Villas in Småland

Tingsryd suits lake and canoe holidays near Åsnen, Vimmerby suits families heading for Astrid Lindgren's World, and Loftahammar has the sea. Småland is a big province of forest, lakes and red wooden cottages, and distances add up: Vimmerby is around four and a half hours from Copenhagen. Most cottages are simple and self-catering, often with a boat.

Where

Villas: 57
From, per week: £192
Cheapest month: October
Nearest airports: Copenhagen, around two hours from London, suits the south: about two and a half to three hours to Tingsryd or Bergkvara. Stockholm Arlanda suits Vimmerby and Loftahammar, three and a half to four hours away. Gothenburg Landvetter suits Gränna and Jönköping. Driving from the UK via the Öresund bridge is a long day but popular.

Where to stay in Småland

Tingsryd, Ryd and the Åsnen lakes (south)

Tingsryd has the most of our Småland cottages, scattered among lakes and beech and pine forest. Åsnen National Park, a lake broken up by around a hundred islands, is close by, with canoe hire and lakeside trails. Kalvsvik and Hjortsberga sit among the lakes between Åsnen and Växjö, the regional city, which has the cathedral and the Kronoberg castle ruin. Copenhagen airport is around two and a half to three hours by car over the Öresund bridge.

Best for: Canoeing, fishing and lake swimming within reach of Copenhagen

Not for you if: You want a town on the doorstep: Tingsryd is small and the villages smaller.

Virserum and Hultsfred (inland forest)

This is the heart of the Småland forest, with long lakes, gravel roads and few people. Virserum has a museum in its old furniture factories and a small art gallery, and Hultsfred is a railway town with a lake beach. Vena is a scattered village to the north. The glassworks around Kosta and Orrefors are roughly an hour south. Copenhagen is around three and a half hours away.

Best for: Quiet lake cottages and walks in deep forest

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

Vimmerby and Södra Vi

Astrid Lindgren's World, the theme park built around the author's characters, is on the edge of Vimmerby, and her childhood home at Näs can be visited nearby. The town has a small centre of old wooden houses. Södra Vi, about 15 minutes south, is a village of farms and lakes. Stockholm Arlanda is around three and a half to four hours by car.

Best for: Families with children who know Pippi, Emil or the Bullerby books

Not for you if: You visit outside the summer season: the theme park keeps limited dates in spring and autumn.

Loftahammar and the Västervik archipelago (north-east coast)

Loftahammar is a small harbour village on the Tjust archipelago, a maze of islands and inlets north of Västervik. Hjorted, Totebo and Gunnebo are inland villages a short drive from the coast and the town. Västervik has a harbour, summer boats into the islands and a good choice of shops. Stockholm Arlanda is around three and a half hours away.

Best for: Sailing, sea kayaking and swimming off the rocks

Not for you if: You want sandy beaches: this coast is mostly smooth granite and reed beds.

Oskarshamn (central coast)

Oskarshamn is a port town with the ferry to Visby on Gotland and, from June to August, tour boats to Blå Jungfrun, a granite island national park with stone mazes and steep paths. The coast either side has rocky inlets and small bathing spots. Kalmar is about an hour south. Copenhagen airport is roughly four hours by car.

Best for: Island trips, including Gotland and Blå Jungfrun

Not for you if: You want somewhere quiet in July: the Gotland ferry traffic passes through town.

Bergkvara and Torsås (Kalmar Sound)

Bergkvara is a small harbour on Kalmar Sound, and Torsås is the farming village just inland. Kalmar, with its castle, old town and the bridge to Öland, is around 40 minutes north. Karlskrona and the Blekinge coast are a similar distance south, which makes this a useful base for both. Copenhagen is around three hours away.

Best for: Sea swimming and day trips to Kalmar and Öland

Not for you if: You want a lake cottage: this is flat farmland along the sea.

Gränna, Huskvarna and Nässjö (Lake Vättern)

Gränna is a hillside town above Lake Vättern, famous for its striped peppermint rock (polkagris) and the ferry to the island of Visingsö. Huskvarna runs into the city of Jönköping. Nässjö, Bodafors and Lekeryd are inland among lakes and forest. Gothenburg Landvetter airport is about an hour and a half from Jönköping.

Best for: A lake town base on Vättern within reach of Gothenburg

Not for you if: You want to swim in warm water: Vättern is deep and stays cold.

When to go to Småland

June to August is the main season, when lake water warms up, boats and summer cafes open and Astrid Lindgren's World runs daily. Swedish families holiday from Midsummer through July, so book early for that stretch. Mosquitoes are worst in June near still water. Late August and September are quieter and good for walking, berry picking and fishing, though many attractions close or cut their hours. Winters are cold and dark, and snow in southern Småland comes and goes.