Oskarshamn

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.



Do

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

Sleep
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.

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.