A look into the past takes you a long way back in Linköping: the permanent exhibition “Vägen hit” at the Östergötlands museum reaches 11,000 years back from the present day, to the melting of the inland ice sheet. Medieval buildings and evidence of more recent history add different dimensions. The canals and natural areas also offer their own ways to experience the region—from a walk through oak landscapes to watching boats navigate a flight of locks.
History on different scales
Linköpings Domkyrka is considered Sweden’s best-preserved medieval cathedral. It is open year-round and offers opportunities for personal prayer, intercessory prayer, and attending numerous services and concerts. At the Linköpings slotts- och domkyrkomuseum, you can see unique treasures from the cathedral and the hidden 13th-century bishop’s tower.
Gamla Linköping offers a different picture, with around a hundred wooden houses and about 25 different museum settings and exhibitions. Small shops, cafés and restaurants, theatre stages, and a dance floor round out the offering. Vreta Kloster kyrka is surrounded by monastery ruins. The nuns’ former granary has been renovated and is now part of the village church’s visitor centre. The church is located at the entrance to the Bergs slussar and Göta Canal area.
The spectrum also includes the history of technology: Flygvapenmuseum is a modern museum of technology and cultural history about the role of aviation in Sweden and the Swedish Armed Forces. Its unique collection includes military aircraft and other objects documenting a hundred years of aviation history. Fenomenmagasinet opened in new premises in summer 2026. The visitor experience in 2026 included opportunities for children and adults to explore science and technology through play and experiments; an animal section featured corals, reptiles and small animals.
Oak landscapes and trails
Tinnerö is characterised by oak landscapes, pastureland, forests and bird-rich wetlands; the area also has high biodiversity. Several hiking trails run throughout the nature reserve. At the Smedstad dammar, Frökärret and Rosenkällasjön wetlands, there are car parks, picnic tables, barbecue areas and opportunities for birdwatching.
For those interested in longer distances, 115 kilometres of the Östgötaleden trail lie within Linköping Municipality. The trail passes through plains, canals, oak landscapes, pastureland and rolling forests. Several sections of the Östgötaleden in Linköping are easily accessible for people with disabilities. For a different kind of hike, try Stjärnorpsravinen: the approximately two-kilometre trail runs through moderately challenging terrain and starts below the ruins of Stjärnorp. The ravine is one of the places in Östergötland with the highest numbers of bats. The Birgittaleden can begin at Linköpings Domkyrka and covers a hiking route of 81 kilometres.
Canals by bike, boat and canoe
The Göta Canal cycle route passes through Linköping and can be started at Bergs slussar. Bikes can be rented from Kaffeteriet at the tourist information centre there. A striking sight is the flight of seven interconnected locks, which raises or lowers boats by 18.8 metres between Roxen and Bergs gästhamn.
The Kinda Canal offers another perspective on the waterways. It is 80 kilometres long, has 15 manually operated locks and runs from Linköping in the north to the towns of Horn and Hycklinge in the south. Day trips, evening trips and shorter journeys on a passenger boat are offered on the canal; check in advance which trips are available on your chosen date. The Kinda Canal and its lake system offer good paddling waters for much of the year. There are canoe jetties at every lock, where canoes can be carried around. At the Kanalmuseet in Brokind, tools, equipment, drawings, sketches and photographs illustrate the construction of the Kinda Canal.
Planning your trip and further discoveries
Linköping is on the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö, with frequent train services, including those operated by SJ, Mälartåg, Snälltåget and Krösatåg. Buses and commuter trains operated by Östgötatrafiken also run within Linköping. For your specific travel plans, it is advisable to check the current timetables.
Discover more destinations: Bestorp, Ljungsbro, Linghem, Vikingstad, Vårdnäs, Sturefors, Brokind, Linköping, Roxenbaden, Ulrika, Stjärnorp, Bergsslussar, Nykil, Berg and Kögenäs.
Return to the main travel overview: Östergötland.
