Villas in Kalmar and Öland

Löttorp and Köpingsvik suit beach days on northern Öland, Mönsterås the Kalmar Sound coast, and Fågelfors quiet forest lakes. Öland is a long, flat limestone island joined to Kalmar by a bridge, with sandy beaches in the north and open alvar in the south. Our cottages are spread thinly, and Copenhagen airport is three to four hours away by car.

Where

Villas: 40
From, per week: £259
Cheapest month: July
Nearest airports: Copenhagen, around two hours from London, is three to four hours by car over the Öresund bridge. Kalmar airport has flights from Stockholm, so it works with a change. Stockholm Arlanda suits the north-west around Lönneberga. Driving from the UK through Denmark is a long day.

Where to stay in Kalmar and Öland

Löttorp, Köpingsvik and Borgholm (northern Öland)

Löttorp is the village for the long sandy beaches of Böda Bay and the twisted pines of Trollskogen, at Öland's northern tip. Köpingsvik has a shallow beach a few minutes north of Borgholm, the island's main town, with the ruin of Borgholm Castle and the royal summer home at Solliden. Boats to Blå Jungfrun leave from Byxelkrok in summer. Kalmar is about an hour and a quarter from Löttorp.

Best for: Sandy beaches, cycling and a summer resort town

Not for you if: You want somewhere quiet in July: northern Öland is very busy in high summer.

Färjestaden and Mörbylånga (southern Öland)

Färjestaden sits at the island end of the Öland bridge, around 15 minutes from Kalmar. Mörbylånga is a harbour village further south. Beyond them is Stora Alvaret, a vast limestone plain that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dotted with windmills and Iron Age forts such as Eketorp. Ottenby and the Långe Jan lighthouse at the southern tip draw birdwatchers in spring and autumn.

Best for: Birdwatching, open alvar and easy trips into Kalmar

Not for you if: You want shade and woodland: the south of the island is open, flat and windy.

Rockneby, Mönsterås and Figeholm (Kalmar Sound coast)

Rockneby is farmland and coast about 20 minutes north of Kalmar, with its castle, cathedral and old town. Mönsterås is a small harbour town further north, near the mouth of the Emån, a river fished for sea trout and salmon. Figeholm is a sheltered fishing village close to Oskarshamn. Kalmar airport has flights from Stockholm; Copenhagen is around three and a half hours away.

Best for: Rocky shore, small harbours and day trips to Kalmar

Not for you if: You want long sandy beaches: the mainland coast is mostly rock and reeds.

Nybro and Gullaskruv (glass country)

Nybro is a small town with the Pukeberg glassworks, and Orrefors is about 20 minutes west, with the Kosta glassworks beyond. Gullaskruv is a forest hamlet north of Nybro, among lakes and old glassworkers' cottages. Kalmar and the bridge to Öland are around 30 minutes from Nybro. Copenhagen airport is about three hours by car.

Best for: Glassworks visits and forest walks between Kalmar and Växjö

Not for you if: You want the sea outside the door: the coast is around half an hour east.

Fågelfors, Ruda and Fagerhult (Högsby forest)

This is the forest of inland Kalmar county, with small lakes, gravel roads and sawmill villages. Fågelfors has the most of our cottages here, and Ruda and Fagerhult are hamlets a short drive away. The Emån runs through Högsby on its way to the coast, with canoeing on calmer stretches. Kalmar is about an hour away and the Öland bridge a little further.

Best for: Remote lake cottages with a boat and few neighbours

Not for you if: You want shops nearby: Högsby, the nearest town, is small.

Lönneberga, Storebro and Målilla (north-west)

Lönneberga gave its name to the Emil books, and Storebro and Gullringen sit just south of Vimmerby, where Astrid Lindgren's World is. Järnforsen, Målilla and Mörlunda are villages around Hultsfred, among lakes and pine forest. Målilla also has a speedway track that draws crowds on race nights. Stockholm Arlanda is around three and a half hours away, Copenhagen nearer four.

Best for: Families combining a lake cottage with Astrid Lindgren country

Not for you if: You want to be near Öland: the bridge is around an hour and a half away.

When to go to Kalmar and Öland

June to August is the season, when the island boats run and Öland's beaches are warm enough to swim, usually from late June. July is the peak, with Swedish families on holiday, and Borgholm fills up around Victoria Day on 14 July, the Crown Princess's birthday. Late September brings Öland's harvest festival (Skördefest), with farm shops and stalls across the island. Spring and autumn suit birdwatchers at Ottenby. Winters are grey and windy, and much of Öland closes.