Att göra i Ystad - 12 tips på upplevelser och sevärdheter

What to do in Ystad? We've visited Ystad several times, but never for as long and as carefully as during this summer's motorhome trip. And boy did we fall in love with this city! We have now collected our best tips for experiences in Ystad.

Ystad

Ystad is a quaint and charming little gem with half-timbered houses, cosy streets and lots of history. This is a great city to discover on holiday, whether you want to go on guided city walks, have fun with your family or enjoy a coffee shop.

Ystad is located in southern Skåne, about 6 kilometres southeast of Malmö.

What can you do in Ystad?

So, what can you see and do in Ystad? This gem is a very nice town with charming alleys, cosy cafés and beautiful sandy beaches. Here are our top tips on what to see and do in Ystad.

1. Walk among half-timbered houses and cosy alleys

"The whole of Ystad is an attraction!" That's the answer we got from friends when we asked about what to see and do in Ystad, and we agree. Without aiming for any particular sights at all, it's a pleasant experience to stroll around Ystad's charming neighbourhood, among half-timbered houses and historic buildings.

2. Take a city walk among special houses

If you are interested in history, you can specifically look for houses that are particularly interesting. One option is to take a guided tour. Another way is to pop into the tourist office and ask for a walking tour brochure. Then you can find all the famous buildings on your own. Here are some buildings you don't want to miss:

Birgitta House - with staircase gables and decorations from around 1500. Charles XII lived here when he visited Ystad around 1700.
Brahehuset - with decorations and original paintings from around 1500.
The tannery -from the 18th century and built along the Vassa River.
Pilgrändshuset - The oldest half-timbered house in the Nordic countries from 1840.
Latin school - a medieval brick building, and one of the oldest school buildings in Sweden.
Ystad Theatre - in its original condition from 1894, with a unique stage construction.

One of the most ornate houses in Ystad is the house known as the Angel House. The house was built in the 16th century, and its name comes from the angelic wooden figures under the eaves.

3. Visit the Church of St Mary

St Mary's Church was built around 1200 and is the oldest surviving building in the city. In 1648 the tower collapsed, and the tower you see today dates from 1689. Every night of the year, a loud signal can be heard from the tower - it is the Tower Guardian who, according to a centuries-old tradition, announces that all is quiet in the city.

Inside, the church is beautifully decorated.

4. Strolling at the Grey Friar Monastery

The Gråbrödra Monastery was founded by Franciscan monks in 1267, but the monks were expelled from their monastery during the Reformation in 1537. Today the monastery is located in a beautiful environment surrounded by several different gardens.

There is also the Klosterdammen. Once used as a washing pond, today it is a relaxing environment full of birds.

5. Take a walk in Wallander's footsteps

Perhaps one of the most popular things to do in Ystad is to discover the locations of the Kurt Wallander books and films. A total of 44 films have been filmed in Ystad and the Österlen region, and the books have been translated into as many languages. At the tourist office you can find information and guides to find the different locations. For example, you can check out:

Mariagatan 10 - Wallander's home address in the books.
Mariagatan 11C - An address opposite Mariagatan 1o, which for filming purposes was used as Wallander's residence in the first 13 films starring Krister Henriksson.
Fridolf's pastry shop - Wallander's favourite café, at Lingsgatan 3

If you wish, you can also visit Ystad Studios Visitor Centre. Here you can enter Kurt Wallander's apartment and the police station in the BBC's Wallander productions.

6. Discover the Per Helsas farm

Per Helsas Farm is considered the most extensive and best preserved half-timbered building in Sweden. This commercial farm consists of an entire block from the 17th and 19th centuries. As we walked past, it had just rained. In better weather conditions, the farm looks very inviting for a meal or coffee at the popular Grändens mat, located here.

7. Coffee at Bäckahästen

Restaurant Bäckahästen is located in traditional and beautiful half-timbered houses in the centre of Ystad. In fine weather you can hang out in the beautiful courtyard. Sandwiches and simple dishes are on the menu. For us it was a good ice cream.

8. Take a guided tour by vintage fire engine

In high season, you can take a guided tour of the city by vintage fire engine. You can choose between city tours and Wallander tours.

9. Sunbathing and swimming

Along the coastline outside Ystad there are long sandy beaches with lovely fine-grained sand. We were here just before the real summer heat, but on a lovely summer day we can imagine that it is full of sun worshippers here.

Don't forget to check out the charming bathing huts, located all along the beaches. The huts are privately owned, where owners can store their beach chairs and other necessities for a day at the beach.

