Anno 1600-tal · Ystad, Sweden

Welcome to
Erikshuset-Ystad

A half-timbered house from the 1600s in the cobblestoned heart of old-town Ystad. Make yourself at home.

◍ Lingsgatan 2, Ystad ✦ Steps from Stortorget ☼ 10 min walk to the sea
See the Airbnb listing ↗
About the house

Centuries on a cobblestone street

You've found one of the prettiest corners of southern Sweden. Our house is a half-timbered home from the 1600s — more than three hundred years old — from the days when Ystad was one of the busiest ports on the Baltic, when salt, herring and timber passed through every day.

Over the centuries it's been a carriage workshop, a family home, even a rental agency. In the 1950s the whole house was moved here from Stora Östergatan. We bought it from the council with a very 1950s interior, and we're slowly coaxing back the charm to match that wonderful original façade.

These days it's simply ours — our family's summer house, open to a few guests when we're away. A home we love, not a business we run. My parents own the house next door through the connected garden.

We made this website to share our local tips and favourite restaurants in the area. — Kiwi

The dining room with original 17th-century beams
A look around
A beautiful street in Ystad's old town
A beautiful old-town street
Dining room with original beams
The dining room — original 17th-century beams
Hammars backar dunes near Kåseberga
Hammars backar — wild dunes out toward Kåseberga
Laundry room with washer and dryer
Washer & dryer in the laundry room
Good to know

Settling in

The practical bits, all in one place.

✦ Your stay

Check-out11:00
Contact us+46 73-356 73 39
Wi-FiIn your Airbnb message

House & Sweden tips

  • Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. Sweden is nearly cashless; you'll rarely need kronor.
  • Pant. Cans & plastic bottles carry a deposit — return them at any supermarket machine.
  • Tap water is delicious and perfectly safe to drink.
  • Quiet please after 22:00 — we have lovely neighbours.

The house manual

Arrival
Check-in from 15:00 — we're often flexible with earlier check-ins, just ask. The door has a code lock; the code will be in your Airbnb message. We leave a key for the garden door on the table in the living room.
Parking
There is one parking spot on the Dammgatan side of the house, free to use as a guest. For additional parking, use Rådhusparkeringen or around Sankt Knuts Torg (~3–5 min) and pay with EasyPark. Always read the sign.
Heating
Dial thermostats on the radiators — turn them up or down as you like. On the third floor there are electric radiators which are switched on during the colder months. No AC, but plenty of windows to open.
Laundry
Washer & dryer in the main bathroom — feel free to use them.
Kitchen
A full kitchen — hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher, kettle and coffee.
TV & Wi-Fi
A TV for your own streaming logins; the Wi-Fi network & password are in your Airbnb message.
What's provided
Bed linen & towels · washing machine, dryer & hairdryer · basic kitchen staples (oil, salt, coffee, tea) · cot & high-chair on request · board games & kids' toys.
House rules
No smoking inside · no large parties · quiet after 22:00 · sort waste & return pant bottles · please ask about pets.
Check-out
By 11:00 — start the dishwasher, bag the rubbish, close the windows, turn the heating down, and pull the door to behind you.
Getting here & around

Finding your way

How to reach Ystad — and the easiest ways to get about once you're here.

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By train

Direct Pågatåg from Malmö (~50 min). From Copenhagen, take the Øresund train and change at Malmö — around 1¾ hours in all. The station is right in the centre.

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By car

An easy ~55 km coastal drive from Malmö. The old town's lanes are narrow and partly pedestrian — see Parking below.

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By ferry

Ystad's harbour links to Bornholm (Denmark, ~1h20) — a fun day trip — and Świnoujście (Poland), a longer overnight or onward crossing (~7 h).

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By bike

Ystad is flat and compact — bikes are the best way to explore. RentBike Ystad (city & e-bikes, booked online) is the obvious option, though we haven't tried them ourselves. If you're into road cycling, Roslin Cykel is a well-stocked bike shop with faster bikes. Our favourite ride: the flat ~20 km coast route to Ales stenar, with a smoked-fish stop at Kåseberga.

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Buses & trains

Ystad is a hub — trains to Malmö and buses across Österlen (Kåseberga, Simrishamn, Kivik). Buy tickets in the Skånetrafiken app (card / Apple Pay / Swish; no cash on board).

