Öland winter excursions

Excursion 1. 
Mörbylånga & Mörbylångaleden

Before you sit down and have a good coffee at Ölands Söderbönor Café & Butik or enjoy a meal at Lindas Restaurang & Pizzeria at the square in Mörbylånga, there is much to discover in the over 200-year-old market town. Mörbylånga has several beautiful streets with a character from the late 1800th and early 1900th centuries. The buildings between the sea and the square consist of period wooden houses with idyllic gardens. The hiking trail Mörbylångaleden , which has been designated one of Sweden's twelve signature trails, passes right through the community. Take the opportunity to take a hike 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 Köpingen you will also find a barbecue area in Nunnedalen and a swimming area at Kleva.

Excursion 2.
Byrum's raukar & Löttorp

Start your tour at Öland's finest rauk area in Byrum. Take the opportunity to walk around or climb among a hundred rauk trees along the 600-meter-long beach strip. The rauk trees are right next to the road and there is also a parking lot here. Byrum's rauk trees 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 harbor with wooden boathouses. The tour then goes east about half a mile with a stop at Kalk kök & bar . Enjoy a well-cooked hamburger in a fantastic setting. You can enjoy a classic condiment at Löttorps konditori by the square. If, on the other hand, you are craving kroppkakor, continue 7 km south to Ninnis kroppkaksbod.

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

Excursion 3.
Dröstorp Ödeby & Gårdby

On the river 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 1800th century. When the last Dröstorparen left at the end of the 1800th century, the wooden residential buildings were moved to Skarpa Alby and Smedsgärde, while the stone outbuildings were left behind. Today, house grounds, alleys, stone walls and a continuous field fence with plot boundaries remain. Dröstorp's deserted village is an exciting excursion destination in all seasons. Park the car at Skarpa Alby and walk the 2,8 km on the rugged alvar to the deserted village.

After your trip out on the alvar, you need a really good coffee. You can find it at Gårdby Kafé & Lanthandel , about 6,5 km from the deserted village. Also take the opportunity to visit the chocolate manufacturer Fröken Frankenstein on the same village street.

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

Excursion 4.
Castle Forest & Borgholm

An excursion in Borgholm offers both city, forest, elves, castle and sea. Start your tour along Strandvägen at the cold bath house next to the harbour. Here you pass the palatial villas of the seaside resort before the road continues inside the forest along the coast. Next to Strandvägen is the Borgholm lighthouse and the bomb crater from the Second World War. 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 Alvaret 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 the Castle Forest. If there is more play in the body, the toy ship Barbara is down in the harbor waiting for little pirates.

Borgholm has many places to eat all year round. If you want a coffee, you can choose the classic Nya Conditoriet , or the Stove Oven Bakery Olof . Gamla Televerket , Sörens Restaurang & Bar , Himla Gott , Birk , Norrings and Borgholm Kök & Bar serve lunch and dinner, Brasseriet and is responsible for the evening and night hangout Wednesday to Saturday. If you want kroppkakor, it is Evas Kroppkakor , which is located 8 km north of Borgholm, which is the place to go.

Barbecue area!
Even in Borgholm there are barbecue areas 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 & Ferry City

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 facility, where the castle wall encloses an area of ​​210x160 meters, is always open to visitors. At the castle there is a chapel ruin, St. Knut'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, among others, Ismantorp Castle and the ancient village of Rönnerum.

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 dinner all year round. Down in the harbor there is a trattoria, a simpler restaurant, namely ÖlandsChoklad Hamncafé . Also take the opportunity to buy some good bread or yummy pastries 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 near Färjestaden, there are three to choose from, namely Möllstorp's dam, Färjestaden's dam and Grövle grillplats.

Excursion 6.
Rällaskogen, Stora Rör & Ekerum

Bring the whole family to Rällaskogen and set out together on pine-scented forest paths. This is a popular outdoor area with wonderful hiking, biking and jogging trails. The forest area lies 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 limestone vault right by the country castle in the pine forest. Inside there is an individual burial place surrounded by a wall that was built in 1932 by landowner Emil Persson at Rälla farm.

From here you then go 4 km down to Stora Rör's harbor. Here , Mormors Stenugnsbageri & Kaffestuga is open all year round and serves delicious cardamom buns and good coffee. In the harbor you can also eat delicious Neapolitan pizza at Hökarboden . If you prefer to go north, you can eat well at Halltorps Gästgiveri or at Ekerum Resort, where there is both a restaurant and 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 tips 7.
Trollskogen, nature reserve and hiking trails

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

In Trollskogen there are four color-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 the visitor center for tips and help.

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

• Kolkyrkestigen (1,3 km, green) – an easy activity trail through the forest and along the sea, perfect for children.

• The Ivy Path (3,3 km, yellow) – a stroller-friendly trail along beach meadows and the coast, with ivy-covered trees and small quests.

• Trollskogsstigen (4,5 km, red) – a longer nature trail around the entire cape with many of Trollskogen's classic attractions (1–2 hours).

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

Excursion tips 8.
Eketorp, ancient castle & hiking trail

Eketorps borg , the southernmost of Öland's ancient castles, not only allows you to take part in the fully excavated ancient castle where the wall and houses have been recreated directly on the ancient site, but also extensive views in all directions over the open alvar lands. Discover the castle, which is accessible all year round, and then walk along the Eketorpsleden, a 1,6 km long hiking trail on the alvar west of Eketorps borg. The trail runs through pastures and is marked with small cairns.

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