Hiking in Småland: Discover Sweden’s Green Soul

If you really want to understand Sweden, at some point you have to leave the paved roads behind and simply set off on foot. Nowhere makes this clearer than Småland, the province-sized landscape in the south of the country that seems to be made of forests, lakes and quiet wetlands, as if someone had taken the idea of nature and carried it through to the end. Småland is no longer a secret among hikers, yet it is still far from crowded. Anyone who turns onto a hiking trail here can walk for kilometres without meeting another person.

Why Småland is so special for hikers

The province has around 5,000 lakes, dense coniferous forests and a landscape that is never extreme yet always varied. That is exactly what makes hiking here so pleasant. There are hardly any sections that demand technical skills, but there are constant stretches that make you pause. A birch grove that suddenly opens out onto a small bog. A clearing where a half-sunken granite boulder lies as if it had been forgotten there at the end of the Ice Age. The trails often run right along lake shores, passing small jetties and red wooden cottages that look as if they have not changed in decades.

The Swedish right of public access, in Swedish allemansrätten, plays an important role. It allows everyone to move freely in nature, to hike, camp and pick berries, as long as they respect animals, plants and landowners. Anyone travelling independently has a sense of freedom here that is hard to imagine elsewhere in Europe. Visit Sweden’s hiking page for southern Sweden gives a good overview of the waymarked routes in the region and how to make the most of the hiking season.

The most beautiful hiking areas in the province

Åsnen National Park

Anyone who has spent time in Åsnen National Park understands why Småland is often seen as Sweden in miniature. Lakes, wooded islands, wetlands and forest clearings follow one another in quick succession. Kayaking and hiking combine well here. The routes are clearly marked yet never busy. Especially in early autumn, when the leaves change colour and morning mist hangs over the water, the national park is one of the most atmospheric hiking areas in southern Sweden.

The area around Eksjö and the Skurugata gorge

If you are looking for a more unusual natural feature, head to the area around Eksjö. This is where you will find the Skurugata nature reserve, an approximately 800-metre-long gorge with rock faces that rise up to 60 metres in places. The hike through and around the gorge is not difficult, but it leaves a strong impression. Inside the gorge, even on warm summer days, the air stays cool and damp, in a curious contrast to the warmth outside.

Hiking around Vimmerby and Astrid Lindgren’s landscape

Further northeast, the trails lead through a gentle cultural landscape that many visitors find familiar without knowing exactly why. The feeling soon falls into place. These woods and meadows are the landscape that inspired Astrid Lindgren’s stories. Hiking here feels like walking through a living picture book. The paths are well developed and also suitable for families with children.

Practical tips for planning your trip

Gear and best time to go

Spring and autumn are especially suitable for longer hikes in Småland. In summer the forests can become very warm, and mosquitoes are a serious factor, especially near lakes. Sturdy hiking boots and a lightweight rain jacket are essential in any season because the weather in southern Sweden can change quickly.

Good gear is about more than footwear. Anyone spending a lot of time outdoors should also think about eye protection. On lakeside hikes, where the light reflects strongly off the water, or in open country with direct sunlight, a high-quality pair of sunglasses is not a luxury but sensible protection. If you are still looking for suitable models before your trip, you will find a wide selection of sunglasses and sports glasses for different outdoor situations at eyes and more.

Getting around the region

Småland is easy to explore by car because many hiking areas lie outside larger towns. Guests staying in a holiday home in the province often have good starting points for day trips in different directions. If you want to fish, you can often do so directly from your own jetty, and if you want to know more about activities on and around the water in Småland, you will find a detailed overview there of fishing, draisine tours, cycling routes and other leisure options in the region.

Food shopping in Småland is straightforward. Even in smaller towns there are usually well stocked supermarkets, and many holiday home guests buy fresh produce at local markets or directly from farms.

Anyone who explores Småland on foot eventually understands why so many people who have been here once keep coming back. It is not a place for spectacular summit moments or dramatic panoramas. It is a place for the kind of silence you only notice when you have paused for long enough.