Things to do on Öland - 25 sights and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | We have both visited Öland several times, both when we were younger and more recently. The most recent trip was a motorhome trip where we drove around the entire island for two weeks. Here we share our best tips on what to see and do on this lovely and unique island.

Öland

Öland attracts with sun, swimming and lazy days. We also liked doing a road trip with many small stops along the way. Here you can discover everything from ancient castles and historic churches to odd gems and nature that is unlike anything else. We were captivated by the landscape in the far south and the Byrum – Äleklinta coastal road. But there is much more to see and discover!

1. Discover Långe Jan and Öland's southern cape

Along the south of Öland stands the Långe Jan lighthouse., which is Sweden's tallest and one of the country's oldest lighthouses. Öland's southern tip also offers a special landscape with open spaces and freely roaming animals. We almost thought it felt exotic to come here – a place unlike anything else we've seen in Sweden.

Here you will find the Ottenby nature reserve, where you can see harbor seals or birdwatch. You can also see interesting exhibitions about animals and nature at Naturum Ottenby. A place you don't want to miss when visiting Öland!

2. See Borgholm Castle

Another thing you don't want to miss doing on Öland is seeing the mighty ruin of Borgholm Castle. This building was built in the 13th century as a castle and fortress, and in the 17th century, Charles X Gustav had it rebuilt into a magnificent Baroque palace.

The building was later transformed into a stately Renaissance castle, with four corner towers. Later in history, it was subjected to battles and eventually fell into disrepair.

Today you can visit the large ruin and see the fantastic view from its walls. There is also a museum for those who want to learn more about the castle's history. We also thought it was fun to play with the camera in the special environment.

3. Hike on Stora Alvaret

Stora Alvaret is a 37 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide area of alvar land found on the southern part of Öland. This is an area that offers beautiful and different nature. For example, there is the 13 kilometre long hiking trail Stora Alvarleden, which runs from Karlevi to Frösslunda.

For us, there was no hiking, but of course we still have to mention this area, which is part of the South Öland Cultivated Landscape World Heritage Site – one of Sweden's 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

4. Swim at Böda Sand and Öland's beaches

Böda Sand Camping is not only Sweden's largest campsite, but also famous from the reality series Böda Camping on TV. The campsite is located along a twenty-kilometer long white sandy beach and is like its own little oasis with pools, bars, restaurants, shops, entertainment and various activities for children and adults.

If the children had been younger and had traveled with us, we would have happily stayed here for a few days. Now we were content to explore the environment and the fantastic sandy beach.

READ MORE: Böda Sand on Öland - Sweden's largest campsite

5. Explore the Troll Forest

Just north of Böda Sand lies the lovely Trollskogen, which offers gnarled tree trunks and nice hiking trails. Here you can also visit Naturum to learn more about the animals and nature in the area.

At Trollskogen you will also find Böda Skogsjärnväg – a museum railway that occasionally offers tours through the forest. Unfortunately we missed the train when we were here, but it was a lovely walk in the magical forest!

6. Drive Öland's coastal road Byrum – Äleklinta

The Byrum – Äleklinta coastal road is an ancient road that follows the beautiful west coast of Öland. You drive through fantastic nature and pass prehistoric sites, old harbors, remains of quarrying and Öland's only preserved wind-powered skerries, which are now listed buildings.

You also pass the beautiful beach in Byrum-Sandvik and the raukarna in Byrum. Above all, it is nice to drive here, because the landscape offers such beautiful views. Some of our best memories of Öland are from this stretch.

READ MORE: Kustvägen Byrum - Äleklinta, Öland's beautiful west coast

7. See Byrum's raukar

Raukar are not only found on Gotland but also on Öland. The most famous raukar can be found in Byrum on the west coast. Along the water there is a long row of tall stone pillars that have been formed over millions of years. A truly beautiful landscape!

The area is also rich in fossils, and nearby you will find the beautiful sandy beach of Byrum-Sandvik. Even though it was summer when we were here, it wasn't particularly crowded, so it felt a bit like we had found a hidden gem.

8. Discover Borgholm

Borgholm is a really cozy and charming tourist town, full of cafes and restaurants. Here you can shop in small shops, look at boats in the harbor or maybe buy an Ölands ice cream. In the summer you really get the holiday feeling here!

