Gothenburg to Stockholm on the Gota Canal

The traditional cruise in either direction between Gothenburg and Stockholm has been on the schedule almost every year since the shipping line was established in 1869. On the shorter cruises, the boat usually travels on during the night while you are asleep; only one night is spent in harbour. The longer cruises allow time for more stops and shore excursions along the way. The choice of stops is determined by the direction in which you are traveling.

It is also possible to take this cruise from Stockholm to Gothenburg or to take 2 and 6 day versions of this cruise.

Please see

Gota Canal 4 Day Cruise from Stockholm

Gota Canal 2 Day Cruise from Motala

Gota Canal 2 Day Cruise from Soderkoping

Gota Canal 6 Day Cruise from Gothenburg

Gota Canal 6 Day Cruise from Stockholm

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.

14.45-15.30 Trollhttan locks. The impressive lock staircase at Trollhttan 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.

15.30-17.00 Trollhttan. The Trollhttan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhtte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful old lock area.

18.00 Vnersborg This is the last town before we head out into Lake Vnern. The Brinkebergskulle lock is just before Vnersborg.

18.30-03.00 Lake Vnern 44 metres above sea level. Swedens largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

22.45 Lck Castle The Castle was built in 1298 as a bishops residence. Its golden age was during the reign of Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who transformed it into a baroque castle in 1652.

03.00-04.30 Sjtorp Here we enter the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Gta Canal. At Sjtorp we have a set of eight locks and also the remains of some old shipyards.

06.10-08.00 Godhgen Hajstorp vre. We pass a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. In 1822 the western section of the Gta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. For early birds walking is possible from Godhgen to Hajstorp, app. 1.5 km.

09.00 Treboda The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Treboda also proudly presents Swedens smallest ferry, Lina, which travels back and forth across the Gta Canal.

11.20 The Berg Canal/the Obelisk. An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the canal. This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33.

11.50 Ttorp One of the canals two hand-operated locks is found at Ttorp.

11.50-14.00 Lake Viken. The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Gta Canal.

13.00-14.00 The Spetsns Canal/Billstrmmen. We steer through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies.

13.50-14.00 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 greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group. From here on we will be going downwards!

14.50-17.00 Karlsborg Fortress We visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built 1819-1909. The guided tour is a journey through time and space, full of surprises and special effects.

17.00-19.00 Lake Vttern 89 metres above sea level. Swedens second largest lake.

19.00 Arr. Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called the Capital of the Gta Canal. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Gta 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. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platens grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal. Overnight stop.

05.00 Dep. Motala

06.00-06.30 Borenshult Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

06.30-07.30 Lake Boren 73 metres above sea level.

07.30-07.40 Borensberg. Borensberg has another of the canals hand-operated locks, after which we see the well known Gta Hotel from 1908. Just past the hotel there is a small gazebo leaning out over a sharp bend in the canal, known as the Helmsmans Horror.

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

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

11.00 Berg (Heda) At Berg we pass through a system with a total of 15 locks. The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Swedens most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors. The tour guide will take us on a walk (app. 3 km, partly uneven) to see the church and the remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal or take a swim in the warm water of Lake Roxen.

12.00-13.00 Berg (Carl-Johan) The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. Here we board the ship again before steering out on the lake.

13.00-15.00 Lake Roxen 33 metres above sea level.

15.00 Norsholm lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malm.

16.45-17.15 Lake Asplngen 27 metres above sea level.

18.40-19.45 CarlsborgMariehovDuvkullen. At the lock Carlsborg vre we have the first of the eight locks taking us down to Sderkping.

20.00-21.00 Sderkping The idyllic town Sderkping 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. Sderkping is yours to explore on your own. Dont forget to try the famous ice cream!

22.20 Mem Passing through the last narrow lock before Sltbaken, an inlet of the Baltic, we leave the Gta Canal. On 26th Sept. 1832, the Gta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family.

22.20-07.15 The Baltic We cross open water for a short bit and then weave through the archipelago in the early morning light.

07.15-07.25 Sdertlje Sdertlje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.

07.25-13.50 Lake Mlaren 0.3 metres above sea level. Swedens third largest lake.

09.00-11.00 Birka The Viking community of Birka on the island of Bjrk is often regarded as Sweden's first town. The town was then an important harbour for international shipping and trade. It was in use for about 250 years and was abandoned before the year 1000. Birka features on UNESCOS World Heritage list. The archaelogists on the island show us around (app. 3 km, uneven terrain). We also visit the museum.

12.45 Drottningholm Castle. Drottningholm Castle, home of the Royal family since 1981, is also found on the World

Heritage list. We pass the castle if time admits.

14.00 Hammarby lock The final lock on our journey delivers us from Lake Mlaren into Saltsjn.

14.30 Arr. Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen

Our cruise ends at Skeppsbrokajen 103, in the Old Town of Stockholm.