Södermanland: Hiking Trails, Castles and Archipelago

Large lakes and lake systems, rivers, forests, agricultural landscapes and the coastal archipelago shape the landscapes of Södermanland. The region also has beaches and meadows, and stretches along the southern shore of Lake Mälaren. For your trip, you can focus on nature trails, the coast or cultural history—or combine them.

Hiking between nature and culture

Sörmlandsleden is a 1,000-kilometre-long hiking trail that passes through varied natural and cultural landscapes and by historical monuments. Its circular routes vary in length, ranging from hikes of about an hour to full-day outings. This lets you choose a trip that fits your schedule for the day.

Many hiking trails in Sörmland start at a train station or bus stop. Most stages of Sörmlandsleden are also easy to reach by car, bus or train. As transport connections can change, check them before your trip.

At Stendörren, you can go hiking, and several suspension bridges connect the mainland to the nearest archipelago islands. From Naturum Stendörren, an accessible ramp leads to a seaside rest area with a fire pit. Bus 554 from Nyköping or Trosa stops at Stendörren. Check bus connections before travelling.

Castles, crafts and museum history

Construction of Gripsholms slott began in 1537. The castle houses one of Europe’s best-preserved 18th-century theatres. It is also home to the Swedish State Portrait Collection, the world’s oldest national portrait gallery. It now comprises about 5,000 works, with more than 800 portraits on display in the castle.

The Rademachersmedjorna offer a different historical setting. They are one of Sweden’s best-preserved 17th-century industrial sites and include several well-preserved buildings from Sweden’s first blacksmithing works, established in the 1650s. Businesses there practise traditional crafts. Several outdoor exhibitions are open 24 hours a day, year-round; the availability of crafts and exhibitions may vary.

Julita Gård shows what a large estate in Södermanland looked like and how it functioned in the early 20th century. The estate grounds contain almost 360 buildings. About 290 fruit trees grow in the park, alongside living collections of cultivated plants. The shop, café and inn offer seasonal scents and local flavours; offerings vary by season.

Nyköpingshus is most closely associated with the Nyköping Banquet of 1317. In the Kungstornet at Nyköpingshus, Sörmlands museum presents exhibitions on the castle’s history in the 14th and 16th centuries. The museum has a museum building in Nyköping and operates throughout Södermanland. Its programme includes exhibitions, guided tours, courses, workshops, lectures and talks; programmes vary over time.

Archipelago and journeys

In the Södermanland archipelago, you can go canoeing and kayaking among thousands of islands and skerries. The region’s cultural heritage is also remarkable in scale: there are about 400 castles and manor houses to discover. Route 223 between Nyköping and Mariefred is known as “Utflyktsvägen”.

The Östra Sörmlands Järnväg heritage railway runs between Mariefred and Taxinge-Näsby, stopping at Läggesta. It offers rides on real steam locomotives that are more than 100 years old. Operating days and service information may change; check the timetable in advance. The steamship S/S Mariefred runs in summer on the Stockholm–Mariefred and Mariefred–Taxinge-Näsby routes. Seasonal routes and sailing dates may also change.

The circular routes of Sörmlandsleden range from about an hour to full-day outings; the heritage railway and steamship run on specific routes and have changeable operating days. Base your search on the kind of daily schedule you have planned.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Strängnäs, Trosa, Vingåker, Nyköping, Flen, Katrineholm, Eskilstuna, Gnesta, Enstaberga, Oxelösund, Stigtomta.

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