Sweden has been a sustainability pioneer for decades, aiming to become the world's first fossil-free welfare state by 2045. Naturally, then, its cities are ideal for hosting a sustainable event or incentive break. But before you set your sights on the big three (Stockholm, Gothenburg, or Malmö), consider another contender: Karlskrona.

Karlskrona is an island city set amidst sparkling blue seas—'Sweden’s answer to Venice’! While the heart of the city lies on Trossö, Karlskrona also extends onto the mainland—and over 29 other isles in the eastern Blekinge archipelago, including Saltö, Sturkö, Hästö, Långö and Aspö. Once Sweden’s third-largest city, this Baltic jewel was originally built as the country’s premier naval base in the 17th century. It boasts amazing baroque architecture, historic maritime attractions and fortifications, and expansive coast and countryside areas to enjoy nature, sea views and outdoor leisure. This stunning natural landscape is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve while the entirety of the naval city—both military and civilian areas, including the shipyard, harbour, fortifications, and well-preserved square—gained World Heritage status in 1998. It’s a unique and appealing combination that drew a record number of visitors last year.

This city isn’t stuck in the past, though. It’s home to world-leading IT and telecom development, and over 50 hi-tech companies, including Ericsson. Its Blue Science Park brings researchers and industry experts together to problem-solve and Karlskrona is well on the way to Smart City status. A digital twin of the city is under development, and two new testbeds, the Blue Digital Testbed and the Blue eHealth Testbed, are working to provide smart solutions.

What about travelling around the city?

There are good bus services around the city and train services to take you further afield, or you could rent an electric car by the hour, day or weekend from Karlskrona Municipality’s carpool, run in collaboration with OKQ8 Bilpool.

It’s also easy to get around central Karlskrona and its attractions on foot or by bicycle, and there are many places to hire bikes, including the train station. There are over 100 km of cycle paths in the Karlskrona municipality, including a 35 km route taking you through some of the most beautiful parts of the city.

As only a few of the islands have land bridges, there’s a host of ferry services to transport you between the islands efficiently. There are car ferries to Aspö (free, run by the Swedish Transport Administration) and between Yttre Park and Ytterön in the east archipelago of Karlskrona, plus services to Stenshamn, Hasslö, Sturkö and Trummenäs, and, in the summer, Drottningskär Citadel and Nättraby. In the summer, a Hop-on, Hop-off boat runs between key destinations and attractions around Trossö and nearby islands.

What about sustainability?

Karlskrona may be small, but it has large ambitions in this field, and sustainability is the backbone of ‘Vision 2030’. This document outlines the city’s plans for improving the city’s industry, education, communication, living environment and experiences, focusing on creating a sustainable and attractive city.

Being home to both man-made and natural UNESCO-listed sites conveys both benefits and challenges. The Municipality appreciates the responsibilities this brings, and the importance of all four dimensions of sustainable development: social, economic, ecological and cultural. It also recognises the value and necessity of collaboration between private stakeholders, public bodies and citizens to achieve its sustainability goals.

Karlskrona’s ‘Sustainable Tourism in World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve’ project, conducted during 2022-2023, produced possible next steps for sustainable development at these sites. This resulted in the ‘Certification for Sustainable Tourism in Blekinge’ strategy in autumn 2023. Led by the Blekinge Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, with funding from Region Blekinge and Karlskrona Municipality, it aims to implement a joint certification process, with all stakeholders achieving sustainability certification recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) by 2030.

Karlskrona’s project, ‘Coastal Protection Design for the World Heritage Site of The Naval Port of Karlskrona’, studied how its world heritage site could be affected by rising sea levels. It’s now one of 12 European regions involved in RESIST, a five-year EU project to develop and implement innovative climate change resilience and adaptation solutions. RESIST combines technology, education, and citizen engagement to create and test strategies, which will be transferred to eight twin regions. Region Blekinge and BTH are active partners, with the university contributing VR and AR design and assistance.

The ’Energiraffen’ hybrid powerplant by the harbour is a result of the city’s involvement in the Cities.multimodal initiative to improve sustainable urban mobility. The 12-metre high powerplant, made from recycled materials and powered by solar panels and a wind turbine, has charging facilities for e-bikes and e-cars. Karlskrona also took part in the 2020-22 Intelligent Cities Challenge, a European Commission initiative to support European cities in their green and digital transitions to a net-zero economic model.

In 2023, Karlskrona joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), showing its commitment to sustainable tourism development. The city is the capital of Blekinge county, which won a Gold Award this year from the Green Destinations organisation. Green Destinations rewards excellence in destination sustainability based on the GSTC-Recognised Green Destinations Standard of 75 criteria. These criteria, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the UN's seventeen global sustainability goals, cover sustainable management, animals and nature, environment and climate, culture and tradition, social sustainability and hospitality.

