Svaneke: Artists’ Studios, Sweets and Harbor

Art, sweets and the townscape

Svanekegaarden has three artists’ studios for artists to work in. This makes artistic work a tangible part of Svaneke’s cultural offerings. At Svaneke Torv, you can experience another kind of craftsmanship: at Bolcheriet, handmade sweets are made before visitors’ eyes. The focus here is not only on the finished product, but also on how it is made.

Svaneke Church stands on the southeastern edge of Svaneke, about 18 metres above sea level. Its location makes it a distinct feature of the townscape and adds a notable geographical landmark to the cultural experiences. Together with the artists’ studios and sweet-making, it gives the town a character that is not defined by just one attraction.

Harbor and nature nearby

A swimming area with diving platforms at heights of 1, 2 and 3 metres has been set up at Svaneke harbor. If you would like to use the area, please check in advance whether it is currently accessible. This makes the harbor a focus in its own right when planning your holiday, without losing sight of the town’s cultural offerings.

Nearby, in Listed, the approximately 3.3-kilometre circular route Sporet i Listed leads from the small fishing village through the forest, alongside the Vaseå and out into the open countryside. The route combines forest, river and open terrain in a loop. It offers a different focus from the experiences in town, with the changing landscape at its centre. Its length and circular format give you practical details to help plan this nature route.

Bornholm as a wider travel destination

Bornholm also offers a range of cultural and nature experiences. At the NaturBornholm visitor centre, you can see dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition; exhibitions may change. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging, interactive way. Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley.

For more views of Bornholm’s landscapes, there are several vantage points to choose from: the panoramic view from the Hammershus visitor centre looks out over Hammershus. From the cliffs above Opal Lake, you can see the surrounding area, the Baltic Sea and the ruins of Hammershus Castle. At Østerlars Round Church, visitors can pay to enter and climb up to the roof beams when no service is taking place. Check the current entry conditions before visiting.

Bornholm’s smokehouse tradition also reflects regional differences. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked traditionally over open chimneys using alder wood. In Svaneke itself, the house speciality at Svaneke Røgeri is called “Solstrejf over Svaneke”. As menu availability may vary, it is a good idea to enquire in advance if you are particularly interested.

Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden takes one hour and 20 minutes; check current timetables when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Arsballe, Ertholmene, Nexø, Østermarie, Knudsker, Kås, Olsker and Sandkås.

For the overview of the wider destination: Bornholm.