Simrishamn is a small fishing port 40 kilometres northeast of Ystad along the Österlen coast — the southeast corner of Skåne known for its farmland, apple orchards, and artists' studios. The town has a population of around 6,500 and a character that mixes a working harbour with an unusually well-preserved medieval centre. The white-painted half-timbered houses and the low-slung skyline make it one of the prettier towns on this stretch of coast.
The centrepiece is St Nicholas Church, built in the 12th century and still the most visible landmark in town. The interior is worth visiting for a fine 15th-century carved pulpit and stained glass by the Swedish artist Erik Olson. The waterfront fish smokehouses are a more immediate draw: hot smoked salmon and mackerel sold to take away, best eaten on the quayside while watching the fishing boats unload.
North of the harbour, Tobisborg is a quiet bathing area with sandy beaches that draws local families in summer. South of town at Brantevik — a smaller fishing village accessible in a short drive — you find a scattering of good restaurants and a harbour so small and still it barely seems real. Combining Simrishamn with a stop at Ales Stenar and the Kåseberga coast makes a full day of Österlen.