In Mjölby, the Östgötaleden offers both walks close to town and longer routes through cultural landscapes and forests. Its sections in the municipality run along forest paths and through pastureland; they are accessible by public transport. One precisely measured route follows Hälsans stig for 4.5 kilometres along the Svartån through Mjölby and the nearby natural areas.
Trails between river and bog
A different kind of walk is the route to Örbackens kalkkärr Nature Reserve: from Mjölby railway station, it can be reached via an 8.2-kilometre stretch of the Östgötaleden. Along the way, you also pass Skogssjöområdet Nature Reserve. At Örbackens kalkkärr, a marked circular trail runs through pastureland and limestone bog; wooden boardwalks cross wet sections. The area is designated a Natura 2000 site.
Stora Haddebo also shows how varied the landscape around Mjölby is. The nature reserve combines spruce forest, lichen-covered rocky outcrops, marshy woodland and open bog. Forest birds, including the capercaillie, find habitat there. The landscape of Skogssjöområdet is very hilly and was shaped by the melting of the continental ice sheet 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Skogssjön now lies in a glacial depression. Another special natural feature is luddvedel, a rare yellow-flowered legume known from only five other locations on the Swedish mainland.
Art and local history
Public art in Mjölby often tells stories through specific motifs. Avis metaphora, a mural by Carolina Falkholt from 2025 at Lagmanshallen, depicts various birds and a judge's gavel. The gavel refers to the name of the hall and to the meaning of “lagman” as judge. On the façade of Galleria Kvarnen on Kungsvägen is Bilder av Mjölby, a spray-paint artwork by Adrian Pettersson from 2022. It depicts well-known city landmarks, including the potato. Another artwork by Judith de Leeuw on the Kvarnen building near the central station shows a person riding a unicorn above a mountain of rubbish and features an augmented-reality component.
Local history can also be seen in buildings and collections. Mjölby developed from a mill village into a town. The buildings and collections of Mjölby Hembygdsgård illustrate local history from the 18th century to the present day. The Hembygdsgård is located on an island in the Svartån. The Kungshögarna burial ground comprises 125 archaeological monuments: including 20 burial mounds, 80 circular stone settings, nine stone circles, twelve triangular stone settings, one ship-shaped stone setting and three standing stones.
Mjölby Church has medieval origins; parts of its medieval tower have been preserved. The present-day church was consecrated in 1779, after the older church was destroyed in a major fire in 1771. The chancel windows also tell a story of their own: they date from 1968, were designed by Professor Ch. Crodel in Munich and made by the Franz Mayer company in Munich. Mjölby Hembygdsförening holds several events every year, including Midsummer celebrations and a Christmas market.
Plan culture and activities
For concerts and theatre performances, there is Mjölby Kulturscen at Lagmansskolan, near the travel centre. The visitor address is Lagmansgatan 34. The auditorium has three wheelchair spaces; one of them has severely restricted visibility. A lift connects the auditorium to the stage, and there is also a hearing loop. Mjölby Konstrunda takes place every year in August. If you are planning a trip around it, check the dates for your travel year.
There are also opportunities to be active locally: Lundbybadet has a 25-metre indoor pool for swimming, play, exercise and training. You can rent canoes there to paddle on the Svartån; check availability before your trip. For disc golf, there is Mjölby DiscGolfPark at Kungshöga School, with nine holes for beginners and experienced players, as well as Bockarp DiscGolfPark at Bockarpsvägen 62. It has 18 holes and runs through woodland and open terrain. Course details may change, so it is worth checking the information before a round. There are fitness trails at Vifolkavallen, Lundbyvallen and Skogssjöbadet; all are lit. When there is enough snow, the trail at Vifolkavallen is groomed for cross-country skiing.
Discover more destinations: Väderstad, Hogstad, Mjölby, Mantorp, Skänninge, Finspång, Söderköping, Norrköping.
Return to the overview of the region: Östergötland.
