Nyköping: Castle, museums and riverside promenades

When looking for a hotel in Nyköping, you can decide in advance what you want to focus on during your trip: castle and town history, industrial and aviation history, events, or a walk along the river. The city offers a range of themes, from the development of Nyköpingshus to the natural surroundings of the Nyköpingsån.

Cultural history around Nyköpingshus

The history of Nyköpingshus began with a defensive tower built in the 12th century. Under Birger Jarl, it developed into a powerful castle; in the 16th century, Duke Charles, the future Charles IX, transformed it into a magnificent Renaissance palace. Exhibitions in the Kungstornet at Nyköpingshus explore the history of the castle and the Nyköping Banquet.

Every summer, a performance about the Nyköping Banquet is staged in the castle courtyard. Period costumes, settings and stories take you back to the 14th century. If this performance is important to your trip, check the dates for your stay. An outdoor historical exhibition tells the stories of people who shaped the character of the city, displayed on 35 posts with red pennants.

Industrial history and aviation

Stadsvakten is Nyköping’s cultural heritage museum, housed in the city’s oldest surviving industrial building. Its exhibitions explore a society shaped by manufacturing, the textile industry and trade. Also on display is a fully preserved metal printing press from 1930—a specific exhibit that complements the museum’s industrial focus.

The F11 Museum at Skavsta in Nyköping opened in 1991. It displays Swedish reconnaissance aircraft from the Cold War, including the S29 Tunnan, S32 Lansen, S35 Draken and SF37 Viggen. The two museums have different focuses: Stadsvakten explores industrial and textile history, while the F11 Museum focuses on Swedish aerial reconnaissance.

Riverside walk and nature

You can walk along the Nyköpingsån on the Å-promenaden from Harg to the harbour, passing through a variety of surroundings. The upper section runs past the Hållet-Marieberg-Stenbro nature reserve. The area is home to a rich variety of birdlife; which birds can be seen varies by season. The riverside route offers a different focus from the museums: a walk by the water and the natural surroundings of the reserve.

Practical information and events

Sörmlands Museum is located in the western harbour, opposite Nyköpingshus. The nearest railway station to the museum is Nyköpings centralstation, about 1.8 kilometres away. Check onward transport before travelling. The church of S:t Nicolai is located at Stora torget in Nyköping.

Nyköping City Archive welcomes visitors to a research room with limited seating. There, you can study original documents and search archival catalogues; contact the archive before visiting. Culturum’s concert hall can accommodate concerts, lectures, conferences, meetings and other public events for up to 538 participants. Since the programme of individual events changes, check the dates if an event is to be the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Stavsjö, Tystberga, Jönåker, Nävekvarn, Vrena, Västerljung.

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