Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Overview
Karlskrona isn’t just another coastal city, it’s a completely planned naval fortress from the 1680s. It’s so perfectly preserved that UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll discover how a Swedish king transformed a farmer’s fields into one of Europe’s most powerful naval bases, and hear the stories of the farmers, soldiers, and royals who shaped this unique maritime city.
The tour starts at Hoglands Park, where farmer Vitus Andersson once owned all this land before King Karl XI seized it to build his new naval city. You’ll cross onto Stumholmen Island, once a strictly forbidden military zone, and explore the heart of naval operations. There, you’ll find the clothing workshop with oversized windows for tailors, and the barracks designed like a ship’s interior where 500 sailors slept in hammocks. The tour ends at the Karlskrona Naval Museum, where the historic ship Jarramas launched in 1900 to train young naval cadets.
What's included
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
What to expect
Pass by
Stand at the centre of one of Europe's largest squares, a vast open space framed by baroque architecture and designed for military parades. Walk its full width to feel the scale of King Karl XI's ambition, built to impress and intimidate in equal measure.
Fredrikskyrkan
Pass by
Marvel at this towering baroque church that anchors the eastern end of Stortorget, its paired towers rising above the rooftops of the city. Step closer to appreciate the craftsmanship that naval-era Sweden poured into its spiritual landmarks alongside its warships.
Pass by
Explore Sweden's largest wooden church, a vast timber structure built to seat 4,000 naval officers in a single congregation. Pause on the steps to meet the wooden beggar Rosenbom, whose legendary removable hat comes with a story every visitor remembers.
Pass by
Pass by this powerful stone fortification, one of the bastions that once formed Karlskrona's coastal defence ring. Hear how Sweden's most sensitive military zone became the setting for the 1981 Soviet submarine incident — a story stranger than any spy novel.
Pass by
Cross onto this island that was once closed to civilians for over 300 years, a self-contained world built entirely to serve the Swedish navy. Stroll through streets of workshops and barracks where tailors, bakers, and hundreds of sleeping sailors once kept the fleet at sea.
Pass by
Discover one of Scandinavia's finest naval museums, where centuries of seafaring history are brought to life through ships, weaponry, and maritime artefacts. Walk alongside the Jarramas, a cadet training vessel launched in 1900 that now stands as a symbol of the city's living naval tradition.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
This tour starts at Hoglands Park. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading
End point
Tour ends at Jarramas.
Additional information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
