A guide to Österlen, Sweden’s summer paradise

Aug 4

In paid partnership with Visit Sweden

Perched on Sweden's south-eastern tip, the idyllic coastline of Österlen invites you to relax on white sandy beaches, discover quaint villages and enjoy a fika-moment in beautiful orangeries. Österlen is also a bit of a foodie’s paradise — keep reading for my favourite finds in the area.

Scandinavian summers win and in my book, summers in Sweden take the very first prize. My favourite place? Österlen in Skåne, just a two hour drive from Copenhagen. We discovered this beautiful area in the summer of 2018, and we’ve been back several times since — here are my favourite places for food, fika, swimming, playing and staying.

↑ Kivik is a charming little town on the coast; stroll around the harbour (and go right until you hit the sea, the walk is beautiful!), stop by the ice cream truck and swim from the small beach.

↑ Mandelmansgård café and garden is perfect for a kanelbullar/coffee break. Scroll down for a full list of cafés and restaurants on Österlen.

Österlen is small—if you want to, you can see most of it in just a few days—but its charm way outgrows it. From Haväng in the north to Ystad in the south, the 80 kilometres of coastline is filled to the brim with stunning nature reserves, small towns, and beautiful beaches. There’s also a couple of sights in the area, and a good selection of routes for either hiking or biking. But what I fell for was the calm, the quiet, the serenity.

Both photos: Örum 119 hotel has a beautiful restaurant with a garden, ice cream shop and plenty of space to run around outside if you’re bringing kids

Cafés & Restaurants

Pastafabriken Ingelstorp | Our favourite eatery in the area; great pasta and natural wines in a lovely setting. Sit outside in the backyard and stay a while.
Friden Gårdskrog | Very popular kid-friendly restaurant serving delicious pizzas in a beautiful garden. It’s widely popular, so book ahead during the high season.
Franskans Crêperie | Sweet and savoury crêpes in an informal setting.
Mandelmanns trädgårdar | Beautiful café serving cakes and baked goods, as well as a simple lunch. The adjacent gardens looked lovely as well (entrance ticket is needed). Please not that there is no bathroom here.
Örum 119 | Stay at the charming hotel, or visit the beautiful pizza restaurant in an old barn with a beautiful garden
Mellby Klockargård | Fika, lunch and dinner served in the stunning greenhouse. A fairy-tale place.
Talldungens Gårdshotel | Fine dining with a Southern European twist (we didn’t go here, but I’ve only heard great things from foodie friends I highly trust!)
Olof Viktors | Cosy farm café serving light lunch dishes, home-baked cake and coffee
Östhem Bokhandel | Small cafe and bookshop with a tiny gallery.

Visit + What to do

Haväng | Nature reserve with beautiful sandy beaches and meadows
Kivik | Cosy little town with a harbour, great ice cream shop, and a charming little beach
Kivik Art Centre | Museum with a huge museum park full of outdoor installations. Definitely worth a visit and perfect for kids. Bring a lunch box and spend the better of a day here.
Stenshuvud Nationalpark | Almost tropical-like beach reached after a good walk through woods and fields
Flea markets | There are plenty of barns with loppis around. My favourites were Lundins Lada (large, so you need time here!) and Alt i Allo.

Fika in the greenhouses of Mellby Klockargård

The small beach in Kivik is perfect for kids — the water might be cold, but that’s Scandinavia for you. Visit the playground located right next to it, stop by Kiviks Hamnkrog for a sea food shack dinner, and don’t miss an ice cream from the truck by the harbour. Kivik is tiny, and if you park around the harbour, you can’t miss any of these places.

Although Österlen is small in size, I’d recommend bringing a car or bike to properly explore the area. There are many popular bike routes here well-used amongst Swedes and visitors alike.

Fridens Gårdkrog located in an apple orchard is a beautiful restaurant — get a table outside and enjoy a perfect Swedish summer evening (or wear warm clothes if it’s chilly and still sit outside). The inside can get a little loud and busy as it’s a popular place.

Fridens Gårdkrog serves what is said to be the best sourdough pizzas on Österlen. Get a classic with buffalo mozzarella, air-dried ham and parmiggiano, or try the shrimp pizza with avocado creme and lumpfish roe.

Tip: Book a table in advance, and let the kids run free on the apple orchard while the food is being prepared (there’s a bit of a wait; again, it’s a popular spot!).

Fridens Gårdskrog

Stenshuvud Nationalpark

Stay

Orum 119 | Charming countryside hotel with 15 rooms, a pizza restaurant (go even if you’re not staying here) and ice cream shop
Mellby Klockargård | Seven rooms in a romantic setting, café and restaurant in the greenhouse outside Kivik
Talldungens Gårdshotel | A lavish five-course dinner followed by a stay in one of 18 beautiful rooms
Or find a house on Airbnb (remember to book in advance as they quickly sell out!), or find a camping spot somewhere scenic with the Swedish ‘allemansrätt’.