In the municipality of Ekerö, chapters of history meet trails through forest landscapes and activities by the water. Two World Heritage sites give your visit a special cultural focus: Drottningholm and Birka and Hovgården. Other places to explore include Ekerö Church, cultural attractions in the centre and a long-standing apple-growing tradition. During your stay, you can choose from history, art, nature and outdoor activities.

World Heritage in Different Forms

Between around 750 and 980 AD, Birka was one of the most important trading towns in Northern Europe. Birka’s activities were organised and directed from the royal estate of Hovgården. Visible remains in Birka include a hillfort, the town ramparts, burial mounds and the Viking Age settlement site. At Hovgården, monumental mounds, a cemetery, a harbour, a runestone and the foundations of Alsnö hus have been preserved, among other remains.

The Drottningholm World Heritage site preserves different landmarks: the palace, the palace theatre, the Chinese Pavilion and the gardens. If you are interested in architecture and local history, Ekerö Church offers another point of reference. It was built in the late 12th century as the estate church of Askanäs. It stands on the north shore of Ekeröfjärden, near a steep bank.

Culture in the Centre and Traces of the Past

The Kulturhuset in the centre of Ekerö brings together a library, cinema, theatre hall and gallery. Erskinesalen has 218 seats and hosts theatre performances, concerts, talks and film screenings. Gallery Utkiken presents contemporary art and themed exhibitions. It holds around four exhibitions a year; from time to time, these are complemented by public tours with the exhibiting artist or workshops related to an exhibition.

The library also has a special focus: in the centre of Ekerö, there is a genealogy research room with a computer for tracing family history. If you would rather explore traces in the landscape, you can learn about two other aspects of the municipality. Several runestones were created around the year 1000. Stenhuggarbyn, meanwhile, is a well-preserved industrial settlement that tells the story of life at the end of the 19th century.

Hiking Trails, Forest and Water

Ekerö offers kilometres of hiking trails through wooded areas and historic landscapes. Two routes offer different destinations and distances: the first section of the Ekerö-Munsö Trail is 18 kilometres long and passes, among other places, a bathing spot and Skytteholm. The 16-kilometre hiking trail on Adelsö passes prehistoric burial grounds and a lookout tower with views across Lake Mälaren.

The Lovö Nature Reserve also includes Kärsön. There are several paths there, some of which are accessible by wheelchair and with a pushchair; accessibility may vary depending on conditions. Ekerö’s bathing spots range from jetties and beaches to places for forest bathing and individual rocks. These trails and bathing spots offer different ways to spend time outdoors.

Apple Orchards and Activities on Lake Mälaren

Ekerö is particularly well known for its apple orchards. In the park at Ekebyhov Palace lies Sweden’s northernmost self-regenerating beech forest; the apple gene bank includes around 50 varieties associated with Uppland and central Sweden. There are also several places around Ekerö where you can pick your own fruit and vegetables. This offer is seasonal.

Rosenhills gårdsbutik combines a farm shop and a café with an organic focus. You can have apples pressed into juice there. Another annual event is the Adelsö Öl Festival, where beer can be sampled. Check the details for the relevant festival edition before your trip.

Ekerö Badhus has a modern 25-metre pool for swimming, play, exercise and training. The facility also includes a pool with an adjustable floor, a teaching pool, a relaxation pool, a children’s pool, a sauna and a café. As information about facilities can change, it is worth checking the latest details before your visit.

There are various ways to get out on the water, too: kayaks and canoes can be rented at several places in Ekerö. Friluftsfrämjandet offers guided kayaking and canoeing tours at different levels of difficulty. You can also rent SUP boards for a trip on Lake Mälaren. Availability and tour dates may vary; check the latest information when planning your trip.

Plan Your Journey

Ekerö can be reached by bus, car, boat, ferry and bicycle. SL commuter ferry route 89 runs between the centre of Ekerö and Klara Mälarstrand. As timetables can change, check your connection before departure.

Discover more destinations: Ekerö, Färentuna, Stenhamra, Skå, Munsö, Adelsö

Go to the main travel overview: Stockholm.