Östhammar

A waterfront city since the 14th century

Östhammar was granted its town charter in 1368 and has since then had a strong connection to trade, shipping and coastal life. The town centre is small and manageable, with Rådhustorget and Sjötorget as two clear hubs.

Rådhustorget is the heart of the older part of the city. Here you'll find the town hall, where art is often exhibited during the summer months, and Schraams Gelato - the ice cream parlour that won the Swedish Ice Cream Championship in 2025. A small place with Sweden's best ice cream, right in the middle of the city's historic environment.

From the square, Norra and Södra Tullportgatan lead on through the low wooden buildings. Södra Tullportsgatan takes you down to the water and over the wooden bridges to Källör - a walk that clearly shows the city's connection to its spa days.

Viking tracks and city stories

Östhammar's history does not begin with the town charter. Outside the town hall is the Nordanviksstenen stone - a large stone that, according to a local legend, marked the ground for passing Viking ships. Whether the story is true or not is less important. It is part of the town's mythology.

If you want to delve deeper, there is Östhammar's sound walk. The short walk takes you through the town centre and on towards the waterfront, where dramatised elements and historical references give extra depth to the places you pass. Here you will learn more about the Nordanviks stone, the spa era, the development of the city and the people who lived here.

It's an easy and evocative way into the city's many layers - right in the setting where the story took place.

Källör and the heritage of the spa

At the turn of the century, Östhammar was a popular bathing and spa town. The town's cold baths were located at Källör, and the area was the centre of summer social life.

This is also the site of the old Källör social centre - a direct link to the spa era. After serving as a school for many years, the house is now run by volunteers through the village farm association, which works to keep the place alive. Concerts, cultural evenings, children's activities, weddings and local events are organised here.

The lake square, the harbour and waterfront life

Sjötorget opens up the city to the harbour area. There are restaurants, a playground, park areas and small boathouses. During the summer, the square is filled with regular vintage car rallies and boat guests in the guest harbour - a tradition that gives the place character.

A wooden bridge leads to Krutudden - the city's bathing and recreational area with a sandy beach, beach volleyball, a kiosk, waffle bar and canoe hire. The area used to be a people's park with a dance floor, and nowadays there are stages that are sometimes used for temporary performances.

Adjacent to it is Gammelhus, where older buildings are gathered as part of the city's cultural environment.

The modern Östhammar - Storbrunn Cultural Centre

Contemporary Östhammar is clearly visible in Kulturhuset Storbrunn, the city's cultural centre. The building grew out of an older functional cinema and has evolved from what was already there - a clear example of how the new is built on the old.

Today, Storbrunn houses a city library, a cinema, art spaces, a stage, youth activities and a place for creativity. It hosts performances, film screenings, workshops and events that bring together both young and old.

Together with the local history centre and the water tower on Vattentornsberget - just a short walk away - Storbrunn forms a clear cultural axis in the city. A hub that shows that Östhammar is not only history, but also an ongoing cultural life.