READ MORE: Things to do in Borgholm – our 12 best tips

9. Stroll in the park at Solliden Castle

Solliden Palace is the royal family's private summer paradise, but most of the beautiful garden is open to the public. Here you can stroll through the Italian garden, the English park or the Dutch rose garden. When you get tired, you can sit down for a coffee at Kaffetorpet. A place that feels both peaceful and royal at the same time!

READ MORE: Solliden Castle on Öland - stroll in a royal garden

10. Visit Eketorp Castle

Eketorp Castle stands out among the ancient castles on Öland because it has been reconstructed to show what life might have been like in the past. In the courtyard, several residential buildings have been built, along with informative signs.

When the attraction is open, you can visit the interior of the museum houses and also arrange various activities such as bread baking, archery and historical games. It may be extra fun to come here with children, but even as an adult it is fascinating to be helped to imagine what life might have been like here once upon a time.

11. Check out Långe Erik and Öland's northern cape

In the far north of Öland you will find the Långe Erik lighthouse, a 32 metre high lighthouse tower built in 1844-1845. The building is now a listed building and just next door is a former lighthouse keeper's house. If you want, you can go up the tower to admire the view of the coast and the surrounding sea.

12. Experience Neptuni Fields

Neptuni åkrar is a magnificent nature reserve along the coast north of Byxelkrok on northern Öland. Here, large fields of shingle spread out towards Kalmarsund, and in early summer the fields are colored by flowering blue fireweed. Follow the coastal road through the area or stop and walk in the open landscape with views of the sea.

13. Discover all of Öland's ancient castles

There are around 15-20 ancient castles on Öland, all of which have a long and exciting history. The castles are now ruins, but the finds have taught us a lot about how people lived in the Iron Age. For example, jewellery and Roman coins have been found that tell the story of journeys to the East. Some of the most important castles include:

• Bårby castle
• Sandby castle
• Gråborg
• Ismanstorp fortress

Some of the most interesting are Sandby Castle, Gråborg and Ismanstorp Castle. Eketorp Castle, which we recommend above, has been reconstructed and therefore offers a completely different experience. There is very little to see at Sandby Castle – but instead there is a dramatic history hidden here.

Human remains were found all over the castle, piles of rubble, as if everyone had been killed suddenly and violently. What really happened?

READ MORE: Fornborgar på Öland - 5 castles you don't want to miss!

14. Photograph Öland's windmills

Öland is known for its windmills, and if there's one thing you want to include in a photo from your Öland holiday, it might just be a windmill. The vast majority of today's Öland windmills are stump mills from the late 1700s or early 1800s, and in total there are around 350 windmills today. Here are some that may be particularly interesting to check out:

• The mill king in Björnhovda is Scandinavia's largest preserved stump mill.
• Kvarnraden in Lerkaka is a long line of windmills that are popular to photograph.
• Störlinge mill is a row of seven windmills in Störlinge.

15. Take a trip to the Blue Virgin

One thing we didn’t have time to do on Öland – but would like to do on our next visit – is to take a trip to the island and the Blå Jungfrun National Park. Boat trips can be made with M/S Solvind from Byxelkrok. Another way to get to Blå Jungfrun is to take a tour boat from Oskarshamn on the mainland.

16. Visit Öland's museum Himmelsberga

Öland Museum Himmelsberga is a nice open-air museum where you can visit an old Öland row village and learn more about life in the past. There is also a cozy little café, a trading post and an art gallery. We really liked this museum. Plus, we had a delicious ice cream here!

17. Coffee at the 2D café at Mellböda farm.

A slightly different thing to do Öland is to visit a 2D cafe, which you can do at Mellböda farm. The owners had actually contacted us via the blog and said that we were welcome if we were passing by. We were, and it was a really fun stop! We were met by nice owners who have created a personal place to say the least.

So, what is a 2D café? Well, here you can have coffee in a room that is painted in black and white, to achieve the feeling of a two-dimensional cartoon world. This type of experience is perhaps more common in Asia, but you only need to go to Öland.

At Mellböda Farm there is also an art stable, a play barn, a fantastic toy shop, kite flying and a unique holiday apartment.

