Gamleby is a town in the historical province of Småland. It is located at the bay Gamlebyviken along the eastern coast of Sweden. The town has today a population of around 2.800 inhabitants but sees a large increase in visitors during the summer months. It is a part of Västervik Municipality in Kalmar County.
Our Impression of Gamleby
Gamleby is a cozy small town with the Baltic Sea always nearby. It might not be the small town center that attracts the most visitors though. Instead, it is the surrounding coastal area with many beaches and other summer activities that is the main attraction. With these Gamleby becomes the center for the restocking of supplies and finding a restaurant for the evening. With that said, we can still recommend climbing up to the viewpoint at Garpedansberget.
A Short History of Gamleby
What is today Gamleby was originally the location for the town Västervik. The name actually translates to the old town. The first known mention of Västervik dates back to 1275 and the move of the town took place in 1433. The name Gamla Västervik (Old Västervik) survived for a few years before the name Gamleby was established.
It would take until the 19th century before Gamleby regained momentum in its development. This was when the railway arrived and industrialization speeded up. Manufacturing of paint, lumber, and skerry cruisers started at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century.
Things to Do and See
The Baltic Sea is never far away and neither is the possibility for outdoor activities. The town center of Gamleby offers cafés and restaurants as well as a few shops. So let us have a look at what there is more to explore.
Garpedansberget
Garpedansberget is the mountain right next to the town center. It reaches a height of 70 meters above the sea and is the recreational area of Gamleby. In addition, to climb the top to enjoy the view, the area includes paths for walking and running as well as areas for mountain climbing.
Gamleby Trollskogen
Looking for trolls and magical creatures in the forests? The local troll forest might be a destination in that case. This is where you will find Garpe and his friends. They are sculptures created by the artist Jerzy Przybyl. It’s perfect for when you are looking for an activity to do with the kids.
Hammarsbadet
Hammarsbadet is the local beach on the outskirt of the town. The area also includes areas for play and other amenities at the nearby camping.
Unos Park
Unos Park is the central park of the town. It is named after Uno Malmberg, a local who contributed to the development of Gamleby and who died in 1991. The park is today a green oasis with a small stream.
How to Get to Gamleby
- Flights: The closest airports are Linköping Airport (LPI) 82 kilometers away and Oskarshamn Airport (OSK) 71 kilometers away.
- Car: Gamleby is on road E22 between Valdemarsvik and Västervik.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Gamleby with the surrounding area.
- Train: Krösatåg has trains between Linköping and Västervik that stop in Gamleby.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 261 kilometers (2 h 58 min)
- Gothenburg – 309 kilometers (3 h 49 min)
- Malmö – 372 kilometers (4 h 42 min)
- Linköping – 83 kilometers (1 h 13 min)
- Kiruna – 1491 kilometers (17 h 6in min)
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