It is a privilege to be able to take part in the beautiful nature on Öland and get close to it. The nature here is very fragile and many areas are particularly valuable for the ecosystem. Here there is unique natural and cultural heritage, great biodiversity and red-listed species that are very rare. That is why we love Öland in a gentle way, so that in the future we can also enjoy everything that makes Öland unique.
You can cycle both in the countryside and on private roads. Avoid wet ground that is easily damaged by cycle tracks. Remember to show consideration for hikers and others you meet on paths and trails.
All littering is prohibited. Broken glass, cans, plastic, cigarette butts, fishing lines and other litter can harm both people and animals. If you find someone else's litter along the road, you are welcome to pick it up too.
You can make a fire in nature under safe conditions. Choose safe fireplaces. When it is dry there may be fire bans, it is your responsibility to stay up to date on the latest recommendations.
To protect wild mammals and birds, you must take responsibility for your dog, often a leash is a good solution. This is especially important during the spring and summer when the animals have young. In many natural areas, grazing animals can also walk, it is important that you follow signs and keep your dog on a leash to avoid accidents.
You can freely pick flowers, berries and mushrooms in nature, but some plants are protected and therefore may not be picked, for example all Öland's orchids. You must also not break off branches from living trees and bushes.
It is forbidden to drive motorized vehicles in nature because it damages the land and can disturb animals and people. Öland's minor roads border very sensitive nature and it is important not to drive off the road or park outside marked areas.
Öland has a unique and very sensitive nature and there are many who want to experience it. This is great fun but places demands on you as a visitor. We need to help each other so that the sensitive nature is not damaged and that you as a visitor have a nice experience.
Not disturb not destroy
The right of public access gives us freedom under responsibility – do not disturb, do not destroy. This of course also applies in our protected areas. Access to outdoor activities is important for all of us. When many people want to be in nature, it is especially important that we show consideration for nature and the people we meet there. Simple things to remember are to keep your dog on a leash, cycle and ride with good judgment, and close gates to pastures you pass.
On Öland there are 91 nature reserves, so you can find your own "gem". At the reserve's entrance there is a board with information, where you can read about nature and the regulations that apply to the area. It can feel rigid and boring with prohibitions, but the regulations are there to protect nature and make our experience that little extra, so read the board before entering the reserve. It is conceivable that the right of access does not fully apply in a protected area where there are regulations. Camping and staying overnight, riding and cycling are things that may be regulated. Please plan your visit in advance to avoid disappointment on site.
There is high pressure on the nature reserves' visitor facilities such as parking lots, garbage cans and toilets. The nature reserves on northern Öland are particularly well-visited during weeks 24 – 32. The highest visitor pressure is during weeks 28 – 31 and we therefore ask you to plan your visit for another time or an alternative nature area. If you still choose northern Öland and the parking lot is full when you arrive, have a backup plan. Please do not park your car along the road. Accessibility is reduced for emergency services and sensitive plants, animals and insects are at risk of being destroyed and disappearing completely.
The County Administrative Board has produced a new Excursion Guide to some of the county's most visited natural and cultural areas, which serves as a good planning basis for your visit. It is available digitally on the website; Discover Kalmar county, but also in printed form at tourist offices and visitor centers in the county. You can also pick up a copy at the County Administrative Board in Kalmar.
Toilet paper fluttering in the bushes and abandoned disposable barbecues. Not what you want to encounter on your outing, right? In many places there are garbage cans, feel free to use them but if they are full, take the trash home again. If you use a dry toilet, throw nothing but toilet paper in them. If the parking lot is full at your favorite spot, make a backup plan. There are many nice places on Öland and you will surely find a place all your own with a little planning.
It is not always allowed to set fire in nature reserves. Check the signs near the entrances or on the website before you start lighting a fire. Bring your own firewood or charcoal, you may never use dry branches from the reserve to light a fire. These are very important for many insects, mosses and lichens. On Öland it often gets dry in the summer and think about where and how you light a fire so there is no risk of the fire spreading. Check the County Administrative Board's website beforehand, as there are often burning bans during the summer.
