11 must-dos in Österlen – flea markets, charm and white sandy beaches

What is it? The best-preserved medieval castle in the Nordic region, construction of which began on May 2 1499. It still stands proudly in its spot today, surrounded by the wide-open Österlen landscape.

Why go? Because it’s a fun and essential history lesson – whether you join a guided tour or explore on your own, relying on the information displays that light up as soon as you enter a new room in the castle. But Glimmingehus is more than just its castle. In summer, you can try on medieval clothing, play board games that were popular 500 years ago, or grab a coffee at Café Borggården.

Don’t miss: The view from the shooting tower was once crucial for spotting approaching enemies early. Today, it serves a different purpose: one of the best viewpoints in Österlen. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Danish island of Bornholm.

Address: Borgvägen 6, Hammenhög. Opening hours: Daily May 1–September 30 from 10, with tours at set times. 100 SEK for adults. Free entry for children and young people up to 18. Guided tour included in the price.

What is it? 59 stone blocks forming a ship-shaped monument on the ridge above the fishing village of Kåseberga outside Ystad. One of Sweden’s most visited tourist attractions, with around 700,000 visitors each year.

Why go? Ales stones’ popularity is mainly down to the dramatic views over Österlen and the Baltic Sea, but also perhaps the enduring mystery of what the stones were actually used for. A burial site? An astronomical calendar? Or a ceremonial place for believers? For families with children, it’s now more of an ideal spot for hide and seek – each stone is big enough to hide a crouching person behind. On windy days, you can also watch paragliders launching themselves from the ridge and soaring out over the sea.

Don’t miss: A walk down to the fishing village of Kåseberga, where you’ll find cafés and bistros, as well as Kåseberga Fisk – a long-established smokehouse with both a shop and a restaurant with outdoor seating.

Address: Kåseberga, just east of Ystad.

What is it? A bicycle-like vehicle that runs on railway tracks, once used by track inspectors. Today, the railbike is a popular attraction where, starting in Tomelilla, you can pedal all the way down to the natural area of Fyledalen.

Why go? The valley of Fyledalen feels like something out of Tolkien’s fantasy world. Travelling along the old railway tracks by railbike is a peaceful and nature-rich way to experience the landscape. You set the pace yourself, and there are plenty of great picnic spots in the valley. The round trip between Tomelilla and Fyledalen is 17 kilometres. Each railbike accommodates two adults, or two adults and one child. Dressin på Österlen also offers a specially adapted railbike for wheelchairs or dog crates.

Don’t miss: The track crosses several busy roads where you’ll need to stop and look carefully before continuing. And a tip: save some energy for the return journey. The ride down into the valley is mostly downhill – on the way back, you’ll face a long, gentle incline that you’ll definitely feel in your legs.

Dressin på Österlen, Löparegatan, Tomelilla. Opening hours: Weekends in spring until Midsummer, then daily. Advance booking required. Price: 390 SEK per railbike during high season. Special railbike for wheelchairs also available.

What is it? A fishing village north of Simrishamn that lives year-round, but where both the population and pace increase dramatically in summer.

Why go? The heart of Sweden’s apple-growing region is a natural part of Österlen. On a smaller scale, you’ll find everything the area is known for: locally produced food, open landscapes, proximity to the sea… and quite a few celebrities, either living here or holidaying. Kiviks Musteri is worth a visit in its own right, whether you want to understand the craft behind apple juice or simply stock up at the shop.

Don’t miss: Buhres in Kivik – the harbour restaurant focused on fish and seafood. There’s also a deli for takeaway treats, as well as the popular ‘Luckan’, serving simpler dishes outdoors. For a slower pace, head up to Svinaberga above Kivik. At the converted farm Svabesholm, you’ll find a café, restaurant and several small shops.

Address: Kivik, about 18 kilometres north of Simrishamn. Opening hours: Buhres bistro is open 11–22 from June 29 to August 8 (Luckan closes at 20). Kiviks Musteri shop is open daily 10–17.

What is it? A heritage railway running the route between Brösarp and Sankt Olof – with steam trains. The association Skånska Järnvägar has operated the line since 1971.

Why go? Travelling by steam train is like stepping back in time. The station building in Brösarp is well preserved, complete with a classic ticket office and a fixed telephone for anyone wanting to call the ‘cab station’. On the platform, the station master waves as passengers board the old carriages. But it’s not just the nostalgia that draws visitors. The surrounding scenery is worth the ticket alone: the train passes Brösarps backar, rolls along Hanöbukten and continues through beech forests on its way to Sankt Olof. There’s a dining car on board.

Don’t miss: If you board at Brösarp, make sure to stop at the best part of the famous hills – the northern section – wilder and more dramatic than the southern side. In late summer and autumn, they turn purple with heather. Fans of Astrid Lindgren might recognise the landscape – this is Nangijala. Scenes from ‘The Brothers Lionheart’ were filmed here.

Address: Brösarps Stationsväg 3, Brösarp. Running from mid-June throughout summer, with evening trains from July 4. Return ticket costs 225 SEK for adults. Children 3–11: 60 SEK with an adult. Children under 3 travel free.

What is it? A nostalgia museum in the small village of Tryde, just outside Tomelilla, with a unique collection of items of all sizes – mainly from the 1950s.

