The western side of the Göta Canal with children

Taking the family on a road trip along the Göta Canal in Västergötland can be the best adventure of the year. There is plenty to discover here for both young and old! Be fascinated by the boats that are lifted and lowered with the help of the water in the locks, ride Sweden's smallest ferry, Lina, stay inside a mushroom or try locking for yourself in the children's Mini Canal. Don't forget to stop often, to rest your legs and have ice cream or some other tasty treat! 

Sjötorp - the gateway to Lake Vänern

We suggest that you start the day in Sjötorp, watching the boats go through the first locks on the Göta Canal's as seen from Lake Vänern. There are many locks to see here! We also recommend a  visit to the Canal Museum , where you can learn more about how the canal was built, and about the boats that were built at the Sjötorp shipyard. One of the boats was the Lake Vänern sloop Oskar, and today a replica of her, the sloop Oskar II, can be seen in the harbour in Sjötorp. During the summer, you can go on a guided tour, and really feel the beating wings of history. Afterwards, it's a good idea to buy ice cream at Café Baltzar or a waffle at Slussporten's waffle hut!

If you do not have your own bicycles with you, we recommend that you rent from Sjötorps Cykeluthyrning . In addition to adult bikes, they also have children's bikes in several different sizes and bike trailers for the very smallest. Cycling along the canal is a really fun experience for the whole family, and new adventures await around every bend! The next suggested stop, Norrkvarn, is approximately 9 km and there are several nice rest stops along the way. 

Norrkvarn - the children's favourite

Midway between Sjötorp and Hajstorp is Norrkvarn's lock area. Here, the children will have fun playing in the children's mini canal. And if you have the opportunity, this is where you should spend the night - inside a mushroom ! The mushrooms are made of wood, concrete and plywood and the many fun and exciting details make this stop an unforgettable experience for both young and old. Beds are also found both in the foot and in the hat. The mushrooms are booked through Norrqvan Hotel & Conference, where you can also enjoy a good dinner in the evening. After a night in the mushrooms, you can either cycle back or continue towards Töreboda.

Hajstorp - a picturesque gem

Just 5 kilometres from central Töreboda lies the idyllic Hajstorp. Having a coffee or light lunch by the Göta Canal's glistening water is one of the most summery things there is. In among the leafy trees, in a yellow former bridge keeper's cabin is now home to the Hajstorp Lock Cafe & Hostel . Here, the aroma of coffee and freshly baked coffee bread spreads all the way to the outdoor dining area, where guests sit under large parasols and chat in the sunshine. In the red warehouse , the Craftsmen around the canal display their creations during the summer, and on the upper floor you will find the exhibition A peasant family's life 100 years ago. Here the children can try their hand at weaving, carving bark boats and more. Why not go for a swim before travelling on?

Töreboda - the heart of Västergötland

In Töreboda, in addition to cafés and canal life, Sweden's smallest regular ferry, Lina, runs across the Göta Canal. The ferry is towed by hand across the canal, and the journey takes only 20-25 seconds. You can try pulling yourself over! In Töreboda there is also Töreboda Camping & Bad, with the Göta Canal's only pool area. And at Kayakomat , the adventurous can rent a kayak or SUP to paddle on the canal. Enjoy a good lunch or early dinner at Restaurang Krubb and feel free to stay overnight at Pensionat Prästgården .

Karlsborg

In the summer idyll of Karlsborg, you can smell gunpowder smoke, explore underground passages and feel the floors rumble. The Karlsborg Fortress Museum is a renowned military museum inside Karlsborg Fortress, and starting here, you can join exciting guided tours, for both young and old. Within the walls of the mighty fortress from the 19th century, there's something like a community of its own, where you can enjoy good food and coffee, an exciting museum and the beating wings of history.