App Store ↗ ▶ Google Play ↗
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Taxi

Taxi Ystad / Sverigetaxi 0411-72 000 or Taxi 58 0411-58 58 58. Pricing is deregulated — agree a fixed fare for longer trips (airport, Ales stenar).

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Parking

There is one parking spot on the Dammgatan side of the house, free to use as a guest. For additional parking, use Rådhusparkeringen or around Sankt Knuts Torg, not the pedestrian lanes. Pay via EasyPark or the machine; some spots use a parking disc (P-skiva) — always read the sign.

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EV charging

Public chargers around town (Mer, Recharge, Tesla) — by the harbour, at Sankt Knuts Torg, and at ICA Kvantum. Check a charging app for live availability.

Our recommendations

The map

Everything we love, pinned. Tap a marker for a note and one-tap directions — or tap a category below to filter the map. The brick marker ◍ shows Erikshuset.

Eat & drink

Where we send our friends

Ystad's old town is small and walkable, so nearly all of these are a short, flat stroll from the door.

Dinner · Michelin

JH Matbar

Stora Östergatan 34

Ystad's standout — a Michelin Bib Gourmand for complex, great-value cooking. Book ahead.

Dinner · Hidden gem

Grändens Mat

Off the main street, in an alley

A little courtyard oasis — traditional Swedish cooking with an Asian twist and lovely service.

Casual · Family

Pinchos

Central old town

App-ordered tapas-style small plates — not gourmet, but relaxed and fun, and genuinely worth it with kids who love picking their own dishes.

Pizza · Sicilian

Pizzeria Gusto

Klostergatan 5

Our favourite pizza in Ystad — proper Sicilian, right in the centre of town.

Dinner · Sea views

Marinan

Ystad marina / harbour

Down at the marina with lovely views over the water — a relaxed spot for lunch or dinner by the boats. We always go for the prawn sandwich.

Any meal · Beach hotel

Saltsjöbaden Ystad

Sandskogen · ~10 min

The restaurant at the classic Saltsjöbaden beach hotel — great for any meal of the day after a swim. You might even splurge on the very good day spa. Worth booking ahead.

Brunch · Castle · ~20 min

Svaneholms Slott

Near Skurup

Probably our favourite brunch in the area, set in a lovely castle. We recommend the walk around the lake (~3 km) first to work up an appetite. Check their website for details.

Lunch · Sandwiches

Maltes Mackor

Stora Östergatan 12

A local favourite a minute from the door — a huge menu of toasted mackor, salads and wraps. Mostly takeaway. We usually go for the roast beef or mozzarella sandwich; kids tend to love the tuna.

Fika · Bakery

Söderberg & Sara

Central Ystad

Our go-to for breakfast buns and a pastry.

Fika · Worth the drive

Olof Viktors

Glemmingebro, Österlen · ~20 min

Once voted Sweden's best café — a legendary organic farm bakery. Wood-oven sourdough, croissants and a famously fluffy carrot cake.

Fika · Worth the drive

Gamla Bageriet i Borrby

Borrby, Österlen · ~30 min

A much-loved organic bakery in Borrby — wood-fired sourdough, cinnamon buns and pastries. A proper Österlen fika stop.

Ice cream

Glassmakeriet

Teatergränd, Ystad

Award-winning handmade ice cream tucked in the old town — the perfect cobblestone-stroll treat.

Ice cream · Worth the drive

Frusen Glädje

Örum, Österlen · ~20 min

A beloved Österlen ice-cream workshop since 1980 — with a summer cart on Stortorget here in town too.

Swimming & the sea

Where to take a dip

From heated pools to the open Baltic. Sea-swim season runs roughly June–September — see the temperature chart further down.

Beach · 10 min

The piers at Saltsjöbad

Sandskogen / Saltsjöbad

The classic local swim — sandy beach backed by pine forest with bathing piers (the "bryggorna"), ~10 min south. Free; toilets, playground & café nearby.

Indoor pool

Ystad Arena Bad

Fridhemsgatan 27

A 25 m pool, family pool with two slides and a sauna — the rainy-day saviour.

Outdoor · summer

Nybrostrand Friluftsbad

~10 min east

A heated sea-water pool (~22–25°C) with diving boards, 100 m from the beach. Summer season only.

Wild swim

Sandhammaren

Österlen · ~25–30 min

Probably the nicest beach in Sweden — fine white sand and wide open dunes. Great for a walk even out of season.