The Complete Package: Accommodation, Event Spaces and Experiences All in One Place

The city has some stunning sites that provide everything you need for your event or incentive break, providing maximum convenience and reducing transport costs, travel time and your event’s carbon footprint. Even better, many of these venues are rooted in nature or heritage; places with real character that help  to elevate the experience well beyond the standard conference room.

Skärvagård

Skärvagård’s red-roofed buildings are set amid the idyllic fields and forests of Skärva nature reserve (part of the EU's Natura 2000 ecological network). Just 10 km from central Karlskrona, next to a sweeping bay, the site offers everything you need for a small event: event spaces, a café and restaurant providing organic, vegan catering, an eco-store, and extensive gardens where many of the restaurant’s ingredients are grown. Regular art and music events are held here, and nature walks or courses in vegan cooking and sustainable horticulture can be arranged. There’s also a historic guesthouse, and extra accommodation is available in neighbouring guesthouses if required. It’s proof that low-impact venues can deliver high-impact experiences.

Ytterön

Ytterön is another beautiful farm-based coastal venue, including a hotel, self-catering cabins, meeting rooms, lecture halls, a large garden, and Allan's Vincafé & Bistro. The bistro, which can accommodate 30 people and provide catering for your event, is the repurposed farm general store. It’s a charming space that combines original features with modern amenities.

There are countryside walks on the doorstep, and a range of experiences to book: pizza or pasta-making sessions, barbecues at the waterside fire pit, team-building activities, yoga and fitness sessions, art classes, drink-tasting, and, last but not least, the sauna boat and waterside hot tub!

For purpose-made modern conference facilities, choose Dockside Conference & Business Centre, a city marina complex with three stylish buildings. The steel-clad Dockside building has an upper-floor boardroom for up to 15 people and the Vision Room, accommodating 100 people, with a studio for digital TV broadcasts. Catering and dining can be arranged in conjunction with the adjacent Docks building, which has its own large event space accommodating 180 people in cinema seating, plus eight conference rooms and a generous roof terrace. There’s also a lobby with a kitchen and dining room. The complex is completed by Brinova Arena Karlskrona, a multi-purpose arena with coastal views. The main arena seats 2,500 guests and its movable grandstand sections and partition wall provide flexible layout options. Five other meeting and event spaces available: four meeting rooms for 11-16 people, and a larger space that accommodates 150.

The Best of Baltic, and Swedish Cuisine

While vegan or vegetarian eateries are scarce, you will find vegetarian options nearly everywhere and many vegan options too. As you might expect in an archipelago, seafood is superb and plentiful, especially the perennial Blekinge favourite, herring—fried, breaded or pickled. Potato is as much a staple as herring here, and potato dumplings with duck or pork fillings are popular. Your sandwich (herring or otherwise) may be served on delicious Ankarstock rye bread. If you’re around in crayfish season, which begins in August, it’s literally party time. Crayfish Festivals are big in Sweden and the tasty crustacean will be hard to avoid!

Ikea has created an international love for Swedish meatballs alongside a love for its furniture, and you’ll find meatballs aplenty in Karlskrona’s restaurants, often served with mashed potato and lingonberry sauce.

Finally, if you’re wondering what the mysterious ‘fika’ is, it’s not a dish, drink or cake: it’s a Swedish cultural tradition. A ‘proper’ break, with a drink (often hot), relaxation, sociable chat and, optionally, a sweet treat. A coffee break is casual and optional. Fika is much more intentional! Indulge while you’re here.

An eco-friendly ethos and a preference for local, seasonable ingredients are very much the default in Karlskrona, but we especially recommend a few eateries. Cozy Kitchen is a bistro-style restaurant in central Karlskrona that prides itself on cooking from scratch, using good quality, local ingredients in seasonal menus. Nestled along the waterfront at Borgmästarekajen, Antonio’s brings a slice of Italy to the heart of Karlskrona. This inviting restaurant seamlessly blends Nordic and Italian design elements, offering guests panoramic views of the Blekinge archipelago through its expansive glass windows. The kitchen doesn’t cut corners. Neapolitan pizzas, blistered just so in the wood-fired oven, are made by certified pizzaiolos who clearly know their craft; and fresh pasta dishes, all created with a passion for authentic flavours. There’s nothing flashy here, but there doesn’t need to be. It’s good food, made with heart, in a setting that invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment.

