- Pace
- Give the wider southern Småland interior five to eight days. In a four-day break, choose either the Växjö–Kosta–Åsnen side or the Sävsjö–Eksjö–Vetlanda Highlands rather than trying to cover everything. Without a car, use Växjö and possibly Eksjö as bases; with one, two bases—Växjö plus Eksjö or the Sävsjö/Stockaryd area—work better than nightly moves, while Stockaryd itself is best treated as a quiet cottage stop rather than the sole base.
- When to go
- Go in May, June or September for the best balance of usable daylight, dry-enough trails, open seasonal businesses and manageable crowds. July is best for swimming, paddling and cottages but costs more and fills early; Midsummer is a booking problem rather than a quiet rural escape. Winter suits glassworks, fireplaces and Store Mosse birding, not a first trip built around cycling or long days outdoors.
- Daily budget
- SEK 2,500–4,000
Stockaryd is a tiny railway village in Sävsjö Municipality, not a destination-sized region—and not part of Kalmar County. For travelers, it is a quiet entry point to southern Småland’s interior: forest roads, lakes, cottages, small timber towns, glassworks and an unhurried rural rhythm. Come for space, lake swims, walks, fika and the texture of ordinary Småland life, not for a dense checklist of headline sights.
Known for
- The southern Småland lake-and-forest landscape
- Eksjö’s exceptionally well-preserved wooden old town
- Glasriket glassmaking, especially Kosta
- Quiet cottage, fishing, walking and canoeing country around Stockaryd and Sävsjö
- Småland food traditions including ostkaka, isterband, lingonberries and hyttsill
Where to go
1Base · 2–3 days
Växjö
The sensible southern Småland base: strong rail links, lakeside walks, the Swedish Glass Museum and the region’s deepest restaurant scene. Give it two nights, then use it to reach Kosta and Åsnen.
2Eksjö
Base · 1–2 days
The Highlands’ essential stop, with lanes and courtyards lined by more than 50 protected wooden buildings. It is compact enough for a full day, but worth an overnight for an unhurried old-town walk, museum visit and lakeside swim.
Åsnen National Park and Lake Åsnen
Base · 2–3 days
The strongest outdoor destination in the southern half: island-dotted lake water, easy paddling, osprey country and low-technicality walks at Trollberget or Bjurkärr. Stay near the lake rather than trying to do it as a rushed excursion.
Kosta and Glasriket
Short stop · 1 day
Come for a working furnace, Kosta Boda glass and a booked hyttsill evening—not just outlet shopping. It is the clearest way to experience the craft and food culture that shaped inland Småland.
Stockaryd, Hultsjö and the Sävsjö countryside
Base · 1–2 days
This is the quiet local core: cottage country, woodland trails and uncomplicated lake time around Stockaryd, Hultsjö, Norrsjön and Sörsjön. Use it for a slow rural reset, not a packed sightseeing schedule.
Vetlanda and the Skirö country
Base · 1–2 days
Vetlanda itself is functional, but the surrounding Skirö and Wallby landscape delivers the classic Småland mix of stone walls, fields, forest and lakes. It works best as a driving, cycling, fishing or swimming base.
Värnamo and Store Mosse National Park
Base · 1–2 days
Värnamo is mainly the practical base; Store Mosse is the reason to come. Its boardwalks, bird towers and huge raised bog feel strikingly open after days in forest and small towns.
Sävsjö, Vrigstad and Rörvik
A useful cluster of small service towns rather than a sightseeing destination: Sävsjö is the rail-and-grocery anchor, Vrigstad is handy on a driving route, and Rörvik makes a modest lakeside detour. Keep expectations practical and use a car.
Don't miss
This is the region's strongest active-adventure outing: a managed forest zipline experience rather than a quick roadside stop. Make it the anchor of a half-day and dress for being outdoors; it is best for travelers who want an activity as much as scenery.
This dramatic rock cleft is one of the most distinctive walks in the region, with a route that feels far wilder than the surrounding forest landscape. Wear shoes with grip, allow time to explore at an unhurried pace, and combine it with Eksjö rather than treating it as a drive-by photo stop.
Kleva Mine is the more substantial underground excursion on this list, mixing a real mine environment with accessible activities for non-specialists. It is a strong choice for families and for anyone wanting an indoor counterpoint to forest walks.
This is one of Småland's defining family destinations, bringing Astrid Lindgren's story settings to life through environments and performances rather than a conventional museum display. Give it most of a day if traveling with children, and pair it with Filmbyn only if your schedule has room for a second themed visit.
Store Mosse offers the broad bog-and-forest landscape that is central to this part of Sweden, with trails that make it accessible without specialized wilderness skills. Choose a route suited to the weather, bring layers and insect protection, and use it as a restorative half-day outside the towns.
Eksjö's preserved wooden streets are among the clearest ways to understand the built heritage of inland Småland. Wander rather than rush, then use its cafés and shops as the civilised finish to a more rugged visit to Skurugata or Kleva Mine.
Getting your bearings
Numbers match the places above; small dots are the headline sights.
