Categories River & Canal Cruises Gota Canal Cruises Cruises

A cruise along the most beautiful parts of the Gota Canal!

This cruise can also be done in opposite direction!

It is also possible to take this cruise from Stockholm to Gothenburg or to take 2, 3, 4 and 6 day versions of this cruise.

Please see

Gota Canal 4 Day Cruise from Stockholm

Gota Canal 2 Day Cruise from Motala

Gota Canal 2 Day Cruise from Soderkoping

Gota Canal 6 Day Cruise from Gothenburg

Gota Canal 6 Day Cruise from Stockholm

Gota Canal Highlights - 3 Day CruiseGota Canal Highlights - 3 Day Cruise

Itinerary

09.00 Departure by bus from Stockholm, Vasagatan 1 (by the Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, next to the Stockholm Central Station and the City Terminal). Please note that the bus

transfer from Stockholm to Norsholm must be booked in advance and is not included in the cost.

11.30 Dep. Norsholm Our cruise with the M/S Wilhelm Tham begins in Norsholm. Here the canal crosses the

main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö. The lock in Norsholm regulates the water level of Lake Roxen.

11.30 - 13.30 Lake Roxen 33 metres above sea level.

13.30 - 14.30 Berg (Carl Johan) The Carl Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. This

lock staircase raises the boat 18.8 metres from Lake Roxen to the Berg guest harbor remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal or take a refreshing swim in Lake Roxen.

The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden’s most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors.

16.10 Berg (Heda) The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure.

16.30 Ljungsbro, aqueduct We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970.

19.40 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.

20.00 - 20.10 Borensberg At Borensberg there is a hand-operated lock. Shortly before the lock we pass a small gazebo leaning out over the canal in a sharp bend known as the “Helmsman’s Horror”, and after that we see the well-known Göta Hotel, built in 1908.

20.20 Arr. Borensberg Our ship berths for the night in the idyllic village Borensberg, where there is a hand operated lock.

06.20 Dep. Borensberg

06.20 - 07.20 Lake Boren Our boat slowly traverses Lake Boren, 73 metres above sea level.

07.20 - 08.00 Borenshult The lock staircase at Borenshult is the second longest in the canal, with five locks connected and a total rise of 15.3 metres. Here you might hear the nightingale sing.

09.00 - 10.30 Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called “the Capital of the Göta Canal”. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. We visit the Motala Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal.

10.30 - 12.40 Lake Vättern With a length of 135 km and a width of 31 km, Lake Vättern is Sweden’s second largest lake, 89 metres above sea level. The lake is unusually deep and its water is very clear. 12.40 Karlsborg We pass Karlsborg and will be able to see the roof of the fortress, which was built in 18191909.

13.40 - 15.30 Forsviks Bruk Forsvik is one of Sweden’s most interesting industrial communities. For six hundred years, iron has been worked, boards have been sawn and flour has been milled here. Historical buildings used for fine metalwork, a foundry and a wood pulp mill are found in this beautiful and unique environment. Exciting and informative displays tell about metalworking, engineering and life in this industrial community. Here we get to enjoy an interesting guided tour. If we are lucky the paddle steamer Eric Nordevall II will be moored in the harbor. The paddle steamer is a full-scale replica of the Eric Nordevall , one of Sweden’s first power-driven ships. The paddle steamer was built in 1836, but sunk 20 years later in Lake Vättern. It was rediscovered in 1980 at a depth of 45 metres. Eric Nordevall II was launched in 2009 and made its first trip in 2011.

15.30 - 15.50 Forsvik lock The lock at Forsvik, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are sometimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.

15.50 - 16.50 Billströmmen/ the Spetsnäs Canal Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken.

15.50 - 18.00 Lake Viken The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal.

18.00 - 18.10 Tåtorp At Tåtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards!

18.30 The Berg Canal

The Berg Canal was excavated in 1931-33 to straighten a sharp bend in the canal and was partly blasted into the living rock. The Obelisk At Lanthöjden an obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the Göta Canal.

21.00 Töreboda The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden’s smallest ferry, ”Lina”, which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.

22.00 Arr. Hajstorp At Hajstorp there is a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. Here is the Canal Engineer’s home, now privately owned and the old smithy. Overnight stop.

06.00 Dep. Hajstorp

06.00 - 07.30 Hajstorp - Godhögen If you want to stretch your legs this is a good place, Hajstorp to Godhögen lock is app. 1.5 km.

09.50 - 12.00 Sjötorp At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. We visit the old warehouse, where you can find a shop selling, among other things, clothes and home décor, a café and the Sjötorp Canal Museum. In the museum you can see old pictures of Sjötorp, the interiors of several old ships, and also learn more about the building of the canal. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vänern. Enjoy a lovely walk along the locks.

12.00 - 13.30 Lake Vänern 44 metres above sea level. Lake Vänern is Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

13.30 Arr. Mariestad Our cruise ends on the shore of Lake Vänern, in the city of Mariestad. The old part of Mariestad is one of Sweden’s most well-preserved wooden cities. The church tower is an impressive sight from the lake and on land.

16.00 Arr. Gothenburg

The bus arrives in Gothenburg, by the Clarion Hotel Post, Drottningtorget Square, at approx. 16.00. (bus is optional and not included in the cost)

Notes