If you want to take a trip to a particularly famous and talked-about beach, you can go to Sandhammaren. However, note that it can be crowded and difficult to find a parking space on hot summer days.

READ MORE: Sandhammaren in Österlen - a beautiful sandy beach

Stränder på Österlen - Sandhammaren och Mälarhusen

10. Holidaying at Ystad camping

Ystad Camping is a nice campsite, located right next to the sea, within cycling distance of the centre of Ystad. The campsite has both cabins and space for motorhomes and caravans, as well as a shop and pizzeria. Just below the campsite, in addition to the sandy beach, there is also Jaktens kiosk and miniature golf.

11. Take a trip to the Stones of Ales!

Ales stenar is Sweden's largest and best preserved ship setting. The stone formation sits magnificently on a hill above the village of Kåseberga on the south coast of Österlen in Skåne. It is known that the shipwreck dates to sometime between 500 and 1000 AD, but much else remains a mystery. In Kåseberga harbour there are restaurants serving fish and seafood.

READ MORE: Ales stones - an ancient mystery in Skåne

12. Travelling by ferry to Poland or Bornholm

From the ferry terminal in Ystad there are several different ferries heading south. You can go to Swinoujscie in Poland with Polferries or Unity Line. If you want to experience Danish Bornholm instead, you can travel with Bornholmslinjen.

READ MORE: Polferries Ystad-Swinoujscie - our experience

More things to do in Ystad for culture and history lovers

There is of course even more to see and do in Ystad than our suggestions. Here are some more tips for culture and history lovers.

Balkåkra Church Ruin and Sjörup Old Church, dates back to the 12th century.
Charlotte Berlin Museum showcases a mid-19th century bourgeois home. Dammgatan 23.
Marsvinsholm Castle is a beautiful building, but private and not open to the public.
Military History Museum shows military history from 1773 to 1997. Nils Ahlins gata 19.
Ystad Art Museum has a significant collection of 20th century South Swedish and Danish art. St Knut's Square.
Ystad Theatre is not only beautiful, but also has a programme of cultural activities. Sjömansgatan 13.

Göra i Ystad - militärhistoriska museet — Military History Museum

More things to do in Ystad for nature lovers

Here are some more tips on things to do in Ystad for nature lovers.

Fishing is popular, both in the sea and in lakes.
Skåneleden passes Ystad, for those who like to hike.
South coastal route is a cycle path that passes through the Ystad sand forest.
Ystad sand forest is a nature reserve located along the sea.

More to do in Ystad with the family

Travelling with children? Here are some ideas on what to do in Ystad and the surrounding area with children.

Indoor cycling between Tomelilla and Fyledalen.
Glassmaking offers homemade ice cream in many different flavours.
Little Train do two different tours, one in the city and one to the Sand Forest.
Tosselilla Summerland is Skåne's largest amusement park and is located just north of Ystad. Svampakorset, Tomelilla.
Ystad Zoo is a park with exotic animals. Gamla Lundavägen 514

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course plenty of hotels and other accommodation options in Ystad. In the centre of town you will find, for example Southern Continental and Ystad station. If you want to combine accommodation with a spa, you can stay at the Ystad saltsjöbad, which is nicely situated by the sea. A bit west of Ystad, in Abbekås harbour, you will also find cosy Bongska House.

There are also several nearby campsites to choose from:

Ystad Camping, Österleden 97
Nybostrands camping, Notvägen 2, Nybostrand
Löderups strandbads camping, Östanvägen 64, Löderup

If you're travelling with a motorhome and looking for a pitch, there are also a few different options. The photo below is from Ystad Marina's long-term car park.

Ystad marina car park (with electricity, high season only)
Ystad marina long-term car park (no service)
Västerleden 129, west of the treatment plant (no electricity or water)
Kåseberga car park, at Ales stones (with electricity, no latrine emptying)
Löderup Strandbad car park, Löderup (with electricity)

More things to see and do around Ystad

Not far from Ystad is the exciting medieval castle Glimmingehus. It's also not far from Sweden's southernmost cape, Smygehuk. If you want to visit more cities, you can go to Simrishamn, Trelleborg or to the historical The student city of Lund.

More things to see and do in Ystad?

We had really nice days in Ystad and can highly recommend a visit here. Have you been to Ystad? How was your experience? Do you have any other good tips on what to see and do in Ystad?

Facts about Ystad

Landscape: Skåne
County: Skåne County
Population: Around 31 000 (2021)
District: Ystad district, Öja district and Hedeskoga district.
The name: The town is first mentioned in 1244 as 'Viistatha'. Many suggestions have been made about the meaning of the place name, including that the prefix 'we' means that it was a place of sacrifice.
Read more: You can find more information at the town's website.

