What to do in Linköping - 13 sights and experiences

What to see and do in Linköping? Linköping is a pleasant city that offers everything from medieval history to wonderful and exciting excursions. Here are our top tips on what to see and do in Linköping!

Linköping

Linköping is located in a historically interesting area, and there are exciting places to visit both in the city centre and in the surrounding area. We have visited Linköping several times with our motorhome, most recently in the autumn but also in connection with following the Göta Canal summer 2020. We've seen and done a lot in this lovely city, but we haven't had time to summarise our experiences before. Here is our report!

Linköping is located in Östergötland, just south of the Stångån river's outlet into Lake Roxen.

What can you do in Linköping?

So what can you see and do in Linköping? There is a lot to discover, we can say. We have collected our best tips here in a list.

1. Experience Stora torget and the centre of Linköping

When visiting Linköping, you won't want to miss checking out the central parts of the city, including Stora torget, sometimes called Filbytertorget. Here stands the 'Folkungabrunnen' fountain by Carl Milles, with a statue of Folke Filbyter, who according to legend was the ancestor of the medieval Bjälboätten.

The square includes the old town hall, the Jonn O. Nilsson palace, Filbytergallerian and Stora Hotellet. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés and shops all around.

2. Admire Linköping Cathedral

Linköpings Domkyrka is Sweden's best-preserved medieval cathedral, rising mightily in the centre of the city with its 107-metre-high steeple. A small church stood here as early as the 12th century, but the one you see today was built in the 1230s, when Bishop Bengt of the Folkunga dynasty was granted permission to expand. In the 14th century, the city was hit by the Black Death and construction paused, but in the early 16th century the cathedral was finally completed.

Inside, the church is light and airy. There are both medieval furnishings, such as the 14th century crucifix, and much more recent decorations and artworks.

3. Visit Linköping Castle and Cathedral Museum.

Linköpings Slott, which was originally built as a bishop's residence, is located opposite the cathedral, in Linköping's historic neighbourhood. Parts of the castle date back to the 12th century, which means that this is Sweden's oldest secular building still in use. Today, the governor's representative apartment and private residence are located here. The wings contain offices and the Linköping Castle and Cathedral Museum.

In the museum you can learn about the history of the castle and cathedral. It includes the hidden 13th-century bishop's tower and the treasury, which contains the cathedral's silverware and textiles, some of which were made by the Birgitta sisters in Vadstena in the 15th and 16th centuries.

4. Walk in the Garden Society's park

One thing you don't want to miss doing in Linköping is walking in the beautiful park of Trädgårdsföreningen. This is a really lovely and green oasis, located in the centre of the city. Here you can stroll around, enjoy the peace and quiet or have a picnic, but there are also many different activities.

The park includes a playground, boules court, beach volleyball court and several restaurants and cafés. The Skådebanan, located in a 19th century house in the park, organises cultural and art exhibitions.

The Golden Love Pavilion (which you can see in the top picture of the article) was created by artist Joanne Posluszny Hoffsten, who was inspired by the gazebo built by John III for his wife Catherine Jagellonica. The park also houses the Nature Centre, which organises lectures, excursions, courses and exhibitions on nature, gardening, archaeology and the environment.

5. See military aeroplanes at the Air Force Museum

The Air Force Museum in Linköping is a technical and cultural history museum that tells the 100-year history of Swedish military aviation. One of the most interesting aircraft in the museum is a DC-3 with a very special history. This downed reconnaissance plane was recovered after 50 years on the seabed and the exhibition tells the story of the political game and the long search by relatives for the truth about what really happened.

The car park outside the museum is marked as a motorhome site (without service) in the CamperContact app, and we have spent a total of three nights here. Each time we have tried to visit the museum, but either it has been closed or the day's tours have been filled due to corona restrictions. However, this is a museum that we think can be exciting to visit, and we will try again!

6.Get nostalgic at the open-air museum Gamla Linköping.

Gamla Linköping is a charming open-air museum that shows Linköping from the past, with city blocks, houses, shops and farms. There is a wide range of museum environments that tell the story of how people lived and worked in the old days. There are many cosy restaurants and cafés in the area, which sell ice cream and waffles, for example. There are also many small shops selling crafts and gifts and one of Cloetta's three Swedish shops.

