Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [104]
Peckish punters should head for the buzzing Café Kosta (502 60) inside the factory’s outlet store, with tasty quiches and grilled panini for around Skr55.
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OSKARSHAMN
0491 / pop 26,300
Oskarshamn is useful for its regular boat connections with Gotland, with a few sights to help kill time.
The tourist office (881 88; www.oskarshamn.se; Hantverksgatan 18; 9am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat & Sun Jun-late Aug, 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri late Aug-May) is in Kulturhuset, along with the library, which has free internet access. There are ATM machines at the Flanaden shopping centre.
Sights
Upstairs in Kulturhuset, Döderhultarmuseet (880 40; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri & 11am-4pm Sat & Sun Jun–mid-Aug, noon-4pm Tue-Fri, 10am-2pm Sat mid-Aug–May) features around 200 works by home-grown artist Axel Petersson ‘Döderhultarn’ (1868–1925), who captured local characters and occasions in vigorous and funny wood carvings. Also upstairs, with the same opening hours, Sjöfartsmuséet (880 45) showcases local maritime exhibits.
One admission price (adult/under 20 years Skr40/free) covers entry to both museums.
BLÅ JUNGFRUN NATIONAL PARK
Blå Jungfrun (Blue Maiden), a 1km-long granite island, is known as the ‘Witches’ Mountain’ because, according to tradition, this is where they gather every Easter to meet the devil. The island is a nature reserve with fantastic scenery, gnarled trees, blue hares and bird life, and the curious stone maze, Trojeborg.
Between mid-June and August a local launch (adult/7-15yr Skr200/100) departs up to five times weekly (usually not Monday and Tuesday) from Brädholmskajen, the quay at the head of the harbour in Oskarshamn, allowing passengers 3½ hours to explore the island. Contact the tourist office for bookings.
Sleeping & Eating
Gunnarsö Camping (882 00; Östersjövägen; sites low/high season Skr140/160; May–mid-Sep; ) Located 3km southeast of town, this has seaside sites, a heated pool, a restaurant and other family campsite necessaries. However, public transport connections are poor.
Vandrarhemmet Oscar (158 00; info@forumoskarshamn.com; Södra Långgatan 15-17; hostel dm/s/d Skr205/305/410, hotel s/d Skr780/1050, discounted to Skr650/800; ) This shiny hotel-hostel hybrid is a brilliant budget option. Rooms have TV, fans and bathrooms – only the kitchen for self-caterers gives it away as a hostel. It’s conveniently placed for travellers, just opposite the bus station.
There are no outstanding eateries, but there are a couple of pleasant ones.
Coffeehouse Kronan (143 80; Flanaden 6; snacks from Skr45) A great lunch stop, with filled baguettes and panini, plus tasty cakes, good coffee and outdoor summer seating.
Cecil Kinesiska Restaurang (187 50; Lilla Torget; dishes Skr98-169) Peddles Chinese chow and the odd Swedish and French dish.
Steakhouse Oscar (772 28; Lilla Torget; lunch Skr75, mains Skr109-189) Across the square, this place serves steaks and Swedish fare, with a couple of vegetarian options.
There’s a Hemköp supermarket nearby at the Flanaden shopping centre.
Getting There & Away
Oskarshamn Airport (332 00) is 12km north of town and Skyways (0771-95 95 00; www.skyways.se) flies direct to Stockholm Arlanda three times daily Monday to Wednesday, and twice daily Thursday and Friday. An extra flight each weekday flies to Stockholm Arlanda via Linköping.
Long-distance bus services stop at the very central bus station. Regional bus services run up to six times daily from Oskarshamn to Kalmar (Skr75, 1½ hours) and Västervik (Skr67, one hour).
Swebus Express has three daily buses between Stockholm and Kalmar, calling in at Oskarshamn. The closest train station is in Berga, 25km west of town. Here, regional trains run from Linköping and Nässjö. Local buses connect Berga and Oskarshamn.
Boats to Visby depart from the Gotland Ferry Terminal near the now-disused train station, daily in winter and twice daily in summer. Boats to Öland depart from the ferry