A popular activity is building stone towers, mainly on pebble beaches but also in the agricultural landscape where there are cairns in pastures. It is not forbidden to build stone towers on the beach, but sometimes it becomes a problem. When the beautiful coastline is completely broken up by hundreds of stone towers, the experience is spoiled for many of your fellow visitors. Some stone towers are built so high and with such large stones that if they were to fall, they would be directly fatal to children and dogs. When you use stones from old agricultural cairns, you are actually committing a crime. In addition, you should also think about all the farmers who worked hard to put up the cairns once upon a time, leaving the stones alone is to respect their work and our Hultur history.
Öland is an island that many people experience with the help of their car, motorhome or caravan. It can be tempting to drive out onto the beach or out into the sea to a secluded spot. You don't get that, neither in the reserves nor outside. The Off-Road Driving Act applies here. The ground on Öland is sensitive and is easily broken. Wheel tracks that you leave behind remain for a long time. Park only in places that are clearly marked as parking spaces. Always check the signage on site.
The parking lots are designed for reserve visitors. Therefore, it is not permitted to use these parking lots for camping/overnight stays. During the season, security companies will monitor that the rules are followed. This is to ensure that as many people as possible have access to common protected areas. Follow the current signage at each parking lot and please check the regulations before visiting the website. Destinations. In this way, you will not be disappointed on site if your plans clash with what is permitted.
Along the north of Öland from Äleklinta in the south to Byxelkrok in the north, runs the Coastal Road. It is a narrow and winding road with a very nice view of Kalmar Strait. This road has become very popular with visitors in recent years, both by car, camper and bicycle. The road is narrow and on many stretches a fairly poor gravel road. The road is not part of any protected nature, except when it passes through some reserves, but it is part of the Ölandsleden cycle route and is frequently used by families with children on bicycles. During the weeks in the summer when there are the most visitors to Öland, this is not a suitable road for larger and heavier vehicles such as campers as it is basically not possible to meet in width and the meeting places are few. This can mean congestion and long queues, so it is best to choose a different time of year for your visit along the coastal road, especially if you are coming by camper. It is prohibited to drive off the road to meet or to park. Parking is only allowed in designated parking spaces and overnight stays are allowed in designated areas.
In Sweden, you are allowed to park and stay overnight in your motor vehicle for 24 hours on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, you are allowed to stay until the next weekday. If other rules apply, you will see this on an additional sign below the P-marker.
Please note that there may be local regulations on certain reserve parking lots and that parking in the terrain is never permitted.
It is not permitted to open an awning or set up a table, chair or grill in a parking lot. The entire motor vehicle must be parked within the marked area and you may not occupy another parking space.
1. Hemestra = climate smart
Choosing a destination in your immediate region and making domestic trips makes a big difference to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Is it possible to choose a method of travel to your holiday destination with less climate impact?
2. Discover the local area by bicycle
Öland is best experienced by bicycle. Here you get the wind in your hair, the scents of elves and sea and time to look around. In addition, you contribute to Öland's sensitive nature along the small roads not being worn out.
3. Save on water
On Öland it is often dry. Precipitation during the year is small, especially during the summer. Therefore, it is important to be economical with the water so that there is enough for everyone. Irrigation ban applies in summer.
4. Conscious environmental thinking
Take your conscious environmental thinking from everyday life with you on holiday as well. Save water, recycle trash, turn off the light and eat seasonally.
5. Shop locally produced and locally grown
Be sure to select the local options when you're there. Then you support the local small producers and their production.
6. Sustainable companies
Show the companies that you value sustainable thinking. For example, when you are at a restaurant, ask if the meat is Swedish.
7. Bell on the beach
There is a lot of plastic in our nature. Take a bag with you and make a contribution to the oceans and beaches. Go out and pick - bell!
African swine fever is a painful and fatal disease for wild boar and domestic pigs. The disease can infect humans and other animals, but the fight against it affects how and where we are allowed to move.
It may take several years to eradicate African swine fever in Sweden, but the first months are the most critical for stopping the spread of infection. If we are helped to follow the restrictions that apply in the infected zone and work preventively in the rest of the country, the conditions for success look bright.
Swedish wild boar and pork are still safe to eat. You don't have to empty the freezer of your wild boar or pork meat, throw away what you bought in the store or choose the type of meat when you eat at a restaurant. Continue to support our Swedish pig farmers, food producers, restaurants, hunters and game handling facilities.
At Jordbruksverket and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, SVA, you will find up-to-date information about African swine fever and the ongoing outbreak.
