Göta canal – the waterway across Sweden.

You can say that the idea for the canal was born out of anger, where one of the main reasons was to avoid the Danes' high customs duties. After many years of various studies and canal proposals, it was Baltzar von Platen who finally succeeded in realizing the dream of a waterway through Sweden.

The construction of the Göta canal started in 1810 and was completed in 1832, and it is one of the largest construction projects ever carried out in Sweden. The Göta canal stretches from Sjötorp at Vänern to Mem at Slätbaken and is 190 km long with 58 locks. Of the stretch, 87 km have been dug by hand by around 58.000 Swedish soldiers.

There are hundreds of experiences along the Göta canal. Here you will find canal accommodation in hotels, boarding houses, hostels or campsites and lots of restaurants and cafes.

If you don't want to cycle along the Göta canal, you can buy a ticket for one of the passenger boats and go along for a day or a week. You can of course also sail with your own boat and experience the locks.