Welcome to the southernmost point of Sweden. Smygehuk is a headland with a small harbor and former fishing village in Trelleborg Municipality in the province of Skåne. Just to the northeast lies the locality of Smygehus, which is the southernmost locality in Sweden. Smygehuk is one of the main tourist attractions along the coast of Skåne. It has many visitors, especially during the summer months.
A Short History of Smygehuk
This headland was once part of Denmark and far from being the most of anything point in the country. That changed in 1658 with the Treaty of Roskilde when the province of Skåne as well as large parts of Denmark became parts of Sweden. This treaty also included the island of Bornholm, resulting in Bornholm being the southernmost point in Sweden until it was returned to Denmark in 1660. Later temporary conquests along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea would, of course, also alter the southernmost point of the country for a limited period of time.
Most of the history of Smygehuk is tightly linked with the history of nearby Smygehamn. The local development included the construction of a lighthouse that was completed in 1883. The lighthouse was active up until 1975.
Read more about Smygehamn here: Smygehamn, Skåne – Exploring Sweden
Things to Do and See
This is a place with some beautiful scenery and a few historical sights to explore. That is just one part of what attracts people to Smygehuk. The main attraction is the notion in itself that this is the southernmost point in Sweden. Standing on the stone shore you might in fact be the southernmost person standing on Swedish land. Just make sure not to count everyone in other countries that is still far more south than you will be at the time. Those will most likely number a lot higher than anyone still to your north.
55°20’13″N
Yes, this is the latitude of the southernmost point of Sweden. Here you can stand looking out across the Baltic Sea. On the other side is the island of Rügen in Germany. There are actually times of the year when it is possible to stand here without getting wet feet. With the common waves, many opt to stay a few meters from the point itself. This might be the southernmost point of Sweden, but it is still 6154 kilometers to the equator. Compare that with the 3853 kilometers to the North Pole.
Köpmansmagasinet
Köpmansmagasinet is a warehouse dating back to the early 19th century. It is today a building with a great view. It is used as an exhibition hall with mainly exhibitions related to art and crafts. This historical building is also used for different events.
Smyge Hamn
The harbor of Smygehamn was built here in the 1920s. The former fishing harbor and its fishing sheds have today mainly been turned into a marina with space for visiting boats.
Kalkugnarna
In addition to fishing, one of the important industries in this area was the mining of limestone. The remains of this is several lime kiln around the locality of Smygehamn. The oldest of these lime kilns can be found at Smygehuk. Limestone mining was going on up until the 1950s.
How to Get to Smygehuk
- Flights: The nearest airport is Malmö Airport (MMX) to the north, there is also Copenhagen Airport (CPH) nearby, across the Öresund Strait in Denmark.
- Car: Smygehuk is lies along Road 9 between Trelleborg and Ystad.
- Bus: Buses from Skånetrafiken connects Smygehuk with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 660 kilometers (6 h 40 min)
- Gothenburg – 318 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 46 kilometers (40 min)
- Linköping – 465 kilometers (4 h 50 min)
- Kiruna – 1890 kilometers (19 h)
Explore More of Skåne and Sweden
