24-27 May 2027: A Cycling Pilgrimage Along the Göta Canal

What if cycling was less about covering kilometres and more about finding your own pace? Discover a new way to explore Sweden's historic Göta Canal – Sweden’s blue ribbon – in Östergötland, combining a cycling pilgrimage experience launched in 2026 with the opening of a striking new visitor center in May 2027.

This press trip offers a taste of a new four-night, 123-kilometer cycling pilgrimage, taking you through peaceful canal landscapes, historic towns and places of reflection. With shorter cycling stages, time for Swedish fika and a few choices along the way, it's an invitation to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

Highlights of the trip​

• A new take on pilgrimage: Experience a condensed version of a cycling pilgrimage launched in 2026, combining nature, cultural discoveries and moments of reflection along the Göta Canal.
• A striking new architectural landmark: Be among the first to discover Upplevelsecentrum Göta kanal (The Göta Kanal Experience), opening in May 2027. Designed by Tengbom Arkitekter, its distinctive wooden buildings inspired by overturned rowing boats house immersive exhibitions bringing the canal's history and engineering to life.
• Cycle your own way: Enjoy gentle cycling stages of around 20 kilometers a day, choosing between a regular bicycle and an e-bike. For a more authentic taste of the original pilgrimage package, carry two days' essentials in your panniers – or simply let the minibus take care of your luggage.
• History, fika and peaceful waterways: Explore medieval Söderköping, discover Motala's canal heritage and enjoy scenic cycling routes, picturesque locks and Swedish fika stops.
• Find your own kind of stillness in Vadstena: Visit the Pilgrim Center, discover the legacy of Saint Bridget of Sweden and attend a concert in the historic abbey church.
• Two ways to spend the final night: Choose between the historic comfort of Klosterhotellet and a more contemplative stay at Birgitta Systrarna Gästhemmet, the guesthouse run by the Bridgettine Sisters.

About the original experience: The newly launched pilgrimage package covers 123 kilometers over five days and four nights, using regular bicycles, with participants carrying their belongings throughout the cycling journey. This press trip offers a shorter, more flexible introduction to the experience, with minibus transfers between selected stages.

Practical information: Participants should be comfortable cycling approximately 20 kilometers per day on regular bikes. Luggage transfers can be arranged.