History in Ystad

12th century: Peace emerged around the coasts of the Baltic Sea and the German Hanseatic League emerged, making fishing attractive. A fishing trade centre emerged.
1244Ystad is mentioned for the first time when King Erik and his brother Abel visited the town.
1258 or 1267: A Franciscan monastery was established in the city. During this time there was an intrigue between the church and the royal family.
1410: A leprosy hospital is mentioned for the first time.
1480: The southern part of Scandinavia's oldest half-timbered house, Pilgrändshuset, was built.
1490: The brick building 'Brahehuset' was built.

16th century

16th century: Several of the city's important buildings were built during this time, such as the Latin School and the Birgitta House.
1532: The Reformation reached Ystad and the Franciscan monks were thrown out of the monastery. The monastery became a hospital and poorhouse.
1569: The town hall, with its archives, was burnt down by the Swedes.
1572: St Nicholas Church was demolished and the remains were used to build the Old Town Hall on Stortorget.
1599: The city received a letter of privilege, under which it could act as an export harbour for oxen.

17th to 18th century

1648: The western part of St Mary's Church collapsed during a severe storm. Three years later, a new, expanded church was completed.
1658: Ystad became a Swedish town, with about 2000 inhabitants.
1676: The Danes landed under General Cornelis Tromp and fighting continued for three years. Then it was revealed that German traders had been smuggling for the Swedes.
1678: The town was raided by Danish troops as punishment for smuggling. However, the population, who were counted as Danes, were warned and made it to the beach before the looting began.
18th century: Charles XII visited and stayed in the city on several occasions, on his way to and from travelling in Europe.

19th century

19th century: Napoleon I's blockade of the Baltic Sea gave Ystad's trade a major boost through smuggling. Many merchants became rich and had large houses built.
1829: The Hôtel Continental du Sud was inaugurated, now Hotel Continental, which is Sweden's oldest hotel.
1866: The Ystad-Eslöv railway was completed.
1874: The Ystad-Malmö county line was inaugurated.
1890s: The city became a garrison town.
1894: The theatre on Storgatan burned down and was replaced by a new theatre on Sjömansgaran, which today is one of Sweden's best preserved theatres.

20th to 21st century

1907: Ystad Fornminnesförening was formed and the monastery was saved for posterity.
20th century: The city was given an art museum and cycle paths were created. The city also got a ferry service to Bornholm and Swinoujscie in Poland.
2004: Ystad Studios was established on the site of the disused regiment.

READ MORE: Campsites and pitches in Skåne
READ MORE: Things to do in Skåne - attractions and experiences
READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations

4 Comments

Add yours →

Happy Campers says:

Ystad is beautiful and if you want to enjoy a cold beer, the Möller brewery is not bad.

21 July 2021 - 13:56

BP says:

Ystad must be one of Sweden's most charming and cosy towns. The proximity to the continent isn't bad either...

21 July 2021 - 19:12

Travelsis says:

So many tips about beautiful Ystad! So much you have done😀. I can also recommend Explore Ystad, a backpack that you book and pick up at Ystad Tourist Office. Then you walk around with the help of clues and information about Ystad and unlock the lock on the backpack and get more clues. Suitable for both young and old små☺️./P

22 July 2021 - 10:40

Elisabet Nilsson says:

And don't forget the legendary Fritidsbarnen right by the sea! Their pastries are something to dream about, not to mention the host couple! The address: Fritidsvägen 16.

23 July 2021 - 16:39

What to do in Ystad - 12 tips for experiences and attractions

Ystad

What can you do in Ystad?

1. Walk among half-timbered houses and cosy alleys

2. Take a city walk among special houses

3. Visit the Church of St Mary

4. Strolling at the Grey Friar Monastery

5. Take a walk in Wallander's footsteps

6. Discover the Per Helsas farm

7. Coffee at Bäckahästen

8. Take a guided tour by vintage fire engine

9. Sunbathing and swimming

10. Holidaying at Ystad camping

11. Take a trip to the Stones of Ales!

12. Travelling by ferry to Poland or Bornholm

More things to do in Ystad for culture and history lovers

More things to do in Ystad for nature lovers

More to do in Ystad with the family

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

More things to see and do around Ystad

More things to see and do in Ystad?

Facts about Ystad

History in Ystad

16th century

17th to 18th century

19th century

20th to 21st century

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BP says:

Travelsis says:

Elisabet Nilsson says:

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