Spas, long lunches, art, the forest, and some of our own November favorites
November may not have the best reputation out of the twelve months of the year. It gets dark early, the leaves have fallen, and Christmas hasn’t really started yet. But we actually enjoy this time of year in Småland.
The forest grows quieter, the pace slows down, and things you might not prioritize on a sunny summer day—a couple of hours at the spa, a really long lunch, or an afternoon at a museum—suddenly feel just right. Toward the end of the month, Christmas dinners, Advent concerts, and the first Christmas outings also start to pop up.
Here we’ve put together a list of ten things to do in Småland in November 2026. Some are outings we enjoy ourselves, while others happen only during this particular month.
1. An Afternoon at the Spa at Hooks Herrgård
If we could choose an activity on a really gray November day? Then we’d probably have gone to Hooks Herrgård.
Hooks is beautifully situated on Lake Hoka, just a short drive from Smålandstorpet. Here, you can escape the November chill with a few hours in warm pools and saunas, and if you’d like to make the most of your visit, there are also spa packages that include meals.
We especially like the combination of a few hours at the spa followed by a quiet evening at home. You don't actually have to fill up the whole day just because you're away.
Day Spa – Several Days a Week
Book a few hours at the spa at Hooks Herrgård, and feel free to combine your visit with lunch or dinner. Times and availability vary, so please book in advance.
2. Get a head start on Christmas at Hvildmarken
There are Christmas buffets, and then there are Christmas buffets that truly feel like they belong right here. At Hvildmarken, just outside Jönköping, game, the forest, and Swedish ingredients take center stage.
Moose, roe deer, and other delicacies from the forest and countryside are served alongside classic Christmas dishes. To us, it feels like a pretty fitting way to kick off Christmas in Småland—especially after a day out in the November weather.
First Christmas Buffet – November 26
Starting November 26, Hvildmarken will be serving its Christmas buffet. We booked a table well in advance—especially if you plan to go there on a weekend.
3. Spend an afternoon at Vandalorum
Vandalorum is a personal favorite. Especially in November, when spending a whole day outdoors doesn't always seem quite as appealing.
The museum in Värnamo is the kind of place where you can easily end up staying longer than you originally planned. Check out the exhibits, have lunch, grab a coffee, and take a stroll through the design shop before heading home. We almost always find something there—and in November, at least, you can justify your purchases by saying that Christmas is coming.
Lars Tunbjörk – on view throughout November
"Landet utom sig " is on view throughout November and features the work of one of Sweden’s most acclaimed photographers.
Aino & Alvar Aalto – on view in November
Meet two of the Nordic region’s most influential designers and architects.
Ellen Ehk Åkesson and Markus Åkesson – on view throughout November
The exhibition *Nattsken* is also on view throughout the month.
You can find all current and upcoming exhibitions on Vandalorum's exhibition page.
4. Buy some apple juice and get a head start on Christmas in Äppledalen
Rudenstams is located among the orchards just north of Huskvarna. It’s the kind of farm stand where you walk in to buy a bottle of apple juice and walk out with much more.
Here you’ll find local delicacies and other tasty treats, and if you’d like to stay a while, you can have lunch or stop for coffee. We really enjoy this kind of outing, especially in November. No major attractions to check off a list—just a nice place, something delicious to eat, and maybe a few things to take home.
Christmas in Äppledalen – November 21,
On November 21, it’s Christmas in Äppledalen. A wonderful way to get a head start on the holiday season, especially if you’d rather shop for Christmas gifts from local producers than at a shopping mall.
5. Make a night of it with a visit to Kulturhuset Spira
We often think we should go to concerts more often than we actually do. November seems like a good month to change that.
When it’s already dark outside in the afternoon, it’s really nice to dress up a bit, head into Jönköping, have dinner, and then continue on to Kulturhuset Spira. Throughout November, there are several evenings we think are worth checking out.
Elton John Meets Freddie Mercury – November 14,
Two of music history’s greatest entertainers come together in *Elton John Meets Freddie Mercury*, where Johan Boding and Jonas Gideon perform the music of Elton John and Freddie Mercury. A great choice if you’re looking for a slightly more energetic evening.
A Peaceful Christmas – November 20,
Emmi Christensson and Rickard Söderberg are coming to Spira with *A Peaceful Christmas*. For anyone who thinks mid-November is a perfectly reasonable time to start looking forward to Christmas music, this might just be the concert of the month.
Mozart & Morricone – November 29
On the first Sunday of Advent, Mozart meets Ennio Morricone as the Jönköping Sinfonietta blends classical music with film scores.
There are more concerts and performances throughout the month, so be sure to check out Spira’s current program before your visit. Our tip is not to just go straight to the performance—book a table somewhere in Jönköping beforehand and make a whole evening of it.
6. Try something you probably haven't tried before
Birch soda.
Yes, the drink is actually made from birch sap. At Ängabackens Björksoda in Sonarp, they produce a naturally sparkling, non-alcoholic beverage using ingredients from the forests of Småland.
This is exactly the kind of outing we like to recommend to our guests. Small-scale, very local, and a little out of the ordinary. After all, how often do you actually come home from a weekend away and tell people you went to a birch sap tasting?
Guided Tour and Tasting – Book in advance at
During a guided tasting, you’ll learn more about how birch sap is turned into Björksoda and sample different vintages alongside flavors from the forests and fields of Småland. Check the available times in November and book your visit in advance.
