Gota Canal

The Gota Canal, cut by hand in the early 1800s, is a blue ribbon across the waist of Sweden, joining the great lakes Vanern and Vattern and both coasts through fifty-eight locks over nearly two hundred kilometres. Called the country's blue ribbon, it is cruised on historic steamers or, more slowly still, cycled and walked along its towpaths.

Highlights

• The lock staircases - the flights of locks, like the seven at Berg, lifting boats over the land.
• Historic canal steamers - the old ships that still cruise the full route.
• The towpath - the flat cycling and walking path along the water.
• Lakes and countryside - the passage through Vattern, Vanern and gentle farmland.

When to go

The summer boating season from May to September, when the locks work and the steamers run; the towpath is walkable and cyclable through the warm months. Autumn is quiet and colourful.

Practical notes

It is a slow, gentle experience, watching locks and pedalling towpaths, rather than dramatic scenery, so it suits a relaxed pace. A full canal cruise is a leisurely multi-day trip and pricey; day sections and cycling are cheaper. Its charm is the engineering and calm, not spectacle.

Nearby

Motala, Berg and Vadstena on Lake Vattern line the route; Lake Vattern and Visingso are alongside.