Car Hire Karlskrona

Karlskrona Mini Guide

Karlskrona was founded in 1680 when the Royal Swedish Navy relocated its base from the mainland to the island on which the city is built. The town planners adopted a grid approach to planning the city, something which helps visitors to Karlskrona today. Central to the city is the main square which must be visited if only for its sheer scale.



It’s the second largest square in Europe after Red Square in Moscow and is home to the annual Lovmarknaden – the Leaf Fair or midsummer fair that is held the day before midsummer’s eve.

Each year it attracts thousands of revellers from all over Scandinavia and farther afield. Other interesting places to visit are the UNESCO accredited former shipyards which were built into the cliff and designed by Christopher Polhem who has been dubbed the Swedish da Vinci on account of his marvellous inventions.



In July and August a series of events called ‘The Sail’ take place, the most touching of which is when sea scouts row their boats, illuminated with flaming torches, between the ships in the harbour whilst singing the national anthem. This is seen as a throwback to the times when the Vikings and Danes used to bless their ships with fire and song before venturing off on raids. When the weather is calm and the sky is blue another breath-taking activity in Karlskrona is to charter a sailing boat and join the hundreds of other townsfolk in sailing around the beautiful islands of the Karlskrona Archipelago.