Itinerary
- Day 1
Stockholm
You'll board your canal boat at Skeppsbrokajen 103 in Gamla Stan at 10 am and start cruising through Stockholm's waterways. The route takes you through Hammarby Lock with views of Lake Mälaren, where you'll see UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Drottningholm Palace and Birka from the water. After navigating the Södertalje Lock, you'll continue sailing through Sörmland and into St. Anna's archipelago. By evening you'll reach Trosa, and there's an option to walk through the old streets before the ship stays overnight at Stegeborg.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Canal boat cruise from Stockholm through Hammarby Lock to Stegeborg
Optional Activities
- Walk through old streets of Trosa (approximately 2.5 km)
Landmarks/POIs Hammarby Lock Lake Mälaren Drottningholm Palace Birka Södertalje Lock Stegeborg Castle Ruins Trosa 
- Day 2
Stegeborg to Berg
Start with a guided tour of Stegeborg Castle ruins and its herb garden on a small island in the Baltic Sea bay, though be prepared for hilly terrain. From there you'll head to Mem where the Göta Canal begins, then reach Söderkköping around lunchtime, a nice 13th-century town known for ice cream and its spa history. In the afternoon you'll pass through eight locks over two kilometers with chances to get out and stretch. By evening you'll reach Norsholm Lock, then overnight at Berg at the Carl Johans lock staircase, which is the longest in the canal with seven interconnected locks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Stegeborg Castle ruins and herb garden
Optional Activities
- Explore Söderköping town independently
Landmarks/POIs Stegeborg Castle Ruins Göta Canal Mem Söderköping Norsholm Lock Carl Johans Lock Staircase - Day 3
Berg to Motala
After boarding the ship, you have options: take a guided walk to monastery ruins and a church (about 3 km), or explore the canal area independently or swim in Lake Roxen. The ship will pass through 15 locks during the day. You'll see two aqueducts at Ljungsbro (built 1970) and Kungs Norrby (built 1993). Later you'll arrive in Borensberg with its manually operated lock and historic pleasure house. After crossing Lake Boren, you'll navigate the Borenshult lock staircase with five interconnected locks. By evening you'll reach Motala, known as the capital of the Göta Canal, where you can visit the Motala Motor Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walk to Vreta Monastery ruins and church (approximately 3 km)
- Visit to Motala Motor Museum with collection of cars and motorcycles in period settings
Optional Activities
- Walk along canal independently
- Swim in Lake Roxen
- Walk approximately 1 km along left bank of canal to Baltzar von Platen's grave
Landmarks/POIs Vreta Monastery Lake Roxen Heda Ljungsbro Aqueduct Kungs Norrby Aqueduct Borensberg Lake Boren Borenshult Lock Staircase Motala Motor Museum Motala Verkstad Baltzar von Platen's Grave - Day 4
Motala to Hajstorp
Leaving Motala in the morning, you'll head onto Lake Vätten, Sweden's second largest lake at 135 km long. You'll arrive at Vadstena, a small town with a spiritual center around St. Birgitta's 14th-century monastery. Take a small sightseeing train to visit the monastery church (consecrated 1430) and Gustav Vasa's castle (built late 1540s), with chances to swim or explore independently. Passing Karlsborg Fortress in early afternoon, then continuing to Forsvik with Sweden's oldest lock (1813) and an imposing iron bridge. You'll navigate two of the narrowest tree-lined passages with small lakes overgrown with pond lilies. After crossing Lake Viken and passing through the mountain canal blasted through bedrock, you'll see the obelisk at Lanthöjden at the canal's highest point. By evening you'll reach Hajstorp with its four locks and historic canal engineer's villa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Small sightseeing train ride to Vadstena monastery church and castle
- Visit to Vadstena Monastery and Castle
Optional Activities
- Swim at Vadstena
- Explore Vadstena city independently
Landmarks/POIs Lake Vätten Vadstena Vadstena Monastery Church Vadstena Castle St. Birgitta Monastery Karlsborg Fortress Forsvik Lake Viken Tåtorp Lock Lanthöjden Töreboda Lina Ferry Hajstorp - Day 5
Hajstorp to Väners berg
Early risers can take a morning walk from Hajstorp to Godhögen (about 1.5 km). At Sjötorp you'll pass eight locks and a well-preserved old shipyard, then visit the harbor with shops, a café, and the Sjötorp Canal Museum with historical pictures and old canal boat interiors. After that you'll continue to Lake Väner, Sweden's largest lake. In the afternoon, you'll pass Läckö Castle on a peninsula, built as a bishop's seat in 1298 and redesigned in Baroque style in the 17th century. There's a guided tour available (note there are many stairs). You'll reach Vänersburg overnight port in late evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Sjötorp Canal Museum
- Guided tour of Läckö Castle and exhibitions
Optional Activities
- Morning walk from Hajstorp to Godhögen (approximately 1.5 km)
- Walk along locks at Sjötorp
Landmarks/POIs Godhögen Sjötorp Sjötorp Canal Museum Lake Väner Läckö Castle Väners borg - Day 6
Väners borg to Gothenburg
Shortly after Vänersburg you'll pass the Brinkebergskulle lock with the oldest lock from 1752 visible next to the current lock from 1916. You'll visit the Trollhättan Canal Museum in a beautiful 1893 building with exhibitions and film about the canal's history. Walk through the idyllic lock area with 19th-century locks, then continue to the impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan with four locks and a 32-meter drop height. Around lunchtime you'll pass the Ströms lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916 and the last lock of the journey. You'll arrive in Gothenburg at 4 pm at Packhuskajen 10 and disembark.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Trollhättan Canal Museum
Optional Activities
- Walk in idyllic lock area at Trollhättan
Landmarks/POIs Brinkebergskulle Lock Trollhättan Canal Museum Trollhättan Lock Staircase Lilla Edet Ströms Lock Gothenburg
