Best of Kalmar: A Tour of its City Gates, Cathedral, and Castle
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Kalmar punches well above its weight for a small Swedish city. On this walking tour, you’ll find out how wars, royal power struggles, and sheer stubbornness shaped one of Scandinavia’s most strategically important cities – and the ordinary people who lived through it all.
The tour starts by Kalmar’s old city wall, Gamla Stadsmuren, near Baronen shopping mall. You’ll climb onto the restored defensive ramparts for views over the water, and hear an introduction to the city’s turbulent history with Denmark. You’ll weave through Kvarnholmen, the historical island to which Kalmar’s entire medieval centre was relocated in the 1600s, passing the charming Cavalier’s Gate.
As you stroll through streets lined with small wooden houses that once sheltered craftsmen and traders, you’ll hear stories about the city’s poorest residents. I’ll point out Larmtorget, the square where soldiers once gathered at the sound of alarm bells, which now hosts the best restaurants. You’ll also hear a few dramatic Swedish Game of Thrones stories from the 1600s, including a hunger battle in Kalmar.
The tour ends at Kalmar Castle, a medieval fortress transformed into a Renaissance palace by the sons of King Gustav Vasa and Lithuanian-Polish Princess Katarina Jagiellon, and where you will hear a ghost story of a lady roaming its towers.
On this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Stand inside Scandinavia’s only remaining washhouse from the 1800s, which visitors often miss
- Hear the dramatic tale of Commander Creutz and the warship Kronan, which exploded and sank with 800 men in 1676
- Learn how the impressive Kalmar Bridge was built after decades of unsuccessful efforts
- See the Kreugerska House – birthplace of Ivar Kreuger, the “Match King” – which was physically rolled through the streets to remain protected
- Learn the odd story about the 81 graves beneath Sweden’s largest Baroque cathedral, Kalmar Cathedral’s floor
- See the Vasabrunnen fountain in Larmtorget, which tells the story of King Gustav Vasa, the Father of modern Sweden
- Check out public art in City Park and the open pavilions of Kalmar Art Museum
- Appreciate the authentic Renaissance decorations of Kalmar Castle and the stories of strong and loyal women behind them
Kalmar rewards the curious. Bring comfortable shoes and an appetite for stories that most guidebooks overlook.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Ausra Visocke
Hi! I’m Ausra — originally from the Baltics and now living in Sweden for almost ten years. For the past seven years, I have worked as a professional tourist guide, leading international groups in Stockholm Old Town, Uppsala and across the Nordic region. People repeatedly say they feel my passion, and my tours are among the very best they have ever had!
I have a deep interest in history, cultural traditions, and the stories that connect countries around the Baltic Sea. What I truly love is weaving separate historical events into one meaningful, connected story of a city, a country, or even an entire region of Northern Europe.
In my tours, you will discover connections between:
* past and present
* major historical events and modern cultural identity
* powerful personalities and the story of a nation.
One of the key historical figures in many of my tours is Katarina Jagiellon, the Lithuanian-Polish princess who became Duchess of Finland and later Queen of Sweden. Her mother was Italian, and her other ancestors were from Austria, Hungary and other European royal families. She connected Europe through art, culture and influence. Her powerful life story unfolds, connecting Stockholm, Uppsala, Vaxholm, Kalmar, Kaunas, Tallinn and many other cities in the region, revealing how dynastic politics and religious conflicts shaped the Baltic Sea region. It is a loyal, strong lady who was often overshadowed by her husband, the King Johan III, but I am on a mission to tell her remarkable story to the world! Most probably, you will learn a bit about her in one of the stories of my tours.
Now, as a mother of three small children, my opportunities to travel frequently are more limited. But thanks to VoiceMap, I can continue sharing my favourite stories and guide you through wonderful cities in the Nordics.
Cities where I offer self-paced audio tours:
* Stockholm Old Town (Gamla Stan)
* Central Stockholm
* Uppsala
* Vaxholm
* Kalmar
* Karlskrona
* Tallinn Old Town
* Kaunas Old Town
I am proud that some of my self-paced tours are top-ranked on platforms such as Viator and TripAdvisor.
If you are looking for a self-guided audio tour in Sweden or the Baltics and a historically rich walking tour experience, you are in the right place.
Thank you for choosing to explore Northern Europe with me.
Ausra
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 34
From Throne to Exile: The Story of King Sigismund Vasa
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Now stop here and imagine for a moment all the castle gates are blocked. No one can come in, and no one can get out. On both sides, Swedes. Swedish soldiers are keeping other Swedish soldiers locked inside. But why... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Gamla Stadsmuren
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Kalmar County Museum
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Kattrumpan
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Kalmar Cathedral
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Gerdas Te och Kaffehandel
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Kullzénska caféet
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Larmtorget
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Old Water Tower
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Kalmar stadspark
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Kalmar Castle
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationKalmar, 392 31 Kalmar, Sweden
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Total distance3km
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Final locationKungsgatan 1, 392 33 Kalmar, Sweden
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Distance back to start location725.16m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour starts at Jordbroporten Gates of Kalmar's old city wall, Gamla Stadsmuren.These gates are in front of the Baronen shopping mall. It is very close to the Kalmar railway station.
Multiple parking areas are around.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There will be multiple places recommended throughout the tour. Most of the restaurants are located around Larmtorget, which will be passed in the middle of the tour.
After the tour, it is recommended to explore Kalmar Castle from the inside, if it is open.
Best time of day
From dawn to dusk. The last sections that lead through the city park are best explored in daylight. Otherwise, most of the tour leads through the historical Kvarnholm centre and can be explored even in the late evenings.
Precautions
The tour leads through the central areas of Kalmar that are generally safe.
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