron Age and was used as a defensive facility until 1677 in the war against the Danes. This impressive complex, where the castle wall encloses an area of 210x160 meters, is always open to visitors. At the castle there is a chapel ruin, St. Canute's chapel and a little further away you will find a barbecue area. The hiking trail, Mittlandsleden, goes past the castle in Mittlandsskogen and connects Gråborg with Ismantorp Castle and Rönnerum's ancient village.

After the historical excursion, there are many places to eat to choose from. 7 km away is Arontorps Kroppkakor & Mat which also offers drive-in. Another 2 km down in Färjestaden is Hotel Skansen Restaurang , which is open for lunch and dinners all year round. Down in the harbor there is a trattoria, a simpler restaurant, namely ÖlandsChoklad Hamncafé. Also take the opportunity to buy a good bread or yummy pastry from Fredriks Bröd & Bakverk in the harbor or Konditori Fiesta which is located a little further up the main street. 

Barbecue area!
As we mentioned, there is a barbecue area at Gråborg and St. Knut's Chapel. If you want a barbecue area near Färjestaden, there are three to choose from, namely Möllstorp's dam, Färjestaden's dam and Grövle's grill.

Excursion 6.

Rällaskogen, Stora Rör & Ekerum

Bring the whole family to Rällaskogen and head out together on pine-scented forest trails. This is a popular outdoor area with wonderful hiking, biking and jogging trails. The forest area is located along the western land castle and has a height difference of, for Öland, a breathtaking 25 meters. Don't be surprised when you arrive at a large arch of limestone right by the castle inside the pine forest. Inside there is a private cemetery surrounded by a wall that was built in 1932 by landowner Emil Persson at Rälla farm.

From here you then make your way 4 km down to Stora Rör's harbour. Here , Mormors Stenugnsbageri & Kaffestuga is open all year round and serves delicious cardamom buns and good coffee. In the harbor you can also eat good Neapolitan Pizza at Hökarboden. If you prefer to go north, you can eat well at Halltorps Gästgiveri or at Ekerum Resort, here you will find both a restaurant and a pizzeria all year round.

Barbecue area!
In the harbor in Stora rör there is a barbecue area for those who want to meet friends and family outdoors and 3 km south you will find another barbecue area, namely at Borgmästarviken, Ispe Udde.

Excursion tip 7.

The Enchanted Forest, nature reserves and hiking trails

At the far end of Öland's northeastern cape is the nature reserve Trollskogen, an old pasture-like coniferous forest that really lives up to its name. Gnarled windswept pines and old thick oaks grow here. The magical feeling is enhanced by all the ivy climbing on the ground and over tree trunks. 

In Trollskogen there are four colour-marked hiking trails of different lengths and character. Signs show both color and distance, and the trails can be combined according to what you want to experience. Feel free to ask the staff at naturum for tips and help.

• Knysselnackestigen (1 km, blue) – easy-to-walk gravel path through forest and beach meadow, with quiz walk and the opportunity to walk down to a floating jetty.

• Kolkyrkestigen (1.3 km, green) – an easy activity trail through forest and along the sea, perfect for children.

• The Ivy Trail (3.3 km, yellow) – stroller-friendly trail along coastal meadows and coast, with ivy-covered trees and small missions.

• Trollskogsstigen (4.5 km, red) – a longer nature trail around the entire cape with many of Trollskogen's classic sights (1–2 hours).

Barbecue area!
Adjacent to the area, next to the parking lot, there is a rest cabin where you have the opportunity to gather energy before your hike or to rest your legs after the trip. There is also the opportunity to grill at the barbecue area. 

Excursion tip 8.

Eketorp, ancient castle and hiking trail

Eketorp's castle, the southernmost of Öland's ancient castles, not only allows you to take part in the completely excavated ancient castle where the wall and houses have been recreated directly on the ancient monument, but also sweeping views in all directions of the open alvar lands. Discover the castle, which is accessible all year round, and then walk along the Eketorp Trail, a 1.6 km long hiking trail on the alvar west of Eketorp Castle. The trail runs through pastures and is marked with small stone cairns. 

Barbecue area!
Adjacent to the ancient castle there is a landscaped barbecue area where you have the opportunity to enjoy your picnic as well as a wind shelter that allows you to rest for a while before or after the small trip along the Eketorpsleden. Less than a mile north of Eketorp there is also a barbecue area at Seby location, a fantastic place next to the water with beach meadows and shallow beaches, perfect for those who want to combine the excursion with bird watching.