Discover Motala: locks, beaches and industrial heritage

In Motala, stories of the Göta Canal and industrial history meet beaches on Lake Vättern and a range of ways to explore the surrounding area actively. This lets you choose the focus of your stay, whether that’s water and beaches, cycling and walking routes, or museums and historic sites.

Beaches, cycling routes and waterways

Varamobaden is a swimming beach on Lake Vättern that the Municipality of Motala describes as the largest inland lake bathing area in the North. A wide sandy beach, shallow water and a paved promenade define the area. If you’re interested in cycling, you’ll find recommended routes in and around Motala for both mountain biking and road cycling. Within the municipality, the Östgötaleden comprises 15 stages with different characteristics and levels of difficulty. It passes through forests, oak landscapes and plains, as well as along the Vättern shoreline and the Göta Canal.

Another option is Motala runt, an 18.6-kilometre circular route. You can plan for this route using its stated total distance, while the Östgötaleden offers several stages with different characteristics and levels of difficulty to choose from. The section of the Göta Canal in Östergötland begins in Motala and can be explored by boat, bicycle or on foot. These different perspectives on the routes and canal can help you decide what to focus on for your planned outing, without assuming that you’ll choose any one particular way of exploring.

Activities right on the water are also part of what’s on offer. Varamon Beach Boats rents pedal boats and SUP boards on the beach next to the Sjövik restaurant. At the old Motala verkstad, KAYAKOMAT Motala Mallboden rents kayaks and SUP boards. Fishing is possible in Motala ström between Motala harbour and the power station; in the Göta Canal, a designated fishing section runs between the Borenshult locks and Motala harbour. Check whether rentals are available for your travel dates.

Locks and Motala’s history

The Borenshults slussar are an impressive part of the canal’s history: this flight of locks is the second largest on the Göta Canal and comprises five connected locks. But Motala’s historical story goes back further. The oldest remains at Kanaljorden are 11,000 years old. Charlottenborgs slott dates back to the 17th century and was built in 1652. It houses an exhibition about archaeological finds from Motala, as well as wood carvings and other works by Sophia Isberg, a Motala craftswoman.

For a closer look at industrial history, visit the Museilägenheter on Verkstadsön. They recreate workers’ homes from 1850 and 1903 at Motala verkstad. A guided tour of the apartments takes about 30 minutes and can be part of a Verkstadsvandring. This tour covers the development of Gamla Motala Verkstad and the history of the Göta Canal. It takes place mostly outdoors on the old factory grounds and ends in the workers’ museum apartments. At Storyspot signs in the Gamla Motala Verkstad area, visitors can scan QR codes and listen to historical stories about the area.

Motala also has a history of broadcasting: Sveriges Rundradiomuseum is housed in the listed 1927 transmission station and tells the story of broadcasting from the perspective of Motala. The exhibits include numerous radios, gramophones and other products made by the Luxor company. This brings together the distinct cultural themes of the canal, working life and media history.

Choose a suitable base for your stay

If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Motala, your planned mix of activities can be a good starting point for choosing one: beaches and water, cycling and walking routes, or cultural history each offer a different focus. Motala central is a hub for bus and rail services and is about a five-minute walk from the centre. The Östgötapendeln provides connections from Motala to Mjölby, Linköping and Norrköping. If train connections are important to your plans, keep this transport hub in mind and check the latest timetables.

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