Älmhult is a town in Småland in southern Sweden. The town has about 9,000 inhabitants, with a total of 15,000 in the municipality.

Understand

Älmhult was not more than a farming hamlet until 1862, when the Stockholm-Malmö railroad was built. The town has two claims for fame. Firstly, Carl Linnaeus, founder of systematic biology, was born on a farm near Älmhult (Linnaeus' Råshult) in 1707. Secondly, Älmhult is the spiritual home the furniture chain IKEA, the founder Ingvar Kamprad was born nearby in 1926 and in 1958 the first IKEA store opened here. IKEA maintains a strong presence in town. Älmhult has since long been associated with entrepreneurship and has an unusually high number of small businesses.

Tourist office

• 1 Älmhult Tourist information, Stortorget 1 (On the main square), ☏ +46 476-551 52, turist@almhult.se. M-F 08:00-16:30. (updated Nov 2017)

Get in

While Älmhult is along the main railway between Stockholm and Malmö, only two to three high speed trains per day stops here with others requiring a change in Alvesta. Regional services such as Krösatågen and Öresundståg call here, bringing direct trains from Malmö, Kalmar, Växjö and even Copenhagen. 1 Älmhult station is centrally located.

Älmhult is along road Riksväg 23 between Malmö and Växjö, note that this road is smaller than the main highways.

See

The IKEA museum, opened in 2016.

• 1 Linnaeus' Råshult, Råshult 78 (Road 600 towards Växjö. Bus #123 and #157 stops at Råhult, 800 m from the farm), ☏ +46 476-213 18. The birthplace of Carl Linnaeus. Today, the farm and surrounding farmland have been restored to their 18th century appearance. You can take a walk in the surrounding area guided by a map and a marked trail. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 IKEA Museum, Ikeagatan 5, ☏ +46 476-44 16 00. Showcasing the history of IKEA, also features a large selection of their most classical furniture series for display. (updated Aug 2017)

Do

• Music week in Stenbrohult (Musikveckan i Stenbrohult). During the week after Swedish Midsummer. One of Sweden's oldest annual musical event is organized by the church in Stenbrohult. (updated Nov 2017)
• Family festival (Familjefestivalen). Last weekend of August. Musical concerts and entertainment for the entire family gather some 10,000 attendees every year. (updated Nov 2017)

Buy

• 1 IKEA Älmhult, Handelsvägen 4. The original IKEA, opened in 1958. Next to the regular store is IKEA Fyndvaruhus which sells factory seconds cheaply. (updated Aug 2017)

Eat

• 1 Brasserie Goaroije, Eriksgatan 6, ☏ +46 476-636 516. Listed in the prestigious White Guide over Nordic fine dining. Serves a varied European menu with focus on local ingredients. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Jacobskrog, Stationsplan 5, ☏ +46 476-158 84. A pizza parlor in the old train station. (updated Nov 2017)
• 3 Thaipalatset, Köpmangatan 21, ☏ +46 476-104 99. (updated Nov 2017)

Sleep

• 1 IKEA Hotell, Ikeagatan 1, ☏ +46 476-64 11 00. Yes, IKEA maintains its own hotel here. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Möckelsnäs Herrgård, Möckelsnäs 1, ☏ +46 476-532 00. (updated Aug 2017)
• 3 Sjöstugans Hotell, Bökhult, ☏ +46 476-716 00. (updated Aug 2017)

Go next

• Växjö is the seat of the local county and bishopric.