Discover Ekenäs: bathing area, coastal paths and local history

Ekenäs brings together a bathing area with jetties, an approximately 8 km circular route and tangible local history. There is also a stone-oven bakery that bakes seasonally and a section of the Kalmarsundsleden cycle route. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can assess Ekenäs based on the combination of trails, water, culture and local produce you want. For families with different interests, these themes do not all have to fit into one outing: they can be explored as separate highlights on different days of your vacation.

Bathing area and traces of the 19th century

The Ekenäs bathing area has jetties. Ekenäs varv shipyard was probably established in the 1860s at Stångudden, the bathing area. This named place thus brings together a bathing area and an early episode in the history of shipbuilding.

Ekenäs hamnmagasin is located at the end of the turning area and was moved there in the 1870s. The building houses an exhibition about the people who lived in Ekenäs. Exhibition displays may change; if the exhibition is important to your plans, check how it is currently presented before your visit.

Getting around on foot or by bike

The Värnanäs–Ekenäs circular route connects the two places and is about 8 km long. Its southern section passes through Engelska parken, a peaceful, detailed park set in beautiful natural surroundings. In the northern section, a walk along the coast takes you to the idyllic village of Ekenäs. This means the same loop offers different impressions: the park section in the south and the waterside path in the north. Its approximate length gives you a clear indication for planning your day.

For a different way to get around, there is a cycle path between Stufvenäs and Ekenäs. It is part of the Kalmarsundsleden, which runs along the beautiful coastline in southeastern Småland. This lets you consider a circular route with park and coastal sections alongside a section of cycle path, without treating them as the same tour.

Stone-oven bakery and local tradition

Ekenäs Hantverksbageri is a stone-oven bakery that bakes seasonally and works closely with local producers. If you plan to visit the bakery, it is worth bearing its seasonal baking schedule in mind when choosing your travel dates. In 2021, the bakery received two Swedish Championship gold medals: one for wheat sourdough bread and one for rye sourdough bread.

The local heritage association described a recurring members’ gathering on the last Saturday in July. The programme includes musical entertainment, beer or wine, and local snacks. Check future dates and the programme separately before including the gathering in your vacation plans.

Choosing Ekenäs as a holiday destination

When looking for a holiday rental in Ekenäs, it helps to first consider what kind of mix you want for your days: the circular route and the cycle path offer different ways to get around, while the bathing area and local history appeal to other interests. On a family trip, you can spread these themes over different vacation days rather than trying to fit everything into one outing. This way, your choice of destination reflects the experiences that matter to you; check seasonal baking offers and future event dates in line with your travel dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kalmar, Halltorp, Storafro, Åstad, Trekanten, Karlevi, Alby, Runsbäck.

Back to the main travel guide: Kalmar.