Make a holiday rental home or cottage in Smaland, Sweden your home away from home

Smaland is a historical province of five counties, located in the south of Sweden. Home to three national parks, the area offers a great range of outdoor pursuits – making it an ideal holiday destination for those seeking an active break. Accommodation can be found in the form of log cabins, charming cottages and other authentic homes in Smaland.

Things to do in Smaland, Sweden

The main draw of Smaland is the great outdoors. Smaland has a series of lakes that can be explored by canoe, or you can hike or cycle around the area to get your bearings, if you prefer. The lakes also offer some relaxing fishing opportunities, especially in the Hultsfred area. Smaland has three national parks, with Stora Mosse the most well-known for its hiking and bird-watching opportunities.

The east coast of Smaland, which stretches nearly 200km from Vastervik to Torsas, is home to over 10,000 islands, and some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful scenery. You can take a scenic drive down the coastal stretch, and discover sandy beaches, great swimming opportunities, and a mix of quiet scenic spots and busier tourist towns. Vastervik, Monsteras and Kalmar are three of the bigger towns that you will encounter, and offer some great shopping and dining. Kalmar Castle and Kalmar Art Museum are also recommended stop-offs.

A family holiday can be enjoyed in Smaland, as there are a great amount of activities that will appeal to both children and adults. Astrid Lingren’s World – located in Vimmerby, and named after the famous Swedish author of Pippi Longstocking books, is a 120,000 square meter theme park where children can meet characters from the books. Skiing, horse riding, dog sledding and golf are just some of the other fun activities that can be found in Smaland.

Places to visit on holiday in Smaland, Sweden

The sheer number of towns and villages within the Smaland province mean that you have plenty to explore during your holiday rental, but a trip across the water to Oland is highly recommended. Despite being the smallest province in Sweden, Oland is home to no less than 400 windmills, 34 churches, the highest lighthouse in Sweden and one of Europe’s longest bridges.

Weather in Smaland, Sweden

The climate in the Smaland region is temperate, with distinct seasons and mild temperatures. Summer temperatures are usually between 15°C and 20°C, with up to 18 hours of sunlight a day. The temperature drops to around zero as winter approaches, and sunlight hours can be as low as six a day in late December. Rainfall is relatively low throughout the year.

Flights to Smaland, Sweden

Smaland has its own airport, in Vaxjo (VXO), but most flights from the UK go via Stockholm. Budget operators such as Ryanair offer cheap flights to both Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) and Stockholm Vasteras (VST). Other airlines run flights to Stockholm Broma (BMA) and Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) – so take care when booking!