KT Does
Älmhult, SE
Published May 18, 2017 *UPDATED February 2018
So you are an IKEA employee and heading to Älmhult? Whether it's your first time or a regular, there are probably a few things you didn’t know about this tiny town that could improve your stay.
General Tips:
1. Weather Yea. It is rarely warm but if you are from a country that is normally cold then this will be no different to you. In summer you still need a light jacket or sweater at night. I think I have only worn shorts 4 times in 2 and a half years. Pack layers. Also pack a small umbrella. It rains a lot. On the few occasions it is sunny and warm (like 10 days a year) then it is the most beautiful place you will ever see.
2. Debit & Credit I don't know of a single place that doesn't accept credit/debit cards. Don't get cash out before coming because you won't need it.
3. Washcloths If you are a washcloth person then pack one! I have yet to stay in a hotel in Sweden which provides a washcloth for showering.
4. Weekends All shops except grocery stores & some restaurants close at 14:00/2:00PM on Saturdays and are closed all day Sunday. If you are flying in from afar I would recommend staying in Copenhagen or Malmö or plan a trip to the grocery store if you are staying at the IKEA Hotel.
5. Dining out It’s not so popular to eat dinner out most nights and it’s more common to eat lunch at restaurants. This means that you will more than likely be dining alone (or with your fellow visitors) for dinner except for Goaroije (that place is always packed). Don’t get nervous if you see an empty restaurant. It’s normal.
6. Public transportation There is a FREE green local bus that does a circle around the city about every 45 minutes. It picks up/drops off at: The bus station (next to the train station), IKEA and ICA Maxi grocery store. This is good to know in case you want to check out the store, FYND (the IKEA outlet) or go to a bigger grocery store. The IKEA shopping center is also one of the only areas in the city that has shops open on Sundays. I’d highly recommend that you spend the afternoon in the KEA shopping center shops if you are stuck here for a full Sunday.
7. Alcohol To buy wine, beer and liquor you have to go to a specific store called Systembolaget. Also on the main street and hours are as follows:
Thursday 10AM–6PM
Friday 10AM–7PM
Saturday 10AM–2PM
Sunday Closed
Monday 10AM–6PM
Tuesday 10AM–6PM
Wednesday 10AM–6PM
To Do:
If you are looking for a regular gym to do your own thing then you are in luck. The Activitetshuset (or Activity House) is free for IKEA employees. If you are looking for some classes like yoga, pilates or barre then you definitely need to check out The Greenhouse on the main square. They allow drop ins for almost every class and have many types available. Be sure to check out The Greenhouses raw food too. They have healthy raw treats for you to snack on when you want a guilt free dessert, smoothie or kombucha. They have some of these treats at the IKEA hotel as well.
There is a lake with a small “beach,” sauna, canoes etc. about a 28 minute walk from the hotel OR an 8 minute bike ride. It’s a cute place to spend time if the weather is nice. It is also a campsite with restaurant called Sjöstugan.
If you are up for a 20 minute bike ride or have a car then I highly recommend checking out Casa Bartke on facebook for any possible events while you are in town. They bake delicious fresh bread, have a cute pop up cafe every now and then and their home is just fun to take a tour of. They also have some extra rooms available should the IKEA hotel be full.
Navigating the Train:
Download the Skånetrafiken Reseplaner app on your phone. Its in english and it will help you plan your journey. Select Journey Planner & enter CPH airport in “From” location and Älmhult station in “To” location. A list of trains and their times will show up. It will also tell you if there are transfers. If there is no construction then the red O symbol trains should be direct to Älmhult. If you see a multicolor square symbol train then this is the transfer train. It usually transfers in Hässleholm (2 stops before Älmhult).
Getting to Älmhult from Copenhagen or Malmö
1. If you do not have the train tickets from travel service then you should look for the Swedish train kiosk in the airport.
2. Take the trains that say Växjö or Kalmar. These are the only 2 trains that stop in Älmhult.
*Sometimes there is a very long train that likes to detach half of the train in Hässleholm. You don't need to transfer to another train but you DO need to make sure that you are not on the part of the train that detaches or else you won’t quite make it to Älmhult and you’ll have to wait another hour for the next train. The way you tell if you are in the correct train car is to see what city is listed on the digital board on the train. If that board says Växjö or Kalmar you are good. If it says Hässleholm then don’t panic. Just move ahead to one of the train cars up front until you see it say Växjö or Kalmar. You can do this on the train by walking up the aisles. When you get to a door (usually in the quiet car or first class) push a button to the right of the door to open it and walk through. You can also get off at the next stop and move up to the next car.
3. Copenhagen is also spelled Köpenhamn (in Swedish) or København (in Danish). Look for this train when returning to the airport.
Where to stay:
1. The IKEA Hotel is newly remodeled (2017) and expanded. It is usually the place that most people are booked. The new addition of the hotel has a kitchen on each floor which includes a refrigerator, cooktop, sink, microwave & pots, pans and plates. Take note of this in case you do not enjoy the types of food listed below or if many things are closed. They also have a few salads, sandwiches, smoothies & snacks in the lobby to purchase. The restaurant at the hotel is listed under “where to eat” below.