7. See Gränna After Summer
We almost think Gränna is nicer once summer is over.
Of course, it’s a matter of taste. But once the tour buses and summer crowds have disappeared, the little town takes on a completely different, peaceful atmosphere. Take a stroll along Brahegatan, pop into one of the polkagris shops, and walk down toward Lake Vättern.
On your way there or back, you can stop at Kroatorpet outside Huskvarna for lunch or a coffee break. The view of Lake Vättern is just as beautiful in November as it is in July—though you might prefer to enjoy it from inside, with a cup of coffee in hand.
If you have plenty of time, the ferry also goes to Visingsö. The island in November is completely different from what it’s like during peak season. Many businesses are closed or have limited hours, but the tranquility is part of its charm.
8. Take a detour for pizza at Forssa Kvarnagård
Forssa Kvarnagård is worth the detour.
Just outside Sävsjö lies an old farmstead with a mill, a bakery, and a café. Among other things, they bake sourdough bread and wood-fired pizza here, but we enjoy coming here almost as much for the atmosphere. It’s a great spot for a leisurely lunch when you’re not in a particular hurry to move on.
Eat the pizza there and pick up some sourdough bread to take home for breakfast the next day. That’s pretty much the level of ambition we think a relaxing weekend should have.
Open on select days in November
Opening hours are more limited during the off-season, so always check Forssa Kvarnagård’s current information before you get in the car.
9. Enjoy dinner with live music in Värnamo
Not all outings have to start in the morning. Sometimes it’s enough to make a reservation at a place you like and let the evening take care of the rest.
Madame Brasserie & Café is located in the Gummifabriken in Värnamo, and this fall it will host piano bar nights on select Saturdays. Reserve a table, enjoy dinner, and stick around when the music starts. Good food, a nice drink, and a piano on a dark November evening sounds pretty nice to us.
Piano Bar at Madame – November 21,
November 21 marks one of this fall’s Piano Bar events at Madame. The evening will feature everything from jazz standards to pop around the grand piano.
10. Stay with us
This might be our favorite tip. You actually don't have to go anywhere at all.
November is a special time in the forest. The leaves have fallen, and suddenly you can see farther between the trees. The air is cold and clear, and the trails—which can be bustling with life in the summer—are often completely quiet. Bring a thermos and a snack, and take one of our hiking trails through the forest, past small lakes and across streams. You don’t have to go far.
Then head down to the sauna.
Our little wood-fired sauna is right by the lake. Light the fire well in advance and let it get really hot while the daylight fades outside. The brave ones take a dip from the dock. Once winter is in full swing, we can also cut a hole in the ice, as long as the ice allows it.
It's hard to describe exactly what's so special about sitting there after dark. It's warm in the sauna, pitch black over the lake, and very, very quiet.
In any case, we think that's a pretty good reason to visit Småland in November.
More dates to add to your calendar
Of course, there’s more going on in Småland in November than we can fit into our ten tips. Especially toward the end of the month, the Christmas markets start popping up. So if you happen to be here on any of these weekends, there are a few extra dates to mark on your calendar.
Christmas Market at Sägnernas Hus – November 14–15 and 20–22
In Sandhem, the Christmas market at Sägnernas Hus kicks off as early as mid-November. Here, vendors gather to offer crafts, food, and all the other things you’d expect at a classic Christmas market. It’s a great stop if you’re out and about anyway—or if you simply think mid-November is a perfectly reasonable time to start getting into the Christmas spirit.
Christmas Market at Rosenlunds Herrgård – November 21–22
Rosenlunds Herrgård in Jönköping is beautiful in its own right, and for one weekend in November, the manor is transformed into a Christmas market. Here you’ll find crafts, local delicacies, and Christmas decorations in a setting that does most of the work when it comes to creating a festive atmosphere.
We would have loved to combine this with lunch or dinner in Jönköping and make it a half-day outing.
Christmas Market at the Småland Museum – November 28–29
If you’re up for a slightly longer outing, you can head south to Växjö, where the Småland Museum is hosting its big annual Christmas market on November 28–29. Local food producers and artisans will gather at the museum and in Museiparken, and other activities will also be held throughout the weekend.
Växjö is a bit of a drive from us, so we probably wouldn't have gone there just for a quick visit to the Christmas market. But if you combine it with lunch, a walk through town, and maybe a few other stops along the way, it makes for a nice day trip.
Before Christmas really gets started
Maybe it's precisely this in-between feeling that we love about November. Summer is definitely over, but December hasn't quite kicked off yet with everything that comes with it.
There's a little more time.
A weekend doesn't have to be packed with activities from morning to night. Go to a spa if it's raining. Have a long lunch. Buy apple juice at a farm stand. Go to a concert. Or just forget about it all and stay home.
At Smålandstorpet, you’ll stay in your own house in the heart of Småland’s natural landscape, with a kitchen and bathroom and the forest right outside your door. Many of the excursions listed above are within easy reach from here. But sometimes, it’s actually nicest not to go anywhere at all.
Turn on a few lights, make dinner, and let November be November.
Welcome to Smålandstorpet ❤️
Book your stay at Smålandstorpet
Events, opening hours, and programs are subject to change. Therefore, always check the current times and any advance booking requirements with the respective organizer before your visit.
