Södermanland between Archipelagos, Hiking Trails and Castles

Landscape between Lakes, Forests and Archipelagos

Södermanland stretches along the southern shore of Lake Mälaren. Landscapes for outdoor activities include large lakes and lake systems, rivers, forests, agricultural landscapes and the coastal archipelago. The county combines beaches, deep forests and meadowlands. Södermanland is also home to around 400 castles and manor houses for visitors to discover.

The regional division includes Strängnäs, Eskilstuna, Gnesta, Enstaberga, Oxelösund, Stigtomta, Trosa, Vingåker, Nyköping, Flen and Katrineholm.

Hiking between Nature and History

The Sörmlandsleden is a 1,000-kilometre hiking trail that passes through varied natural and cultural landscapes as well as historical monuments. Along the route, there are circular trails of different lengths, ranging from hikes of around one hour to day trips. Most stages are easily accessible by car, bus or train. Very many hiking trails in Sörmland start at a railway station or bus stop.

Stendörren and the Archipelago

Stendörren connects the mainland to the nearest archipelago islands via several suspension bridges. Visitors can hike at Stendörren. From Naturum Stendörren, an accessible ramp leads to a rest area with a fire pit by the sea. Bus 554 from Nyköping or Trosa stops at Stendörren.

In Södermanland’s archipelago, visitors can go canoeing and kayaking among thousands of islands and skerries.

Culture and History

Gripsholms slott houses one of Europe’s best-preserved 18th-century theatres. Gripsholms slott is also home to the Swedish State Portrait Collection, the oldest national portrait gallery in the world. It now comprises around 5,000 works, more than 800 of which are portraits exhibited at Gripsholms slott. Construction of the castle began in 1537.

Rademachersmedjorna is one of Sweden’s best-preserved 17th-century environments. The complex includes several well-preserved buildings from Sweden’s first smithy manufactory, dating from the 1650s. There are businesses practising traditional crafts, as well as several outdoor exhibitions that are open year-round, 24 hours a day.

Julita Gård shows what a large estate in Södermanland looked like and how it operated at the beginning of the 20th century; the estate grounds contain almost 360 buildings. Around 290 fruit trees grow in the park, which also features living collections of cultivated plants. At its shop, café and inn, Julita Gård offers seasonal scents and local flavours.

Nyköpingshus is particularly associated with the Nyköping Banquet of 1317. In the Kungstornet tower at Nyköpingshus, Sörmlands museum now presents exhibitions on the history of the castle in the 14th and 16th centuries. The museum has a museum house in Nyköping and operates throughout Södermanland. Its programme includes exhibitions, guided tours, courses, workshops, lectures and talks.

Historic Routes by Rail and Water

The Östra Sörmlands Järnväg heritage railway runs between Mariefred and Taxinge-Näsby, with a stop in Läggesta. It offers trips with real steam locomotives that are more than 100 years old. The S/S Mariefred steamboat operates in summer on the Stockholm–Mariefred and Mariefred–Taxinge-Näsby routes.

Road 223 between Nyköping and Mariefred is known as “Utflyktsvägen”.