Göta Canal by motorhome - big guide with tips

The Göta Canal by motorhome, how does it work and what is there to see along the way? Last summer we went on a canal trip with our motorhome and we would have liked to have a guide adapted for motorhome travellers, so we have now written one. Of course, you can use it even if you're travelling by car and caravan.

Why follow the Göta Canal by motorhome?

Last summer we decided to follow the Göta Canal by motorhome. The reason was that we were going on holiday in Sweden and we realised that many sights and interesting places are located along this famous canal. Of course, following the Göta Canal by motorhome is not quite the same as following it by boat or bike. You can't always drive next to the canal and sometimes you have to take detours, but that doesn't matter!

What is the Göta Canal?

The Göta Canal is a 190.5 kilometre long canal built in 1832, which runs through Götaland in Sweden. The canal was founded by Baltzar von Platen and built by 58,000 soldiers. A total of 87.3 kilometres of the canal has been dug or blasted.

The total difference in level is 91.8 metres. The canal has a total of 58 locks and 2 aqueducts. The Göta Canal is Sweden's largest construction project of all time. Today, the canal is a famous tourist destination and more than 3 million people visit the canal annually.

Where does the Göta Canal go?

The Göta Canal starts (or ends, if you like) in Mem on the Baltic Sea. The canal then goes through Söderköping, Norsholm, Lake Roxen, Ljungsbro, Borensberg, Lake Boren, Motala, Vättern, Lake Bottensjön, Viken, Tåtorp, Jonsboda, Töreboda and Hajstorp before ending at Sjötorp on Lake Vänern. Here is a (very rough and approximate) map showing how the canal runs.

What is the route when following the Göta Canal by motorhome?

When travelling along the Göta Canal by motorhome, you sometimes have to make some detours (for example around Lake Vättern), but in many places you get very close to the canal. An advantage is that you can also make detours to see sights and places of interest that are close to the canal. Exactly which route you take and which detours you make is of course up to you. Here is the route we chose to take:

What is the best time of year to travel the Göta Canal by motorhome?

The route that we drove can of course be driven at any time of the year. However, if you want to experience the Göta Canal by boat, it is important to stick to the times when the canal is open for boat traffic. The exact times can vary from year to year (read more on Göta Canal's website). website). Here are the opening hours for 2020:

• Opening hours 2020: 4 May - 30 September
• High season 2020: 15 June - 12 August

Göta Canal with motorhome - pitches and campsites

There are plenty of pitches and campsites along the Göta Canal, but in high season you should expect to arrive early to get a pitch. Many of the sites along the canal are basic, and sometimes there are no services. Sites without electricity cost up to 185 SEK/day and sites with electricity cost up to 250 SEK/day (2020). Some tips:

• You can find tips on pitches and campsites further down in this post. You can also find pitches on Götakanal.se or for example with the app CamperContact.
• Be sure to empty your grey water and toilet cassette as soon as you can, as many pitches are not serviced. You can also empty the toilet cassette at some rest areas, such as Kungs Norrby in Borensberg.

Göta Canal by motorhome - from Mem to Sjötorp

Here is a guide with tips on things to see and do, for those who want to travel the Göta Canal by motorhome. We present the suggestions from Mem to Sjötorp, but it is of course possible to travel in reverse order as well!

1st meme

The Baltic Sea gateway to the Göta Canal! Here the canal was inaugurated in 1832, under festive conditions together with King Karl XIV Johan, the Queen and the Crown Prince and Princess.

• See and do: See the Mem lock and visit the Kanalmagasinet in Mem, with its café and pub menu.
• Pitches/camping: Electricity is available, but only four pitches.
• Read more: Mem - The Baltic Sea Gateway to the Göta Canal

2. Stegeborg (detour)

Stegeborg is located about 2 kilometres from Söderköping, and is mainly known for a castle ruin from the 13th century. There is also a cosy environment with a marina and harbour restaurant.

• See and do: Visit Stegeborg castle ruins and hang out in the harbour and at the harbour restaurant.
• Pitches/camping: There are 45 pitches in Stegeborg, a smaller pitch at Yxeltorp farm and a campsite on the other side of the water (cable ferry).
• Read more: Stegeborg - castle ruin, harbour, tavern and campsite

3. Söderköping

Söderköping is an idyllic and picturesque little canalside town that you won't want to miss when travelling along the Göta Canal by motorhome. Here you can watch boats lock, stroll among charming old houses and indulge in ice cream.

• See and do: Stroll through the Drothem neighbourhood, climb Ramunderberget, drink beer at a microbrewery and eat ice cream by the truckload.
• Pitches/camping: Ställplats Göta kanal is centrally located but has limited services. Also nearby are Korskullen's campsite and Skeppsdockan's campsite.
• Read more: Söderköping - 9 tips for things to see and do

4. Vreta Abbey, Bergs locks and ljungs bridge

Bergs slussar is an impressive staircase of locks that includes a total of 11 locks. Close by is the 12th century Vreta Abbey, and not far away you will also find Ljungsbro with its aqueduct.

• See and do: Visit Vreta Abbey, watch the locks at Bergs locks, play miniature golf, see the aqueduct in Ljungsbro and shop at the Cloetta factory in Ljungsbro.
• Pitches/camping: Serviced pitches in the car park at the Bergs locks. Sandvik camping is located north of Lake Roxen.
• Read more: Vreta Abbey and Stjärnorps Castle ruins and Bergs locks - Göta Canal's mighty lock staircase

5. Borensberg

Borensberg is a cosy little town on the Göta Canal, famous from the film of the same name. Here you can see one of the canal's two hand-operated locks and shop for delicacies nearby.

