Linköping between Cathedral, Nature and Canals

In Linköping, the view reaches back 11,000 years from the present day to the melting of the inland ice sheet: the permanent exhibition “Vägen hit” at the Östergötlands museum tells the story of this long period.

Culture

Vreta Kloster Church is surrounded by monastery ruins. The nuns’ former granary has been renovated and is now part of the visitor centre of the church village. The church is located at the entrance to the area of Bergs slussar and the Göta Canal.

Gamla Linköping comprises around one hundred wooden houses as well as approximately 25 different museum environments and exhibitions. These include small shops, cafés and restaurants, theatre stages and a dance floor. The Swedish Air Force Museum is a modern museum of technology and cultural history about the role of aviation in Sweden and in the Swedish Armed Forces. It has a unique collection of military aircraft and other objects relating to the 100-year history of aviation.

At Fenomenmagasinet, children and adults explore science and technology through play and experiments. An animal section features corals, reptiles and small animals. Linköping Cathedral is considered Sweden’s best-preserved medieval cathedral. It is open year-round and offers opportunities for personal prayer, intercession and participation in numerous services and concerts. The Linköpings slotts- och domkyrkomuseum displays unique cathedral treasures as well as the hidden 13th-century bishop’s tower.

Other local pages in the Linköping context: Roxenbaden, Ulrika, Bergsslussar, Bestorp, Ljungsbro, Linghem, Vikingstad, Vårdnäs, Sturefors, Brokind, Linköping, Nykil, Berg, Kögenäs and Stjärnorp.

Nature

Tinnerö is an oak landscape with pastureland, forests, wetlands rich in birdlife and a high level of biodiversity. At the wetlands of Smedstad dammar, Frökärret and Rosenkällasjön in Tinnerö, there are car parks, picnic tables, barbecue areas and opportunities for birdwatching. Several hiking trails run through the entire Tinnerö nature reserve.

Within Linköping Municipality, 115 kilometres of the Östgötaleden trail pass through plains, canals, oak landscapes, pastureland and hilly forests. Several sections of the Östgötaleden in Linköping are easily accessible for people with disabilities.

Stjärnorpsravinen is an approximately 2-kilometre-long hiking trail through moderately challenging terrain that begins below the ruins of Stjärnorp. It is one of the places with the highest concentration of bats in Östergötland.

Water

The Kinda Canal has 15 manually operated locks and is 80 kilometres long; it extends from Linköping in the north to the towns of Horn and Hycklinge in the south. The Kinda Canal and its lake system offer good paddling waters for much of the year. There are canoe docks at all the locks where canoes can be carried around the locks.

Day trips, evening trips and shorter excursions by passenger boat are offered on the Kinda Canal. The lock staircase at Bergs slussar consists of seven interconnected locks; boats are raised or lowered by 18.8 metres between Roxen and Bergs gästhamn.

The Kanalmuseet in Brokind displays tools, equipment, drawings, sketches and photographs from the construction of the Kinda Canal. The Öna cultural reserve is a woodland farm on Lake Stensjön and comprises four small farm units near the lake.

Getting around

The Göta Canal cycling route passes through Linköping and can be started at Bergs slussar. Bicycles can be rented through Kaffeteriet at the tourist information centre at Bergs slussar. The Birgittaleden can begin at Linköping Cathedral and comprises an 81-kilometre hiking route.

Thanks to Linköping’s location on the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö, there are frequent train connections, including services operated by SJ, Mälartåg, Snälltåget and Krösatåg. Within Linköping, buses and commuter trains operated by Östgötatrafiken also run.

To the higher-level travel overview: Östergötland.