Welcome to the southernmost locality in Sweden. This is Smygehamn in the province of Skåne. With a population of around 1,200 inhabitants it by far manages to clear the threshold of 200 set by Statistics Sweden to be called a locality. The locality is just slightly to the northeast of Smygehuk, the southernmost point in Sweden.
A Short History of Smygehamn
Smygehamn lies within the former parish of Östra Torp and does today incorporate the formerly separate church village of Östratorp. The whole community shared the name Östratorp until the name changed to Smygehamn in 1950. Its origins go back to at least the 17th century when it was the location of a small fishing village. For a long time, the industrial development centered around the small fishing village and a nearby limestone mine. The railway arrived here in 1887 when it became the end station along the Börringe-Östratorp Railway. The infrastructure continued to develop and a harbor was built in the 1920s. Both the limestone mine and the railway were decommissioned in the 1950s.
Things to Do and See
This is a narrow locality that mostly follows the main road through the area. Along this road, you will find most of the local services and small businesses, such as the grocery store COOP. Walking along the main road you will never be more than a few meters from the coast. It is also this road that will take you the the southernmost point of Sweden. To reach Smygehuk you will just have to go a short distance to the west.
Smygehuk
Smygehuk is the main attraction in this area of Sweden. This is the southernmost point in the country and heading south across the Baltic Sea will take you to Germany and the island of Rügen. It is at Smygehuk that you will find the local tourist service as well as the harbor and one of the historical lime kilns.
Smygehus Badplats
Along the shores, just to the east of the locality, lies the beach of Smygehus Badplats. This is also where you will find the jetty known as Äspö Brygga that stretches out into the Baltic Sea. Facilities and other services can be found nearby.
Smyge Park
Smyge Park is a local green area that has a century-long history. It is said to have been established by a few village people and the local baker. It offers a small space for recreation near the center of the locality.
The Lime Kilns
Just to the north of Smygehamn is the old lime kilns. Limestone was mined here until the 1950s and the legacy still stands to tell of the industrial heritage. One of the kilns, the oldest, stands at the harbor at Smygehuk. There are the newer ones that are located to the north of the locality, some of which never came into production before the mine was closed.
Östra Torp Church
Östra Torp Church was inaugurated in 1911 and is a reconstruction after a fire in 1909 destroyed most of the church and its inventory. The old church was built in the 1880s and did in turn replace a smaller medieval church that once stood here. The white stone church is today a part of the Källstorp Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Smygehamn
- Flights: The nearest airport is Malmö Airport (MMX) to the north, and Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is right across the Öresund Strait in Denmark.
- Car: Smygehamn lies along Road 9 between Trelleborg and Ystad.
- Bus: Buses from Skånetrafiken connect Smygehamn with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 655 kilometers (6 h 40 min)
- Gothenburg – 314 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 47 kilometers (40 min)
- Linköping – 460 kilometers (4 h 50 min)
- Kiruna – 1885 kilometers (19 h)
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