Kalmar

Kalmar is one of the oldest Swedish cities, dating back to the year 1027, and the foundation of the Kalmar Union, which ruled all the Nordic Countries during the 14th and 15th centuries.
In Kalmar, the Öland Bridge connects Öland to mainland Sweden.

Tourist office

• Kalmar Turism

  phone: +46 480-41 77 00
  address: Ölandskajen 9

There are direct trains from Copenhagen, via Copenhagen Airport and Malmö as well as trains from Gothenburg. From Stockholm, a change of trains in Alvesta is required. is just a few blocks from the central square.
Flying to Stockholm (Skavsta) is another option, and driving down the E22. have connections to Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
Kalmar has a beautiful harbour with good facilities for the visitor. Occasionally cruise ships call at Kalmar.

You can walk to all interesting locations. The city centre is relatively small, with two main squares. On one you find the cathedral (Domkyrkan) and the other is called Larmtorget. From the second one, you can walk to the Baronen shopping centre. You can also rent canoes at the low cost hotel Svanen, and you can paddle your way around the centre, which is an island.

• Kalmar Art museum

  phone: +46 480-42 62 82
  address: Stadsparken
  Opened 2008 in a new, highly controversial building.

• Kalmar Castle

• Kalmar Cathedral

  phone: +46 480-123 00
  address: Stortorget
  Dating back to 1660

• Kalmar County Museum

  phone: +46 480-45 13 00
  address: Skeppsbrogatan 51

Kalmar is an interesting town in many ways. The town was established in 12th century and the old city wall is still well preserved. The Kalmar Castle dates back to the year 1160 A.D and the tower of the castle was continuously expanded in the 13th century. Beside the castle, there is a very peaceful city park.
This town is connected to the island of Öland by a bridge, which used to be Europe's longest (6 km). Kalmar is about 45 minutes away (by car) from the Glass Kingdom (Glasriket) where the famous works of Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Nybro, Pukeberg, Målerås are located.
Kalmar has a football team, Kalmar FF, that won the Swedish cup in 2007. They play in the highest division, the Allsvenskan. You can watch them play at Kalmar Arena. Newly constructed and opened in 2010.

• Linnéuniversitetet

  phone: +46 77-228 80 00
  address: Nygatan 18B
  Kalmar one of the two main campuses of Linnéuniversitetet, the other one being located in Växjö. The Kalmar campus is known for its courses in seafaring, teaching and economics (Baltic School of Economics).

The past couple of years many shopping malls and establishments have opened in Kalmar. The main shopping areas are

• Baronen

  phone: +46 70-297 92 93
  address: Skeppsbrogatan 12
  Many smaller shops and a movie theatre

• BilenIKEA, CityGross and other large stores.

• GiraffenICA Maxi, Onoff, CoopForum and many other stores.

• the city centre has many small shops

In the museum Länsmuséet you can buy many Christmas articles, some made after designs by Jenny Nyström, a famous Swedish artist born in Kalmar.

• Kalmar Kött & Bar

  phone: +46 480-288 30
  address: Larmtorget 2
  Voted by many as the best in town

• Kama Sushi

  phone: +46 480-548 78
  address: Västra Sjögatan 13

• Restaurang Larmgatan 10

  phone: +46 480-865 25
  address: Larmgatan 10
  Combination of Asian and European cuisine.

• Thai Silk Palace

  phone: +46 480-281 26
  address: Fiskaregatan 8

• Thai Taste

  phone: +46 480-42 19 40
  address: Esplanaden 6
  Thai food take away.

Coffeeshops

• Krusentiernska gården

  phone: +46 480-41 15 52
  address: Stora Dammgatan 9
  A wonderful coffeeshop in a beautiful garden setting.

• Kullzénska caféet

  phone: +46 480-288 82
  address: Kaggensgatan 26
  Wonderful small coffeeshop in an old building in the centre.

Hotell Kalmar has info on all hotels in Kalmar.

• Brofästet Hotell & Konferens

  phone: +46 480-42 70 00
  address: Gröndalsvägen 19

• Calmar Stadshotell

  address: Storgatan 14
  Stortorget 14 - classy and centrally located

• Clarion Collection Hotel Packhuset

  phone: +46 480 570 00
  address: Skeppsbrogatan 26, Kalmar, SE, 392 31
  Good-quality hotel on the waterfront. Rooms are not large, but efficiently designed; some have sea view. Includes wireless internet, breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner.

• Frimurarehotellet

  phone: +46 480-152 30
  address: Larmtorget 2

• Hotell Svanen

  phone: +46 480-255 60
  address: Rappegatan 1

• Vassmolösa Gästgiveri

  phone: +46 48032280
  address: Karlskronavägen 53, 388 91 VASSMOLÖSA

• Hotel Witt

  phone: +46 480-152 50
  address: Södra Långgatan 42

• Turistbyrån has Internet for 20 SEK. This is for a total of 24 hours usage to be used within 3 months and is wireless, so you need your own phone/laptop or iPad. Very cheap and fast, though only useful if you are visiting the wharf as it does not reach much more than within a 1 km radius.

Kalmar is a good starting point to experience the Swedish east coast. Swebusexpress runs between Kalmar and Karlskrona regularly and the cost of this bus trip is low. It is also possible to travel to another elegant and relaxing summer resort in the east cost, Västervik.
The local bus goes to Borgholm in Öland island and it takes approximately one hour.
If you want to experience the inland of Småland nearby cities include Vimmerby, the home town of Astrid Lindgren and the epicentre of Astrid Lindgren tourism, and Eksjö, a well preserved historical wooden town.