Västerås offers a range of ways to plan a trip that combines culture and time outdoors, from the cathedral and historical ways of life to marked trails by the water. When planning, it is worth keeping the different scales in mind. Mälarpromenaden is a 4-kilometre route, while Bruksleden covers 250 kilometres and passes through an entire region.
Cathedral history and historical ways of life
Västerås has had a cathedral since around 1100; at the time, the city was called Västra Aros. The tomb of King Erik XIV is inside the cathedral. The treasury displays church treasures from Västerås and the churches of the diocese. Cathedral history, the tomb and the ecclesiastical collections each offer a distinct focus.
Vallby Open-Air Museum offers a different perspective on past ways of life. It reconstructs and shows how people lived and worked from the 17th to the late 20th century. The museum includes around 50 preserved buildings that were moved there from all over Västmanland. Swedish native breeds are also kept on the grounds, including Jämtland goats, Gestrike sheep and Fjäll cattle.
The old power station that houses Kokpunkten also has a historical dimension: the building was listed in 1999. Those interested in the performing arts will find another cultural attraction at Västmanlands Teater. It stages around 250 performances each year, half of them aimed at children and young people. The music programme at Västerås Concert Hall ranges from folk and world music to pop, rock, songs and schlager, as well as jazz, chamber music and symphony concerts.
Trails and outdoor activities
For a clearly defined route by the water, Mälarpromenaden is a useful reference point: the marked walking and cycling path is 4 kilometres long and runs between Lögastrand and Lasse Färnlöfs plats. Bruksleden is a much larger regional hiking trail. It passes through Västmanland’s historic industrial communities and connects to Bergslagsleden in Dalarna to the south. Near Västerås, Bruksleden has three access points: at Erikslund, at Rocklunda and in Skultuna. This gives you a choice between a single waterfront route with a specified length and a trail that runs across a region, to suit different planning needs.
Björnön Nature Reserve is a place to enjoy leisure activities in a beautiful landscape. For audio walks, there is also the free Västeråsguide app. Its tours take you to Kopparlunden, Djäkneberget and Öster Mälarstrand; the app is available from the App Store and Google Play.
Water activities and seasonal events
RIB tours, day trips and evening cruises on Lake Mälaren are offered from Västerås. Operators and timetables may vary by season, so it is a good idea to check the specific options before making plans. Elbafärjan is Västerås’ hop-on, hop-off boat, with a one-hour round trip. Its routes and timetables may also vary by season.
There are two unmanned kayak vending machines in Västerås: one at Notuddskajen and one at First Camp Mälaren in Johannisberg. As locations may change, it is best to check them before making specific plans.
If you are planning a visit around an event, the dates are important too. Since 2009, the Västerås City Festival has taken place in the city centre from Thursday to Saturday in calendar week 26, the week after Midsummer. Västerås Culture Night takes place on a Saturday in late September in the city centre. Dates may vary from year to year. The seasonal Bondens egen Marknad at Bondtorget also has changing dates: many local producers sell their goods directly to customers there. If you are travelling for one of these events, check the date for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations: Skultuna, Harkie.
Back to the main travel overview: Västerås.