Out & about

Day trips into Österlen

The southeast corner of Skåne — a gentle landscape of orchards, beaches, little harbours and farm shops — is on your doorstep. All easy by car; distances are from central Ystad.

~25 min Iconic

Ales Stenar

Kåseberga

Sweden's largest stone ship — 59 boulders set on a clifftop above the Baltic. Our "Stonehenge", with a view.

~25 min Harbour · Food

Kåseberga Hamn

Below Ales Stenar

A tiny fishing harbour with a smokehouse since 1968 — alder-smoked fish, fried herring and fish & chips.

~30 min Beach

Sandhammaren

East coast nature reserve

Repeatedly voted Sweden's best beach — fine white sand and dunes, wild and wide open.

~35 min History

Glimmingehus

Near Hammenhög

Sweden's best-preserved medieval stronghold (c.1500) — thick walls, clever defences and plenty for kids to explore. Well preserved does also mean mostly empty inside, but that's part of the charm.

~45 min Coastal town

Simrishamn

Österlen coast

Pastel fishing houses, cobbled lanes and a sea winery — the prettiest town on the east coast.

10 min Running · Trails

Motionsspåren i Sandskogen

Sandskogen

If you like running, this is a treat — marked trails from a 1.5 km walk to 5 km and 10 km loops through the pine forest. The 10 km loop occasionally rewards you with wild blueberries in July. Finish with a dip in the sea. Bring kids? They can usually occupy themselves for an hour at the outdoor gym and playground at the start of the trails. View on Google Maps ↗

~50 min Orchards

Kivik & the Apple Kingdom

North Österlen

Blossom in spring, a famous apple market in September, and Musteri cider tastings year-round.

For families

Out with the kids

Tried-and-true favourites for smaller adventurers.

Animals

Ystad Djurpark

North of town

A friendly animal park — ~60 species incl. monkeys, lemurs and meerkats, plus a playground and café. There's also a pool open during the summer. We like to bring a picnic.

Farm · Berries

Eriksgården

Near Sjöbo · ~40 min

The star of the show is the all-you-can-eat berry and ice cream buffet — the kids absolutely love it. There's a huge playground and kids can jump in hay. Surprisingly good burgers too. On the way home, make a stop at the farm shop Tolånga if you eat meat.

Farm · Hands-on

Gunnarshögs Gård

Near Hammenhög · ~20 min

A rapeseed-oil farm where kids earn a "tractor licence", sniff and taste their way through a sensory tour, and press their own little bottle of oil to take home. Farm shop & café too.

Film & play

Ystad Studios Visitor Center

By the film studios

Walk through Wallander and Vintergatan sets. Not the most modern attraction — but fine with kids (there's dress-up and some interactive features). Manage expectations and you'll enjoy it.

Beach day

Saltsjöbad & Sandskogen

~10 min south

Soft sandy beaches with jetties, a playground, beach volleyball and ice cream close at hand.

Classic fun

Mini golf, Sandskogen

By the beach

A round of mini golf among the pines — easy to fold into a lazy day at the sea.

Knights!

Glimmingehus

~35 min

Castle traps, dungeons and "play-the-knight" activities — history that doesn't feel like history.

Summer only

The beach train

Around town

In summer a little tourist train trundles past the Sandskogen beaches and through the old town.

Whatever the weather

Rainy days & the seasons

Ystad is lovely year-round. Here's roughly what the weather does, what to do when it turns, and what each season brings.

Ystad average temperatures by month swim season 0° 5° 10° 15° 20° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air Sea — warmest in July–August (~18°C); the sea peaks near 19°C in August and is comfortable for swimming roughly June–September.
Monthly averages (°C)
MonthAirSea
Jan24
Feb13
Mar32.5
Apr75
May129
Jun1614
Jul1818
Aug17.519
Sep1416.5
Oct9.512
Nov5.58
Dec2.55.5
Approximate monthly averages.

If the rain comes in

Pools

Ystad Arena Bad

Fridhemsgatan 27

25 m pool, family pool with two slides, sauna. The go-to wet-day plan.

History

Klostret i Ystad

Central old town

Sweden's best-preserved medieval monastery (1267) — museum, courtyard garden and café.

Art

Ystads Konstmuseum

Sankt Knuts Torg

The town art museum; a combo ticket also covers Klostret.

Film

Ystad Studios Visitor Center

By the studios

Walk through Wallander & Vintergatan film sets — fun whatever the weather.

