Österlen is fantastic

10 top things to do at Österlen?

I do love Österlen in Skåne in the South of Sweden. These are my favourite places...

Österlen is a region on the eastcoast of Sweden. It is by the sea and I really like the region for its nature, lovely small houses, art galleries, design hotels and great restaurants.

I looked at 25 artists work at KAOS south of Kivik. It is easy to find. I found a lot of things a liked and bought some. This is where I bought my giant tea cup I have at work. It is made by Saga Johnsson. You can also visit her shop and workshop on the way to Stenshuvud.

The must-try-drink when you are at Österlen is the local apple juice and food made of fruit made locally in Kivik. Buy it by the street. I tried a glass in the café and then I bought a lot in the factory shop at Kiviks musteri or the smaller and lovlier Kivikås close to Kivik.
Where to stay at Österlen? I like Östangård bed and breakfast and design shopBut I love Karlaby Kro hotel and spa even more.
Have lunch or dinner at Karlaby Kro and you will be happy for a month.
A friend told me that the hotel and restaurant Vitemölla Badhotell is a must. But I missed to go there last summer. But I will not miss it this summer. It looks supernice!

The best place for coffee and cookies is the bakery Olof Viktors
http://www.olofviktors.se/

The rooms are not so nice but the food is lovely at hotel and restaurant Brösarps gästgiveri. I had the fish "Helstekt Spätta från Simrishamn med Champinjoner och brynt Smör" when I stayed in Brösarp. Mums as we say in Swedish! But the best restaurant is Maritim Krog, address Hamngatan 31, in Simrishamn. Evelinas Kök is also nice for at meal, address Storgatan 3.

Some more shopping? I found Himla table cloths & things at great prices at Stärkan kvalitetsoutlet in Kivik. Dining at home will be even nicer this autumn with things I bought...

I feel in love with a painting when I visited the gallery on Eliselundsvägen 45 in Kivik. The artist was friendly enough to show us his gallery and studio which had a great view of Kivik.
Check out his marvellous paintings at http://www.hagman.se/main.php?page=konstnarer&subpage=konstnar.php&username=Bengt%20Yman
There is also a nice shop in Kivik at Eliselundsvägen 18, just opposite with handmade design things.

I feel happy when I look at Gunilla Manns paitings. A lot of colours and happiness. She has a studio in Rörum and a shop in Simrishamn. Buy a painting of a postcard as a memory of your trip to Österlen. I like the one of Nyhavn in Copenhagen a lot.
It is perfect to go to Österlen in May-August. But if you like art you should try to visit it during Easter beacuse of the "konstrunda". It is an art exhibition where 150 artists open their homes and studios to the public. I was there in 2009 and loved it, although it snowed heavily during the whole weekend.
Do you dream of a house at Österlen? Look at this real estate homepage. Their presentations of the houses that are for sale totally look like an interior design magazine! http://www.uppvik.nu/

Finally some must do things från my friend Eva who lives in Skåne:

1. Play golf at one of the beautiful golf courses; for example the golfcourse Lilla Vik outside Simrishamn. You can stay at their hotel and play golf for a weekend. I tried their restaurant and checked their rooms last summer. Looks good!
2. Visit Kronovalls vinslott (wine castle). Have a wine tasting sesscion, have dinner and stay at their hotel. It is quite expensive and I have not tried it but it seems like a nice place.
3. Visit Konstrundan

You might guess what her hobbies are by the above tips?

Trosa - A truly beatiful end of the world!

This weekend´s trip was to small town Trosa by the sea on the east coast of Sweden. It is close to Stockholm and also called "the end of the world".

Den här helgens resa gick till den lilla staden Trosa vid havet på svenska ostkusten. Trosa ligger nära Stockholm och kallas också ”världens ände”.

The town is so sweet and lovely by the sea and with a canal in the middle of the town.

Visit it on a sunny summer day! In the winter, many shops and restaurants are closed!
http://www.trosa.com/ or http://cityguide.se/trosa/

We stayed at the hotel Bomans hotell. I have read about this small Swedish design hotel and boutique hotel it in loads of design and travel magazines.