7. Discover Valla Gård and Lill-Valla with your children.

At Friluftsmuseet Gamla Linköping you will also find Valla Gård, which shows the history of the countryside, including the railway and railway station. There is also the Lill-Valla playground, which is Linköping's largest playground, as well as miniature golf and various farm animals that children can meet and pet.

8. Meet ghosts at Ekenäs Castle

Ekenäs Castle is a beautiful 17th century castle where no less than seven ghosts have their home. Here you can meet Nisse in the dungeon, the Henchman, the Snufkin, the White Lady, Countess Maria Klingspor, the Weeping Lady and Little Hedda. During the summer months, guided tours of the castle and knightly games are organised. In autumn, you can also come here to experience a spooky ghost walk.

9. Fascinated by locking at the Berg locks

Bergs locks are located about a mile north-west of Linköping and there is a lock staircase with seven interconnected locks and two double locks. Altogether there are eleven locks that, bit by bit, transport boats up from, or down to, Lake Roxen.

The lock staircase has a height difference of 18.9 metres and the two double locks have a height difference of 4.9 and 5.5 metres respectively. Standing here and watching the boats lock is an exciting pleasure.

If you wish, you can also choose to take a trip on a passenger boat such as the Wasa Lejon. There are also cafés, restaurants, a miniature golf course and bicycle hire at the locks.

10. Visit Vreta Abbey and monastery church

Vreta Abbey, located just next to the Berg locks, is one of Sweden's oldest monasteries. The monastery was founded as a Benedictine nunnery in the early 12th century and remained active until the 1580s. Today, a partly reconstructed ruin of the monastery, a monastery church, a monastery house and many different buildings remain in the church village of Vreta Monastery.

11. Shop for sweets at Cloetta in Ljungsbro.

In Ljungsbro, about 15 kilometres northwest of Linköping, you will find the Cloetta factory, as well as one of their shops. The factory in Ljungsbro was built in 1901 by the three Cloetta brothers and Ljungsbro emerged as a 'chocolate town'.

Today the factory has a modern production facility and produces Kexchoklad, Ahlgrens bilar, Center, Plopp, Polly, Juleskum, Sportlunch, Guldnougat, Bridge and Mums-Mums.

12. Check out the aqueduct in Ljungsbro along the Göta Canal.

When you are in Ljungsbro, you can also check out the aqueduct here, which was built in 1970. The Göta Canal passes over the motorway, and it is fascinating to watch the boats passing on a bridge above the cars.

13. Relax at Sandvik's campsite

Sandvik Camping is a family campsite located on the northern shore of Lake Roxen. You can come here with a motorhome, caravan or tent and there are also a few cottages for rent. At the campsite you can enjoy the peace and quiet and swim at the beach.

More to do in Linköping for those who like food and shopping

There is of course also a lot to do in Linköping for those who like food and shopping. We have not tried so many restaurants here, but you will find good tips on restaurants and cafes in Linköping on the blog. A little more pink. Here are also some tips:

• the i-House is a large shopping centre with lots of shops (Västra Svedengatan 7, Tornby).
• Matloftet Food Hall is located in i-HUSET, where you can find several different food outlets.

More to do in Linköping for those who like culture and history

There is of course even more to see and do in Linköping, in addition to our suggestions. Here are some more tips for those interested in culture and history.

• Guided tours tells the dramatic history of Linköping.
• Art galleries there are several, such as Galleri Blå, Galleri Melefors, Galleri Sander and Passagen.
• Linköping City Library sometimes shows different exhibitions (Östgötagatan 5).
• Ljungs castle is privately owned but guided tours are given in summer (Ljungsbro).
• New Castle Bjärka-Säby is run by the Pentecostal Church and in the summer offers a castle café and historical guided tours (Sturefors).
• Church of St Lars was inaugurated in the 12th century and is dedicated to St Lawrence (St Larsgatan).
• Ruins of Stjärnorp Castle is a mighty ruin of a castle built in 1655-1662 and burnt down in 1789 (at Stjärnorpsravinen).

More things to do in Linköping for nature lovers

Are you most comfortable in nature? Then you will find some more suggestions for things to do in Linköping here:

• Golf you can play, for example at Linköping Golf Club or Vreta Kloster Golf Club.
• Kayak you can paddle in the centre of Linköping or in the lake area south of the city.
• Kinda channel is a beautiful canal with locks, where you can take various boat trips.
• mountain bike can be cycled on the Malmslättsbanan, at the Olstorp Outdoor Centre, on the Vallabanan or on the Vidingsjöbanan.
• Stellar gorge offers beautiful scenery around a ravine, and there is also a hiking trail.
• Tinnerö oak landscape is a natural area filled with oak trees, where there are several different hiking trails.

