Aspö outside Karlskrona - in the lovely Blekinge archipelago

Aspö is located just outside Karlskrona and is one of all the islands in the Blekinge archipelago. You can get here by car ferry from Karlskrona and we chose to go over with our electric bikes for a day trip.

Aspö - a beautiful archipelago island

Aspö is a beautiful and peaceful little archipelago island, where the main attraction is Drottningskär Castle. Here you can also sunbathe and swim, enjoy the tranquillity or perhaps spend a night in the charming Lot Tower.

Aspö is located just outside Karlskrona and is easily reached by car ferry. In the summer you can also get here with archipelago boat tours.

By ferry to Aspö

Between Karlskrona and Aspå runs Aspöleden, which is served by a free car ferry. When we were here, in early June, the ferry ran about once an hour. The ferry we took is called Yxlan, which we reacted to because we often pass the island of Yxlan in Roslagen on our way to Blidö. Nearby was also Aspö II or III.

The ferry ride takes 25 minutes, and we could stand and watch as the ferry left Karlskrona and the marine museum. A nice trip in the fresh sea air!

Goodnight Fortress Tower

We passed the Godnatt fortification tower, which is a so-called core tower dating from 1857-63. Already during the construction period, the tower was reordered, as the masonry could not withstand the guns of the new era, and the plan for several similar towers was never realised.

The tower has instead been used as a lighthouse, and several generations of lighthouse keepers lived here alone at sea. Today, guided tours to the tower are sometimes organised. We contented ourselves with waving and continuing the tour!

Cycling on Aspö

Aspö is a great place to cycle around. On the island there is a grocery store and some places that serve food, but if it is not open or if you prefer to sit in the green, you can also bring a packed lunch.

Drottningskär Castle - part of the World Heritage Site

The main attraction on Aspö is undoubtedly Drottningskär Castle. The naval city of Karlskrona was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998 and the castle is part of that World Heritage. The fortress was unfortunately closed when we were here, as it had not yet opened after the pandemic, but it was still interesting to see.

Built in the 17th century, the castle is a complete and well-preserved defence system from the time of the Great Powers. There is a large donjon (residential building) and four bastions with the names of the queens: Maria, Christina, Hedvig and Ulrica.

In the history of the castle, it has twice been attacked by enemy fleets, but none have managed to get past. The first time, in the 18th century, it was Russia's Tsarina II who attacked and the second time, in the early 19th century, it was England's Lord Nelson.

Until 1811, the castle was equipped for war and had a maximum of 250 men. In 1895, Drottningskär ceased to be an active fortification. Today it is an attraction for tourists, and sometimes guided tours have been organised.

Lotstornet Aspö - a charming hotel

As we cycled further on the island, we eventually came to the Lot Tower. This tower was built at the end of the Second World War and was inaugurated in 1945. But what was in the tower now? We cycled up and were met by the super nice new owners who enthusiastically showed us around. Lotstornet today serves as a hotel, hostel and restaurant.

We got to peek into one of the newly renovated hotel rooms and it was really fresh and cosy. In addition, the view is absolutely awesome! The tower has five floors, with one room on each floor. A hostel and restaurant are located in the neighbouring buildings.

The tower is about 20 metres high and when you stand at the top, at the viewpoint, you are 33 metres above sea level.

More to see and do on Aspö

Aspö is a fairly small island, but there is still plenty to enjoy and discover. If you want, you can check out Aspö Church, which is a brick church from 1891. The island is also home to the "Museum of Mobile Coastal Artillery". Of course, you can also sunbathe and swim, for example at Aspö Sea Baths.

Where can you park your campervan?

At Aspö Folkets hus there is an unmanned campsite with electricity and service, for motorhomes, caravans or tents. However, we did not take the motorhome with us but left it at the site in Karlskrona harbour. There are a large number of sites right by the sea, with all the services you need.

More to see in the neighbourhood

Want to see more nearby? There are many other islands and nature areas in the Blekinge archipelago. Don't miss out on visiting Karlskrona with its interesting Maritime Museum. It is also nice to visit charming and historic Kristianopel or beautiful Ronneby Brunnspark.

Have you visited Aspö or any other islands?

How was your experience? What are your best tips for the area?

Facts about Aspö

• Municipality: Karlskrona
• County: Blekinge County
• Landscape: Blekinge
• Location: Outside Karlskrona, in the Blekinge archipelago
• Size: Almost 8 square kilometres
• Locations: Drottningskär and the villages of Ryd, Bäck and Kroken.
• Attractions: Drottningskär Castle, Aspö Church, the Pilot Tower and the Museum of Mobile Coastal Artillery.
• Accommodation: Lotstornet, Drottningskär hostel, camping at Aspö Folkets hus or Lökanabben guest harbour (if you come by boat).
• Getting here: A car ferry runs from Karlskrona. In summer you can also take the archipelago ferry M/F Flaggskär.
• Read more: You can find more information at Visit Blekinge