Things to do in Örebro - 10 sights and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated September 2026 | We have returned to Örebro several times – with a camper, electric bikes and most recently with two South Africans who had never been to Sweden before. We have walked along the Svartån River, spent time in Wadköping and admired the castle much more from the outside than the inside. And of course there is a mushroom in the middle of it all.

Örebro – more than the castle in the middle of town

Örebro is one of those cities that is easy to underestimate. The castle in the middle of the Svartån River is the obvious symbol, but during our various visits we have discovered a city where it is easy to walk or cycle between history, water, green areas and experiences.

There is also a 58-meter-high landmark with a strange name. In this guide, we have collected our 10 best things to see and do in Örebro – and some experiences from our own visits that might be good to know before you go here.

1. Visit Örebro Castle – but admire it above all from the outside

It's almost impossible to think of Örebro without imagining the castle. It's located in the middle of the city, surrounded by the Svartån River, with four powerful towers that make it look just as fairytale-like as you'd want a real castle to. In fact, we think Örebro Castle is one of Sweden's most impressive city castles – from outside.

Because we have also paid to go inside. You don't have to do that for us. The interior has been largely modernized and adapted for conferences, among other things, and for us almost the entire castle feeling disappeared. On our last visit with our South African friends Henri and Michelle, we therefore settled for the outside – and honestly, that was where the castle impressed the most even then. 

Our experience: Instead, spend your time walking around the castle, over the bridges and along the Svartån River. Take pictures from several angles and enjoy one of Örebro's real postcards. If you still want to go in, first check what exhibitions or activities are going on - this can of course change the experience.

2. Walk along the Svartån River – Örebro's Blue Pulse through the city

The Svartån River is one of the things we think makes Örebro so nice to explore on foot. The river winds right through the city, around the castle and on past parks and green areas. Here you don't really need a specific attraction as a destination - the walk is part of the experience.

We recently went here with our South African friends Henri and Michelle. We started in Wadköping and followed the Svartån towards the city center until Örebro Castle appeared in front of us. It's a walk we highly recommend, as several of Örebro's best places almost line up along the water.

If you have a bike with you, it works just as well on two wheels. We have both walked and cycled along the Svartån on our various visits and like the fact that you can leave the city streets without actually leaving the city. 

Our tip: Don't try to make Svartån just another point to check off. Start at the castle or Wadköping and follow the water for a while. It's a pretty good way to discover that Örebro isn't just a castle and a mushroom.

3 Time travel in Wadköping – Örebro's old town within the city

There's something strange about stepping into Wadköping. One moment you're in today's Örebro and a few steps later you're walking between old wooden houses, farms and alleys where it feels like someone has turned back the clock a couple of hundred years.

We came here with our electric bikes the first time – but we were kindly asked to leave them outside. In Wadköping you are only welcome on foot. It turned out to be quite a good fit, because this is a place where you like to walk slowly. We looked into old environments, read about the people who once lived in the houses and got stuck in an old-fashioned trading stall filled with coffee, tea, caramels and old posters.

Wadköping is a living open-air museum with historical buildings from different parts of Örebro. There are also crafts, small shops, a bakery, a café and a restaurant, and markets and various events are arranged throughout the year. On our first visit, several museum premises were closed due to the pandemic, but the environment itself was enough for us.

A few years later we came back with Henri and Michelle from South Africa. They were on their first trip through Sweden and they too were captivated by the old houses, the shops and the opportunity to sit down for a Swedish fika. It was a bit of fun to return to the same place and suddenly see it through the eyes of two people who had never been to Sweden before.

Our experience: Don't rush through Wadköping. Leave your bike outside, go into the small shops and have a coffee. When you feel ready, you can follow the Svartån all the way to the castle – just like we did.

4. Walk through the city park and on to Holmen

Right next to Wadköping is Stadsparken, and here Örebro is changing again. The old wooden houses disappear behind us and are replaced by large lawns, trees, plantings and the Svartån River that continues through the greenery.