It looks so nice on the internet. All the rooms are in different styles. Check out their suite La Dolce Vita and the other rooms
I am curious as I have high expectations for this place. Can Bomans hotel meet my expectations? Checking in isn’t until 15.00 so we take a stroll around the town. There are so many small shops with clothes, interior design and other stuff. I can´t resist some new candle light holders and a vase at the shop “Nätverket Hjärtans glädje” on the street Österlånggatan where all the small shops are. http://www.lusthuset-heminredning.se/

We also spent some time in the small shops on the square. Albins gården has ceramics from Bruka design. Nice!
At the square we cross the canal in the middle of the town, take a couple of pictures of the boats and the lovely small wooden houses by the canal.

On the other side is the Trosa hotel and restaurant in Trosa Stadshotellet. The food is excellent. The hotel and spa also seem nice. I might stay here if I come back another time.

Now it is check-in time at Bomans hotel. Our rooms are so totally sweet with Laura Ashley design. Sweet! If you want to copy the design visit the closest Laura Asley shop.
Or international http://www.lauraashley.com/

In the evening a four course dinner at Bomans restaurant. Starter and desserts are great. Main course isn’t spectacular but ok. All in all - a great evening.

The last day a stroll in the harbour checking out the boats and more small shops.
An ice-cream by the harbour in the sun is nice. Or a “fika” (coffee and cookies) in the garden at the bakery “Tre små rum” on Österlånggatan.

We pass hotel Vega, the world´s smallest hotel?, which looks nice by the canal. It is a four star hotel with three rooms!
There is also and Bed and Breakfast hotel “Ågården Bed & Breakfast” next to Vega.

We also had to visit “Kutterkonfekt” the chocolate “factory” and shop on Österlånggatan. We buy some handmade chocolate before we leave.

You can also play golf or go on boat trips in the Swedish archipelago

There are three old castles close by. One of them is royal Tullgarns slott which is owned by the Swedish Royal Family.

Cool Copenhagen

10 top things to do in Copenhagen?
I visited Copenhagen, Denmark last week. Copenhagen is a lovely city with loads of great shops, restaurants and museums.
Where to stay in Copenhagen? Hotel The square has a perfect location in the middle of the centre.
Enjoyed the Arne Jacobsen design hotel Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Turned on the ipod and sat in the coolest chairs ever in the lobby. Drinks on the top of the house... at the 20th floor with a fantastic view of Copenhagen at the Radisson hotel.
A drink or lunch at Restaurant Puk is a must after a day of shopping. Design viewing & shopping at Illum is nice but do try shopping on street Vandkunsten and the streets around. It is much better! I just love the small shops around here!
On Copenhagen on a Friday? Don´t miss the great Rock conserts at the Fun park Tivoli. Spent the afternoon at fun park TiIvoli. Watch out for the scary airplane and screaming people!!! (maximum speed 100 km/h, 360 degree turn). OK I admit. I didnt dare to try...
Lunch at restaurant Ida Davidsen (only open on weekdays, make reservation) is something special. Super shopping on the street Ströget and a cosy dinner at smoky restaurant Skindbuksen (reservation is needed)
Boatsightseeing followed by lunch on the sqare. Danish classic food (smorrebrod) in restaurant Nytorv. We had a lovely dinner at the Sankt Gertruds kloster (the St Gertruds convent).
If you like art, like me, don´t miss the art museum Glypoteket. The museum Louisiana is also one of my favorites, but it is outside Copenhagen and you need a car to get there. But if you go there, stop by at the Karen Blixen house and museum on the way.

The best restaurant in Copenhagen is Noma, it has been named the world´s best restaurant. Reserve in advance to experience extraordinary Nordic gourmet cuisine at its best. Read the review in the Telegraph UK.

Other cool design hotels in Denmark are:

•  Hotel Fox. Each room is different. Choose among rooms with comical styles, graphic design, street art, fairytales and Japanese Manga to mention some.
• Hotel FRONT with stylish sophisticated design. It is on the Condé Nast Traveller's 2007 Hot List.
• Hotel Nimb with the aim to place the hotel in the absolute world-elite of small, luxury city hotels. Placed in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The design of the exterior of the hotel reminds me of Taj Mahal.
• Hotel Skt. Petri is one of Copenhagen's leading design hotels.