Cinema

Biografteatern Scala

Central

A gem of a cinema running since 1910 — among the oldest still going in Sweden.

Classic fun

Arena Bowling

Fridhemsgatan 27

12 lanes plus a restaurant & bar — easy to pair with the pool next door.

Through the year

  1. Spring

    Blossom & lambs

    Rapeseed turns Österlen gold (May–June), lambs at Resta Gård (early May, pre-book), and the Easter Konstrundan art trail.

  2. Summer

    Beaches & markets

    Long days, sea swims and harbour life — plus Kiviks Marknad, Sweden's big summer market (late July).

  3. Autumn

    Apples & gold

    The Kivik apple market and its giant apple mosaic (late Sep), golden light and quiet beaches.

  4. Winter

    Cosy & quiet

    Advent Christmas markets and the Österlen Lyser light festival (late autumn). The old town at its most peaceful.

Opening hours and event dates shift year to year — please check before you go.

Everyday needs

Essentials & good to know

Where to shop, and the one Swedish quirk that catches everyone out (alcohol — read on).

Groceries
Coop Dragonen · Stortorget — the handiest shop, right on the main square (~3-min walk). Open daily, roughly 08–21.
Big shop
ICA Kvantum · Almelundsvägen 4 — large supermarket for a proper stock-up; daily ~07–22, with a pharmacy inside.
Alcohol
Systembolaget · Stora Östergatan 13 — Sweden's state shop is the only place for wine, spirits & stronger beer (over 3.5%). 20+ with ID. Roughly Mon–Fri 10–18/19, Sat 10–15, closed Sundays — so buy for the weekend by Saturday lunchtime. (Supermarkets only sell light beer.)
Pharmacy
Kronans Apotek · Stora Östergatan 11 — the closest, in the old town. Also Apoteket Doppingen at the hospital. Health advice line 1177.
In case you need it

Emergency & help

Keep this handy. Operators in Sweden speak English.

Emergency — all services
112

Police, ambulance & fire. The one number for any real emergency.

Police — non-emergency
114 14

Open 24/7 for anything that isn't urgent.

Medical advice (nurse)
1177

Speak to a nurse for non-urgent health questions.

Hospital — Lasarettet i Ystad
Kristianstadsvägen 3A

Full hospital with A&E for adults and children.

Pharmacy — Apoteket
Kristianstadsvägen 3

At the hospital entrance; more pharmacies in the centre.

Tourist info — Visitor Center
Sankt Knuts Torg 1A

By the station. 0411-577 681 · maps & tips.

Your nearest address is Lingsgatan 2, 271 43 Ystad — useful to give an operator or a taxi. Taxis accept card/app; agree the fare basis before longer trips.

Quick answers

Good questions

The things guests ask most. Anything we've missed — just message us on Airbnb.

Is there parking?

There is one parking spot on the Dammgatan side of the house, free to use as a guest. For additional parking, use Rådhusparkeringen or around Sankt Knuts Torg (~3–5 min walk) and pay with the EasyPark app. Always read the sign — rules vary by block.

Can we check in early or drop bags after check-out?

Sometimes, depending on the day — message us and we'll do our best.

Are pets allowed?

Dogs are very welcome! Unfortunately not cats — my husband is allergic. For anything else, just ask.

Is there air-conditioning?

No — like most Swedish homes there's no air-conditioning, but Skåne summers are mild and the thick old walls stay pleasantly cool.

How's the Wi-Fi?

Yes, there's Wi-Fi throughout — the network & password are in your Airbnb message.

Do you have a cot or high-chair?

Yes, on request — tell us the ages and we'll have them ready.

Can we smoke?

No smoking indoors, please. Outside is fine — use an ashtray.

Where's the nearest shop?

Coop Dragonen on Stortorget, about a 3-minute walk. For alcohol you'll need Systembolaget (Stora Östergatan 13) — see Essentials.

How do we get to the beach?

The piers at Saltsjöbad/Sandskogen are about 20 minutes on foot or 10 by bike, south through the pine woods. In summer there's also a bus that leaves from the square just behind the house.

How does the rubbish & recycling work?

There are sorted bins for food, plastic, paper, glass & metal. Cans & PET bottles have a deposit (pant) — return them at any supermarket machine.

Before you go

Enjoyed your stay?

A kind word means a lot to our family. If you had a good stay, we'd be so grateful for a short review — it helps other guests find their way here too.

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