We have walked here during our visits, but the first time we were actually a little too early in the year. The flower beds had not yet had time to explode into the floral splendor that Stadsparken is known for. This happens when you travel all year round – sometimes you get to the party before anyone has had time to inflate the balloons.

If you continue through the park, you will come to Stora Holmen, the small island in Svartån. Here the environment becomes even more family-oriented, with games and activities for children during the season. For us, it is above all the combination that makes the area nice: Wadköping, Stadsparken and Stora Holmen are so close to each other that they naturally become parts of the same walk.

Our experience: Start in Wadköping and continue through Stadsparken towards Stora Holmen. If you have better timing than we did, you will hopefully also see the discounts when they actually decide to be there.

5. Go up to Svampen and taste the mushroom soup

Yes, the mushroom really exists. It's called The mushroom, is Örebro's classic water tower and rises 58 meters above the ground. We took the elevator up to the viewing platform and suddenly had the whole of Örebro in front of us – the city, the castle and the landscape far beyond the rooftops.

But it's not just the view we remember.

We had lunch in the restaurant at the top and went to the buffet. And what was there for starters?

Mushroom soup.

Of course.

If you've built a 58-meter-high water tower that looks like a giant mushroom, it almost feels like a dereliction of duty to serve tomato soup.

We started with the mushroom soup.

Peter's advice: Go up for the view. Feel free to stop for something to eat if the restaurant is open. And if mushroom soup is still on the menu, you probably don't need to ask us what to order.

Experience Oset and Rynningeviken at the helm

It's easy to think that you have to leave Örebro to find real nature, but follow the Svartån east and you'll eventually end up at Oset and Rynningeviken. Here the landscape opens up towards Lake Hjälmaren with wetlands, coastal meadows, walking paths and a rich birdlife.

We went here to Naturens hus during one of our visits and remember above all how quickly the city disappeared. One moment you are in Örebro and the next you are standing at Hjälmarens beach with water, reeds and birds around you. For us it became one of those places that showed a completely different side of the city.

The strange thing is that parts of the area were previously used as a garbage dump, industrial area and military training ground. Today, nature has returned and the area has become a large, connected nature and recreation area. We think that transformation almost makes the place even more interesting.

Our tip: Combine Oset and Rynningeviken with a stop at Naturens hus. And bring binoculars if you have one – here the birds are the entertainment.

8. Discover Openart – when all of Örebro becomes an art gallery

9. Swim and play at Gustavsvik – if you arrive on time

Gustavsvik is one of Örebro's most famous family attractions, with swimming, water slides and a camping area just south of the city center. During the summer, it is a real magnet for families with children and a place that many people strongly associate with Örebro.

We've been here ourselves and strolled through the camping area – but with one small detail that ruined the timing quite effectively: the facility itself was closed.

So we can't pretend to review the water slides.

What we can say, however, is that Gustavsvik feels like a large holiday destination in itself, with camping, swimming and activities all in the same area. For families with children visiting Örebro during the height of summer, it can therefore be one of the city's most important addresses.

Our tip: Check opening hours before planning your day. Gustavsvik has a significantly shorter peak season than many other attractions in Örebro – and we've already made the mistake of showing up when the party was over.

10. Experience Ånnaboda and the nature in Kilsbergen

When you've had enough of the city, castle and old houses, Kilsbergen is just outside Örebro and awaits. Here you will find forests, lakes, hiking trails and Ånnaboda – an outdoor recreation area that gave us a completely different picture of the Örebro area.

We came here with our campervan together with our South African friends Henri and Michelle and stayed overnight at First Camp Ånnaboda. After many days on the roads through Sweden it was nice to end up in the middle of nature, with a swimming area, walks and forest right outside the door. In fact, all four of us were very fond of the place. 

Kilsbergen offers much more than we experienced ourselves. There are hiking trails and nature reserves for those who want to make a real nature day out of their visit. However, we are not going to send you on a hike we have never done ourselves and then stand at home and shout that the view is fantastic.

