NEW! Icons of the Viking Age

Discover Karlskrona’s rich maritime tradition and unique landmarks during a walk through this charming port town. Sweden’s chief naval base since its founding in 1680, Karlskrona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its baroque-style buildings. Follow your guide past notable sights such as the King’s Bridge, the Regional Governor’s Residence and the Bastion Aurora. See the Admiralty Church, the town’s oldest building and the largest wooden church in the country, and its famous statue of “Old Man Rosenbom.” Pass through the Stortorget, a cobblestone square, and view the neoclassical Town Hall, the old Norman-style water tower, and the Church of Fredrik and the Holy Trinity Church. Continue to Stumholmen, home to the famed Naval Museum which traces Sweden's maritime past. After, you may choose to explore more on your own or return directly to your ship with your guide.

Embark on a leisurely guided stroll through Karlskona, a city shaped by its rich maritime past. Sweden’s chief naval base since its founding in 1680, Karlskrona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its baroque-style buildings. Follow your guide at a relaxed pace and pass by notable sights such as the King’s Bridge, the Regional Governor’s Residence and the Bastion Aurora. See the Admiralty Church, the town’s oldest building and the largest wooden church in the country, and its famous statue of “Old Man Rosenbom.” Pass through the Stortorget, a cobblestone square, and view the neoclassical Town Hall, the old Norman-style water tower, and the Church of Fredrik and the Holy Trinity Church. After, you may choose to explore more on your own or return directly to your ship with your guide.

Travel back in time for an authentic slide of Sweden during a stroll through the streets of peaceful Kristianopel. Dating back to the 15th century and located near the Sweden-Denmark border, this small seaside village is considered a hidden gem of the Blekinge region, considered Scandinavia’s first Renaissance city that today has no fast food restaurants, highways or large tourist attractions. Take a scenic drive from Karlskrona, stopping along the way at Brändaholm, one of the country’s most beautiful allotment gardens, before admiring sweeping views of the city and archipelago at the Bryggareberget viewpoint. Continue to Kristianopel, where you will set out for a stroll past the small, charming wooden houses and rose gardens. Breathe in the fresh sea air as you walk and relax in the simple beauty of your surroundings. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Immerse yourself in Sweden’s naval history during a Privileged Access visit to the Drottningskär Citadel. Strategically located on the island Aspö, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has protected the city during war for centuries and is a significant example of military architecture and repository of naval history. Meet your guide and transfer to a ferry for a scenic cruise through the archipelago to Drottningskär, its outer walls built during the late-17th century and manned by the Swedish Navy until the late 1960s. Learn about its history and view the famous Knight’s Hall, the cannon battery and the four bastions that are named after Swedish queens. Admire sweeping views across the strait to Kungsholm Fortress, an important part of Karlskrona’s naval defenses to this day. Afterward, board your ferry and return to your ship.

Take to the water for a panoramic kayak journey around picturesque Karlskrona. Spread across more than 33 islands, the Karlskrona archipelago offers endless opportunities for water-based exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will meet your experienced guide at the pier, then make a short transfer to the staging area and your awaiting kayak. Receive your life jacket, paddle and a short safety briefing, then climb into your kayak and follow your guide onto the water. Depending on the weather and water conditions, your guide will choose the best route around the islands to show you some of his favorite sights. You will pass notable landmarks, such as historical fortifications, typical Swedish cottages and gardens by the sea, as well as well-preserved baroque-style architecture. At the end of your tour, return to shore and your ship.

Explore Karlskrona’s Naval Museum, its intriguing exhibits chronicling the maritime and military history of Sweden. Karlskrona’s strategic location in the Blekinge archipelago has made it important to Sweden’s defense and shipbuilding since its founding as a naval base in 1680. Take a scenic drive, enjoying views of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, en route to the museum, located on the island of Stumholmen. See unique ships and construction models dating back to the 17th century and admire majestic figureheads created by royal sculptor Johan Törnström. Then, stroll through the underwater tunnel, where you can see the submerged remains of several 17th-century ships. In the Submarine Hall, navigate the cramped corridors of the HMS Neptun, a Cold War-era submarine, and view Sweden’s first submarine, the HMS Hajen, while gaining insight into the history of underwater technology.

Explore the UNECSO World Heritage Site of Karlskrona and get a glimpse of life in the historic town of Björkholmen. Embark on a panoramic drive through the city to Brändaholm and take a stroll around this unique hamlet—a picture-postcard scene with blooming gardens and quaint cottages. Enjoy a Swedish fika, a traditional coffee break accompanied by a cinnamon bun, at a nearby café, before continuing your excursion to Björkholmen. Located close to an old naval base, the area was formerly inhabited by local shipyard workers. Enjoy a guided walk along the narrow streets, named after admirals or ships, and view the 18th-century wooden houses, built by the residents using materials from the shipyard. Step inside one as you hear stories and accounts of the people who once resided here. En route back to your ship, view the King’s Bridge—once Karlskrona’s “official entrance” for arrivals by sea.

Travel along the coast of Kalmar to visit its famed castle and explore the narrow lanes of the old town. Board your motor coach and set out through Karlskrona’s historic naval district, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Head north to Bröms—set along the Brömsebäck stream, it was once the boundary between Sweden and Denmark and played host to many historic treaties. Continue to Kalmar Castle and cross the towering drawbridge to visit this Renaissance fortress. As you explore, your guide will share stories of royal intrigue and Nordic diplomacy, offering insight into the castle’s rich past. After lunch in the castle restaurant, you will have time to explore the garden on your own. Cap your day with a stroll along the cobbled streets of Kalmar’s old town, then return to your coach and enjoy a cinnamon bun as you journey onward to your awaiting ship.