With Stockholm fading behind us, Gripsholm Castle rises ahead, signalling that we’re nearing our destination, Mariefred. The guest harbour rests beautifully between the castle and Gripsholms Värdshus, while the small town centre invites with narrow lanes, charming shops, and cosy cafés. At Callanderska Gården, a turn-of-the-century home is preserved, and in the garden the popular Schweizeriet serves lunch and pastries with views over the bay. From here, it’s just a short stroll to Gripsholm Castle and its renowned portrait collection.
A favourite outing is the museum railway’s “Castle & Steam” tour, winding along the shores of Mälaren to Taxinge Castle, complete with a stop at the famous cake buffet. The return trip is best enjoyed aboard the historic S/S Mariefred.
Selaön, Sweden’s largest lake island, is reached via the bridge in Stallarholmen, with easy mooring at the boat station by the bridge. The island offers scenic cycling routes past runestones, ancient burial grounds, and Mälsåker Castle.
The tower of Strängnäs Cathedral guides the way into Västerviken, where the guest harbour enjoys a prime location. In the town centre, Visholmen offers a sandy beach, and above the harbour stands the cathedral where Gustav Vasa was proclaimed king in 1523. In the charming Red Quarters, the old windmill opens for guided summer tours, and just below it lies Grassagården, a 17th-century bourgeois estate with a small museum and café.
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’s most 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 cobblestones 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.
As an additional tip, we recommend visiting the unique Retuna Återbruksgalleria – the world’s first recycling shopping center, which combines inspiration, creativity, and sustainability in a fascinating way.
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, which is built in a more than 100-year-old steam power plant.
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. 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 the Anundshög area, with Sweden’s largest burial mound, an 11th-century runestone, and several ship settings, is one of Sweden’s foremost ancient sites. Anundshög and Vallby Open Air Museum.
Guest Harbour Card 2026
With the Guest Harbour Card, if you arrive in your own boat, you can stay five nights and pay for four. The participating guest harbours are Mariefred, Strängnäs, Sundbyholm, and Västerås.
Pick up your Guest Harbour Card at any of the participating guest harbours!