Our experience: If you have a campervan – or just long for the forest after a few days in the city – Ånnaboda is a nice complement to Örebro. For us, it was also the place where we woke up before we took two South Africans to show them Wadköping, Svartån and that big castle in the middle of town.

Where can you stay in Örebro?

For a first visit to Örebro we would choose center. Then you have the castle, Svartån, restaurants and shopping around the corner and can walk further towards Stadsparken and Wadköping without having to think much about the car.

Center – best first time: Here you'll be surrounded by restaurants and city life, and within walking distance of several of our favorites. It's our choice for those who want to get a lot done in a couple of days.

Wadköping and Stadsparken – for quieter surroundings: If you find accommodation in the eastern part of the city center, you will be closer to green areas, Svartån and Wadköping. We like this part of Örebro precisely because the city quickly turns into parks and walking paths.

Ånnaboda – for nature and motorhomes: If you would rather wake up among forests and lakes, you can head out towards Ånnaboda and Kilsbergen. We spent the night here ourselves with the camper together with Henri and Michelle and really enjoyed the peace, the swimming area and the nature around us.

Our choice: First time – downtown. With a camper and a little more time – then we could very well consider Ånnaboda again.

Örebro with a campervan – this is what we did

We have visited Örebro by camper van several times, but our way of living has changed between trips. The first time we found a simple spot at Alnängsbadet, parked the camper van and picked up the electric bikes. From there we cycled towards Wadköping and continued to discover Örebro on two wheels.

However, we wouldn't plan our trip according to the old solution today. Alnängsbadet is still there, but we can no longer find any current support for the place being an official parking area for motorhomes.

On a later visit we did something completely different. Together with our South African friends Henri and Michelle we drove out to Ånnaboda in Kilsbergen and spent the night in the camper there. It is about twenty kilometers from central Örebro, but in return we woke up with forest, lake and nature outside the door. All four of us really liked the place.

Our experience: If you want nature and camping life, we would happily choose Ånnaboda again. If you want to stay closer to the center, there are other campsites and camping areas around Örebro, but always check the current rules and opening hours before you drive there. Old camping areas have an annoying ability to disappear faster than old articles about them.

More city guides nearby

Planning more trips in the neighbourhood? Here you can find more guides with tips on things to see and do:

• Things to do in Mariestad
• Things to do in Arboga
• Things to do in Västerås
• Things to do in Nora
• Things to do in Motala
• Things to do in Nyköping

FAQ – common and somewhat unusual questions about Örebro

Is it worth going into Örebro Castle?

Above all, we think you should experience the castle from outside. It is magnificent where it is located in the middle of Svartån, but the interior is largely modernized and did not give us the same castle feeling at all. If you want to go inside, we recommend first checking what exhibitions or activities are going on - otherwise we would have spent our time on something else.

Can you walk from Örebro Castle to Wadköping?

Yes, and it is actually one of our favorite walks in Örebro. Follow the Svartån via Stadsparken towards Wadköping. We most recently did the walk together with our South African friends Henri and Michelle – and the great thing is that the path itself becomes part of the attraction.

What is the Mushroom in Örebro?

Finally you ask. 😂

The Mushroom is Örebro's 58-meter-high water tower and one of the city's most characteristic landmarks. You can go up and see Örebro from above. When we did, we also had lunch at the top and started the buffet with mushroom soup.

It would have almost been rude to order anything else.

Can you visit Örebro by motorhome?

Absolutely. We have done it several times and also think that bicycles are perfect to take with us. On our last longer visit we stayed overnight in Ånnaboda outside the city and enjoyed it very much. If you want to stay closer to the city center, you should check current campsites and parking lots before arrival – our old favorite at Alnängsbadet is no longer included.

What would we choose if we only had one day in Örebro?

We would start at the castle, follow the Svartån River through the City Park and spend a good amount of time in Wadköping. Then we would end the day by going up to Svampen.

And since you've now read this far, we no longer have to pretend like we're just going there for the view.

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