Go by bike and visit cafés on Sturkö. Blekinge's largest island attracts with lovely bathing coves and fine fishing waters.
Blekinge’s largest island attracts visitors with its lovely swimming coves and excellent fishing waters. The island has two nature reserves: one at Västra Skällön, which you reach just past the Skällö Bridge, and this is also where the so-called Sturkö Stone is located. The runestone at Västra Skällön dates from the late Viking Age, the 11th century AD, and is the only Viking-era runestone in Blekinge. The second nature reserve is located at Uttorp and is significantly larger and more popular. It features marked hiking trails, wind shelters, outhouses, and picnic areas. The heath glows a beautiful purple in late summer and fall. On a clear, sunny day, you can see all the way out to the Utklippan archipelago.
The islands’ landscape is shaped by the extensive stone-cutting industry that dominated for a century, from 1850 to 1950. Everywhere in the countryside, you encounter water-filled quarries and piles of rubble with cut stone left behind. The stonemason statue at Sturkö Folkets Hus stands as a monument to this era; it is made of bronze and was created by Thosten Fridh in 1989.
Sturkö Skans is one of the few preserved infantry forts of this type in Sweden. The fort is located on northern Sturkö and is marked by road signs and open to visitors year-round. Parking is available. The fort consists of an inner enclosure surrounded by an outer rampart with a moat in between.
Sturkö Mill is open to visitors during the summer, where you can enjoy coffee and pastries or lunch in the café and take in the view from the mill. The island is also home to the archipelago bakery Andréns Bageri, a family-run business that is much loved by both Sturkö residents and summer visitors. The bakery is open on Saturdays year-round and every day during the summer. In the summer, you can also visit Kristina’s garden café with its flea market.
Sturkö Camping is beautifully situated in the heart of the archipelago, with a string of small islands just offshore. There is a lovely swimming spot here, as well as rentals of boats, kayaks, and bicycles. Sturkö also has two small guest harbors, Sanda and Ekenabben. Don’t miss the outdoor exhibition “World Heritage Wrecks” at Ekenabben Harbor—a favorite among both visitors and divers.
Beautiful bike paths are marked with signs all around the island, including the Bredavik Loop, Uttorp Loop, Svärmhall Loop, and others. The southern part of the island is undeveloped, and lovely sandy beaches are hidden in the coves; however, the beaches are not cleaned, and there is often a lot of seaweed washed ashore on them. The beach at Stensvik, however, is maintained by a nonprofit association and is a lovely swimming beach. Archipelago ferry service calls at Sanda during the summer, and Bredaviksbrygga is served by a year-round boat shuttle from Karlskrona Handelshamn.
