Discover Åmål: Old Town, nature and events

Åmål offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: historic areas, waterside paths, nature experiences and recurring events. If you’re looking for hotels in Åmål, your travel interests can help shape your plans: would you like to discover the town’s history, spend time outdoors or combine your trip with an event? The following places and activities will help you get to know Åmål according to your interests.

Gamla Staden and Åmål’s architectural history

Hälsans Stig is a 3-kilometre loop in central Åmål, suitable for a leisurely stroll. The route is signposted at every kilometre and passes by Gamla Staden. You can also take a self-guided tour of Gamla Staden at your own pace. This gives you two different options: a signposted loop through the centre and an independent tour of the old town.

Gamla Staden survived the great fire of 1901, and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries remain there. Gamla Kyrkan was built between 1666 and 1669. It predates the surviving buildings from the two following centuries, adding an earlier date to the story of Åmål.

Park and culture

Plantaget and the buildings around the park are among Sweden’s best-preserved 18th-century ensembles. Their historic character comes from the way the park and the surrounding buildings work together, rather than from any one building alone.

Åmåls Kulturhus houses a library, an art gallery and Europa Direkt Fyrbodal. It brings together a range of cultural and public resources under one roof, from the library and art gallery to Europa Direkt Fyrbodal.

Paths and nature around Åmål

Several scenic cycle routes follow the Åmålsån and connect different parts of the town with the centre. Together with Hälsans Stig, they offer a useful distinction: one option is a stroll-friendly loop in the centre, while the other is a network of cycle routes along the river connecting neighbourhoods with the centre. There are also many beautiful walking trails in scenic natural areas.

The water and shoreline also shape the choice of places to visit. Örnäs, not far from the centre of Åmål, has beaches. Vänern is also nearby. In summer, passenger boats travel through the archipelago, and you can hike between the islands along the lake. If you plan to take the passenger boats, check the specific timetables before your trip.

Events throughout the year

Åmål’s annual blues festival is one of the town’s best-known events. Race days are held at Åmålstravet in spring, summer and autumn. These seasonal occasions may be worth considering when planning a trip to Åmål.

Åmålstravet is one of five 800-metre tracks in Sweden and the country’s only racetrack run in a clockwise direction. Its track length and direction are specific features for anyone interested in horse racing. If you’re planning your trip around the blues festival or a race day, check the exact event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Edsleskog, Fengersfors, Ånimskog and Tösse.

Return to the main travel overview: Åmål.