Valdemarsvik, Östergötland – Exploring Sweden
Valdemarsvik is a locality in the province of Östergötland along the shores of the bay Valdemarsviken in eastern Sweden. This long and narrow bay provides Valdemarsvik with access to the Baltic Sea. The town has a population of around 2.700 inhabitants, but both Valdemarsvik and the nearby archipelago come to life during the summer and attract plenty of visitors.
A Short History of Valdemarsvik
Valdemarsvik and the bay Valdemarsviken were earlier known by other names. The town was earlier Wammar and the bay was known as Vammarsviken. It was a part of Ringarum Parish and was a known market location for centuries.
Valdemarsvik became a market town in 1647 but was controlled by the merchants from Söderköping and Västervik. The market town got its connection with the railway network in 1906 with the Norrköping-Söderköping-Vikbolandet railway. This railway provided access to the much larger town of Norrköping until it was decommissioned in 1966.
Things to Do and See
The center of Valdemarsvik has several small cafés and restaurants as well as other small shops. The bay is never really far away and walking along the waterfront is one way to spend the time. During the summer there are plenty of boats in the small marina and the town really comes to life with the many visitors.
Valdemarsvik Marina
The marina is at the center of many of the summer activities in the town. It is adjoined by parking for mobile homes and there is also a large playground to be found here. The marina is for many the gateway to the Baltic Sea.
Flaggberget
Flaggberget is a mountain rising 48 meters above the sea. Climbing to the top offers a view out over the town, the bay, and towards the Baltic Sea.
Valdemarsvik Rosarium
The local rosarium or rose garden is a colorful oasis in the center of the town. The small park has around 250 roses of around 180 different kinds.
Träbåtshamnen
Valdemarsvik has a long tradition of making small wooden boats and there is still an organization of locals keeping this tradition alive. During the summer months, this organization is exhibiting its collection of wooden boats in the center of Valdemarsvik at a marina dedicated to these boats.
How to Get to Valdemarsvik
- Flights: The closest airports are Norrköping Airport (NRK) 53 kilometers away and Linköping Airport (LPI) 83 kilometers away.
- Car: Valdemarsvik is on road E22 between Söderköping and Västervik.
- Bus: Local buses from Östgötatrafiken connect Valdemarsvik with the surrounding region.
- Train: There is no train station in the vicinity. the closest stations are in Åtvidaberg or Överum.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 221 kilometers (2 h 44 min)
- Gothenburg – 354 kilometers (4 h 9 min)
- Malmö – 412 kilometers (5 h 13 min)
- Linköping – 85 kilometers (1 h 12 min)
- Kiruna – 1451 kilometers (17 h 26 min)
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