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    Söderköping

    Sweden

    Söderköping

    CityCultureCulinaryNatureFor Families

    Söderköping is a small town in Östergötland, approximately 16 kilometers south of Norrköping. In the Middle Ages, it was one of Sweden's most important trading towns.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Sweden
    7. Östergötland
    9. Söderköping
    Söderköping is a small town in Östergötland, approximately 16 kilometers south of Norrköping. In the Middle Ages, it was one of Sweden's most important trading towns. Today, timber houses, the brick church Sankt Laurentii, and the canal harbor on the Göta Canal define its character. The town is also known for its ice cream parlors.

    Sights in Söderköping

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Göta Kanal

    The Göta Canal, completed in 1832, runs directly through Söderköping, just before reaching the Baltic Sea inlet Slätbaken at Mem. At the canal harbor and lock, you can watch boats navigating the lock, stroll or cycle along the banks; excursion boats run in summer.
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    2Sankt Laurentii kyrka

    The brick church in Gothic style from the late 13th century, with its freestanding bell tower, is the landmark of Söderköping. Very close by is the City History Museum in the city's oldest preserved school building.
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    3Söderköpings Brunn

    The history of the spa resort dates back to 1719 when Sankt Ragnhilds källa spring was used as a healing spring. Guest villas and the spa infirmary, operational from 1893 to 1976, date from the pump room's heyday. Today, Söderköpings Brunn is a hotel; you can also stroll through the park without an overnight stay.
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    4Ramunderberget

    The scenic hill rises along a steep edge about 70 meters above the surrounding area north of the canal; from the lock, a staircase with 318 steps leads up. From the top, you look out over Söderköping and the Göta Canal. The 171-hectare nature reserve has several hiking trails, which also lead to the wall remains of Ramunderborgen Castle.
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    City walks in Söderköping

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Söderköping: Ramunderberget and Spa Area

    Climb 278 steps to Ramunderberget for views of the town and the Göta Canal, then head to the canal warehouses at the harbor. Afterwards, explore the Söderköpings Brunn grounds, where healing waters were drunk from 1719, and end at the medieval Drothem Church.

    ~1 Std. 40 Min.
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    Stops (5)

    Restaurants & Cafés

    Smultronstället

    The ice cream parlor bills itself as the largest of its kind in Sweden, famous for its many large sundaes. A classic stop on any Söderköping visit.
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    Restaurang Å-Caféet

    Direkt neben dem Göta Kanal gelegen, bietet das Å-Caféet eine wunderbare Kulisse für ein Mittagessen oder einen Kaffee. Genieße die entspannte Atmosphäre und beobachte das bunte Treiben auf dem Wasser, während du schwedische Spezialitäten oder leichte Gerichte probierst.
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    Culture and History of Söderköping

    Söderköping is one of Sweden’s oldest towns. Around 1300, it was a power centre that could rival Stockholm: three churches were built here in the 13th century, and a Franciscan monastery in 1235. A king and two queens were crowned here, and major assemblies convened in the town, most recently the Riksdag of 1595. German and later Dutch merchant ships frequented the harbour on Slätbaken, until land uplift made access difficult, and Norrköping took over trade in the 18th century.Preserved from the Middle Ages are the brick church Sankt Laurentii, dating from the late 13th century with its bell tower, and Drothems kyrka. The town gained new significance from 1719 as a spa resort, thanks to the Sankt Ragnhilds källa spring, and through the Göta Canal, completed in 1832 and running directly through the locality. The 18th and 19th-century wooden houses make Söderköping a popular excursion destination today.

    Local Explorations

    The historic center is small; you can easily reach the church, canal port, and Ramunderberget on foot.Getting there: Söderköping has no passenger train station. Take the train to Norrköping and continue by bus from there.Bus: Östgötatrafiken operates regional buses; tickets and timetables are available in their app.Cycling: The towpath along the Göta Canal is great for cycling, and bike rentals are available in town during summer.

    Accommodations in Söderköping

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    Campgrounds in Söderköping

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      • 1Göta Kanal3 days
      • 2Sankt Laurentii kyrka4 days
      • 3Söderköpings Brunn5 days
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    Nearby

    Östergötland

    Östergötland is situated between Lake Vättern in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east. The Göta Canal traverses the province from Mem on the Baltic Sea to Motala on Lake Vättern, featuring lock staircases like those in Berg and the canal town of Söderköping; on the shores of Lake Vättern lies the monastery town of Vadstena. The fertile Östgöta Plain, hilly forest and lake districts in the south and north, and an archipelago coast characterize the landscape.
    Motala

    Motala

    Motala is situated on the northeastern shore of Lake Vättern, where the Göta Canal exits the lake. The town, home to just over 30,000 inhabitants, grew around the construction of the canal and the Motala Verkstad engineering works. Today, visitors come for the locks, the technical history museums, and the long sandy beach of Varamobaden.
    Vadstena

    Vadstena

    Vadstena is a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Vättern. Here, in the 14th century, Saint Birgitta founded the mother convent of her order, and Gustav Vasa had a castle built on the lakeside, which later became a royal residence. The abbey church, castle, and medieval buildings are all clustered together in the old town.
    Vimmerby

    Vimmerby

    Vimmerby is a small town in northeastern Småland and the hometown of Astrid Lindgren. It is best known for Astrid Lindgrens Värld, a theme park featuring settings from her books, and for Näs Farm, where the author grew up. In the surrounding area are filming locations for the Michel and Bullerbü films.
    Nynäshamn

    Nynäshamn

    Nynäshamn lies about 60 kilometres south of Stockholm and is one of the mainland ports for ferries to Gotland. Additionally, ships sail from here to Gdańsk in Poland. It also serves as a starting point for the southern archipelago. In summer, the harbour is full of boats, with restaurants and small shops lining the promenade. The surrounding area offers coastal paths and nature reserves inviting visitors for walks. Nynäshamn is an easy day trip from Stockholm by commuter train.

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