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Gota Canal 6 Day Cruise Stockholm - Gothenburg

2 Seas, 1 River, 3 Canals, 8 Lakes and 66 Locks!

6 Days / 6 locations in Sweden

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 harbor. The 6 day 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, 3, 4 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

Gota Canal Highlights - 3 Day Cruise

Gota Canal Highlights - 3 Day Cruise

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Stockholm - Gota Canal
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Lunch / Dinner

10.00 Departure from Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen 103

10.30 Hammarby lock The first lock on our journey divides Saltsjon from Lake Malaren.

10.40-13.30 Lake Malaren 0.3 metres above sea level. Swedens third largest lake.

11.35 Drottningholm Castle, the home of the Royal family since 1981, is on UNESCOs list of World Heritage sites.

13.40-13.50 Sodertlje Sodertlje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.

13.50 The Baltic The archipelago of St Anna and Sodermanland.

17.00-18.30 Trosa The small town of Trosa dates all the way back to the 14th century. It was then known as a fishermens village. Regular steamer traffic from Stockholm and Nykoping began in 1860, bringing large numbers of summer visitors. We are taken on a guided walk around the canals and alleys (app. 2,5 km).

 
Day 2     Gota Canal - Soderkoping
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

01:15 - Arr. Savsundet

09.00-10.00 Stegeborg The ruins of the Stegeborg Fortress are beautifully situated on a small island overlooking the bay of Saltbaken. The fort dates from the early Middle Ages and was built to guard the inlet to Soderkoping. We are given a guided tour through the interesting history of Stegeborg. The walk is short, but somewhat uneven.

10.50 Mem On 26th Sept. 1832, the Gota Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family. We enter the Gota Canal through the first of the 58 narrow locks.

12.45-14.45 Soderkoping The idyllic town Soderkoping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and very interesting history as a spa. Soderkoping is yours to explore on your own. Dont forget to try the famous ice cream!

15:15 - 16:45 - Duvkullen–Marie- hov–Carlsborg - There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks.

18:00 -18.40 Lake Asplngen 27 metres above sea level.

20:10 - 20:20 Norsholm lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line Stockholm Malmo.

20:20 - 22:20 Lake Roxen 33 metres above sea level.

22:20 Berg (Carl-Johan) The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. We dock for the night at the bottom lock. Overnight stop.

 
Day 3     Gota Canal - Motala
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

09.00 Dep. Berg (Carl-Johan)

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.

11.30 Berg (Heda) The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure.

11.50 Ljungsbro, aqueduct. We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970.

14.45 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct. The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.

15.15-15:25 Borensberg At Borensberg you will see one of the hand-operated locks still in use in the canal. We walk the short distance to the well-known Gota Hotel, from 1908, where we are served coffee and waffles.

15:25 -16:25 Lake Boren 73 metres above sea level.

16:25 - 17:05 - Borenshult Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.

18.15 Arr. Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called the Capital of the Gota Canal. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Gota 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.

 
Day 4     Gota Canal - Motala - Vadstena
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

07.30 Dep. Motala We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.

09.00 - 12.00 Vadstena Today Vadstena is an idyllic little town. It evolved around the 14th century convent of the Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta), becoming a spiritual, cultural and commercial centre. The Abbey was built according to St. Bridget’s plans, and was consecrated in 1430. The Castle was built in the 1540s by King Gustav Vasa. Local guides will meet us here and take us with the sightseeing train to see the

Abbey and the castle. You will also have time to walk around the town on your own, or go for a swim in the lake.

07.30 - 13.45 Lake Vättern 89 metres above sea level. Sweden’s second largest lake.

13.45 Karlsborg Fortress We pass Karlsborg and will be able to see the roof of the fortress, which was built in 1819-1909.

14.40 - 14.55 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.

14.55 - 16.05 Billströmmen/the Spetsnäs Canal

Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken.

14.55 - 17.00 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.

17.00 - 17.10 TĂĄtorp At TĂĄtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards!

17.30 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.

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

20.10 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.

21.30 Arr. Hajstorp A lock system consisting of four locks. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. The ship berths for the night, close to what used to be the home of the

Canal Engineer. Overnight stop.

 
Day 5     Gota Canal
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

06.00 Dep. Hajstorp If you are an early bird you can take a wonderful morning walk from Hajstorp to Godhgen, app. 1,5 km.

09.40-11.50 Sjotorp At Sojtorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. We visit the old warehouse, where the Visitors Centre and the Sojtorp Canal Museum are located. Here you can see old pictures of Sjotorp, the interiors of several old ships, a large collection of ships engines, etc. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vanern. It is also possible to take a walk along the locks.

12:00 Lake Vanern 44 metres above sea level. Swedens largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

15.30-17.30 Lacko 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. We are given a guided tour of the castle and the exhibitions (lots of stairs). App. 1 km walk.

22:00 - Arr. Vanersborg. Overnight stop.

 
Day 6     Gota Canal - Gothenburg
Accommodation: Gota Canal Ships
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

6:30 - Depart Vanersborg

08.45-10.15 Trollhattan. The Trollhattan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhatte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful old lock area.

10.15-11.15 Trollhattan, locks The impressive lock staircase at Trollhattan 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.

12.30-12.45 Lilla Edet The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the last on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.

16.00 Arr. Gothenburg

Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10 in Gothenburg

 

Notes

Early booking discount of 15% if booked by December 15, 2022!

Price Includes
Port Charges & Tax
Meals Daily Shipboard
Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
Tax and Port Charges
Tour Escort
Sightseeing and Entrances Per Itinerary
GOT-1269