Writer: Helena Bergström
Updated May 2026 | Looking for things to do in Vänersborg? We experienced this pleasant city after we finished our trip along the Göta Canal. Here are the best sights, tips and a complete itinerary for 2 days.
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Vänersborg
We travelled to Vänersborg because it is the start of the Trollhätte Canal. We were also curious about what the city had to offer. Here are some of the best things to do in Vänersborg - from attractions to nature experiences.
- Walk at the Horror Park
- Visit Vänersborg Museum
- Discover Hunneberg
- Strolling in the centre of Vänersborg
- Take an excursion to Halleberg
Planning more trips? Don't miss our guides to Lysekil and Smögen
Quick guide: Vänersborg
TOP 5 SIGHTS IN Vänersborg - OUR BEST TIPS
Here are the best sights in Vänersborg - perfect for those who want to see the most important things in a short time.
- The horror playground - park with stunning views of Lake Vänern
- Vänersborg Museum - one of Sweden's oldest museums
- Hunneberg - nature, hiking and viewpoints
- Halleberg - mighty plateau mountain near the city
- Lake Vänern - Sweden's largest lake
5 things to do in Vänersborg
Vänersborg is a cute little town. Here are 5 things we can recommend in Vänersborg
1. Walking or cycling in Skräckle Park
Skräckleparken is a beautiful park by Lake Vänern with walking paths, green areas, ponds and various decorations. Here you can walk or cycle, and maybe have a coffee at Skräcklestugan. If the weather is fine, you can also take the opportunity to swim at one of the bathing areas.
Birger Sjöberg's name appears several times as you walk through the park, both as street names and statues. Sjöberg was a Swedish poet, composer, singer, writer and journalist, who was born in Vänersborg in 1885. Today, you can see the statue of Frida by the artist Axel Wallenberg in the park, from 1955.
Frida was in fact another name for Karin, the love of her youth. And what else do we find in the park? Well, Karin's bridge!
2. Visit the Vänersborg Museum
Vänersborg Museum can boast of being Sweden's oldest museum environment, and displays several exhibitions as they looked in the 19th century.
There is also a modern exhibition about life in Vänersborg in the past, when many people lived in simple conditions. You can listen to interesting stories about the time when it was a little "nicer" to work in the shoe factory than in the match factory.
In the 19th century, the museum played an important role in teaching students, displaying Egyptian sarcophagi, Chinese porcelain, minerals and European art.
Most of the exhibitions have been restored, but the exhibition on African birds has never been touched because the birds were considered too sensitive. Therefore, it remains in its original condition. A nice little museum we thought!
3. Experiencing the Brinkebergskulle lock
South of central Vänersborg is the Karl's Grave Canal, a 3.6 kilometre long canal dug for shipping to bypass the rapids in Vargön. Also located here is the Brinkebergskulle lock, which is the uppermost of six locks that regulate the waterway between Lake Vänern and the Kattegat.
There will be a café open in the summer, and the neighbourhood of Restad Gård will be nearby, where you will find a sculpture park, among other things.
We contented ourselves with looking at the locks. Having followed the Göta Canal, it was interesting to see these large locks. The locks in the Göta Canal may be more charming, but this on the other hand is powerful to see.
The Trollhätte Canal takes boats up to 87 metres long, 12.6 metres wide and 4.7 metres deep. In other words, huge ships!
4. see the Byklev case
Byklevsfallet is a waterfall in Vargön, in Vänersborg municipality. The waterfall is located right next to the large plateau mountains Halleberg and Hunneberg, and it is possible to get almost all the way to the waterfall by car. We stopped here on the way to Vänersborg, and it's always nice to hear water flowing!
5. Hiking in the Halle and Hunneberg escarpments
Halle- and Hunnebergs rasbranter is a nature reserve known for the magnificent Halleberg and Hunneberg mountains. There are hiking trails, viewpoints and oak and pine forests with 350-year-old trees.
People have been moving around the area for a long time, and Halleberg is also Scandinavia's largest ancient fortress, fortified almost entirely naturally by the mountain's steep cliffs.
We didn't go hiking here, but were content to look at the waterfall and the dramatic cliffs that can also be seen from the motorway.
Vänersborg in 2 days - complete itinerary day by day
Day 1: City, park and water
- Morning: Start your day in the centre of Vänersborg and take a walk through the town.
- Morning: Visit the Vänersborg Museum and learn more about the history of the city.
- Lunch: Eat in the city centre or by the waterfront.
- Afternoon: Head to Skräckleparken and enjoy the view of Lake Vänern.
- Evening: Stroll along the water at a leisurely pace. Dinner in central Vänersborg.
- Tips: The sunset over Lake Vänern is really nice here.
Day 2: Nature and excursions
- Morning: Start your day with an excursion to Hunneberg.
- Morning: Hike or enjoy the view from one of the plateaus.
- Lunch: Bring a picnic or eat nearby.
- Afternoon: Continue to Halleberg or return to town.
- Evening: Take a final walk by the water. Finish with a leisurely dinner in town.
- Tips: If you're lucky, you might spot a moose on Hunneberg.