• See and do: Crank the hand-operated lock, shop at Brunneby musteri and Börslycke farm shop, and have a coffee at Glasbruket.
• Pitches/camping: Kaffeteriet's caravan site or Glasbrukets caravan site. There is also Borensäng camping and Strandbadets camping.
• Read more: Borensberg on the Göta Canal - locks and delicacies

6. Motala

The capital of the Göta Canal! The canal's second largest lock staircase is located here and Baltzar von Platen himself is buried here. There is also a car museum and the largest lake beach in the Nordic region. An obvious destination when travelling along the Göta Canal by motorhome!

• See and do: See the locks at Borenhult Locks, visit Motala Industrial Museum and Motala Motor Museum, cycle along the canal, see von Platsen's grave, eat waffles at Café Mallboden, hang out in the harbour and swim at Varamon beach.
• Pitches/camping: Camping site at Borenshult locks, small camping site at café Mallboden (four sites), camping site at Södra strand and camping site at Motala Vätterfiskeklubb. There is camping at Varamon.
• Read more: Motala - capital of the Göta Canal

7. vadstena (detour)

Vadstena is a small town beautifully situated on the banks of Lake Vättern. This is a small detour from the Göta Canal, which can be well worth doing. As well as being charming, the town is full of history.

• See and do: Visit the monastery area, the monastery church and the monastery museum, visit Vadstena Castle, stroll through cosy neighbourhoods, see the Toy Museum and shop at Ladugård 206.
• Pitches/camping: Parking spaces are available near the castle. Vadstena Camping is a large campsite on the banks of Lake Vättern.
• Read more: Vadstena - castles, monasteries and history on the shores of Lake Vättern

8. Alvastra monastery ruins and Rökstenen (detour)

Alvastra Abbey Ruin is the ruin of the monastery where St Birgitta once received her most famous revelations. Just ten minutes away is the famous Smoke Stone, with the longest runic inscription in the world.

• See and do: Visit Alvastra Abbey ruins and the Smoke Stone in Smoke.
• Pitches/camping: There is a parking space in Hästholmen harbour in Ödeshög. There is also a car park at the Alvastra monastery ruins.
• Read more: Alvastra monastery ruins and the Smoke Stone in Smoke

9. Askersund (detour)

Askersund is a charming little town with low wooden houses, cafés and waterside walks. Just outside the town is Stjernsund Castle, and here you will also find an archipelago in northern Lake Vättern.

• See and do: Stroll through cosy neighbourhoods, hang out in cafés and take a guided tour of Stjernsund Castle.
• Pitches/camping: Askersund Citycamp is centrally located and has services. The site also has the Sundsängen site, with limited services. There is also Husabergsudde campsite.
• Read more: Askersund - and Stjernsund Castle

10. Tiveden National Park (detour)

Tiveden National Park is a beautiful natural area with well-maintained hiking trails through wild and dramatic scenery. There are fine beaches here.

• See and do: Follow various hiking trails, go swimming or have a barbecue.
• Pitches/camping: Camping Tiveden and Stenkällegården camping.
• Read more: Tiveden National Park - hiking in wild forests

11th Forsvik

Forsvik is home to the oldest lock in the Göta Canal and is also home to Forsvik Mill. The mill has a 600-year history and today there is an interesting industrial museum here.

• See and do: Experience lockage at the Göta Canal's oldest lock, visit Forsvik Mill's industrial museum and enjoy a coffee at the mill's café.
• Pitches/camping: Parking is available right next to the lock.
• Read more: Forsvik - the oldest lock in the Göta Canal and Forsvik Mill

12. Karlsborg Fortress

Karlsborg Fortress was completed in 1909, after a lengthy construction period, and was already outdated when it was new. The extensive project has much to tell about Swedish history.

• See and do: Walk around the fortress area, visit the Karlsborg Fortress Museum and take a guided tour.
• Pitches/camping: Parking is available at the fortress. Not far from here is Karlsborgs camping.
• Read more: Karlsborg Fortress - a mighty 19th century building by Lake Vättern.

13. Wassbacken campsite

Wassbacken's campsite deserves its own mention as a destination, because the campsite is so magically beautiful by the canal. A very nice destination for those who follow the Göta Canal by motorhome! Not too far from here is Jonsboda camping, which should have a similar location.

• See and do: Watch the boats go by, have a coffee at the campsite café and cycle along the canal to the lock in Tåtorp.
• Pitches/camping: Wassbackens camping is a campsite. The alternative could be Jonsboda camping.
• Read more: Wassbacken's campsite - and the Tåtorp lock

14. Töreboda and Hajstorp

Töreboda is beautifully situated by the Göta Canal, and here you will find Sweden's smallest regular ferry. The municipality also includes Hajstorp, where there are two fine double locks.

• See and do: Take the cable ferry Lina in Töreboda and see the locks in Hajstorp.
• Pitches/camping: Töreboda camping & baths and parking at Hajstorp lock café and hostel.
• Read more: Töreboda, Hajstorp and Sweden's smallest ferry

15. Norrqvarn and Sjötorp

At Norrqvarn there was once a mill and a workstation during the construction of the canal. Today the lock area offers a holiday feeling. Not far from here is Lyrestad and then Sjötorp, the last (or first) stop along the canal.

• See and Do: Experience lockage in Norrqvarn, see the replica of the wheeled steamer Eric Nordevall II, play in the children's mini-channel (if you are a child, that is) and buy ice cream and fish in Sjötorp.
• Pitches/camping: Camping site at Norrqvarn Hotel & Conference, camping site in Sjötorp and simple nature camping just outside Sjötorp.
• Read more: Sjötorp - and the locks in Norrqvarn