18. See Gettlinge burial ground and other ancient remains

If you like grave fields and other ancient remains, you can easily find things to do on Öland. There are around 40 sites with prehistoric graves. One of the most famous sites is Gettlinge burial ground, where you will find, among other things, a ship set, but also rock coffins. Spearheads and swords have been found inside the tombs.

Another interesting place is Seby cemetery where there are 280 graves, a shipwreck, a Viking rune stone, rock chests and bowl pits.

19. Visit Capellagården in Vickleby

Do you like gardening and gardening? Then you can stop by Capellagården in Vickleby. This farm serves as a school with education in arts and crafts and gardening. In the summer you can visit the garden shop or the arts and crafts shop, or maybe have a coffee at the garden café.

20. See the Karlevi Stone

On Öland there is also a long line of runestones, with inscriptions that tell of times gone by. One of the most famous stones is the one called the ”Karlevi Stone”, which is usually considered one of Sweden’s strangest runestones.

The stone dates from the end of the Viking Age and contains a poem in what is known as ”drottkvätt”. The poem is dedicated to a powerful chieftain named Sigge, who perhaps once upon a time accomplished some great deed. We find places like this fascinating. We can even feel a little dizzy when we try to imagine the time when people carved in stone.

21. See St. Brita's Chapel at Kappeludden

Saint Brita's Chapel was probably built in the 13th century and was located at the medieval trading post of Sikavarp. Today you can see the ruins of the chapel and a tall stone cross. You can also enjoy the peaceful environment by the sea.

22. Discover St. Knut's Chapel at Gråborg

In the village of Borg, right next to the ancient castle of Gråborg, you can visit the ruins of St. Knut's Chapel. The chapel was built at the end of the 12th century, during a period when Öland was a borderland, when the kings were fighting around the Baltic Sea and everyone had to be Christianized.

The chapel was abandoned in the early 16th century and today a fantasy-provoking ruin remains. Another place where it is hard not to start thinking about all the people who have lived and moved here over the centuries.

23. Discover Öland's historic churches

If you like old historic churches, there are several interesting buildings to check out. Some churches that we found particularly exciting include:

• Gärdslösa church is one of the best preserved medieval churches on Öland.
• Source old church is a stone church built in the 13th century.
• Högby church has a 13th century defence tower and a 15th century Madonna cabinet.

24. Have fun at Öland's animal and amusement park.

One thing to do on Öland, especially for those traveling with children or teenagers, is to visit Öland's zoo and amusement park. Here you can see lots of wild animals, and there is also both a water park and an amusement park with carousels. We haven't visited the park ourselves, but for families with children it is one of the island's big attractions.

25. Eat Öland dumplings

Last but not least, we would like to recommend the Öland speciality "kroppkakor", which may be worth trying during your visit. The dish is made from grated raw potatoes and some boiled potatoes, and the filling consists of pork and onions.

We like to try local food when we travel and of course we have tried the kroppkakorna. Although the dish may not make it to our top list, we think it is quite tasty – a bit chunky and both sweet and salty. Not such a bad combo!

READ MORE: Here you will find all our reports about Öland.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Best areas to live in and explore

• Borgholm: A perfect base with lots of life and restaurants. From here it is close to attractions such as Borgholm Castle. Good for a first visit!
• South Öland: This part of Öland offers nature, world heritage and a slower pace. Here you are close to Stora Alvaret and Öland's southern tip. Perfect for nature experiences!
• Northern Öland: The northern part offers nice beaches and good excursion opportunities. Here you are close to Böda Sand and Trollskogen. Perfect for families with children!

Hotels and campsites

On Öland there are many hotels, bed & breakfasts and holiday apartments to choose from. There are also plenty of campsites (where you can stay with a camper van, caravan, tent or in a cabin) and simpler parking spaces for motorhomes.

It may sometimes be possible to free camp, but please note that there are many nature reserves and large areas of fragile nature, which means that you are not allowed to park just anywhere.

READ MORE: Campsites and pitches on Öland

More to see and do in the neighbourhood of Öland

If you want to continue your trip near Öland, we have more tips for you:

• Things to do in Kalmar
• Things to do in Glasriket

More landscape guides nearby

Want to discover more of Sweden? Here are more guides to nearby landscapes that are perfect for more excursions, road trips and holidays at home.

• Things to do in Småland
• Things to do in Gotland
• Things to do in Blekinge
• Things to do in Skåne
• Holidays in Sweden