Having the city of Stockholm behind us and the wind in our sails, the silhouette of the majestic Gripsholm Castle suddenly appears in front of us, giving us a clear indication that we are getting closer to our destination. Having arrived in Mariefred, the guest harbour is centrally located in the bay between the castle and Gripsholm’s Inn. The picturesque city centre with its alleys and historical buildings has plenty of small shops, cafés, and restaurants. At the local heritage museum at Callanderska Gården, a dyer’s yard from the 1700s, there’s an area showcasing a bourgeois home from the last century, alongside other things. Lunch or coffee is best enjoyed in the beautiful garden at the popular Schweizeri, which also offers a lovely view of the bay. Around Gripsholms Inn, you can see the 140-metre-long art fence called “Sweden 500 years.” The short walk from here to Gripsholm Castle is a pleasurable way to stretch your legs. If you have got an interest in art, make sure you visit the amazing portrait collection. Whilst in Mariefred why not visit the popular Railway Museum, get on a steam train and enjoy the most popular route “Slott & Ånga,” which takes you along the beautiful shores of Lake Mälaren to Taxinge Castle. When in Taxinge Castle, you’ll have time to visit the shop and, of course, try their famous cake buffet. After that enriching experience, you can choose to return by the steamboat Mariefred.
Selaön, Sweden’s largest lake island, is connected to the mainland by a bridge in Stallarholmen. Spend a day or two exploring the beautiful bike paths, where you cycle past runestones and burial grounds in beautiful nature. Why not visit Mälsåker Castle, where you can moor your boat during your visit. Don’t miss Gula Huset and its small shops with a reuse theme. For those who want to enjoy good food or coffee, there are inns, a pizzeria, and a couple of cafes. The tower of Strängnäs Cathedral serves as a landmark leading to Västerviken, where the city’s fine guest harbour is in an absolutely prime location. During the summer, the city comes alive with stalls, shops, and cafés to stroll around. On Visholmen, right in the centre, there’s a beach, and on the hill above the harbour stands the cathedral where Gustav Vasa was proclaimed king in 1523. In the old quarters, Röda Kvarteren, you’ll find the historic windmill where guided tours are offered during the summer months. Equally worth seeing is Grassagården, a bourgeois yard dating back to the 17th century with a cosy cafe, and if you’re lucky, there might be a theatre show or music event going on. Don’t miss Hornudden’s garden, which you can reach by your own boat and moor directly at the pier. Here, the farm is organic and there is a farm shop where you can buy their produce and dine well at the restaurant. Note that boat mooring is only available during opening hour. Sundbyholms guest harbour is said to be one of Sweden’s best and is an obvious choice for us. Here, there are both drop-in spots and bookable spots via dockspot.com. Located in a nature reserve, it gives us the opportunity to experience nature up close via one of the hiking trails starting from here. You can enjoy Lake Mälaren’s longest natural beach or Europe’s northernmost beech forest; nearby is also Sweden’smost eminent ancient monument – Sigurdsristningen.
Nearby, there are farm shops, cafés, exhibitions, and Sundbyholms Horse Center. We didn’t want to miss the incredible idyllic cultural gem of Torshälla, so at Ängsholmen we steer the boat into Torshällaån. This 700-year-old part of Torshälla is well worth a visit. We wander around among cob-blestones and beautiful old wooden houses in narrow streets, pass by Rådhustorget and peek into Torshälla church with its beautiful paintings by Albertus Pictor. From the lookout point at Holmberget, we gaze out over the community and then stroll around the sculpture park, among statues and artworks by various artists. Most of them are made by the artist Allan Ebeling, whose museum you can visit in Torshälla. The big attraction for the family is Eskilstuna and Parken Zoo. Here, there are both exotic and domestic animals, carousels, and the opportunity for outdoor swimming – all on the same ticket.
On our journey further into Lake Mälaren, we pass Borgåsund, which once housed Lake Mälaren’s largest harbour. Its location at the entrance to Strömsholm’s canal offers walking distance to Strömsholm, and the small picturesque fishing village now has a restaurant and guest harbour on the same pier. Västerås guest harbour, with its central location, is popular for both boats and camper vans, so here you have the opportunity to meet up with your friends. Pre-book a spot at vasterasgasthamn.se. For the adventurous, both Löga Skatepark and Västerås Cable Park are located in the harbour, and within walking distance from here, along Mälarpromenaden, you’ll find Kokpunkten Water Park. Adjacent to the industrial-romantic Steam Hotel, there are additional adrenaline-filled activities such as virtual reality diving with sharks or rafting in the dark in Black River.On our way, the ship museum at Frösåkers Brygga is a good stop for lunch. We admire all the boats and step aboard the large cog. Perhaps you saw it in “The History of Sweden”? A must is to taste their homemade ice cream; it alone is worth the trip. If you want to experience more, you should stop by Anundshög and Vallby Open Air Museum.
The final destination for our journey is Enköping, with a guest harbor in the middle of the blooming city. The city is one of Sweden’s oldest, with roots dating back to the Viking Age. And today its still a place for local shopping in the city and at the countryside you can visit local entrepreneurs that offers unique hotels, farm café and shops, food crafting, nature and culture. On the hill overlooking the city stands Vårfrukyrkan, one of Sweden’s oldest churches, parts of which date back to the 12th century. More fantastic views are offered from nearby Gröngarnsåsen. Enköping is known for its beautiful parks, with Drömparken being the most enchanting, standing out with its shapes and colorful variety of flora. A visit here is a must regard-less of the season.
Lake Mälaren guest harbour card
With the guest harbour card, you can moor five nights and pay for four.
The participating guest harbours are Enköping, Mariefred, Strängnäs, Sundbyholm and Västerås. The card is valid for up to three nights per harbour from May to August. Pick up your guest harbour card in each guest harbour or scan the qr code and download the card digitally!
