Visit the Göta Canal’s locks

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The Berg locks are the most popular part of the Göta Canal. The famous flight of 7 locks lifts boats an amazing 18.8 metres up from Lake Roxen. Above the flight of locks are two more double locks. Visitors love to come and watch the spectacle of lockage. Restaurants, cafés, an ice cream parlour, adventure golf and swimming are all close by.

This is also where you can board the M/S Wasa Lejon or the M/S Ceres, which ply the canal daily.
On a breakwater in Lake Roxen stands the nine-meter high "Dubbelgångaren" (the Doppelganger) statue by Kent Karlsson, one of many works of art in the Visions by the Water project.
The Berg locks are about 10 km north of Linköping and are well signposted from the E4.

The Göta Canal starts – or ends – in Sjötorp, an idyllic canal town on the shores of Lake Vänern. Tourists love to come here to observe lockage in the first lock from Lake Vänern, or in the double lock just above it.

Sjötorp offers pleasant restaurants and cafés, smoked fish, ice cream and crafts. The picturesque old harbour warehouse now houses the Canal Museum, which depicts the history of the Göta Canal and navigation on Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Sjötorp is a popular starting point for bicycle trips along the canal and boasts the canal's biggest bicycle rental shop. The M/S Bellevue plies the canal from Sjötorp.

The Norrkvarn lock area is a canal attraction that has become extremely popular, especially among families with small children. It is home to the Children's Mini Canal and the Enchanted Tree Stumps you can actually sleep in.
The Norrqvarn Hotel and Conference has hotel rooms and youth hostel rooms to offer. The hotel has a restaurant specialising local ingredients and offers outdoor seating on the jetty.

The Norrkvarn lock has an exhibition centre on the construction of the canal and an interesting cultural trail that describes the practical construction work around Norrkvarn.
The Norrkvarn lock area is signposted from the E20 at Lyrestad, 20 km north of Mariestad.

Hajstorp is a popular destination near Töreboda, with two double locks and the nearby Riksberg flight of locks within easy walking distance. It's a great place to enjoy the idyllic canal environment while sipping a cup of coffee and munching on fresh-baked bread at the Slusscaféet. The charming old red warehouse is a showroom and shop featuring high-quality crafts from local artisans.

In Tåtorp, travellers on the canal lend a hand to open the manual lock the old-fashioned way. Take the opportunity to have a cup of coffee and a snack in the ecological garden café by Tåtorps Café och Logi.

Forsvik is home to the oldest lock in the canal, built in 1813. Must-sees here are the replica paddle steamer Eric Nordevall II, the historic industrial area Forsviks Bruk and its exhibits. Buy fun souvenirs in the gift shop, Kanalbutiken 5 Knop, then have a bite to eat at the Slusscaféet. You can also treat yourself to a steamboat ride or an evening of music or theatre.

The Borenshult locks in Motala are the second-largest flight of locks on the Göta Canal, and a popular attraction. The five lock chambers lift the boats 15 metres up from Lake Boren. Play a game of miniature golf or have a cup of coffee while you watch the boats and the people around the flight of locks.

The hand-operated lock in Borensberg and the Göta Hotell are among the best-known attractions of the canal.
The canal boats the M/S Kung Sverker, M/S Wasa Lejon and M/S Ceres call in Borensberg.

The Söderköping lock and the Canal Harbour are right in the middle of town. Take a stroll among the waterfront shops. Nowhere else along the canal will you find cafés, an ice cream parlour and restaurants so close together!

Don't miss Sweden's largest ice cream parlour, Smultronstället. From the Canal Harbour, the M/F Lindön and M/S Symfoni depart on trips on the canal and out into the archipelago.

Your canal adventure starts in Mem with the first lock on the Göta Canal for vessels coming from the Baltic.
There's a café along the harbour basin above the lock.