Villas in Kronoberg

Diö suits families near Älmhult, Lenhovda and Klavreström suit remote lake cottages, and Lidhult is close to the big lake Bolmen. Kronoberg is the southern, forested part of Småland, with the glassworks to the east and the Lagan valley to the west. Copenhagen airport is around one and a half to three hours away, so check where your cottage is.

Where

Villas: 17
From, per week: £320
Cheapest month: December
Nearest airports: Copenhagen, around two hours from London, is the usual choice: about an hour and a half to Markaryd, two hours to Diö and nearer three to Uppvidinge, using the Öresund bridge (toll payable). Gothenburg Landvetter suits Lidhult and the west, at around two hours. Driving from the UK through Denmark is a long day but popular.

Where to stay in Kronoberg

Diö and Eneryda (around Älmhult)

Diö has the most of our Kronoberg cottages. It is a village a few minutes north of Älmhult, the town where IKEA started, which now has the IKEA Museum. Råshult, just north of Älmhult, is the birthplace of the botanist Carl Linnaeus and has a memorial to him. Eneryda is a forest village further north-east. Copenhagen airport is around two hours by car, and Älmhult has direct trains.

Best for: Families who want lakes, forest and the IKEA Museum

Not for you if: You want a busy town nearby: Älmhult is small and quiet in the evenings.

Lenhovda, Norrhult, Klavreström and Fröseke (Uppvidinge)

Uppvidinge is deep forest country, with more lakes than villages. Lenhovda has a lake beach in the village centre, Klavreström has a beach on Änghultasjön, and Fröseke has a jetty and raft on Uvasjön. Norrhult and Klavreström run into each other. The glassworks around Kosta and Orrefors are around 30 to 40 minutes south-east, and Växjö is about 40 minutes away.

Best for: Remote forest cottages with a lake to swim in

Not for you if: You want a short transfer: this is the far north-east of the county, around three hours from Copenhagen.

Hovmantorp (the glass district)

Hovmantorp is the largest village in Lessebo municipality, on the shore of the lake Rottnen, with a station on the line between Växjö and Kalmar. Lessebo, ten minutes east, still makes paper by hand at its old mill, and Kosta's glassworks and shops are around half an hour away. Växjö is about 25 minutes west. Copenhagen airport is around two and a half hours by car.

Best for: Glassworks, lake swimming and a station on the doorstep

Not for you if: You want total seclusion: Hovmantorp is a proper village with a main road through it.

Markaryd, Hamneda and Lidhult (Lagan valley and Bolmen)

The river Lagan runs south from Ljungby through Hamneda and Markaryd towards Halland, with canoeing and fishing along the way. Lidhult is close to Bolmen, Sweden's tenth largest lake, which has sandy bays and islands. Markaryd is a small town on the E4, and Copenhagen airport is around an hour and a half away. Lidhult is closer to two hours, or a little less from Gothenburg.

Best for: Fishing, canoeing and the shortest drive from Copenhagen

Not for you if: You want hills or dramatic views: this is low, wooded farm country.

Lammhult and Vislanda (north and west of Växjö)

Lammhult is a furniture-making village near the border with Jönköping county, with lakes and forest all around and a station on the main line. Vislanda, south-west of Växjö, is a railway junction village in farming country. Both are within half an hour of Växjö, the county town, with its cathedral, shops and lakeside paths. Copenhagen airport is around two and a half hours away.

Best for: A central base with trains and Växjö close by

Not for you if: You want a lakeside cottage as standard: some are among fields, so check the listing.

When to go to Kronoberg

June to August is the main season, when the lakes warm up, glassworks and summer cafes keep longer hours and canoe hire opens. Swedish families holiday from Midsummer through July, so book early for that stretch. Mosquitoes can be bad in June near still water. September is quieter and good for walking, fishing and picking mushrooms and lingonberries, though some cafes and glass shops shorten their hours. Winters are cold and dark, with snow that comes and goes.