What to do in Vadstena - 10 tips for a historic town

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated May 2026 | Looking for things to do in Vadstena? In this historic town, the houses are low, while the castle and monastery church rise high above all other buildings. Here are the best sights, tips and a complete 2-day itinerary.

Vadstena

We have visited Vadstena several times and really enjoy this beautiful town. Here are some of the best things to do in Vadstena - from attractions to nature experiences.

• Visit Vadstena Castle
• Discover Vadstena Abbey
• Walk along Lake Vättern
• Strolling in the charming old town
• See Vadstena Abbey Church

Planning more trips? Don't miss our guides to Motala and Nora

10 things to do in Vadstena

Vadstena with its mighty castle and nice neighborhood. Here are 10 things we can recommend in Vadstena

1. learn about St Birgitta

St Birgitta is perhaps one of the most important people in the history of Vadstena. Birgitta was born around 1303 as Birgitta Birgersdotter. Even as a child she had visions, but it was only after her husband passed away that she had visions of a monastery. In 1349, she travelled to Rome to get permission from the Pope to found a new monastic order.

2. Discover the Vadstena monastery area

The Vadstena Abbey area includes a variety of historic buildings. These include the monastery church, the nunnery, the ruin park with walls from the monastery's parlour, the monastery garden and the old water tower. Here you can stroll around and feel like you are surrounded by history from all sides.

3. Stroll in the ruin park

The ruin park contains the foundations of the monastery's speech centre. The monks and nuns were clearly separated, but here they could talk to each other through grilles. In addition, curtains were hung in front of the bars so that there could certainly be no physical or visual contact between the sexes.

4. Visit the Sancta Birgitta Monastery Museum

In the monastery area you will also find the Sancta Birgitta Monastery Museum. Here you can learn more about the life of the nuns in general and Birgitta's life in particular. For example, did you know that Birgitta made several long pilgrimages in Europe?

At the age of 68, Birgitta began her dream of making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the Holy Land. She fell ill during the journey and died a year later in Rome. Work then began on bringing her remains back to Sweden and Vadstena. The coffin used for this is now in the museum.

5. Admire Vadstena Abbey Church

Vadstena Abbey Church was built according to Birgitta's precise instructions. It took almost 60 years to build the church, which was consecrated in 1430. Since then, people have flocked to the church, making it one of Europe's most important pilgrimage destinations.

6. Coffee at the Monastery Café

After the visit to the monastery area, we needed a break and some energy. We each had a meatball sandwich at the Monastery Café, and then we were ready for more history.

6. Take a tour of Vadstena Castle

We continued to Vadstena Castle, which is possibly even more magnificent than the monastery area. The castle was built as a defence facility by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. During the reign of Johan III, the castle was transformed from a defensive fortress to a continental Renaissance palace.

The castle is truly magnificent, and walking around it, you're constantly seeing it from new and fascinating angles. The sturdy towers are reflected in the waters of the moat and small leisure boats chug around carefree.

You can also, for a fee, visit the interior of the castle and this is recommended. Each room is more splendid than the next and there are a number of interesting details. For example, you can check out the wedding hall, the bedchamber and the castle church. Children can try to solve the "Gustav Vasa riddle".

7. Enjoy the seafront

When you have had enough of history and culture, and if the weather is nice, you can enjoy the promenade. It's really nice on the shores of Lake Vättern!

8. Walk in cosy neighbourhoods

We also went for a walk through all of Vadstena's cosy neighbourhoods. The houses are low and characterised by old-fashioned charm. Many people sat on the outdoor seating on the square or walked among the shops on Storgatan.

9. Shopping at Ladugård 206

On the way from Vadstena, we took the opportunity to turn into Ladugård 206, which is located a few minutes outside of town. There is a restaurant and a shop with charcuterie and delicacies. Nice!

10. Eat Vättern crayfish

We then rolled south towards new adventures, and what did we see? A sign with "Vadstena crayfish". Of course, we couldn't resist! Two buckets of fresh Vättern crayfish followed in the motorhome.

Want to extend your trip? Combine with a weekend in Mariestad or Västerås

More to see and do in Vadstena

We really liked Vadstena. What a wonderfully cosy little town, which also has an incredible amount of history to offer. We were very happy with our day. If you want even more ideas for things to see and do, here are some more tips we got from the local tourist office:

• The Toy Museum at Slottsgården
• Guided city tours and garden tours
• The King's Train - the "Little Train" that takes you around the city with a guide.
• Galleries and studios
• Home-made coffee at the Pilgrimage Centre
• Restaurant Hörnet, featured in the White Guide
• Cycling dressin
• Adolfsnäs Commercial Garden

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Best areas to live in and explore

• Centre of Vadstena / old town - Perfect location close to the castle, monastery and restaurants.
• At Lake Vättern - For water views and a peaceful atmosphere.
• Monastery area - Historic setting with a unique feel.
• Surrounding countryside - Ideal for peace, nature and excursions.

Pitches and campsites

If you are traveling by motorhome, you can park overnight at the parking lot in Lilla hamnen, not far from the castle. As usual, we arrived too late to find a free spot, so we had to drive further out of town. If you can't find a parking spot, there is Vadstena camping a little outside the city.

More city guides nearby

Planning more trips nearby? Find more guides with tips on things to see and do here

• Things to do in Nora
• Things to do in Örebro
• Things to do in Motala
• Things to do in Mariestad
• Things to do in Västerås
• Things to do in Linköping

FaQ - frequently asked questions about Vadstena

WHAT IS VADSTENA BEST KNOWN FOR?

Especially Vadstena Castle, the monastery and its rich history.

HOW TO GET TO VADSTENA?

Vadstena is best reached by car and is close to Motala and Linköping.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VADSTENA?

Summer is the busiest time of year, but spring and autumn are perfect for a quieter experience.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN VADSTENA?

1-2 days are enough to experience the most important things, but more days give the opportunity to explore the area around Lake Vättern.

READ MORE: Things to do in Östergötland - sights and experiences