The mental map
Think in four usable zones. The north-east—Stockaryd, Sävsjö, Eksjö and Vetlanda—is the Highlands: small towns, lakes, timber architecture and back roads. Växjö is the urban, rail-connected southern base; Kosta lies east for glassworks; Åsnen south of Växjö and Store Mosse near Värnamo are the nature-heavy ends of the area. Kalmar and Öland are a separate coastal trip, not a realistic add-on.
When to go
Go in May, June or September for the best balance of usable daylight, dry-enough trails, open seasonal businesses and manageable crowds. July is best for swimming, paddling and cottages but costs more and fills early; Midsummer is a booking problem rather than a quiet rural escape. Winter suits glassworks, fireplaces and Store Mosse birding, not a first trip built around cycling or long days outdoors.
Pacing a visit
Give the wider southern Småland interior five to eight days. In a four-day break, choose either the Växjö–Kosta–Åsnen side or the Sävsjö–Eksjö–Vetlanda Highlands rather than trying to cover everything. Without a car, use Växjö and possibly Eksjö as bases; with one, two bases—Växjö plus Eksjö or the Sävsjö/Stockaryd area—work better than nightly moves, while Stockaryd itself is best treated as a quiet cottage stop rather than the sole base.
Book before you land
Getting in
VXOVäxjö Småland Airport
The nearest airport to the southern half of the area and the sensible arrival point for Växjö, Kosta and Åsnen when flights line up. It has limited routes, so it is often less useful than Copenhagen; rent a car here if heading beyond Växjö.
Flights and transfers into VäxjöCPHCopenhagen Airport
Usually the best international gateway. Frequent long-haul and European flights connect to direct or simple-change trains to Växjö; use it especially if travelling without a car or beginning in Växjö.
JKGJönköping Airport
A small airport with limited service, useful only when its schedule happens to suit. It is closer to Sävsjö, Stockaryd, Eksjö and the northern Highlands than Växjö is, but a rental car is effectively required for a practical onward trip.
Flights and transfers into JönköpingGOTGothenburg Landvetter Airport
A credible car-hire gateway for Värnamo, Store Mosse and the western side of the southern Småland interior. It is less convenient for Växjö and Åsnen than Copenhagen.
ARNStockholm Arlanda Airport
Use Arlanda when flight price or routing makes it unavoidable, not because it is close. Rail connections via Nässjö can work for Eksjö and Sävsjö/Stockaryd, but the journey is materially longer than arriving via Copenhagen or Växjö.
Flights and transfers into Stockholm
Before you go
Questions worth settling
How many days do I need for Stockaryd and southern Småland?
Allow five to eight days for the wider southern Småland interior. For four days, focus either on the Växjö–Kosta–Åsnen side or on the Sävsjö–Eksjö–Vetlanda Highlands rather than attempting both.
Where should I stay: Stockaryd, Växjö or Eksjö?
Without a car, base yourself in Växjö and consider Eksjö for a second stay. With a car, use two bases—Växjö plus Eksjö or the Sävsjö/Stockaryd area; Stockaryd is best as a quiet cottage stop, not the sole base unless you have a car and a specific reason to stay there.
What places combine well with Stockaryd?
Combine Stockaryd and Sävsjö with Eksjö’s wooden old town, then continue to Vetlanda and the Skirö country for lakes, driving and cottage landscapes. Växjö, Kosta and Åsnen make a separate southern cluster; Kalmar and Öland are not realistic add-ons to this trip.
Do I need a car in the Stockaryd area?
For Stockaryd, Sävsjö countryside, Hultsjö, Skirö country, Kosta and Åsnen, a car makes the trip far easier and allows lake, trailhead and cottage stops that public transport does not serve well. Krösatåg trains connect Växjö, Stockaryd, Sävsjö, Nässjö and parts of the Eksjö corridor, but rural buses are sparse, especially in evenings, on Sundays and during school holidays.
What is the easiest way to arrive from abroad?
Copenhagen Airport is usually the best international gateway, with direct or simple-change trains to Växjö. Växjö Småland Airport can work for the southern half if flights suit; Jönköping Airport is closer to Stockaryd, Sävsjö and Eksjö but is practical mainly with a rental car.
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
Sweden is in the Schengen Area. EU/EEA and Swiss travelers can enter with valid ID, while many visitors—including those with US, Canadian, UK, Australian and New Zealand passports—can generally visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period; confirm current requirements and passport-validity rules before travel.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September offer the best balance of long daylight, workable trails, seasonal openings and fewer crowds. July is best for swimming, paddling and cottage stays but fills early, while winter is better for Kosta glassworks, fireplaces and Store Mosse birding than for a nature-heavy first visit.
What should I book ahead?
Book rental cars and lake cottages well ahead for Midsummer and July. Reserve Kosta hyttsill evenings when scheduled, peak-summer guided kayak or canoe outings on Lake Åsnen if dates matter, and Store Mosse winter eagle-feeding visits from November to March.
Known for
- The southern Småland lake-and-forest landscape
- Eksjö’s exceptionally well-preserved wooden old town
- Glasriket glassmaking, especially Kosta
- Quiet cottage, fishing, walking and canoeing country around Stockaryd and Sävsjö
- Småland food traditions including ostkaka, isterband, lingonberries and hyttsill