Arrival in Stockholm according to your own itinerary. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden is built on 14 islands and you are never far from water. Well-preserved medieval buildings stand alongside modern architecture and just outside the city, the archipelago of 24 000 islands is waiting to be explored. Sights of interest include the Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, City Hall and the Old Town (Gamla Stan). There are a lot more surprises and hidden places in Stockholm and we can customize the itinerary according to your preferences and wishes.
Overnight stay in Stockholm.After a traditional Scandinavian breakfast at the hotel, spend your morning exploring the city alleys on your own. Just before noon, you will start your journey from Stockholm via Norrköping to Linköping, Sweden’s fifth largest city.
When approaching the city, you can see the tower of the Cathedral rise above the plain from miles away. The Cathedral is one of the finest buildings in Scandinavia and Sweden’s best preserved medieval cathedral. Just north of the city, you will have the Berg Locks, with more than 7 levels and a height difference of 18 meters. Overnight stay in Linköping.Today we recommend a detour to Vimmerby to visit Astrid Lindgren’s World, the fairy tale park based on the stories of Astrid Lindgren. Here you can meet Pippi Longstocking, Emil, Ronja the Robbers daughter and many more. Also recommendable is a visit to Astrid Lindgren Gården, a museum where you can find out more about Astrid Lindgren’s life and artistry.
Continue to the historic town of Kalmar, one of Sweden’s oldest cities. History is waiting around each corner. We recommend a walk down the cobbled streets in the Old Town and a visit to Kalmar Castle, which has a history dating back 800 years. Today the castle is a living renaissance palace with room for both banquets and conferences. Overnight stay in Kalmar.Two days are there at your own disposal in the beautiful town of Kalmar. Kalmar is situated between two of Southern Sweden’s main attractions; the Kingdom of Crystal and Öland Island.
Öland Island is the smallest province in Sweden. The island is 137 km long and has a width that varies from 4 to 16 km. On this island you will find 400 windmills, 34 churches, 16 ancient fortifications, 34 orchid species, the highest lighthouse in Sweden, the largest windmill in Scandinavia, one of Europe's longest bridges and the largest castle ruin in northern Europe, the Alvaret - a bare limestone biotype not found anywhere else in the world. In the Kingdom of Crystal, you can experience a close-up view of skilled glassblowers transforming the syrupy molten glass into beautiful works of art. There are 11 glassworks in the Kingdom of Crystal, all located within a short distance of each other in the Småland region. Included are several of the most famous glassworks in the world; like Kosta Boda and Orrefors. Today Swedish glass is world-famous for its design and production. Overnight stays in Kalmar.Drive from Kalmar in northwestern direction via Nybro, Vetlanda, and Jönköping to Gränna, located by Lake Vättern. From Gränna it is possible to go by ferry to Visingsö Island, called the pearl of Lake Vättern.
Sights of interest are Visingsborg Herb Garden with more than 900 different species, Tempelgården Art Centre, the Brahe Church and the castle ruins of Visingsö- and Visingsborg Castle. Also recommendable is a ride with the Remmalag (horse and carriage) starting from the harbor. After returning to Gränna the route along the shoreline of Lake Vättern will take you to Motala. If time we recommend a stop in Vadstena just before reaching Motala to visit Vadstena Castle, one of Sweden’s best-preserved castles from the Vasa period. In Vadstena you will also find plenty of well-preserved buildings from the 13th - 16th Century, the new Sancta Birgitta Convent Museum, opened 2003 and Vadstena Abbey Church. Overnight stay in Visingso.Today you will be going on an amazing cruise on the Göta Canal from Motala to Borensberg and back. The Göta Canal was one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in Sweden. The Canal stretches from Sjötorp on Lake Vänern to Mem on the east coast. It has a length of 190 kilometers and a total of 58 locks. Of this distance, 87 kilometers are man-made while the canal passes through 103 kilometers of lakes.
Overnight stay in Visingso.After breakfast at the hotel, you can drive straight back to Stockholm.
Otherwise, there is also the possibility for a detour to Mariefred to visit Gripsholm Castle, a lavishly built Vasa fortress located on an island. The former royal barn which at one time housed cattle, horses and a hay-loft has now been beautifully renovated and has become the home of Grafikens Hus (the House of Graphics), an internationally important center for the graphic arts. Overnight stay in Stockholm.
At zerodegreel
every moment will someday make you look back and want to experience it all over again.