A short climb, figuratively and literally speaking, leads you to Bistro Utkiken. Perched atop Bryggareberget, Karlskrona's highest point, Bistro Utkiken offers diners a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and its surrounding archipelago. Utkiken’s lunch buffet is unpretentious but quietly ambitious: a trio of daily options (meat, fish, vegetarian) alongside a hearty salad spread and slices of sourdough bread that might just ruin you for the store-bought kind. Saturdays are for brunch—Swedish style—with a laid-back rhythm and plates that lean into indulgence without making a fuss about it. What makes it special isn’t just the view, though that certainly helps. It’s the feeling you get when you’re there: a mix of contentment and the subtle joy of discovering somewhere that gets it right without trying too hard. On Saturdays, guests can indulge in a luxurious bistro brunch, all while soaking in the stunning vistas. Restaurant Bette serves classic dishes with a twist and low-intervention wines. All fish is MSC-certified, and preservation techniques are used to reduce waste and make full use of seasonal, local ingredients.

On the mainland, you can enjoy tours and tastings at the Brewery Hotel in the city centre, or at Boråkra vineyard, where your visit can also include a delicious meal. Stora Horn vineyard, situated on Hasslö's oldest farm, offers tours in wonderful rural surroundings.

Charming Sturkö is delightful to visit, but a chance to sample the delicious bread and cakes from Andréns Bakery makes it even more appealing. This artisan bakery, family-run since 1893, still uses its original recipe, and won Blekingeposten's Rural Award in 2023 for preserving a 130-year tradition.

Brilliant Break-Out Activities

Whether you’re looking to immerse your delegates in history, physical activity or nature, Karlskrona provides plenty of inspiration. The Hop-on, Hop-off boat makes it easy to move between Karlskrona’s must-see sites, while the Örlogsstaden Karlskrona app helps you explore and appreciate the World Heritage site of the Naval port of Karlskrona.

It’s almost sacrilege not to visit The Swedish Naval Museum, which traces naval history from 1522 to the present. You can explore the museum ships outside and venture inside a submarine, while the museum app (available in English, German and Polish) adds another dimension to the experience. The architecturally magnificent building is on Stumholmen, once a separate, military-only island, but now joined to Trossö. Take time to stroll through its fascinating streets and visit its beautiful beach.

To continue your historical tour, wander into the city centre to see the grand Great Square, with its statue of Karl XI and impressive churches (Fredrik’s Church and the Holy Trinity Church). The Square is the starting point for The Red Threat Guided Tour, which visits interesting underground facilities from WW2 and the Cold War era, including a 1959 bomb shelter constructed to accommodate 6,000 people.

Carry on across Trossö to The Royal Admiralty Church, one of Sweden’s largest wooden churches, built in 1685, and the nearby Admiralty Park. This delightful green space is home to a variety of trees and the Admiralty Clock Tower, constructed in 1699. A short walk takes you to Grevagården, formerly Count Hans Wachtmeister’s private palace, completed in 1705. The magnificent baroque building and its garden is impressive in and of itself, but it also houses Blekinge Museum, covering 10,000 years of local history. The Museum has its own app with a collection of audio-guided walks, helping you discover the region and its history.

Nearby is Fisktorget, home to the Fisherman’s Wife statue by Erik Höglund. It’s a lovely spot to have an ice cream and look out over the water.  Another short stroll will take you into Björkholmen, a historic area where narrow alleys pass between charming old dockworkers’ cottages, emerging into streets named after ships and admirals.

Drottningskär Citadel on the island of Aspö was built in the 17th century to house and protect the Swedish fleet. Part of the World Heritage site, it’s beautifully designed and definitely worth leaving Trossö for if you have time!

To explore Karlskrona’s other gem, its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, use ARK56—a network of linked coastal trails that let you discover the Reserve’s natural and cultural highlights of the Reserve by foot, bike kayak or ferry.  There are 16 hubs providing food, accommodation and experiences, and, often, the chance to change your mode of transport. A handy app is available to guide you to facilities and attractions. The city’s mainland and islands also offer 25 nature reserves, while numerous hiking and cycling trails pass through forests, alongside rivers and around the coast, passing places of historical interest along the way. To spot seals, deer, birds of prey, and other local wildlife, book one of the many birdwatching or nature tours on offer by land or sea.

Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, pedal-boating and surfing are widely available throughout the islands, and you can also explore under the sea. Around sixty wrecks sit in the waters around the naval port, and many offer diving opportunities and fascinating stories.

To put delegates through their paces, book a climbing experience—or a survival weekend on a deserted island led by Swedish army instructors! For something more serene, opt for tennis, a round of golf or an afternoon of horse-riding.

Many Islands: One Great Experience

What makes Karlskrona special isn’t only its natural beauty or historic pedigree. It’s the harmony between old and new, sea and city, innovation and preservation. It’s the sense that everything has been thought through: from the food on your plate to the energy powering your venue. And that’s no accident. It’s the result of years of joined-up thinking, of public and private sectors working hand in hand, of citizens, academics and entrepreneurs asking not just how to grow—but how to grow well.