Karlskrona is beautifully situated on the south-east tip of Sweden, built upon 33 islands around the island of Trossö in the Blekinge archipelago. A baroque city founded in 1680 and inspired by Venice.

Meeting point of the Baltic region

Karlskrona, founded in 1680, is one of the few remaining naval ports in the world which is almost fully intact. In December 1998 it became the ninth Swedish location to be placed on Unesco’s prestige-filled World Heritage List. Karlskrona, unlike other naval ports in Europe, has continued to exist and develop because Sweden has not experienced any war within it’s boundaries since 1809. The town’s naval heritage has also been passed on thanks to over 300 hundred years of an unbroken relationship between the naval base and the shipyard.
For a thorough guide to The Naval Port of Karlskrona, please see our pages on The World Heritage

The New Naval Museum in Karlskrona originated at the naval dockyard in 1752. The exhibitions at the Museum depict the Swedish Navy over the centuries. On display is everything from weapons, uniforms and shipyard handicrafts to the Museum's unique collection of ship models and figureheads from the l7th and l8th centuries.
Blekinge Läns Museum was founded to preserve the local memories and it now has a unique collection. The small baroque garden in front of the main building is a sight in itself.
Museum Lionardo Da Vinci Ideale is by some considered somewhat controversial, but claims to feature several outstanding artpieces including Lionardo da Vincis The Youngest Madonna.

The Main Square in Karlskrona is of the largest and most beautiful ones in northern Europe. There are two churches on the square, both designed by Tessin with the buildings of Rome in mind: Trefaldighetskyrkan - or the German Church as it is often called - and Fredrikskyrkan. The City Hall is located at the opposite end from Fredrikskyrkan. In the middle of the square is a statue of the founder of Karlskrona; Karl XI.

One of the most wellknown and popular tourist attractions in Karlskrona is without doubt Rosenbom. He stands outside the royal Amiralitetskyrkan, Ulrica Pia, which is in fact the largest wooden church in Sweden.
According to the legend, exconstable Matts Rosenbom froze to death on New Year's Eve in 1717. He was found in the morning with his hand outstretched, his hat pulled over his ears, and a beggars bundle on his back. Since then, the wooden statue of Rosenbom has tipped it's hat to all who give alms. Don´t forget to pay him a visit.

The first shipbuilders who worked at the shipyard lived at Björkholmen. And to this day large parts of it remains the same as in the early 18th century. The picturesque little wooden houses with small gardens remind us of how this and other working neighbourhoods looked back then. The tiny cottages often housed large families, and it is quite amazing how crowded they must have been. All the streets in the area are named after boats-types and admirals, and the local dialect is truly unique.

The picturesque Wämö Park has been popular as a recreation and amusement park among the locals for a long time. Summertime this is the place for folkdancing, entertainment, flea markets and much more.
The unspoilt beauty of the park makes it a perfect place for a nice walk and a cup of coffee at the café. The genuine old cottages that we find here today where actually moved in from other parts of the city as well as the neighbouring cities.

The tunnel runs underneath the entire square, from Hoglands Park to Amiralitetsparken. It was formerly used for transportation between the naval port and the railway station. In the summer, you can pedal an inspection trolley through the tunnel. Usually especially appreciated by the kids.

The archipelago of Karlskrona consists of over 90 beautiful islands surrounding the center of town, every one of them with its very own special character. Many of the bigger islands close to land have got a bridge. If you want to go futher on out in the archipelago, you can go by boat that starts from the city of Karlskrona. The whole area from Hasslö to the cape of Torhamn up to Kristianopel is called The Island Kingdom.

Consists of the eastern coastal part of Karlskrona. All along the coastal shores you can find charming little fishing villages with picturesque views over cottages and boats. In the Coastal Kingdom there are often many old and beautiful inns and restaurants to visit. Something of a paradise, especially in the summer when the villages are filled with life.

In the northern part of Karlskrona community you find the Oak Kingdom. The oak is a symbol for a living culture with old ancestries. The Oak Kingdom can offer you a beautiful and rolling landscape characterized by a lot of lakes, airy beech wood and oakfields. Here you find an unspoiled countryside, great possibilities for fishing and a swim in one of the many lakes.