Welcome spring in scenic Kalmar

There’s something special about spring’s arrival and nature beginning to come to life after its long winter slumber.

It’s especially lovely to get out and enjoy the first warming rays of sunshine, breathe in the scent of the sea, rest your eyes on the spring flowers peeking through, or listen to the birdsong.

With this mini-guide, we’d like to recommend a few places that are particularly lovely to visit in spring. So pack your picnic basket and head out to enjoy nature and find your absolute favourite spot in Kalmar this spring!

Go for a walk in a historic setting with beautiful spring blossoms

Ljungbyåns hiking trail

West of Kalmar, you’ll find a trail that largely follows the course of the Ljungbyån. Thanks to its abundance of spring flowers, the trail is particularly lovely to walk along in the spring. As well as beautiful, varied scenery, you’ll encounter plenty of history along the way. The trail offers easy walking on well-trodden paths and gravel tracks. Rest areas are dotted along the route.

Värnanäs - Ekenäs

The circular route, approximately 8 km long, takes you between Värnanäs and Ekenäs, offering varied scenery and plenty of lovely spots to stop at. Among other things, you can enjoy the lovely spring blossoms in an English park, walk along scenic forest paths beneath the delicate light-green leaves of the beech trees, stroll through farmland, visit cultural heritage sites and enjoy beautiful walking trails along the coast.

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A walk close to the city centre with a picnic in the city’s green spaces

Parkpromenaden

If you’d like to stay in the city centre, we recommend a walk through Kalmar’s many parks. The walk is 4 km long and takes about 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. Along the way, you’ll pass the ramparts and Flora’s Hill, which is ablaze with spring blossoms.

"Kalmar’s green living room"

Adjacent to Kalmar Castle lies Stadsparken, which was named Sweden’s most beautiful park in 1985. Here, in May, you can see the unusual handkerchief tree in bloom with large white flowers. Why not take the opportunity to sit down on the grass or in the restaurant to enjoy the view of the castle and the strait in the spring sunshine?

A unique historical document

Just a stone's throw away in the Old Town, you'll find Krusentiernska trädgården, a little oasis of greenery and cultivation in a well-preserved 19th-century town garden where homemade cakes and pastries are sold.

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Look for signs of spring with the children

Skälby

A sure sign of spring is all the baby animals born at this time of year. Come and visit the piglets, rabbits, goats and all the other animal friends at 4H-gården.

Make sure to try the first ice cream of the spring in the farm’s café. Stop for a moment and enjoy a cup of coffee in the spring sunshine; from here, you’ll have a good view of the children as they play in the activity park next door.

Bjärnökärr

Another exciting place to explore in the spring is the educational nature centre at Björnökärr. A place for biodiversity, relaxation and play. Here, children can discover newly awakened insects or amphibians, and perhaps some chicks have hatched in one of the nesting boxes.

Feel free to use the barbecue area, the pavilion or one of the many seating areas for an outdoor lunch, or why not take a seat in one of the willow huts? If you’re cycling here, make sure to try out the technical track or one of the trails at Snurrom Bike Park, 500 metres to the south.

Skärgårdsparken

Balance on logs, hop between stones in the stream or have a race with a friend to see who can climb the hill the fastest. Here you’ll find green maze-like paths and clearings perfect for building dens. Don’t miss the little adventure trail by the entrance to Naturens hus. Skärgårdsparken offers less structured and more open-ended play environments that spark children’s curiosity, creativity and desire to play whilst fostering a greater interest in and understanding of nature. There is a wealth of biodiversity here and plenty of signs of spring to discover!

The area features MTB-, pumptrack- and dirtbiketrails for fast-paced cycling, as well as open spaces for ball games that can attract older children. A disc golf course will also take shape in 2024.

What signs of spring can you spot?

• Early spring flowers
• Migratory birds and birdsong
• Trees and shrubs with buds and leaves
• Animals and insects just waking up

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Go birdwatching

The wetland in the outdoor recreation area Skärgårdsparken is popular among many bird species, and spring is, according to the Ornithological Society, the best time to visit the site. In addition to several species of swimming and wading birds, a number of migratory birds also thrive here. In the reeds you can find, among others, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting, and with a bit of luck you may hear Bearded Tit or Penduline Tit.

The area also features beautiful walking trails, barbecue areas, and nature play areas for children, among much else.

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A sea of wood anemones

In several places across the municipality, the ground is covered in wood anemones in the spring. These include the Stensö outdoor recreation area and Brukshagarna in Skälby.