Oskarshamn is a city in Småland in southeastern Sweden, at the Baltic Sea shore. It is the seat of Oskarshamn Municipality, with some 18,300 inhabitants in the city and 27,000 in the municipality.

Understand

Dödershulsvik is an old name for Oskarshamn. The city name was changed in 1856 when Oskarshamn was granted city privileges. The name was taken from the Swedish king at the time, Oscar I. The privileges caused a rapid population expansion, from some 2,200 inhabitants in 1856 to 5,000 in 1877. Another contributing factor was the railway connecting Oskarshamn with Nässjö, constructed in 1874. Oskarshamn has historically been an active shipyard. The area surrounding Oskarshamn is also filled with old quarries, a few of which is still operated today. Oskarshamn is a typical industrial city, characterized by having a few dominating employers.

Get in

There are daily ferries from Visby, largest city on the island of Gotland, with Destination Gotland.

• 1 Oskarshamn ferry terminal (Oskarshamns hamn). (updated Aug 2020)

See

• 1 Döderhultarmuseet (Döderhultarn's Museum), Hantverksgatan 18-20 (Located in Kulturhuset), ☏ +46 491 880 40. M-F 10.00-16.30, Sa 10.00-14.00. The studio of Axel Petersson (1868-1925), also known by the name of "Döderhultarn", who was a wood sculptor known across Sweden. 90 kr. (updated Feb 2018)
• Sjöfartsmuseet, Hantverksgatan 18-20 (Located in Kulturhuset), ☏ +46 491-880 45. M, Tu, Th, F 10.00-16.30, W 10-00-20.00, Sa 10.00-14.00. Exhibits the local marine history. Exhibits include paintings, models and nautical instruments. 90 kr. (updated Feb 2018)
• 2 Fredriksbergs herrgård (1,500 m (4,900 ft) west of Oskarshamn), ☏ +46 491 126 77. Open per appointment around the year. Guided tours by appointment. The café is open from mid July to mid August. An 18th century mansion, turned into a restaurant, cafe and museum. It is a popular place for celebrating weddings and larger parties. (updated Feb 2018)

Do

• Blå Jungfrun, a national park on a deserted island.
• Misterhult Archipelago

Sleep

• Best Western Sjöfartshotellet, Sjöfartsgatan 13, ☏ +46 491 76 83 00. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. A traditional hotel in central Oskarshamn. Parking, breakfast and internet is included in the fee for the room. Has a restaurant and a bar. 800 kr. (updated Feb 2018)
• Best Western Hotel Corallen, Gröndalsgatan 35, ☏ +46 491 76 81 81. Check-in: 15.00, check-out: 12.00. Located by the sea, with most of the rooms having their own balconies. Free wifi. Conference facilities for up to 70 people. Also has a relax and sauna area, a restaurant, a bar and a summer open outdoors pool. 1100 kr. (updated Feb 2018)
• STF Vandrarhem Oskarshamn/Oscar, Långgatan 15-17, ☏ +46 491 158 00. A hostel open around the year. Has conference facilities and a breakfast buffet. (updated Feb 2018)

There are two camping places, one in the northern part and one in the southern part of the city. Northern one, Havslätts, is community-led, and, generally, has better (plain) prices (i.e. 160 kr for a tentsite vs 400 kr in the other camping). If you are on a bike or on foot, there is a nice well maintained track from Havslätts to the city center.

Connect

You can use the WiFi FREEWIFI_Oskarshamn free of charge two hours every day. The WiFi-zone covers most of central Oskarshamn. If you want to use the WiFi for more than 2 hours you can get a full day's access for a €1.5.

Go next

• Ferries to Visby on Gotland (prices for a passenger with a bike oscillate around 500 kr) and to Byxelkrok on Öland.
• Kalmar is the capital of Kalmar county, and the gateway to Öland.
• Vimmerby is known as the home town of the famous children's author Astrid Lindgren.