Best time to visit Vänersborg: June-September
Want to extend your trip? Combine with a weekend in King's Harbouror Hunnebostrand
More to do in Vänersborg
There is of course much more to see and do in Vänersborg! According to the tourist office, you can also go shopping in the city centre, experience the water park Vattenpalatset, rent a boat, go fishing and more. Perhaps you have more tips too?
Where can you stay and park your campervan?
Best areas to live in and explore
- Vänersborg city centre - Perfect location close to restaurants, shopping and attractions.
- Skräckle / Lake Vänern area - For nature, walking and waterfront location.
- Hunneberg / Halleberg - Ideal for nature lovers and hikers.
- Vargön - Quieter area close to nature.
Pitches and campsites
There is a site in Vänersborg's guest harbour (Vänerparken 12). The site is centrally located and has good service in the form of toilets, showers, latrine emptying, water and electricity. There is also a manned office/shop where you can get brochures and information.
What we appreciated most was that the staff here were so extremely nice, helpful and accommodating. There are also regular car parks in Vänersborg where you can park your motorhome for free, but then of course you do not get the same service.
More city guides nearby
Planning to travel around the West Coast? Here you will find several guides.
- Things to do in Trollhättan
- Things to do in Smögen
- Things to do in King's Landing
- Things to do in Hunnebostrand
- Things to do in Lysekil
- Things to do in Uddevalla
Tips in Vänersborg - our best advice for your trip
- Combining city and nature
- Get out to Lake Vänern - it's the highlight
- Perfect for a quiet weekend
- Bring walking shoes if you are going to Hunneberg
- Walk a lot - it's the best way to experience the city
- Check the weather - the outlook is best in clear weather
FaQ - frequently asked questions about Vänersborg
WHAT IS VÄNERSBORG BEST KNOWN FOR?
The location by Lake Vänern, the surrounding nature and Vänersborg Museum.
HOW TO GET TO VÄNERSBORG?
Vänersborg is easily reached by train or car via the E45 and is close to Trollhättan.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT VÄNERSBORG?
Summer is the most popular, but spring and autumn are perfect for nature experiences.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN VÄNERSBORG?
1-2 days are enough to see the most important things, but if you stay longer you can explore more of the Lake Vänern area.
READ MORE: Campsites and caravan parks in Västergötland
READ MORE: Things to do in Västergötland - sights and experiences
English (UK) 
Svenska
Solan says:
Lars Lerin nested at the fantastic museum...his bird watercolours from there can be seen at Sandgrundet in Karlstad. ?
01 August 2020 - 9:10
Helena says:
"Nesting" ... haha. Interesting, I had no idea about this!
01 August 2020 - 17:09
Ditte says:
It's certainly a nice city with beautiful surroundings. The walks here in Halle and the Hunnneberg escarpment are exciting and we have tried a couple of them. But if you stay for a couple of days there is no time to see and try everything.
Nice to come here through you this year. I usually pass by on my work trips but this year it will not be so. I recognise myself well.
It's also nice that Vänersborg and the surrounding area didn't seem to be "overpopulated".
Keep up the good work.
01 August 2020 - 10:40
Helena says:
To experience nature reserves in the best possible way, you need some time. We felt that we needed to prioritise the time a bit, also we had bad weather when we were here. But maybe we will get the chance to explore the nature more at another time!
01 August 2020 - 17:11
Geddfish says:
Yes, I know Vänersborg very well. We first lived in Trollhättan (I lived there for nine years) and the main hospital was in Vänersborg (three of my four children were born there). We often went to Vänersborg for coffee. It is beautiful surroundings and of course I have been to Halle- and Hunneberg many times 😀.
01 August 2020 - 16:58
Helena says:
Glad that this is your home region! Then you will recognise yourself in tomorrow's post as well 🙂 .
01 August 2020 - 17:11
BP says:
Have actually visited Vänersborg... in the middle of winter, so I can say that Vänersborg is definitely a summer town. Great pictures to really advertise the city, offering free parking for motorhomes is not something many cities do. Praise there!
01 August 2020 - 20:53
Helena says:
Yes, there is of course a difference between summer and winter! That's how it is in Sweden ... 😉 .
02 August 2020 - 8:13
Elisabeth says:
We have had a motorhome for many years and travelled a lot in Sweden, so we have visited Vänersborg and Vargön. However, we haven't hiked along any trails.
.
02 August 2020 - 9:00
Daniel på FlyingDryden says:
6. Visit Brålanda, where FlyingDryden grew up. ?
7. The forests and walking paths around Ursand are nice, especially those along Lake Vänern. Ursand itself is completely overexploited and quite ugly nowadays, but that can be avoided. Park at Skidstugan and walk along the tracks.
8. If you go north in the municipality, there are nice winding roads along Lake Vänern past Timmervik up to Sikhall and Gestad.
9. Golf at Onsjö.
Great post otherwise, glad you've been hanging out in my neighbourhood! ?
02 August 2020 - 10:31
Lena i Wales och Spanien says:
My old neighbourhood.
I was actually born in Vänersborg, but did not grow up there. Where I lived was part of the Vänersborg hospital.
Nice city and nice residence where Älvsborg County Governor was located. I have visited the residence when it was a residence because for a few years I sometimes worked with the governor, nice decor and right in the centre.
I have visited the city from time to time since then as well. My daughter-in-law is from there and so I have family there.
05 August 2020 - 11:36