More to do in Linköping with children

Here are some more tips for things to do in Linköping with children or teenagers.

• Björkö 4H farm is a farm with activities for children and young people (Björkö Gård 2, Ljungsbro).
• Phenomena magazine offers experimental stations on the human body and electricity, as well as live reptiles (Old Linköping).
• Hangar Hot Sport Centre is a multipurpose centre with a skate park, climbing wall and other activities (Rydsvägen 5B).
• Forest path in Vallaskogen nature reserve offers "fun knowledge about animals and nature" (Gamla Linköping).
• Adventure Golf City offers 12 courts (Sporthallen, Snickaregatan 35)

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Linköping. If you are travelling with a motorhome, you can, in addition to Sandvik's campsite, stay at one of the following places:

• Borggårdsgatan is a car park where you can stand in summer. There are no services.
• Nykvarnsgatan is a car park where you can park in the summer. There are no services.
• Old Linköping car park is a site for four motorhomes. There is a toilet, but no other services.
• Café Tannerfors locks Quickstop serves as a car park in summer. There are toilets and rubbish bins, but no other services.
• Parking at the Air Force Museum, with a good location for visiting the museum. There is a rubbish bin, but no other services.
• Berg's locks car park, with access to a service centre with toilets and showers as well as rubbish collection, latrine emptying and fresh water supply.
• Glyttinge camping is a campsite close to the city centre. Here you can also empty the latrine for a fee (Berggårdsvägen 6).

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

From Linköping it is not too far to Norrköping, nor to charming Söderköping. If you drive west instead, you can visit Borensberg, Motala or the beautiful and historically interesting Vadstena.

Even more to see and do in Linköping?

Have you visited Linköping? Tell us about your experiences! Maybe you have even more tips on things to see and do in Linköping?

Facts about Linköping

• Landscape: Östergötland
• County: County of Östergötland
• District: Linköping Cathedral District, Sankt Lars, Berga, Johannelunds, Kärna, Landeryd, Ryd, Skäggetorp, Slaka.
• Residents: More than 165 000 (2021)
• The name: The name was first mentioned in the 'Florence List' in 1103 as 'Liunga kaupinga', a compound of 'Ljung' and 'trading centre'.
• Motto: Where ideas become reality.
• Read more: You can find more information at the municipality's website.

History of Linköping

• Older history: There are archaeological remains from the Bronze Age, Early Iron Age and Viking Age.
• 12th century: Since this time, Linköping has been the ecclesiastical centre of Östergötland, Småland and Gotland. At the latest, Vreta Abbey was founded, and at this time a first Romanesque church was founded.
• 1153: The first Swedish Church Council was held in Linköping.

13th to 14th century

• 1230s: Construction of the current cathedral began.
• 1232: A cathedral school can be dated back to this time.
• 1251: Valdemar Birgersson, son of Birger Jarl, was crowned king in Linköping Cathedral.
• 1286: Birger Jarl's youngest son became a bishop. His brother, King Magnus Ladulås, is considered the founder of the city.

15th century to 16th century

• 1470s: Biskopsgården was expanded with a ring wall and a large house, reminiscent of the Glimmingehus.
• 1598: The Battle of Stångebro was fought between Duke Charles (later Charles XI) and his nephew Sigismund. Duke Charles was victorious and the battle marked the beginning of the Polish-Swedish War of 1599-1629.

17th to 18th century

• 1600: 14 supporters of Sigismund were imprisoned and, after a trial, five of them were executed in the Linköping bloodbath.
• 1627: Gymnasium Lincopense (now Katedralskolan) was founded, which was Sweden's third upper secondary school.
• 1700: The city was hit by a devastating fire, which destroyed almost all the buildings. The castle and cathedral survived.

19th century to present

• 1937: Svenska Aeroplan AB (Saab) was founded and shortly afterwards started manufacturing aeroplanes in the city.
• The Second World War: Linköping experienced strong growth due to Saab's production of fighter aircraft.
• 1975: Linköping University was founded.