Simrishamn is the main town on the east coast — a small harbour of around 6,500 people with white-painted half-timbered houses, a 12th-century church, and a working fishing fleet that still lands cod and herring most mornings. The setting is one of the prettiest in southern Sweden and the place to base yourself for exploring the coast north and south.
The 12th-century St Nicholas Church is the oldest building, with a fine 15th-century pulpit and stained glass by the modern Swedish artist Erik Olson. The waterfront fish smokehouses sell hot smoked salmon and mackerel to take away. North of the harbour, Tobisborg is a sleepy bathing area with sandy beaches; south at Brantevik you find a smaller fishing village with several restaurants worth the short drive.