Gota Canal Cruise

Categories Small Ship Cruises River & Canal Cruises Gota Canal Cruises Cruises

This is a different version of the traditional cruise in either direction between Gothenburg and Stockholm which has been on the schedule almost every year since the shipping line was established in 1869. On this cruise, the ship moors at night and fewer excursions are offered. The cruise stops in Soderkoping and you continue by bus to Stockholm.

It is also possible to take this cruise from Soderkoping to Gothenburg (bus from Stockholm to Soderkoping) or to take 2, 4 (Classic Cruise) and 6 day versions of this cruise.

See also different version of the cruises: /products/gota-canal-4/429/

/products/gota-canal-4/94/

Itinerary

09.00 Departure from Gothenburg, Packhuskajen 10

13.15 - 13.30 Lilla Edet The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the first lock on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.

14.45 - 15.45 Trollhättan locks

The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.

15.45 - 17.00 Trollhättan The Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful old lock area.

18.00 - 18.10 Brinkebergskulle The “Brinkebergskulle” lock is just before Vänersborg, which is the last town before we head out into Lake Vänern.

18.30 - Lake Vänern 44 metres above sea level. Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

23.30 Arr. Läckö Overnight stop.

09.00 - 11.00 Läckö Castle. Läckö Castle was built in 1298 as a bishop’s residence. Its golden age was during the reign of Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who transformed it into a baroque castle in 1652. We are given a guided tour of the castle and the exhibitions (lots of stairs). App. 1 km walk.

14.40 - 17.00 Sjötorp Here we enter the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Göta Canal. At Sjötorp we have a set of eight locks and also the remains of some old shipyards. Here you can take a walk alongside the canal while our ship slowly travels up the locks.

19.20 - 21.00 Godhögen– Hajstorp övre

We pass a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp.

22.00 Töreboda The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden’s smallest ferry, ”Lina”, which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.

23.55 Arr. Vassbacken We stop for the night at Vassbacken. Overnight stop.

05.30 Dep. Vassbacken

06.00 The Berg Canal

This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33.

06.30 The Obelisk An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the Göta Canal.

06.55 - 07.05 Tåtorp One of the canal’s two hand-operated locks is found at Tåtorp.

07.05 - 09.10 Lake Viken

The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal.

08.10 - 09.10 The Spetsnäs Canal/ Billströmmen We steer through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies.

09.10 - 09.30 Forsvik Forsvik has a very interesting industrial history. The lock, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are sometimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group. From

here on we will be going downwards!

10.15 Karlsborg Fortress Before our ship enters Lake Vättern, we pass Karlsborg and will be able to see the roof of the fortress, which was built 1819-1909.

10.15 - 12.15 Lake Vättern 89 metres above sea level. Sweden’s second largest lake.

12.15 - 13.30 Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called “the Capital of the Göta Canal”. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company,

responsible for operation and maintenance. Motala is yours to explore on your own.

14.30 - 15.10 Borenshult Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

15.10 - 16.10 Lake Boren 73 metres above sea level.

16.10 - 16.20 Borensberg. Borensberg has another of the canal’s hand-operated locks, after which we see the wellknown Göta Hotel from 1908. Just past the hotel there is a small gazebo leaning out over a sharp bend in the canal, known as the “Helmsman’s Horror”.

16.40 Kungs Norrby,aqueduct

The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 and leads over the national route 36.

19.50 Ljungsbro, aqueduct We pass the second aqueduct on our journey. This one was built in 1970.

20.10 Berg (Heda) We start our descent down 40 metres in the lock system of Berg (15 locks) towards Lake Roxen. Here you can stretch your legs between the locks.

21.30 - 22.30 Berg (Carl-Johan) The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks.

Overnight stop.

06:00 Depart Berg

06:00 - 08:00 - Lake Roxen - 33 meters above sea level

08:00 - 08:10 - Norsholm lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malm.

09:40 - 10:20 - Lake Asplngen 27 metres above sea level.

11:45 - 13:00 - Carlsborg/Mariehov/Duvkullen. At the lock Carlsborg vre we have the first of the eight locks taking us down to Soderkoping.

13.30 Soderkoping The idyllic town Soderkping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and interesting history as a spa. Soderkping is yours to explore on your own. Dont forget to try the famous ice cream!

Optional Departure by bus to Stockholm.

Notes