2. If the Värdshuset is full then the next closest place is Möckelsnäs Herrgård. While this place is nice and on the water it is not easy to get to nor is there other things around the hotel. They have a restaurant in the hotel but if you want different food each night and are not renting a car then you need to plan your dinners, lunch etc. before the work buses take you to and from the hotel. There is a taxi service in town but its very expensive to get you to and from the hotel. There are also only 2 taxis so the wait times can be very long.
3. There are a few apartments, rooms and houses on Airbnb which are also a much better location than staying in Möckelsnäs Herrgård or other towns and commuting every day. Most of them are walking distance. If you are unsure then google map walking directions from the home to the office to see how long Google says the walk takes. Also double check with your country that you can expense AirBnB places. Not all countries allow this.
Where to Eat:
IKEA Hotel has a restaurant that is pretty good. There is a lunch buffet, dinner buffet during the week and a separate dinner menu Friday-Sunday. The are open until 21:00.
Muff is a new vegetarian/vegan cafe with daily specials that have the same base but change daily. They also support locals so its a great spot to support. It can be a bit confusing though because their Instagram and Facebook posts their specials but unfortunately only in Swedish. Its definitely the freshest and most flavorful food in town. Try their Buddha bowls and Egg plate. They partner with an Italian group to serve pizzas every Friday and Italian every last Sunday of each month. Send them a FB message and ask about takeaway or dinner if you are interested.
Lotus Kitchen is our newest addition to town and our first Indian restaurant. They offer a lunch buffet and for dinner a regular menu. They offer takeaway but if you order off the dinner menu I suggest calling ahead as they cook from scratch and it take about 40 minutes before the food is ready.
Cafe Kagan is perfectly located on the main square & includes outdoor seating. It has a great coffee menu that shows how each drink is made in case you are not well versed on the difference between a latte and macchiato. They have a breakfast buffet and pre-made sandwiches any time. They also have a lunch menu but most of it isn’t available on weekends. Still a great cafe for sweets, drinks and killing time.
Jacobs is the falafel/gyro/pizza place in the train station. This is my personal favorite of pizza places but be warned that all pizza in this town is Swedish pizza so it’s not going to be anything like what you are used to eating. I also often get the falafel tallrik (falafel on a bed of fries) or falafel wrap.
Brasserie Goaroije is the nicest restaurant in the city. Its got high quality gourmet meals but with a price tag that matches. It’s worth going once but make sure to book a reservation as its packed almost every night. They also have a second location at the Golf course.
Augusts Restaurant & Bar is a new pizza place in town and has a bar connected. Yes you read correctly, there is a BAR in town. Its got a few TVs and a pool/billiard table but it isn’t open every night. A good enough place to hang out in this small town.
Sorello is the most popular Italian restaurant/pizza joint for visitors but I’m seriously tired of every visitor immediately going here. It’s time that you guys branch out and try something new! All of the restaurants listed above this one are relatively new and worth visiting (and better in my opinion).
Thai Palace and Saikok are 2 thai restaurants. They both include lunch buffets and are very similar menus. Each person you ask in town has a personal favorite but one is not more popular than the other so just pick.
Aktivitetshuset (IKEAs activity house) is also a good option for food. They redecorated their cafe area and it’s quite cute. They also have a bar menu for after lunch and later evenings.
Pizza & Kebab It’s common to joke about how many pizza/kebab places are in Älmhult. I already named some above but the rest are here. Älmhult Restaurang & Pizzeria, Krikors Pizza & Kebob, & Pizzeria Amigo. They are all close enough in menu and taste so it doesn’t matter which one you pick. And no, they don't really taste like normal pizza.
Other places available for lunch on weekdays but maybe worth skipping are: Cafe Ole and A&O
Grocery Stores:
-The closest to the hotel are NETTO and COOP. Both are located on the main street (the street at the opposite side of the square where the train station lies). Netto is a discount store so it doesn't have a wide selection but it has good prices. I usually go here first and if they don’t have what I want then I cross the street and go to Coop. Coop is small but has everything you need. They have ready made dinners to microwave back at the hotel, frozen dinners and regular fresh groceries. Coop is also open late so its very convenient.
-ICA Maxi is the biggest grocery store in the city and has a large variety of foods (including an extensive gluten free and vegan assortment). Its similar to Wal-Mart, Action, Tesco etc. but on a smaller scale. You can walk here in about 20 minutes or take the bus.
-Willys is not quite as big as ICA but its bigger than Coop and Netto and its conveniently across from the IKEA store. They also have a pharmacy connected to it.
-There is 2 pharmacies in town. They are called Apotek. One is on the main street, Norra Esplanaden, across from Coop, and the other in Willys. The one in Willys is open on Sundays and later on weekdays (19:00).
Have I missed anything? Email me at KTDoesInfo@gmail.com and let me know so I can update this!