Hjo

Hjo's old town is one of the three well-preserved wooden towns of Sweden, along with Eksjo and Nora, with low houses and courtyards on a small grid running down to the lake. The spa opened in the 1870s when Vattern water and the air were prescribed for various complaints, and the spa park by the shore survives with its wooden pavilions, bath house and villas in the fretwork style of the period, laid out among old trees. Trafik, a steamship built in 1892, is berthed at the quay and still runs trips on the lake in summer under steam. The water off Hjo is unusually clear and cold.

Highlights

• A wooden old town - one of three well-preserved in Sweden.
• The 1870s spa park - pavilions, bath house and villas.
• The steamship Trafik of 1892 - running trips in summer.
• Vattern at the bottom of the town - clear and very cold.

When to go

June to August for the steamer and the park. Half a day.

Before you go

The steamer runs on limited days and needs booking. Out of season the town is quiet. Vattern is too cold for most swimmers. Facilities are those of a small town.

Nearby

Karlsborg is north along the lake; Skovde is west.

Key facts