LOCATION
Öland Island is located in southeast Sweden, on the coast of Småland Region. The island is connected to the mainland by a 6 kilometre-long bridge. The surfing hotspot is at Mörbylånga Beach in the southern part of the island. The closest airport is in Kalmar, on the mailnland and the closest ferry connections are about 200 kilometres from the island – lines run from Poland (Gdynia–Karlskrona and Świnoujście–Ystad), Lithuania (Klaipeda–Karlshamn) and Germany (Sassnitz–Trelleborg). Mörbylånga Beach’s location is: 56°31′N 16°23′E.
ÖLAND ISLAND SURFING HOTSPOT
The surfing hotspot is located at Mörbylånga Beach in the southern part of the island, near Haga Park campsite. This hotspot is very popular in Sweden – the local windsurfing club has more than 300 members. The waters of the Kalmar Straight, between the mainland and the island, offer great air streams. Around Öland, naturally windy days are few and far between in the spring-summer season, however excellent airflow conditions are assured by the local sea breeze, which is a weather phenomenon unique to this place. Typically, in summertime, the sea breeze comes around 1pm, when the sun is high on the horizon. The waters are shallow and waves are flat so it is a very good place for beginners and for both windsurfing and kitesurfing practice and training. The hotspot’s waters are also warmer than those on the open sea.
ATTRACTIONS
Öland offers many attractions that can enrich your stay on the island. The obvious number one is a visit to Stora Alvaret, a limestone plain rich with marine fossils that was formed 500 million years ago and is slowly emerging from the Baltic Sea after the receding of glaciers. In the past, the island was home to prehistoric men with Gettlinge Gravefield being the most explored. There are many castles and churches on Oland, including the present Swedish Royal Residence. It’s the perfect place to combine sightseeing with biking tours and take advantage of the broad long white beaches on the east coast.