Why go? This is a living museum in constant change, where the owner does everything to recreate the feeling of decades gone by. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a recreated petrol station with pumps from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Inside, there’s a hair salon and an old village shop, and the vast collection of toys and objects – built from the owner’s personal passion – guarantees a nostalgic kick even for those who never experienced the era themselves.

Don’t miss: Summer weekends feature themed car meets, often combined with line dancing or live music. If you want to continue the nostalgia trip, head into central Tomelilla to visit the tiny Hasse & Tage museum – just 17 square metres – filled with memorabilia from the Swedish comedy duo’s heyday.

Address: Tryde 1739, Tomelilla. Open daily 11–16 from July 5 to August 2. Price: 95 SEK for adults (half price if you arrive in a classic vehicle during the 2026 anniversary year). Children 8–12: 45 SEK. Children under 8 enter free.

What is it? Christinehof Palace was built in the 18th century at the initiative of Countess Christina Piper, who needed a residence near the alum works she operated. Today, it’s a popular destination for visitors wanting to experience a real palace – or simply enjoy a walk in the surrounding ecopark.

Why go? In summer, the palace is full of activity. The network Christinas Wänner organises everything from exhibitions to 18th-century themed days at the end of July, where you can eat period-style food and attend a ball. A calmer pace awaits in the forest, which Count Carl Piper transformed into an ecopark during his lifetime (1946–2023), making it a protected area with diverse nature.

Don’t miss: Traces of the old alum works are still visible – the storage buildings remain to this day. Nearby is the cosy Kaffestugan Alunbruket, housed in a half-timbered building that served as workers’ housing in the 18th century.

Christinehof Palace, Andrarum, just outside Brösarp. The palace is open 11–16 from late May to mid-September. Kaffestugan Alunbruket is open daily 11–17 from June 1 and throughout summer.

What is it? A national park centred around Mount Stenshuvud, which has three peaks, the highest rising 97 metres above sea level.

Why go? Walking through the national park feels like moving through a curated selection of Swedish nature. Lush deciduous forests give way to flower-filled pastures and heathland that lead down to a fine sandy beach, next to dramatic cliffs. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot the park’s hardest workers – grazing animals helping to keep the landscape open. There are five hiking trails to choose from, from an accessible one-kilometre loop to a four-kilometre walk around the main peak.

Don’t miss: The climb to the highest peak may be a workout, but the view over the Baltic Sea makes it worth it. Afterwards, well-earned recovery awaits at Kaffestugan Annorlunda by the main entrance. If you’ve burned some calories on the way up, there are few better excuses to dive into the café’s cake buffet.

Address: Stenshuvudsvägen 63, Kivik. Opening hours: Kaffestugan Annorlunda is open Thursday–Sunday from the seasonal opening in May until June 12. From June 13, open daily 11–17.

What is it? A seemingly endless beach stretching from the south coast up along the east coast, running from Ystad municipality into Simrishamn.

Why go? Swedish beaches don’t get much more international than this. Fine white sand is framed by towering dunes on one side and the blue sea on the other. Sandhammaren also has, by Österlen standards, a relatively large car park – although it fills up quickly in summer due to the beach’s popularity.

Don’t miss: Be mindful of the currents, which can sometimes be strong. Also don’t miss the nearby lighthouse, which offers guided tours. It was once vital – the waters off Sandhammaren are one of Sweden’s largest ship graveyards, where many vessels ran aground trying to pass the country’s southernmost tip.

Address: Sandhammarvägen 6, Löderup. Opening hours: The lighthouse site is open 14–17 from June 26 to August 16.

What is it? A vineyard set in what many consider one of Sweden’s most beautiful locations, close to Haväng where Hanöbukten stretches along the Skåne coast.

Why go? New legislation in summer 2025 made it possible for Swedish vineyards to sell wine directly to visitors – as long as the purchase is combined with an ‘educational activity’. Skepparps vineyard was quick to adapt and has created an experience that offers more than just a shop visit. There are several options: from longer guided tours among the 25,000 vines followed by tastings, to shorter introductions for those wanting to learn the basics of Swedish wine.

Don’t miss: During high season, summer barbecues are held every Wednesday evening, with the chance to sample the vineyard’s drinks. If you want to dive deeper into Swedish wine, look out for the ‘Smaka svenska viner’ festival, which the vineyard has hosted for over ten years. It usually takes place in the second half of July (July 24–25 2026).

Address: Skepparps vingård, Verkaåvägen 56, Kivik. Advance booking required. Price: 100–350 SEK depending on the experience.

What is it? A motor museum on the outskirts of Simrishamn showcasing over 350 vehicles in a 6,000 square metre space.

Why go? To admire a huge range of cars, motorcycles, mopeds – and even aircraft. Autoseum has it all, thanks to a collection that has grown steadily since a group of businessmen took over the former Skokloster Motor Museum in 2007 and opened in Simrishamn the following year. New for 2026 is a nostalgic 1970s kiosk, complete with classic mopeds parked outside and a period ice cream menu. There’s also something unusual: a car that never made it into production – a prototype Saab 93 Cabriolet from 2015.

Don’t miss: The 3D experience that places visitors in the middle of a 1930s gangster drama. And if you somehow tire of vehicles, you can move on to the other museums in the same building – a toy museum and a well-stocked music museum.

Address: Fabriksgatan 10, 272 36 Simrishamn. Opening hours: Daily 10–17 from late March to October 4. Price: 185 SEK for adults, 90 SEK for children 12–16. Children under 12 enter free. Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children under 12): 450 SEK.